Elevating search results with effective titles and keywords

For users to get the most out of Showpad, they need to be able to surface the content to use in their sales discussions, learning opportunities, and presentations. This article includes some tips and tricks on improving your search results, so you can ensure that users find the right content they are looking for quickly. 

Note: The search algorithm is always subject to change.

See how it looks

Key features

• Tips to optimize search results
• Utilize Showpad's search algorithm to help users find what they need

You need this to succeed

• Showpad admin access or promoted member with content access
• Content in your Showpad Library

Do this step by step

To improve your search results in Showpad, consider the following best practices:

1. Optimize titles, body, and description.
   As Showpad's search algorithm gives higher priority to matches in the title, followed by the body and description, make sure to include relevant keywords in these areas. This will improve the visibility of your content when users search for those keywords.
2. Choose precise phrases and keywords.
   When creating content, exact matches are ranked higher than partial matches, so opt for clear and specific phrases or keywords. This will increase the likelihood of your content appearing higher in the search results when users search for those exact terms.
3. Maintain the order of keywords.
   When searching for a phrase with multiple words, Showpad gives more weight to results that have the words in the same order. Therefore, keep keyword phrases in the same order as your target audience is likely to search for them.

How search results are ranked

Three main rules govern the ranking of the search results. Here is a quick overview:

1. Title > body > description.
   Matching words queried for in the title are ranked over ones that appear in the body, which in turn are ranked higher than ones in the description.
2. Exact > partial match.
   For example, searching for “discover” will rank a file with the name “discover content” higher than one named “discovering content” even though it will still find the second one.
3. In order > not in order.
   Searching for a phrase containing multiple words will rank results with the words in that same order over those with the same words in a different order.

Note that recently updated documents are ranked higher in the search results. 

Additionally, tags can not be searched for, they only function as filters. Recency and age of results are sortable but currently do not affect the order when sorting on relevancy. The number of shares and views is displayed but, again, does not affect the ranking when sorting on relevancy.