Meet the New "Search Box (Type 2)" Widget

Introduction

The Search box (Type 2) widget is a powerful design component for your website's homepage. Building on the foundation of the standard Search box / Slider widget, Type 2 introduces Featured Category Shortcuts directly below the primary search bar.

This allows site visitors to perform broad searches or instantly filter listings by your most popular, seasonal, or strategic categories with a single click—improving user experience and speeding up discovery.

Key Features

• Combined Search & Visual Header: Displays your hero search bar alongside background imagery/sliders.
• Featured Category Shortcuts: Display highlighted categories as quick-access pill buttons or icons directly under the search bar.
• Custom Category Selection: Hand-pick exactly which categories appear as shortcuts directly within the widget editor settings.

How to Add and Configure "Search Box (Type 2)"

Step 1: Access the Page Editor

1. Log in to your eDirectory Site Manager.
2. In the left navigation menu, go to Design → Page Editor.
3. Click to edit your Homepage or any other page you'd like to add this new widget.

Step 2: Add or Replace the Widget

1. Click Add Widget or hover your mouse in between the two widgets you'd like to add the new widget.

2. Browse or search for Search box (Type 2) under the search widget section.
3. Insert the widget into your page layout.

Step 3: Configure Featured Categories

1. Locate the Search box (Type 2) widget block and click the Edit (pencil icon) to open its settings modal.

2. In the widget configuration panel, configure the following:

• Eyebrow: A small header text that appears directly above the main search title (e.g., "Discover Your City" or "Welcome to Our Directory"), used to grab attention or introduce the section.
• Search label 1: The primary headline text displayed above the main keyword search field (e.g., "What are you looking for?").
• Search label 2: The secondary headline text displayed above the location input field (e.g., "Find local businesses, restaurants, activities, and events - all in one place.").
• Placeholder for search by keyword field: The temporary hint text inside the main keyword input box that guides users on what to type (e.g., "Search by business name, keyword, or category...").
• Placeholder for search by location field: The temporary hint text inside the location input box guiding users on how to enter geographic filters (e.g., "City, State, or Zip Code").
• Placeholder for search by AI mode: The hint text displayed inside the search bar when the user switches from the standard search to AI Search Mode (e.g., "Ask anything about local businesses, services, or events...").
• AI mode search suggestion (1, 2, 3): Pre-written prompt ideas or sample questions displayed beneath the AI search bar to give visitors quick inspiration on how to use natural-language search.
• Listing categories shown when AI Mode is off: The hand-picked category shortcuts (such as Beauty Salons, Gyms, Restaurants, etc.) displayed as quick-access pill buttons beneath the standard search bar when AI Mode is inactive. You can select, add, or remove these shortcuts directly from the list.

2. Customize your background slider images, headline text, and placeholder prompts as desired.
3. Click Save Changes inside the widget modal.

Step 4: Save & Publish

1. Once you are satisfied with your setup, click Save Changes at the top right of the Page Editor.

Verifying the Widget on Your Live Site

1. Open a new tab or incognito browser window and visit your website's homepage.
2. Check the hero section: you should see your main search bar along with the selected category shortcuts beneath it.
3. Click on any of the category shortcut tags to verify that it redirects visitors directly to the pre-filtered results page for that category.

Troubleshooting & Tips

Categories are not showing up on the widget

• Ensure you selected at least one category inside the widget's edit modal and clicked Save Changes.
• Verify that the chosen categories contain active listings. Empty categories are hidden to avoid misleading users.

Want to change the order or swap categories later?

• You can update your featured categories anytime by returning to Site Manager → Design → Page Editor, editing the Search box (Type 2) widget, and picking new categories.

Conclusion

The Search box (Type 2) widget combines effective visual appeal with fast navigation, helping your visitors find what they are looking for faster than ever.