Lijit

Getting started with Lijit

What is Lijit?

Lijit Networks, Inc. was incorporated in June 2006 and is headquartered in Boulder, Colorado. Lijit provides search-powered applications to individual online publishers and online publisher networks that increase page views and reader engagement, while optimizing search ad revenue. By providing detailed search stats, Lijit helps publishers improve content targeting and uncover reader intent. And, if you're an advertiser, Lijit allows you to place keyword ads in search results across thousands of sites in targeted topical networks.

Want to learn more about Lijit? Please take a look at our About page or watch the screen cast about Lijit Search.

Back to the FAQ index


How do I create a Lijit Account?

You can get your Lijit account started here. This is an overview of the sign-up process:

  1. Begin by going to www.lijit.com and clicking on the Get Started button. Enter your blog's URL and click on the Get Lijit! button.
  2. Next, you'll be taken to a page that lets you plug all of your favorite bookmarking sites, social networks, and photo/video sites into Lijit's content search based on the usernames you have for each site. It's alright if you don't setup every connection right away, you can always go back and add or change this section later.
  3. After that, Lijit automatically searches your blog for an existing blogroll and adds those links to your network. You can also manually add URLs to other blogs, other users from your del.icio.us network, and other Lijit users during this step. Again, don't worry about having this information all lined up right now, you can come back and edit this section later.
  4. Then you're asked to create your Lijit username and screen name, and supply a contact email. You can change your screen name and email later, but choose your username carefully. Once chosen, it's set that way for good.
  5. Finally you'll be taken to the search wijit customization screen to set the styles and options for your unique wijit. Like most everything else during this sign-up process, you'll be able to come back to this section for more changes later.
  6. Your Lijit sign-up is complete! You can now install the Lijit Search Wijit on your blog and start being searched.

Back to the FAQ index


How do I install Lijit on my BlogSpot or TypePad Basic blog?

Check out our helpful screen cast for installing on BlogSpot.

  1. If you aren't already logged into Lijit, start by logging in.
  2. Select "Search Wijit" from the main navigation.
  3. Once you have the Wijit options just how you want them, click on the "Install the Wijit" button at the bottom of the page.
  4. If you're not already logged into BlogSpot/TypePad, you'll be asked to log in now.
  5. BlogSpot Users: Make sure the Select a blog option points to the blog you want Lijit installed on, and then click the "Add Widget" button. Congratulations, you've finished installing the Lijit Wijit!
  6. TypePad Users: If you weren't already logged in to TypePad when you clicked "Install the Wijit" you may get an error, and will need to re-click the "Install the Wijit" button to keep going in the installation process. After that, make sure you have a checkmark next to the blog you want Lijit installed on and click the "Add Widget" button. Congratulations, you've finished installing the Lijit Wijit!

Back to the FAQ index


I am using a Mixed Media or Advanced Template set with TypePad. How do I install Lijit?

  1. If you aren't already logged into Lijit, start by logging in.
  2. Select Search Wijit from the main navigation.
  3. Once you have the Wijit options just how you want them, click the Install the Wijit button on the bottom of the page.
  4. Ignore the Quick Install for TypePad Users button, which is for users with a basic TypePad template. Instead, copy the script in the section to the right of the Quick install buttons.
  5. If you're not already logged into your TypePad account, log in now. Then, go to the TypeLists tab.
  6. Click on the link that says Create a new TypeList. Choose a List type of Notes, name the list "Lijit Search", and then hit Create New List.
  7. Enter "Lijit Search" for label, then paste the copied code into the Note section and hit the Save button.
  8. You should now have a TypeList called "Lijit Search". Go to the Weblogs tab and click on the Design link for your blog.
  9. Under the Index Templates list, choose either sidebar 1 or sidebar 2.
  10. Add the following lines into the sidebar:

    <$MTListInclude name="Lijit Search"$>
  11. Congratulations, you've finished installing the Lijit Wijit!

Back to the FAQ index


How do I Install Lijit on my WordPress blog?

