How to add Google custom search engine in Blogger – Google search bar

Add Google custom search engine in Blogger - Google search barA blog, in order to give a best user experience must possess three important things. One is commenting system that helps users to interact with each other’s. Know how to enable or disable comments in Blogger. The second one is showing dates in posts (timestamp) that helps visitors to know whether the content is evergreen or not. Here is how to show / hide postdates and time in Blogger. The third one is search bar that helps visitors to discover more interesting content within your site. Here we will see how to add Google custom search engine in Blogger.

When it comes to search technology, first thing that definitely strikes our mind is Google. A huge and a most preferred search engine that bring up accurate results for all user queries. For Bloggers and webmasters, Google offers a search widget which will give a best experience in exploring your site. So, why not Blogger search bar? Blogger by default has a search widget which is not much efficient and it’s not capable of showing relevant results. So adding Google search bar helps your visitors to dig the most appropriate and interesting content.

Some advantages of Google custom search engine are it improves impressions and page views on your blog. It keeps your visitors engaged by making them to find and read further articles. Moreover you can monetize by integrating Google adsense in Google custom search engine.

Related: How to add Disqus commenting system to Blogger

How to add Google custom search engine in Blogger

Setting up Google custom search engine in your blog is very simple and it only takes minutes to install. Just follow the step by step instructions.

Step 1: Login to your Blogger account and head to Google CSE homepage.

Integrate Google custom search engine in Blogger - Google search widget box

Step 2: Now at the left hand side click on “New search engine” and start entering your blog details.

Step 3: Enter your domain name without HTTP (ex: sampleblog.blogspot.com). If you manage more than one blog then include that too.  Choose language, name the search engine and click on create at the bottom.

Add Google custom search engine in Blogger - Integrating Google search bar

Now you will see a success page that says “you’ve successfully created your custom search engine”, yes you are! To see how it works click on public URL and start searching your site. The Google custom search engine is very basic, so before adding it in your blog we will customize it.

Google custom search bar for Blogger - Adding Google search engine widget

Step 4:  To customize the search engine go to control panel or click on edit search engine at the left hand side. Now under setup you will have five settings. Here you can give search engine keywords, search engine description, enable image search if you want etc. You can also integrate your Google adsense account, add users and there are more advanced options. After the search engine configuration move on to look and feel settings.

How to add Google custom search engine in Blogger blog - Search bar

Step 5: Under look and feel you will have different themes and layouts to choose from. Customize it as per your needs and you will see the preview of this search bar towards your right side. When you finally get the desired look and feel, click on save and get code at the bottom.

Google search bar for Blogger - Adding Google search engine widget

Step 6: Now grab the script, login to your Blogger blog, move to Layout, click on add a gadget, choose HTML / JavaScript gadget, add the script into it and finally save it. Arrange the gadget to the desired position where you wish to render the search bar.

Add Google custom search engine in Blogger blog - Google CSE bar

Now go and check your blog where you have added Google custom search bar. If you don’t like the look and feel then you can customize it again and drop the code in your blog.

Hope this post helped you on how to add Google custom search engine in Blogger. Please share and make your comments below about this search bar.