The Concept3D map platform has a powerful search engine. Below are some frequently asked questions on how search works, and the best way to get desired results.
How Search Works
General Search
What impacts search results?
- The general, default search looks at four different fields to determine if a location should return in search results: the location title, any keywords added in the CMS, the location description, and the parent category of the location.
- Locations that are marked as private, hidden, or non-searchable will not return in results. This includes if the locations are under a private, hidden, or non-searchable parent category.
- Searching Phases: Only results with the entire search phrase will return. For example, if a user searches for “Convention Center”, only results with BOTH terms will return.
- Locations within a Category will return in a search: If a user searches for “Parks” and there is a category called “Parks” all locations in that category will return, as well as any other locations in other categories that have the word “parks” in its title, keyword, or description.
How are the search results ordered?
- Each field that is searchable has a boost. Title has the highest, followed by keyword and then description. The specific amount a field is boosted is below. For example, if a location matched for its keyword AND description, that would rank higher than a location that ONLY matched its title.
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- Title: 3
- Keyword 2
- Description: 1.5
- Category name: No boost - that means that a location that matched the search because of it’s parent category does not get any additional boost to where it returns in the results.
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- “Exact Phrase” matching will also influence a higher ranking in the search result. Usually, an exact match should be the first result.
Strict Search
- Strict search is a way to limit the number of items that return in your search results. This setting, which can be turned on via the Options tab in the CMS, results in only EXACT matches of titles or keywords being returned in your results. For example, if you are searching for "information desk" and you only search "info" - the location "information desk" WILL NOT return. However, if you search "information" or "desk", the location WILL return.
- A workaround for locations that may have common terms not in their title is to add a keyword. So, for the information desk example, if "info" is added as a keyword, then when "info" is searched, the "information desk" location will return in the results.
- A workaround for locations that may have common terms not in their title is to add a keyword. So, for the information desk example, if "info" is added as a keyword, then when "info" is searched, the "information desk" location will return in the results.
- If you want to ensure that there are not a lot of results even with a more vague search, this is the best approach for you.
Additional Information:
- CMS Searches All: All locations will always return independent of settings that restrict them from returning in results on the frontend map. .
- Linked Category in Search Result: the category is listed at the bottom of the result. It is clickable and will take the user to that expanded category on the map sidebar.
- Remember Previous Search: If a user exits the selected search result or selects the search icon again - the previous search term and results persists.
- Edit Search Help Text: The text within the search bar is editable within the options tab of the CMS. Update this to provide specific instructions relevant to your use case.
- Search Bar Display: Under the options tab in the CMS, you can choose to display the search bar by default when the map is first opened on mobile, or even disable search all together.
Search FAQs:
Q: What makes a location return in my search results?
A: The search algorithm uses the following items to determine if a location will return in search results:
- Title: Every location has a title. This is the item that is most heavily weighed in your search results.
- Keywords: An optional field, keywords, are never visual seen by end users on the front end map. The sole purpose is to ensure a location is returned in a search result when that keyword is searched. For example, if you have a location that is commonly misspelled, you may add the misspelling to the location as a keyword.
- Descriptions: Descriptions are optional but can be added to every location. Adding a term to a location's description will ensure it is returned when that term is searched.
- Category Name: If the search term matches a category, the locations within that category will return.
Q: What is the best way to get a location higher in my search results?
A: There are a couple of things that can be done to increase how high a location returns in search results.
- If possible, ensure the term being searched is used in all three search influencers (keyword, description, title - especially the title, given it has the highest influence on the search results.)
- Repeat the term within the description.
Q: What if I don't want my location to return in search results?
A: There is a category level setting to mark map content that you do not want to be searchable or display in search results. When setting up a category, ensure the the option "Searchable" is marked as "No" to prevent locations in this category from returning search results.
Q: Is there a way to turn off the search feature or have it shown by default?
A: Yes, but these settings will only apply in the mobile experience. Within the options tab there is a setting called "Search Bar Display". From here you can choose to have your search bar "Hidden" (meaning it will never display), "Open" (meaning when the map is first open the search bar will display open), or "Closed" (our default option - meaning the icon displays in the top bar but the end user needs to select it to view the search field).