There are multiple approaches to installing Lijit on your WordPress blog. If you are using WordPress 2.7 or later, the easiest way to install is to search and install directly from the WordPress Plugin Directory. If you're using WordPress 2.2 to 2.6, you'll need to download the plugin manually, and then copy the files to the right directory on your site. If you're using WordPress 2.1 or earlier, you'll need to add a small block of script directly to your theme. Alternatively, anyone on WordPress 2.2 or later can also install Lijit by adding a block of script to a text widget. All of these installation methods are detailed below.

Installing on WordPress 2.7 or later:

  1. Within the WordPress menu, go to Plugins > Add New and do a search for Lijit.
  2. Find the Plugin in this list called Lijit Search and click on the "Install" link.
  3. A new window will open with an "Install Now" button. Click it.
  4. After Installing you will be presented with a few options. Click on "Activate Plugin".
  5. Lijit Search should now be listed under the Currently Active Plugins section on this page. Within the Description for Lijit Search click the "Click here to configure the Lijit Plugin" link.
  6. Existing Lijit users: If you already have an account with Lijit, select the "Existing User" option, enter your username, and hit Submit.
  7. New Lijit users: You will need to sign up for Lijit here by entering a username, email, and the URL to your blog. You will then be taken to lijit.com to setup a password and have your account activated. Once activated, click on the link above that says Click here after registration to complete your blog setup.
  8. You now need to choose whether you want to use the standard Lijit Wijit, or if you want to override the default WordPress Search Widget with Lijit functionality. For more information on overriding, please see the section on overriding the WordPress Search Widget.
  9. Next, head to the Appearance > Widgets section of the WordPress Appearance menu and click "Add" next to the Lijit Search listing to add the Wijit to your widget sidebar. Finally, click on the "Save Changes" button to save the Wijit into your sidebar. Congratulations, you've finished installing the Lijit Wijit!

Installing on WordPress 2.2 - 2.6:

  1. Download the plug-in here.
  2. Unzip or copy the files into your site's WordPress plug-in directory (wp-content/plugins). This should create a folder in wp-content/plugins/wp-lijit-wijit.
  3. Go to the WordPress plug-ins page, find the Plugin called Lijit Search, and activate the plugin.
  4. Head to the Lijit plugin configuration page under the WordPress Settings menu, and configure your account.
  5. Existing Lijit users: If you already have an account with Lijit, select the "Existing User" option, enter your username, and hit Submit.
  6. New Lijit users: You will need to sign up for Lijit here by entering a username, email, and the URL to your blog. You will then be taken to lijit.com to setup a password and have your account activated. Once activated, click on the link above that says Click here after registration to complete your blog setup.
  7. You now need to choose whether you want to use the standard Lijit Wijit, or if you want to override the default WordPress Search Widget with Lijit functionality. For more information on overriding, please see the section on overriding the WordPress Search Widget.
  8. Next, head to the Appearance > Widgets section of the WordPress admin menu and click "Add" next to the Lijit Search listing to add the Wijit to your widget sidebar. Finally, click on the "Save Changes" button to save the Wijit into your sidebar. Congratulations, you've finished installing the Lijit Wijit!

Installing on WordPress 2.1 or earlier:

  1. If you aren't already logged into Lijit, start by logging in.
  2. Select Search Wijit from the main navigation.
  3. Once you have the Wijit options just how you want them, click the Install the Wijit button on the bottom of the page.
  4. Copy the script in the section to the right of the Quick install buttons, and then head to the Themes section of your WordPress menu.
  5. Find the desired place within your theme editor, paste the copied script, and save the changes. Congratulations, you've finished installing the Lijit Wijit!

Installing on WordPress with a text widget (requires 2.3 or later):

  1. If you aren't already logged into Lijit, start by logging in.
  2. Select Search Wijit from the main navigation.
  3. Once you have the Wijit options just how you want them, click the Install the Wijit button on the bottom of the page.
  4. Copy the script in the section to the right of the Quick install buttons, and then head to the Appearance > Widgets section of your WordPress menu.
  5. Add a new Text widget to your sidebar, and then open up the newly added widget for Editing.
  6. Give your new widget a name, "Lijit Search" would do nicely, paste the copied script into the large text area, and then hit the "Done" button.
  7. Save your changes and you're finished!

Back to the FAQ index


What does it mean to override the default WordPress Search Widget, and how can I do it?

