---
title: "Prioritize results"
slug: "prioritize-results"
abstract: "You can prioritize certain content items in search results either by pinning them to specific slots or by boosting them based on specific attributes."
---
# Prioritize results

Search uses widgets to display paginated results based on a search keyphrase. You can [use variation rules](https://doc.sitecore.com/search/en/users/search-user-guide/display-relevant-results/add-or-edit-widget-variations.html#UUID-106bcec2-8ef6-3dc7-4803-5d9817dd5a1a_section-idm4537295734779233697204820873 "Add a widget variation rule") to artificially change the order in which specific search results appear in widgets, for example, by boosting an item's priority or pinning it to a specific position in the results list.

To ensure that an item appears first in the results list, [pin it to a slot](https://doc.sitecore.com/search/en/users/search-user-guide/display-relevant-results/prioritize-results.html#UUID-e9d97c52-633d-88e9-5936-709712a42bb9_section-idm45370515960672336659966424 "Pin an item in a specific widget"). Boosted items will appear higher in search results, but are not guaranteed to appear first.

> [!important]
> If a content item is pinned, its slot remains occupied even after the content item is deleted, meaning fewer results are shown. To avoid this, [remove the item pinned to a slot](https://doc.sitecore.com/search/en/users/search-user-guide/display-relevant-results/prioritize-results.html#UUID-e9d97c52-633d-88e9-5936-709712a42bb9_section-idm1743366613790856 "Unpin an item") after deleting the item itself.

The following procedures describe how to prioritize results in your implementation of Search.

> [!important]
> To save a widget variation rule, you need to populate at least one of the following configurations:
>
> -   [Site or visitor context](https://doc.sitecore.com/search/en/users/search-user-guide/display-relevant-results/configure-results-using-context.html "Configure results using context").
>
> -   *Boost*, [pin](https://doc.sitecore.com/search/en/users/search-user-guide/display-relevant-results/glossary.html#UUID-48c6b92f-d97a-3d5b-9006-85685f9183f0_N677e6f99e2bac "pin"), [blacklist](https://doc.sitecore.com/search/en/users/search-user-guide/display-relevant-results/glossary.html#id41192 "blacklist"), or [bury](https://doc.sitecore.com/search/en/users/search-user-guide/display-relevant-results/glossary.html#UUID-48c6b92f-d97a-3d5b-9006-85685f9183f0_N675ff1692a266 "bury") strategy.

> [!note]
> **Before you begin**
> -   Define the [site context](https://doc.sitecore.com/search/en/users/search-user-guide/display-relevant-results/configure-results-using-context.html#UUID-37854a10-7333-f848-829b-6bd3110853b7_title-idm273452158432416) or the [visitor context](https://doc.sitecore.com/search/en/users/search-user-guide/display-relevant-results/configure-results-using-context.html#UUID-37854a10-7333-f848-829b-6bd3110853b7_title-idm273452158452656) in a widget variation rule.

## Boost items

Using a widget variation to boost a specific attribute causes all results with that attribute to appear above others in search results. For example, setting the attribute **color**'s boost value to **red** will cause all results that are red to appear higher in search results. Boosted items appear in slots where boost rules have been applied.

You can also [boost results based on site or visitor context](https://doc.sitecore.com/search/en/users/search-user-guide/display-relevant-results/configure-results-using-context.html#UUID-37854a10-7333-f848-829b-6bd3110853b7_section-idm4589942369883233670860893514 "Boost results for certain URLs").

To boost items:

1. On the menu bar, click **Widgets**.
2. Click the widget that you want to apply a boost rule to.
3. Click the widget variation that you want to apply a boost rule to.
4. Select an existing rule, or click **Add Rule**.
5. On the menu bar, click **Strategies**.
6. In the left pane of the **Strategies** page, on the **Boost Rules** tab, click **Add attribute**.
7. In the attributes drop-down list, select the attribute you want to boost.
8. In the operator drop-down list, click **Is**.
9. In the text box, enter an appropriate attribute value, and then click **Save**.
10. On the **Slots** tab, click **Widget Rules** ![Puzzle or jigsaw piece that displays a list of available widget variation rules](https://doc.sitecore.com/api/markdown-image/search/en/users/search-user-guide/images/WidgetRuleList.png).
11. In the drop-down list, click **Boost**.
12. Click **Save**.
13. To deploy, click **Publish**.

