Search Templates let you design the layout and appearance of your WordPress search results page. Instead of a boring list of links, you can create visually engaging search results with custom layouts, filtering options, and helpful features that improve user experience and keep visitors on your site longer.
Why Customize Search Results? #
- Better UX:Â Help users find what they’re looking for faster
- Brand Consistency:Â Match search results to your site’s design
- Reduced Bounce Rate:Â Keep users engaged even when initial results aren’t perfect
- Monetization Opportunities:Â Show ads, featured content, or products in search results
Step-by-Step: Creating a Search Template #
1. Create New Search Template #
Navigate to Master Addons → Theme Builder → Add New Template.
2. Basic Configuration #
- Template Title:Â Descriptive name (e.g., “Search Results Page” or “Site Search Layout”)
- Template Type: Select Search from dropdown
- Activation: Set to Active after designing.
Click Save Settings before designing.
3. Edit with Elementor #
Click Edit with Elementor. You’ll have a blank canvas to design your search results page.
Important Note: Search templates automatically receive the search query from WordPress. You’ll display search results based on what users type in your search box.
4. Using Master Addons Search Elements #
Master Addons provides specialized widgets for search functionality:
Master Addons Search Widget: #
- Search Bar:Â Add a prominent search bar at the top of results
- Live Search:Â Enable real-time results as users type
- Search in:Â Option to search specific post types only
- Ajax Loading:Â Results load without page refresh
Master Addons Post Grid/List for Search Results: #
Configure to display search results with:
- Query Source:Â Set to “Search Results”
- Layout Options:Â Grid, list, or masonry
- Results Count:Â Show number of results found
- No Results Message:Â Custom message when nothing is found
Master Addons Filter Widgets: #
Add filters to refine search results:
- Category Filter:Â Filter results by category
- Date Filter:Â Show only recent results
- Type Filter:Â Filter by post type (posts, pages, products)
5. Search-Specific Dynamic Content #
Search templates have unique dynamic tags:
Search Query Information: #
- Search Query:Â The actual term(s) user searched for
- Search Results Count:Â “Showing 15 results for ‘keyword'”
- Search Suggestions:Â “Did you mean…?” suggestions
Example Usage:
- Add Heading widget → Insert Search Query dynamic tag → “Results for: [search term]”
- Add Text widget → Insert Search Results Count dynamic tag → “Found 24 results”
- Add Master Addons Search Bar → Set to display at top of page
- Add loop grid → Set query to “Search Results”
6. Designing Your Search Layout #
Effective Search Results Structure:
1. Search Header Section: #
- Large search bar (make it easy to search again)
- Display of search term with result count
- Quick filter buttons (Recent, Popular, All)
2. Main Results Area: #
- Grid or list of results with:
- Featured image
- Title (linked)
- Excerpt with search term highlighted
- Post type/category badge
- Date published
3. Sidebar/Secondary Content: #
- “Popular Searches” list
- “Recent Searches” (if logged in)
- Category filter dropdown
- “Can’t find what you need?” contact prompt
4. No Results Section: #
- Friendly message with suggestions
- Popular content links
- Contact form or support chat button
5. Pagination: #
- Standard pagination for multiple pages of results
- “Load More” button option
7. Setting Search Conditions #
After designing, go to Conditions tab. Search templates have specific condition options:
Search Template Conditions:
Option A: All Search Results #
- Include:Â
Search - This applies to search result pages
Note: Unlike other templates, Search conditions are typically just “Search” – you don’t differentiate between different types of searches (though you could with custom code).
8. Search Functionality Configuration #
Search Widget Settings: #
- Placeholder Text:Â “What are you looking for?”
- Search Button Text:Â “Search” or magnifying glass icon
- Post Types to Search:Â Select which content types to include
- Live Results Delay:Â Milliseconds before showing live results
- Minimum Characters:Â Require 2-3 characters before searching
Results Grid Settings: #
- Posts Per Page:Â 10-20 results per page
- Excerpt Length:Â Shorten excerpts for faster scanning
- Highlight Search Terms:Â Bold or color matching words
- Sort By:Â Relevance, date, title (relevance is best for search)
- Show/Hide Elements:Â Author, date, categories as needed
9. Save & Test #
Click SAVE SETTINGS. Then test by:
- Perform a search from your site’s search bar
- Test different queries:
- Specific term with many results
- General term with few results
- Term with no results
- Test pagination with a broad search term
- Test mobile responsiveness
- Check loading speed (search pages should be fast)
Common Search Template Examples #
Standard Blog Search: #
- Condition: Search
- Features: Large search bar at top, 2-column grid of results with images, excerpts, “read more” links, sidebar with popular posts and categories, pagination
E-commerce Product Search: #
- Condition: Search
- Features: Filter sidebar (price, category, rating), product grid with images/prices/add-to-cart, “top selling products” when few results, sort by relevance/price/rating
Knowledge Base/Search-Centric Site: #
- Condition: Search
- Features: Live search with instant results, categorized results (articles, FAQs, tutorials), “was this helpful?” feedback buttons, “contact support” prominently when no results
Minimalist Search: #
- Condition: Search
- Features: Clean layout, just titles and brief excerpts, no images, focus on readability and speed
Troubleshooting #
Problem: Search template not showing
- Fix:Â Ensure condition is set to “Include: Search”
Problem: Search results showing wrong content
- Fix:Â Check Post Grid query settings – set to “Search Results” not “Recent Posts”
Problem: Live search not working
- Fix:Â Ensure Ajax is enabled in search widget settings
Problem: Search highlights not appearing
- Fix:Â Enable “Highlight Search Terms” in Post Grid settings
Problem: Search too slow with many results
- Fix:Â Reduce posts per page, optimize images, consider search plugin for better indexing
Problem: No results message not showing
- Fix:Â Configure “No Results Found” message in Post Grid widget
Pro Tips #
- Speed is Critical:Â Search pages should load fast. Optimize images and consider caching
- Mobile-First Design:Â Most searches happen on mobile. Make search bar prominent and easy to use
- Analytics:Â Track what people search for to improve content and search suggestions
- Fallback Content:Â Always show helpful content even when search returns nothing
- Accessibility:Â Ensure search is keyboard-navigable and screen-reader friendly
- Test Edge Cases:Â Search for special characters, very long terms, empty searches
- Consistent Design:Â Match your search page design with the rest of your site
- Error Messages:Â Write friendly, helpful error messages for zero results
Performance Considerations #
- Limit Results Per Page:Â 10-20 is usually optimal
- Lazy Load Images:Â Especially important for search with many results
- Cache Search Results:Â Consider caching popular search queries
- Optimize Database:Â Ensure your WordPress database is optimized for search queries
- Use Excerpts:Â Show brief excerpts instead of full content
A well-designed search template transforms user experience from frustrating to delightful. With Master Addons, you’re not just styling search results – you’re creating an entire search experience that guides users to the content they need, offers alternatives when searches fail, and keeps people engaged with your site.
