Prioritize results

Search uses widgets to display paginated results based on a search keyphrase. You can use variation rules 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.

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:

Before you begin:

Before configuring a widget variation rule strategy, create or edit 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.

To boost items:

  1. To define context for the widget variation rule, follow the steps in the define site context in a widget variation rule or define visitor context in a widget variation rule procedure.

  2. On the menu bar, click Strategies.

  3. In the left pane of the Strategies page, click the Boost Rules tab.

  4. Click Add attribute.

  5. In the attributes drop-down list, select the attribute you want to boost.

  6. In the operator drop-down list, click Is.

  7. To set the attribute value, in the text box, enter an appropriate value and click Save.

  8. On the Slots tab, click Widget Rules Puzzle or jigsaw piece that displays a list of available widget variation rules.

  9. In the drop-down list, click Boost.

  10. Click Save.

  11. 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 in the Context section.

Pin an item in a specific widget

In a widget variation rule, an item pinned to a slot displays a pin in the top-right.

When this variation is Active and rule is in effect, a chosen content item appears in the selected slot.

To pin an item in a specific widget:

  1. To define context for the widget variation rule, follow the steps in the define site context in a widget variation rule or define visitor context in a widget variation rule procedure.

  2. On the menu bar, click Strategies.

  3. Click the Slots tab.

  4. On the Slots tab, in the Content Items pane on the right-hand side, locate the content item you want to pin.

  5. Drag the item into a slot to pin it.

  6. Click Save.

  7. To deploy, click Publish.

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.

Pin an item in all widgets

In a global widget variation rule, an item pinned to a slot displays a pin in the top-right.

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. To define context for the widget variation rule, follow the steps in the define site context in a widget variation rule or define visitor context in a widget variation rule procedure.

  6. On the Rules tab, click Add Rule.

  7. On the menu bar, click Strategies.

  8. On the Slots tab, in the Content Items pane on the right-hand side, locate the content item you want to pin.

  9. Drag the item into a slot to pin it.

  10. Click Save.

  11. 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 item to boosting item:

  1. On the menu bar, click Strategies.

  2. Click the Slots tab.

  3. In the pinned item, click Pin .

  4. In the drop-down list, click Boost.

  5. Click Save.

  6. 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 Strategies.

  2. Click the Slots tab.

  3. To open the slot drop-down menu, click Pin .

  4. Select the Personalized check box.

  5. Click Save.

  6. To deploy, click Publish.

Boost

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.

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