SharePoint search is a powerful tool that can help users find the information they need quickly and easily. However, it is important to configure SharePoint search to ensure that the search results are relevant to the user’s query.
There are a number of things you can do to improve the relevance of your SharePoint search results:
1. Use the right keywords. When users enter a query into the SharePoint search box, SharePoint will search for content that contains those keywords. It is important to use the right keywords in your content so that it is more likely to appear in the search results.
2. Use synonyms and related terms. SharePoint can also search for synonyms and related terms. This means that if a user searches for “cat”, SharePoint will also return results that contain the keywords “kitten”, “feline”, and “pet”. You can help SharePoint to find more relevant results by using synonyms and related terms in your content.
3. Use managed properties. Managed properties are special properties that SharePoint can use to index your content. Managed properties can be used to store information such as the title of a document, the author of a document, and the date a document was created. You can use managed properties to improve the relevance of your search results by mapping them to the appropriate search fields.
4. Use query rules. Query rules can be used to customize the way that SharePoint handles search queries. For example, you can use query rules to boost the ranking of certain results, to promote certain sites, or to filter out certain results. You can use query rules to improve the relevance of your search results by tailoring them to the specific needs of your users.
5. Use SharePoint search analytics. SharePoint search analytics can provide you with information about how users are searching for content in your intranet. This information can help you to identify areas where the search experience can be improved.
6. Get feedback from your users. Ask your users for feedback on the search experience. Their feedback can help you to identify areas where the search results can be improved.
By following these tips, you can improve the relevance of your SharePoint search results and help users to find the information they need quickly and easily.
Here are some additional tips:
Use stop words. Stop words are common words that are not very useful for searching, such as “the”, “is”, and “and”. You can use stop words to filter out irrelevant results from your search results.
Use proximity search. Proximity search allows you to search for keywords that appear near each other in a document. This can be useful for searching for phrases and expressions.
Use wildcards. Wildcards allow you to search for keywords that contain a specific number of characters or that start or end with a specific character. This can be useful for searching for partial keywords.
Use search filters. Search filters allow you to filter the search results by date, author, site, and other criteria. This can be useful for narrowing down the search results and finding the most relevant results.
By following these tips, you can help users to find the information they need quickly and easily using SharePoint search.