Phrase boosting allows you to define important phrases that receive significant relevance boosts when users search for them, helping important content rank higher in results.
How It Works
When users search for exact phrases you've configured, those results receive a significant relevance boost:
- Phrase in Title: Boost × 3 (e.g., if multiplier is 5, title match = 15)
- Phrase in Excerpt: Boost × 2 (e.g., 5 × 2 = 10)
- Phrase in Content: Boost × 1 (e.g., 5 × 1 = 5)
The default phrase boost multiplier is 5, but this is configurable.
Configuration
Adding Phrases
- Go to Settings → Lumenare Search → Search Quality Settings
- Find Phrase Boosting section
- Add phrases (one per line):
WordPress Security Plugin Best Practices Guide Getting Started Tutorial - Set Phrase Boost Multiplier (default: 5)
- Click Save Changes
Note: Phrase boosting works immediately – no reindexing required.
Boost Multiplier
Default: 5
- Phrase in title: 5 × 3 = 15 points
- Phrase in excerpt: 5 × 2 = 10 points
- Phrase in content: 5 × 1 = 5 points
Adjusting:
- Higher (5-10): Stronger boost for phrases
- Lower (2-5): More balanced results
- Test to find optimal value
Use Cases
Important Product Names
Example:
Lumenare Search
Guard Dog Security
WordPress Security Plugin
Why: Ensure product names rank high when searched.
Key Concepts
Example:
WordPress security
Search optimization
Content strategy
Best practices
Why: Boost important concepts in your content.
Brand Names
Example:
WordPress
Lumenare
Guard Dog
Why: Ensure brand-related content ranks high.
Specific Topics
Example:
Getting Started Guide
Troubleshooting Tips
Performance Optimization
Why: Help users find important guides and resources.
Best Practices
Choose Important Phrases
Select phrases that:
- Users commonly search for
- Represent important content
- Should rank high in results
- Are specific to your site
Keep Phrases Specific
Good:
WordPress Security Plugin
Best Practices Guide
Avoid:
WordPress
Guide
Why: Too generic phrases match too much content.
Test Your Phrases
After adding:
- Search for configured phrases
- Verify they rank high
- Check relevance maintained
- Adjust multiplier if needed
Start Small
Begin with:
- Most important phrases
- Product/brand names
- Key concepts
Expand based on:
- Search analytics
- User feedback
- Content priorities
Examples
Example 1: Product Names
Phrases:
Lumenare Search
Guard Dog Security
Search: "Lumenare Search"
Result: Posts with "Lumenare Search" in title get significant boost (15 points with default multiplier)
Example 2: Key Concepts
Phrases:
WordPress security
Best practices
Getting started
Search: "WordPress security"
Result: Posts with exact phrase get boosted, especially in titles
Example 3: Brand Names
Phrases:
WordPress
Lumenare
Search: "WordPress"
Result: Brand-related content ranks higher
Impact on Search
Positive Effects
Important Content Ranks Higher:
- Key phrases surface first
- Better user experience
- Important content discovered
Improved Relevance:
- Exact phrase matches prioritized
- More accurate results
- Better alignment with user intent
Considerations
Balance:
- Too many phrases = less effective
- Too high multiplier = over-boosting
- Test to find optimal configuration
Relevance:
- Ensure phrases are truly important
- Don't boost irrelevant content
- Maintain overall relevance
Troubleshooting
Phrases Not Boosting
Check:
- Phrases are saved correctly
- Exact phrase matches (case-insensitive)
- Multiplier is set
- Content contains exact phrases
Solutions:
- Verify phrase spelling
- Check exact match requirement
- Set appropriate multiplier
- Test with content containing phrases
Over-Boosting
Symptoms:
- Phrase results dominate too much
- Other relevant results buried
Solutions:
- Lower multiplier (try 3 instead of 5)
- Remove less important phrases
- Review phrase selection
- Test with different multipliers
Under-Boosting
Symptoms:
- Phrase results not ranking high enough
- Important content buried
Solutions:
- Increase multiplier (try 7-10)
- Verify phrases are exact matches
- Check phrase configuration
- Test with different multipliers
Advanced Tips
Based on Analytics
Use Search Analytics:
- Review popular queries
- Identify important phrases
- Add to phrase boost list
- Test and refine
Content Strategy
Align with Content:
- Identify key content pieces
- Define important phrases
- Add to phrase boost
- Ensure content uses phrases
Testing Strategy
A/B Testing:
- Test with different multipliers
- Compare result rankings
- Choose optimal configuration
- Monitor over time