Add SearchCue to WordPress

What this guide covers

This guide installs the SearchCue WordPress plugin, connects your site, and adds search.

If your site does not use WordPress, follow the general setup guide.

Before you start

You need access to the WordPress admin interface.

Install the plugin

1. In WordPress admin, open Plugins → Add New Plugin.
2. Search for SearchCue.
3. Find SearchCue: AI Site Search & Answers in the results, then select Install Now.
4. When the installation finishes, select Activate.

Connect to SearchCue

Configure the SearchCue connection:

1. In WordPress admin, open SearchCue in the admin menu.
2. Under Connect to SearchCue, enter your email address.
3. Enable Automatic updates so that the plugin notifies SearchCue when site content changes. If you leave this setting off, changes wait for the next scheduled crawl.
4. Select Sign up or in.
5. Open the email from SearchCue, then select its sign-in link.
6. On the page that opens, select Connect WordPress site. SearchCue connects the site and completes the setup.

The plugin adds the SearchCue embed script to public WordPress pages. It does not change your published content or theme files.

Activate the search interface

SearchCue works after the site is connected. By default, the plugin adds a floating search icon to the bottom right of the site. Visitors can select it to open search. You can also add other entry points.

Link to /search

Add a menu item that points to /search:

1. In WordPress admin, open Appearance → Editor or Appearance → Menus, depending on your theme.
2. Add a custom link.
3. Set the URL to /search.
4. Use a label such as Search.
5. Save the menu or template.

Add a search input

If the theme already has a search field, SearchCue uses it when a visitor focuses it. You can also add this input:

<input type="search" placeholder="Search..." />

Test the setup

Open the site in a private browser window. Select the floating search icon, a /search link, or a search field. Confirm that the SearchCue interface opens.

Next steps

SearchCue crawls the site after it connects. From the SearchCue settings page, open Design, Analytics, or Documentation in the SearchCue dashboard.

Use Design to change colours, typography, spacing, and result layout. You do not need to change the WordPress plugin.

Troubleshooting

If search does not open on your site:

• Confirm that the plugin is active under Plugins → Installed Plugins.
• Clear the page cache and CDN cache, then reload the site.
• Check that the active theme calls wp_head(). Most themes do.

Manually set the SearchCue site ID

The connection step enters the site ID automatically. If the connection did not finish, enter the site ID yourself:

1. In the SearchCue dashboard, open your site and copy its site ID. It starts with site_.
2. In WordPress admin, open the SearchCue settings and expand Advanced settings.
3. Paste the site ID into the SearchCue Site ID field.
4. Save.