Requesting Search Engine KeyWord/Phrase Matches

The purpose of UC's search engine is to assist our Web visitors in finding the information they desire from UC's Web site.

UC uses the Google Search Appliance as its search engine service. It is managed and maintained by University Relations and UCit. Any university unit may submit keyword match requests for the search service. Instructions for submitting matches are outlined below.

Units may also request their own Google Search "Collection," which can be configured to search only your area's Web pages. Collections are managed by those requesting them, and the keyword list is created and manipulated by the collection manager. To request a collection, send e-mail to WebCommunications@uc.edu.

Please also review, "Search Engine Optimization."

Instructions for Submitting Keyword Match Requests

Before creating your list:

1. Keywords should be "high-level" but specific to your area. For more detailed keywords, you may request your own Google Search "Collection."
2. A particular keyword or phrase may be less applicable to your department than to another. In this case, the E-Communication Planning Committee will determine the order of returned results. Up to three (3) URLs can be associated with each Keyword or Phrase Match. 
3. Submit only one list for your department/unit. Coordinate with all areas of your department/unit before submitting your list.

To submit your requested keywords/phrases:

1. Create an excel document with the following column headings (see sample below):
   1. Search Term.
      1. Lowercase all words and phrases.
   2. Type of Match (see KeyMatch documentation below). Type of match may be edited by the E-Communication Planning Committee to produce desired results.
   3. URL for Match.
      1. Keyword URLs need the leading http://
      2. All URLs need the ending slash (except when ending with a filename, e.g., http://www.uc.edu/printingservices/ but http://www.uc.edu/printingservices/business_cards.asp)
   4. Title for Match.
      1. Title should be specific for the content of the site and, consequently, should also match the actual title shown on the Web page.
2. Put your entries in the proper order/columns as noted above and in the example below. If you have more than one URL for a particular keyword/phrase, you must enter it in a separate row. The order of the listings is the order in which they will be returned, so put the most relevant first.
3. Check your links to be sure they work properly. The easiest way to do this is to make your link active within the Excel document, so you can easily click the link to check it.
4. Save your excel file as “departmentName.xls” and send to WebCommunications@uc.edu.
5. The keyword list will be updated on a weekly basis or as requests are received.
6.  UC Web servers are continually indexed by the search engine.

Sample of Excel spreadsheet document:

Search Term(s)	Term Occurs As	URL	Title for Match
academic calendar	PhraseMatch	http://www.uc.edu/registrar/calendars.html	Academic Calendar
bearcat alumni	PhraseMatch	http://www.alumni.uc.edu/	Alumni Affairs
bearcat express	PhraseMatch	http://www.uc.edu/facmgmt/shuttle.asp	Bearcat Express –Shuttle
co-op	KeywordMatch	http://www.uc.edu/propractice/uccoop.htm	Co-op Program
co-op	KeywordMatch	http://www.uc.edu/propractice/icp/	International Co-op Program
mcmicken	KeywordMatch	http://www.artsci.uc.edu/	McMicken College of Arts & Sciences
mcmicken hall	ExactMatch	http://www.uc.edu/virtualtour/quicktour/mcmickenhall.html	McMicken Hall

 KeyMatch Documentation

KeyMatch Type	Criteria (none are case sensitive)	If search query is "Abraham Lincoln"	Reason for KeyMatch
KeywordMatch	A word that must appear anywhere in the search query.	Keyword Matchs = "Abraham" and "Lincoln"	If your KeywordMatch is "Abraham Lincoln" the search query must include BOTH "Abraham" AND "Lincoln" to trigger this KeywordMatch. To get a KeywordMatch for EITHER "Abraham" or "Lincoln", then enter two KeywordMatches: one for "Abraham" and one for "Lincoln"
PhraseMatch	A phrase that appears anywhere in query. For the phrase to match, all of the words must be present, the order of the words must be the same with no intervening words, and any hyphens in the query must be matched.	PhraseMatch = "Abraham Lincoln," "President Abraham Lincoln," "Abraham Lincoln president," and "young Abraham Lincoln"	These are all phrase KeyMatches because the words appear in the order entered in the search query, "Abraham Lincoln." "Abraham the Tall Lincoln" is not a PhraseMatch because "the Tall" separates the phrase "Abraham Lincoln."
ExactMatch	Phrase must exactly match the query.	ExactMatch = "Abraham Lincoln"	Only "Abraham Lincoln" is an ExactMatch for the query. "President Abraham Lincoln" and "Abraham Lincoln's" are not ExactMatches.