How to Setup Swiftype Search on WordPress
Today I’m going to show you how to setup Swiftype Search on any WordPress blog. As you can see in the image below, Swiftype allows readers to search your blog or website for specific topics more easily than the typical WordPress search feature.
Much like Google search, Swiftype uses an autocomplete feature to guess what users are looking for before they even finish typing their search terms. It can also save readers valuable browsing time and take them directly to the recipe they’re looking for.
RELATED: How to Add a Pinterest Pin Button to Your Images
Another great plus, is the fact that you get stats from Swiftype on what people are searching and whether or not they’re finding what they’re looking for. That information can be invaluable if you’re a blogger looking for your next blog post idea. Your readers will let you know what topic to write about next.
Are you ready to setup Swiftype Search on your WordPress blog? Let’s get started.
START HERE
STEP 1: In your WordPress dashboard, go to “Plugins“ and click on “Add New.” Use the search box to search “Swiftype Search” and click enter.
Once you’ve located the Swiftype Search plugin, click “Install Now” to begin installing your plugin.
Now, click “Activate” to complete the installation process.
STEP 2: Now that you’ve installed the Swiftype Search plugin, you’ll need to setup an account in order to authenticate the plugin and start using it. Visit https://swiftype.com/ to start setting up your account.
Enter your website url and click the arrow in the search box to begin.
Enter your preferred email address and password. Then click “Create Account” to move onto the next step.
Next, your site will be validated and you’ll be prompted to create a name for your search engine. I typically just use the name of the website as the search engine name, like “Sweet Life” for example.
RELATED: How to Setup Pinterest Rich Pins (in 3 easy steps!)
You’ll be prompted to add more information. Complete the form and then click “Save Changes.” You can choose to leave out your phone number if you prefer.
Once you land on the next page, you’ll just need to click the “Complete Setup” button to finalize your information and move on to the next step.
STEP 3: Click on your “Account” settings link on the top right to grab your Swiftype API key and add it to your WordPress settings.
Copy the API key for the account that you just created. Then head over to your WordPress dashboard to add your API key to your Swiftype Search plugin.
Once you’re in your WordPress dashboard, you’ll need to navigate your your Swiftype plugin settings. Click on the Swiftype Search menu link to open up your settings.
RELATED: 3-Point SEO Checklist for Bloggers (super simple!)
Now, paste your API key into the Swiftype Search Plugin authorization box. Click “Authorize” to add your sync your Swiftype account with your WordPress blog.
Next, you’ll be prompted to create a name for your Swiftype engine. This part of the process includes a minor glitch. You’ll notice, it doesn’t automatically pull your current engine name for your site and allow you to select that the engine name you previously created in your Swiftype account. To get around this, I simply add an extra word or number to the title. Ex.: [ Sweet Life Search ] instead of just Sweet Life. Don’t worry, it will still sync to the same account because you’re using the correct API.
Lastly, you’ll want to complete the syncing process for your WordPress blog. Click on the “Synchronize with Swiftype” button to begin the indexing process. This will take a few minutes, so make sure you stay on this page until the process is complete.
And that’s it! You’re all setup!
Questions? Leave ’em in the comments.
Stay tuned for a future tutorial on how you can customize the design styles and search settings for Swiftype Search.
