My WordPress How-To: Search Meter

Searching for information has become a way of life for just about everyone.  When you need to know something, what do you do?  You “Google it”.  Performing online searches have become so common place that we hardly give it a second thought.  So, what happens when you are looking for information on a specific site?  To look at it another way, what are your visitors searching for?  If you don’t know, you are missing out on some great information. It’s time for Search Meter

WordPress Search Meter

WordPress Search Meter is a free WordPress plugin, created by Bennett McElwee, that tracks the searches performed on your site.  The  information you learn can provide ideas for new posts, identify gaps in your content, and help track the needs of your visitors.

Settings

There are only a few settings for the WordPress Search Meter plugin:

• Show statistics to:
  • All logged-in users
  • Post authors and administrators
  • Administrators Only
• Search Filter
• Keep detailed information about recent searches (taken from HTTP headers) – [check box]
• Reset Statistics – [button]

Everything is pretty straight forward.  If your search volume is low (like mine), it can take a few months to collect enough interesting data but even a few search results can provide useful information of what your readers are looking for.

Results

Having the WordPress Search Meter working for you can help you see your site through the eyes of your readers or at least, their searches.  It is always interesting to see things from a different perspective.  Looking at my results, it looks like I need to write something about registering.  What do you think your users are trying to tell you?

Are you using a plugin to monitor search results?  Leave me a comment and let me know which one