Create Promoted Results in SharePoint Online

Search is extremely important in SharePoint. Creating promoted results in SharePoint, will push the item you choose at the top of the search results.

Configuration possibly occurs at the:

• Search Service Application / SPO Admin Center level
• Site Collections level
• or also at the Site level

In this blog post, we’re going to configure Promoted Results for the entire tenant (aka Best Bets) in SharePoint Online, but the process is the same in SharePoint Server (with minor interface differences).

Minimum requirements:

• Permissions for SharePoint Online
• Site Collection created (for testing purposes)
• Documents uploaded (for testing purposes)

Configure Query Rules in the SharePoint Admin Center (for all site collections)

In this example, we’ll create a query rule to announce a specific training available to all employees.

• Log into the SharePoint Online Admin Center
• On the left side, click on “search” >> “Manage Query Rules“

Search in SPO > Manage Query Rules

For the context to configure the new rule, choose “Local SharePoint Results” from the drop down menu.
Then click on “New query rule”

New rule to be created

On the rule creation page, configure the following (minimum):

• Rule Name
• Query Conditions (choose from the drop down menu)
• Words or phrases to match the query

Creating the rule

You also have the possibility to enter a date (i.e.: When your training starts for instance)

• Click on “Add Promoted Results“
• Give a Title
• Give the URL of your (training) document
• Give a Description 
• Click “Save“

Add Promoted Results

Back on the Rule page, click “Save” again to close.
The Rule is now created!

Rule created

So…. With the above, every time a user will search for “Training“, “SharePoint“, or “sp“, our result should appear first!

Test the new rule on different Site Collections

Test #1 on my https://<tenantName>.sharepoint.com Site Collection

• Log into the Home page
• Top right corner >> “Search this site” enter “training“

Promoted Results working great!

Test #2 on my https://<tenantName>.sharepoint.com/sites/newteamsite Site Collection

• Log into the Home page
• Top right corner >> “Search this site” enter “sharepoint“

Promoted Results work great again!

Configure for Site Collections or Sites

If you wish to create promoted results at the Site Collection level

• Site Collection > Site Settings > Search Query Rules (under Site Collection Administration)

If you wish to create promoted results at the Site level

• Site > Site Settings > Query Rules (under Search)