Keyword rank (FAST Search Server 2010 for SharePoint)

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Applies to: FAST Search Server 2010

A keyword is an entry point for improving search. The keyword can be a single word or a phrase. When a search word matches a keyword, the search experience is improved by searching for the additional synonyms, incorporating promotions to move relevant search results to the top, and displaying additional relevant information as Best Bets and Visual Best Bets.

The following components are involved when tuning keyword rank:

  • Keywords are words or phrases that you have identified as typical terms within your organization. Each keyword entry can include a list of synonyms, which is used to improve recall for the keyword. By identifying keyword terms, you can provide a “glossary” of names, processes, and concepts that are unique to your organization. When a search includes a synonym for a keyword, search items that contain the related keyword are also returned. Furthermore, if a search includes a keyword, search items that contain the synonym are also returned, regardless of whether they contain the keyword.

  • Best Bets are recommended results for a particular keyword and its synonyms. Best Bets can link to recommended websites, data stores or documents. When a search include a keyword or one of its synonyms associated with a Best Bet, links to the associated Best Bets will be displayed in a prominent position on the search results page.

  • Visual Best Bets are manually created content that is associated with a particular keyword and its synonyms. A Visual Best Bet is not limited to text or links, but can be visual elements such as image banners or HTML. When a search include a keyword or one of its synonyms associated with a Visual Best Bet, the associated Visual Best Bets will be displayed above all other search results on the search results page.

  • You can use Document Promotions to indicate that a certain document is a highly relevant result for a particular keyword and its synonyms. When a search include a keyword or one of its synonyms associated with a document promotion, the promoted document will appear higher in the search result list. You can promote multiple documents for each keyword. You can also apply Global Document Promotions, where boost points are given to a specified document regardless of the search words entered by the user. Reversely you can use Documents Demotions to indicate documents that are less relevant for a particular keyword and its synonyms. When a search include a keyword or one of its synonyms associated with a document emotion, demoted documents will appear somewhat lower on the search result list. You can demote multiple documents each keyword.

  • You can use Site Promotions to add rank points to all documents that belong to a specific site. This causes those documents to appear somewhat higher on the search results page. You can also use Global Site Promotions to add rank points to all documents within the specified site regardless of the search words entered by the user. It often makes sense to apply a user context to the site promotion, for example, promote the marketing collateral site for people who belong to the marketing organization. Reversely documents that belong to less relevant sites can be given a Site Demotion that will cause the documents to appear towards the end on the search results page. A Global Site Demotion is applied regardless of the search words entered by the user. It can make sense to apply a user context to the site demotion, for example, demote the R&D wiki for people who belong to the sales organization.

  • User contexts enable targeted communication and targeted search improvements by displaying Best Bets, Visual Best Bets, document promotions and demotions to a specific user group only. User contexts match the properties that are defined on the user’s SharePoint User Profile page. For example, a Visual Best Bet banner can be configured to be displayed only for employees who belong to the sales organization and who are located in Germany. The different search settings - Best Bets, Visual Best Bets, document promotions, document demotions, site promotions and site demotions - can have one or more user contexts associated with them.

See also

For information about how to tune keyword rank, see Tune keyword rank (FAST Search Server 2010 for SharePoint).