Add search and filtering with FacetWP
Some websites have a collection or library of great content. This could be blog articles, shop products, library books, clinical trials, and more. Sometimes, those sites need more than just a basic search bar. Enter FacetWP.
On a website with a large number of posts, users are likely going to want (and expect) an easy way to find the information they seek.
FacetWP provides just that.
What Is FacetWP?
FacetWP is a WordPress plugin that adds filtering options. FacetWP works well with custom post types, such as ones built using Advanced Custom Fields.
This allows users to easily sort and filter through a large number of posts, hundreds and thousands of posts even. It is a much easier and more efficient option that scrolling through or looking at page after page.
For the additional filtering and sorting options, the ease it allows users to find the valuable information on your website, the $99 license fee can be well worth it.
When Is FacetWP Useful?
If your website has a large number of posts or listing, FacetWP is likely to be a useful plugin. It doesn’t necessarily make for better content, but allows users to find more content more efficiently.
These types of posts can be anything like:
- Clinical trials
- Properties
- Products
- Staff directories
- Portfolio projects
- Events
- Resources or documents
This is a very helpful plugin when there are possibly dozens or hundreds or posts and visitors are looking for a specific one. If search criterion or options can be assigned to the posts as created, users will be able to filter down to the exact post or posts they’re looking for.
Essentially, FacetWP turns a large collection of great content into an offering that is easy for users to navigate through.
Custom Filters Based on Your Website’s Content
One of the really great things about this plugin is that it isn’t a set parameter of search options. It isn’t limited to shirt size or gluten free or age ranges. With FacetWP you can create filtering options using custom taxonomies and custom fields that you can set up through ACF. This allows you to customize the options for searching around the information users are looking for.
For example, a clinical trial directory website could be filtered by:
- Condition or disease focused on in the trial
- Geographic location of offered trial
- Open status and if the trial is available
This ability to create custom search options or require every website into the same generic search groupings. This customization allows your content to be better adapted to the needs of your users.
Different Filtering and Sorting Options
Another great feature of FacetWP is that you aren’t confined to one sorting or filtering options. There are several built in ways for visitors to filter content as needed.
These options include:
- Checkboxes
- Radio buttons
- Dropdown menus
- Keyword searches
- Sorting controls
- Other more advanced filtering options
What is really great is that different filter types can be combined, even on the same page. This adds a great depth and functionality to the search and filtering offered to users.
FacetWP Works Well With ACF
Advanced Custom Fields allows for custom post types with custom fields. That information can then be added into pages throughout the site.
FacetWP can take that structured content and post types to create search and filtering control. Once this is set up, users can easily find any piece of that content they are looking for if it is available.
FacetWP can work with standard blog posts and pages in WordPress, but these ACF features can really help establish your website and provide even more great content.
Styling FacetWP to Match Your Brand
With some WordPress search and filter options, the display can look rather generic. That isn’t the case with FacetWP.
FacetWP can be customized to match your website and brand with:
- Colors
- Fonts
- Buttons
- Spacing
- Overall design
This allows the filtering to look like a natural part of the website design. Some filtering options look like an add-on, forced into the site, but with FacetWP it can be designed to look like part of the experience.
With this ability, good styling and design can make the filters easier for visitors to understand and use. This makes the most out of your content for the website and your users.
Is FacetWP Worth It?
FacetWP provides all this advanced functionality in the yearly license for $99 per year. The larger investment is in the planning and designing of the search features and created the ACF post types.
For websites with large, detailed, or complicated gatherings of content, it can significantly improve usability. It is a great choice for when basic WordPress search is not enough.
Make Large Amounts of Website Content Easier to Use
FacetWP makes large collections of WordPress and ACF content easier to search, filter, and navigate. All of this filtering can be customized to match your website’s content, user needs, and your brands and style.
If you have a large collection of great quality content on your site and are looking to add better search and filtering options to it, FacetWP is a great plugin to look into. If you’re not sure on how to set it up, style the options, or make the most of it, reach out to Full Scope Creative.