Jetpack is a great plugin which I use and recommend. Another version is Slim Jetpack which enables most features except for the ones which need to connect to the WordPress.com servers.
Jetpack have just released a new feature named Omni Search. It basically searches everything on your WordPress installation including posts, pages, comments and plugins.
I tested the new search feature and then compared the results against using Google custom search. Here they are:
Google Custom Search
The first 4 results using Google custom search are highly accurate. Probably could be in a different order however they display results which are all related to the keyword I used.
Omni Search
Only the 4th result was included in the Google results and the 2nd result was related but not included at all in Google’s results. Maybe its about time there was a search engine for WordPress only results. Either that or they have some work to do on the native WordPress search function.
Omni Search Pro’s and Con’s
Pros
- Useful for finding content in comments and feedbacks from your visitors contact form submissions.
- Extendable using WordPress’s native Filters API which enables Developers to build custom search into specific plugins.
Cons
- Not as accurate for finding content as a custom search box from Google.
- Can’t easily display Omni Search box on the front end.
What do you think about the default search box in WordPress and what’s your best alternative?
Can you add to the list of pro’s and con’s?
Hi Brad
What a disappointment… “Not as accurate for finding content as a custom search box from Google.”
Thought that you were going to report that it was fantastic.
I keep looking at Jetpack, but have resisted so far.
No its not very accurate because it uses the native WordPress search which everyone knows isn’t the best.
Slim Jetpack is alright.
I use the full version because i like the email subscriptions so people can choose weekly or daily updates.
Not sure what’s going to happen with Feedburner
I’m on Feedburner but I’ve started looking at Mailchimp.
I’ll move my list over as soon as I get time.