Google Custom Search (GCS) has an amazing feature that allows you to restrict search results to your domain. If you want search results limited to your website only, here is a simple guide you can follow.
Table of Contents
Step-by-Step Guide
1. Log in to Google Custom Search
- Visit Google Custom Search Console.
- Login with your Google account.
2. Select Your Search Engine
- Select your custom search engine in the dashboard.
- Click on Control Panel to edit.
3. Restrict to Your Domain
- Go to the Setup tab.
- Add your domain URL in the “Sites to Search” section:
- Example:
https://yourdomain.com
- Example:
- If you want to restrict a specific subdomain or directory, type the URL like this:
- For a specific subdomain:
https://blog.yourdomain.com - For a directory:
https://yourdomain.com/blog/
- For a specific subdomain:
- Save changes.
4. Exclude External Results
If external websites appear in search results:
- Scroll down to Sites Exclusion.
- Add here the URLs or domains that you don’t want in the results.
Example:
https://example.com
5. Update and Test Your Search
- Save your settings and test your Custom Search on your website.
- Ensure is now only showing results for your domain.
Conclusion
Restricting Google Custom Search to your domain is a simple process that can provide a better and more relevant experience to your site visitors. By simply adjusting a few settings, you can remove irrelevant search results from outside your domain.
