2 minutes October 1, 2024

How do you Keep Specific Post Types at the Top of Search Results?

If you use WordPress with the SearchWP plugin and want to prioritize specific post types in your search results, this guide will help you keep your Events post type at the top. By default, SearchWP sorts results based on relevance, but with a few modifications, you can put your preferred post types in a prominent position.

Issue Faced: Keeping Post Types at the Top of Search Results

Many users wish to keep their Events posts at the top of search results. The default behavior of SearchWP is to sort searches by relevance, which may not always align with your desired outcomes.

Solution: Customizing SearchWP for Top Results

The SearchWP plugin allows you to add specific algorithms and rules to customize your WordPress search results. By following the steps below, you can adjust the search query to elevate your Events post type above all other results.

Step-by-Step Guide to keep Events post at the top of search results

Step 1: Edit Your Theme’s Functions File

Open your active theme’s functions.php file. You can access this file through the WordPress admin dashboard by navigating to Appearance > Theme Editor. Make sure to back up your site and the file before making changes.

Step 2: Add the Custom Code

Insert the following PHP code snippet into your functions.php file. This code will modify the SearchWP query to prioritize the Events post type.

<?php

   add_filter( 'searchwp\query\mods', function( $mods ) {

       $postType = 'events'; // Post type name.

       $data = \SearchWP\Utils::get_post_type_source_name( $postType );

       $mod = new \SearchWP\Mod( $data );
       $mod->relevance( function( $runtime ) use ( $data ) {
           global $wpdb;

           return $wpdb->prepare(
               "IF( {$runtime->get_foreign_alias()}.source = %s, '999999', '0' )",
               $data
           );
       } );

       $mods[] = $mod;

       return $mods;
   } );

<?php

add_filter( 'searchwp\query\mods', function( $mods ) {

$postType = 'events'; // Post type name.

$data = \SearchWP\Utils::get_post_type_source_name( $postType );

$mod = new \SearchWP\Mod( $data );

$mod->relevance( function( $runtime ) use ( $data ) {

global $wpdb;

return $wpdb->prepare(

"IF( {$runtime->get_foreign_alias()}.source = %s, '999999', '0' )",

$data

);

} );

$mods[] = $mod;

return $mods;

} );

Step 3: Save Your Changes

After adding the code, save the changes to the functions.php file.

Step 4: Test the Changes

Perform a search on your website to ensure that Events posts appear at the top of the search results.

Explanation of the Code

add_filter: This function hooks into the SearchWP query modifications.
$postType: Defines which post type to prioritize—in this case, events.

relevance(): The callback function defines a custom relevance score. Posts that match the Events post type will receive a score significantly higher than others (‘999999’ versus ‘0’), ensuring they appear first in search results.

Conclusion

By implementing the above code, you can successfully keep your Events posts at the top of SearchWP search results. This approach enables you to cater to your audience’s needs effectively while enhancing the visibility of your important content.

If you encounter any issues or have further questions, hire a WordPress developer. We are here to help!

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Greetings! I'm Aneesh Sreedharan, CEO of 2Hats Logic Solutions. At 2Hats Logic Solutions, we are dedicated to providing technical expertise and resolving your concerns in the world of technology. Our blog page serves as a resource where we share insights and experiences, offering valuable perspectives on your queries.