> [!tip]
> To additionally target results using the **Strategies** and **Settings** sections of a rule, you can [configure the **Site** and **Visitor** tabs](https://doc.sitecore.com/search/en/users/search-user-guide/display-relevant-results/configure-results-using-context.html "Configure results using context") in the **Context** section.

## Pin an item in a specific widget

When a pin rule is in effect in an **Active** widget variation, a chosen content item appears in the selected slot. In a widget variation rule, an item pinned to a slot displays a pin ![pin_icon.png](https://doc.sitecore.com/api/markdown-image/search/en/users/search-user-guide/images/pin_icon.png).

To pin an item in a specific widget:

1. On the menu bar, click **Widgets**.
2. Click the widget that you want to apply a pin rule to.
3. Click the widget variation that you want to apply a pin rule to.
4. Select an existing rule, or click **Add Rule**.
5. On the menu bar, click **Strategies**.
6. On the **Slots** tab, in the **Content Items** pane on the right-hand side, locate the content item you want to pin.
7. Drag the item onto a slot to pin it.
8. Click **Save**.
9. To deploy, click **Publish**.

## Pin an item in all widgets

In a global widget variation rule, an item pinned to a slot displays a pin ![pin_icon.png](https://doc.sitecore.com/api/markdown-image/search/en/users/search-user-guide/images/pin_icon.png).

If you also want to target results using the **Strategies** and **Settings** sections of a rule, you can [configure the **Site** and **Visitor** tabs](https://doc.sitecore.com/search/en/users/search-user-guide/display-relevant-results/understanding-context-in-search/configure-results-using-context.html "Configure results using context") in the **Context** section.

To pin an item in all widgets:

1. On the menu bar, click **Global Resources**.
2. Click **Global Widget**.
3. On the **Global Widget Variations** tab, click **Add Variation** and enter an appropriate name for the new variation.
4. Turn on the **Make this as a default variation** switch and click **Save**.
5. On the **Rules** tab, click **Add Rule**.
6. On the menu bar, click **Strategies**.
7. On the **Slots** tab, in the **Content Items** pane on the right-hand side, locate the content item you want to pin.
8. Drag the item onto a slot to pin it.
9. Click **Save**.
10. To deploy, click **Publish**.

## Boost a pinned item

You can boost an item that is already pinned, although doing so will remove the pin and free up the slot the item was occupying.

To switch from pinning an item to boosting an item:

1. On the menu bar, click **Widgets**.
2. Click the widget that you want to edit.
3. Click the widget variation that you want to edit.
4. Select the rule that you want to edit.
5. On the menu bar, click **Strategies**.
6. On the **Slots** tab, in the pinned item, click **Pin** ![pin_icon.png](https://doc.sitecore.com/api/markdown-image/search/en/users/search-user-guide/images/pin_icon.png).
7. In the drop-down list, click **Boost**.
8. Click **Save**.
9. To deploy, click **Publish**.

## Unpin an item

If you no longer want an item to be pinned in search results, you can remove it from its allocated slot.

To unpin an item:

1. On the menu bar, click **Widgets**.
2. Click the widget that you want to edit.
3. Click the widget variation that you want to edit.
4. Select the rule that you want to edit.
5. On the menu bar, click **Strategies**.
6. On the **Slots** tab, to open the slot drop-down menu, click **Pin** ![pin_icon.png](https://doc.sitecore.com/api/markdown-image/search/en/users/search-user-guide/images/pin_icon.png).
7. Select the **Personalized** check box.
8. Click **Save**.
9. To deploy, click **Publish**.

[^UUID-48c6b92f-d97a-3d5b-9006-85685f9183f0_N677e6f99e2bac]: A way to set the position of a particular item in search results that overrides other search filters. You can use this to highlight content that is important or relevant for your visitors or if you want to highlight a recommendation.

[^blacklist]: A way to exclude an item or a group of items from the search results, also called a *blocklist*. This is useful when you do not want to show certain items on a certain website or for specific visitors.

[^UUID-48c6b92f-d97a-3d5b-9006-85685f9183f0_N675ff1692a266]: A way to decrease the relevance of the item or the group of items by making them appear lower in the search results. You can use this to reduce the visibility of certain content.