OMG Ning - PLEASE Fix the Search

[Jen]

Dear Ning Team,
This is without a doubt the most frustrating platform on the Planet, in regards to searching for content. I've been searching for 30 minutes for one blasted tip. For God's sake, forget all the fancy stuff for a while, and fix one of the most needed and critical features that any online Community or website must have - - a Search that works properly. The Search should return results for any content that contains a "search word or phrase", and not just tags. But, even the tags are not found.

This has been a problem for almost 2 years now. It's inexcusable. And frankly, I am tired of wasting hours every week searching, and I'm tired of my members having to experience this exasperating experience as well.

If you want proof that even the simplest of searches do not work properly, I'll be happy to oblige. I cannot tell you how many times I have searched for exact tags, that absolutely exist - - nada, doesn't work. Even the Google Search struggles with Ning tags. So something is obviously, seriously wrong. Please fix it.

Sorry for my shortness on this. But, I am tired of this being ignored. I am pleading with you all. Please fix this critically needed feature, and ongoing issue.

You all know that I am one of your biggest fans, no doubt about it. But this issue makes me a little crazy in the brain.

Thanks in advance,
Jen

[mike]

i been having this issue as well with my site, when i add tags, then add sub tabs then edit to search for the tags, nothing,... hope this gets fixed soon

[Ken]

I know it can take up to 36 hrs for new content to appear in the search results, but if the search is indeed that bad then it really sucks big time.

[Jen]

What's really frustrating: what works today, may not work tomorrow. Perfect example - - I am positive that the search found a specific tip on my site, just the other day, by searching for this tag phrase "google ads" (no quotes). But today, and a week ago, nope, can't find it. I use Google Search which did work better than the Ning Search. Now, it doesn't work either. Which to me, is just crazy. And I guarantee if I added the Ning Search back, it would yield the same results.

I am attaching 2 images. The 1st image shows the tip page on my site, with the tags. One of which is "google ads". The other is the search results, "Your search - google ads - did not match any documents.".

Since these images are large, I have added the "link to original", so the tags can be clearly read.

[Morten Aabo]

Supporting Jen on this one.

Not a new topic, just as written... been an issue for some years now. I believe that the most bad part of searching is the fact that very small typing mistakes, result in absolutely nothing.

Would love an engine, being more "open minded", with the ability to look for alternatives. I would rather have "not that relevant" content shown, instead of nothing, alot of the time.

Anyway, i don't expect the Google magic here, but as Jen has written, the search function need a liftup, driving more wider searches and alternative suggestions, with "some" of the search words found in other stuff on the site.

[Jen]

Hi Morten,
Thanks. Open-minded would be awesome. But heck, I'll take "throw me a morsel"
Best,
Jen

[Morten Aabo]

Haha, that was a good one! ;)

[Jen]

Well how about this? I just tried my search here, and it works. I had added the same tip here on Creators. Now, I'm really confused.

[Janettee McCrary]

That's because Creators doesn't use NING search. They use GOOGLE search, which LOOKS like NING search! I agree, this is a BIG issue and does need to be fixed if you want to keep Creators happy! What are we supposed to do when you've added all the cool stuff to get us new members... But then they leave because they can't find anything (or other members to connect with) because search sucks?

[Jen]

I realize they are using Google Search, and so am I. What's odd, is mine is working differently than their Google search. But regardless, like you said, the Ning Search needs to work. And I find that neither method works well or consistently.
Thanks,
Jen

[Janettee McCrary]

Ah, sorry, didn't realize.

[Brian Floe]

There must be a fix for us to replace the Ning search with a Google site search?

I use CSS to remove the Ning search. It's better to not show it at all than to give visitors a bad experience.

[Janettee McCrary]

I wasn't even aware that you could remove it, wow! I wish we had the option of Google search or Ning search, too.