If your WordPress theme is not Widget enabled, or if you just like the way the default WordPress search box looks on your site, then you can choose to override it's functionality to gain all the benefits of a Lijit search. Before you begin this process, it's important to make sure that you have a default WordPress searchform either in your theme, or added to a sidebar via a widget.

  1. Log in to your WordPress site admin and go to the Plugins section.
  2. You should see the Lijit Search Plugin in this menu. If you do not see the Lijit Search here, you need to first go through the steps to install Lijit on WordPress. If the Lijit Search Plugin is not activated, go ahead and activate it.
  3. After activating the Lijit Search Plugin select the link that says "Click here to configure the Lijit Plugin". In this menu select the option to override and then hit the "Save Options" button.
  4. That's it! Your searchform should now be Lijit enabled.

Back to the FAQ index


I'm using a hosted WordPress.com site. Can I install Lijit?

Sadly, sites hosted by WordPress.com do not currently support installation of the Lijit Search Wijit. However, you can still allow your readers to search your blog with Lijit by providing a link to your Lijit profile page on your site, which you can accomplish by following these steps:

  1. Log into your WordPress.com account.
  2. Open the "Links" drop down menu and click "Add New".
  3. Enter a name for your link (perhaps something like "Lijit Search" or "Search Me!").
  4. Enter the URL for your Profile page in the Web Address field (it will look something like: http://www.lijit.com/users/[insert your username here]).
  5. Provide a description of your Lijit Search link (perhaps something like, "Lijit's search is great! Try it out!?).
  6. Select which category of links you want to hold your link to the Lijit Search.
  7. You can ignore the Target, Link Relationship, and Advanced sections.
  8. Once you've finished filling out the fields, scroll back up to the top of the page and click the "Add Link" button on the right side of the page. You should now have a link to your Lijit Profile page on your WordPress.com blog.

Back to the FAQ index


How do I install Lijit on my Ning Social Network?

Getting a Lijit Wijit installed on your Ning Social Network is a fairly straightforward process. Here are the steps:

  1. If you aren't already logged into Lijit, start by logging in.
  2. Select "Search Wijit" from the main navigation.
  3. Once you have the Wijit options just how you want them, click the "Install the Wijit" button on the bottom of the page.
  4. Copy the script in the section to the right of the Quick install buttons, and then head to your Ning Social Network's Manage page.
  5. The first thing we need to do her is sure that you have a place on your Social Network page to put the Wijit. Go to Features on the Manage page. If you do not already have a Text Box feature in your layout, add one now.
  6. Save any changes that you made here, and then head to the Main menu for your Ning Social Network. Find the Text Box that you want to use for your Wijit and click on its EDIT button.
  7. Paste the script you copied earlier into the provided text area, and then hit the Save button below the text area.
  8. Congratulations, your Lijit Wijit should now be installed and ready to use on your Ning Social Network!

Back to the FAQ index


The blogging platform I use isn't mentioned specifically in this help section. How do I install Lijit?

The first thing you want to do is make sure that the blogging platform you're using supports the use of JavaScript on your page. LiveJournal, Multiply, and a few other blogging platforms don't currently allow users to add JavaScript to their blogs.

Once you've determined whether or not your blogging platform supports JavaScript widgets, the next thing to do is figure out where you will need to put the Wijit code that we provide for you. This varies depending on your blogging platform. Try searching your blog platforms help pages on JavaScript and/or widgets to get an idea.

Once you know where to put the code, the rest is pretty simple. Here are the steps:

  1. If you aren't already logged into Lijit, start by logging in.
  2. Select ?"Search Wijit" from the main navigation.
  3. Once you have the Wijit options just how you want them, click the "Install the Wijit" button on the bottom of the page.
  4. Copy the script provided on this page.
  5. Paste the copied script in the necessary place. Congratulations, you've just installed Lijit!

If things just don't seem to be working out properly and you'd like some extra help, feel free to email us at and we'll do our best to assist you.

Back to the FAQ index


The blogging platform I use isn't mentioned specifically in this help section. How do I install Lijit?

There are a number of reasons why you may not be seeing any search results. Please head here for some possible explanations. If you find yourself still having problems, our support team is more than happy to help you get things working properly. They can be reached via email at .

Back to the FAQ index