We recently added a powerful search engine to Treeshop's website. It offers search capabilities similar to Google's, but only presents query responses based on information contained in Treeshop's website. This post explains how you can use Site Search 360 to zero in on trees that fit for your circumstances and meet you needs, and which you may want to buy.
A few basics
The search box is located in the header - top right. It is visible on every page including a Site Search Page.
When you enter a query in the header search box, results appear in a separate Site Search Page
Site Search 360 (hereinafter SS360) regularly crawls and indexes Treeshop's web pages - just like Google does.
Indexed information is hosted on servers currently located in Canada, whereas Treeshop's site is hosted on servers in the USA. When switching between the Site Search Page and Treeshop pages there may be a delay of a few seconds, depending on data traffic.
The Site Search Page has a search box of its own (middle, top). Use this box to search Treeshop's content. Peruse and study search results in the Site Search Page. Click on a result if you want to learn more. (This takes you to the Treeshop page hosted on another server). Use the "go back key" to return to the Site Search Page. Results of your last search will still be available on the page.
A few examples
If you know the name of the tree you are looking for:
Type either the Scientific name (Diospyros mespiliformis), English name (Jackal berry) or Afrikaans name (Jakkalsbessie) in the search box on the header. Hit enter!
On the Site Search Page a drop down menu allows you to filter content groups. Currently there are three options "all results", "blog posts" (knowledge content) and "buy trees" (tree description and commercial content). For this search example, "buy trees" content tops the list. Note that search results includes price information. Click the blue line to visit the page. If your search query name is unique, you may enter only part of it. For example "Jakk".
If you know the Genus of the tree you are looking for:
Type the Genus name (or part of it) in the header search box, for example "combr" for combretum. SS360 lists all combretum species that Treeshop currently offers for sale. If you are already on the Site Search Page, you can type "combr" in its search box (middle, top). An abbreviated search result is displayed as you type - almost instantly. Hit the blue magnifying glass to expand all search results. Click the blue line of the tree you are looking for to visit its page.
If you have no tree in mind, but have a specific need:
Say, for example, you need to screen an unsightly wall. Type "screening" in the search box. In this example, SS360 will load knowledge content first (as found in the blog post on Screening Solutions) followed by trees that may be used for screening, which you may want to buy from Treeshop. If you are not interested in our tree products, simply select "blog posts"
If you have no tree in mind, but want a specific tree attribute:
Say, for example, you want an "evergreen" tree. Type this in the search box. As before, knowledge content appears first. Lets say you want to buy an evergeen tree. Select "buy trees".
If you have no tree in mind, want a specific tree attribute, but also have a specific constraint:
Assume the tree attribute you are looking for is "evergreen", and you have a "very small garden".
Type "very small garden"+evergreen in the search box. NOTE quotation marks around very small garden. You are instructing the search algorithm to only list trees that are described by this exact text string. As a consequence SS360 will not list a tree that is described as very frost hardy, has small flowers and is suitable for planting in a large garden
A few concluding comments
Search results obviously depend on page content. This is still work-in-progress for many tree pages.
SS360 logs user search queries. We will continue to monitor query data and endeavor to add content that answers these queries.
Although SS360 provides for powerful search capability, search queries are for the most part unstructured. To view how a structured search approach works for gardening with trees, visit TreeBook.online
Productive searching!
Piet Stoker