NO! Your website's search function is not a search engine like Google

Oh boy, this is one where I have to pour my heart out.

The questions "Why don't I get to see the right result?" or "Why do I get to see this sequence?" (and 12 variations of them) have been asked me so many times over the past year and a half. It went from simple question to even endless discussion.

Since I'm almost certain that you, your client or someone has also asked you something about a website's search function at one time or another, I'm going to write something about it. So that all you have to do is share this blog instead of going into an incredibly long discussion.

The workings of Google

Before I can explain the difference between the two, let me tell you how they work.

Quite convenient and actually you will have your answer right away.

Let's start with the hardest one. After all, how does Google work?

Search engine optimization (SEO) is based on three pillars: content, technology and authority. These three pillars are therefore, very briefly and simply put, what Google looks at.

Google ranks the order of search results based on an awful lot of factors. These can be as many as tens of thousands.

Within Google, you compete with other websites, of course, but you can also compete with yourself as multiple pages compete for the same keyword.

The operation of the search function within your website

There are many platforms, systems and ways to build a website. The most widely used is WordPress, so how that search function works I'll explain for you.

If you do a google search on how WordPress' search function works, complaints fly around your ears. So you're not the only one dissatisfied with the results this search function gives.

Anyway, to answer the question, "how does WordPress' search function work?", I found a nice piece of text that explains it in great detail:

"When you search your WordPress blog, your search results are displayed chronologically. Not by "most likely," "most popular," "most frequent use of the phrase," or even alphabetically. Only by date. And the chronological order runs from most recent to oldest."

And read the words, likely, popular, frequent use carefully, because these are things that are important to Google, but not to the search function within your website.
In short, the search function shows results in chronological order. And not otherwise. Google looks at many more variables to determine the best order.

5 reasons why your website's search function is not Google

Secretly, I hope the difference is clear to you by now. If it isn't, I'll be happy to explain the differences:

• Google looks at many more factors and thus can test and determine the order on many more variables.
• Google compares your pages with those of your competitors. The search function within your website focuses on its own content
• Google is a search engine (and much more), the function within your website is a search function.
• Google is a billion-dollar company. The search function within your website is not.
• Google's mission is to help the searcher as best as possible. The search function within your site is simple and is usually only used someone cannot find something or if your website is not clear enough.