# Getting started

This article will cover how to create your first search instance and place it on your page, sidebar or theme.

{% embed url="<https://youtu.be/XVWqsZ4ksD4>" %}
Getting Started With Ajax Search Pro
{% endembed %}

## Creating a search instance

By clicking on the newly visible **Ajax Search Pro** menu item on your backend, you will be redirected to a page with a form visible. There you can create your first search instance.

![](http://i.imgur.com/MAmXVQk.png)

After creation the search is already usable. You can skip the configuration if you want to. (you probably won't though)

## Placing the search form on your site

After creating your first search instance, it's already ready to use - but of course you can customize it to your liking.

There are couple of possible ways to put your search instance to your front end:&#x20;

1. Automatically [replace your current search](/getting-started/replacing-the-default-theme-search-bar.md) (some themes might not support that)
2. Using the [search shortcodes](/getting-started/search-shortcodes.md)&#x20;
3. Using the [search widget](/getting-started/search-widget.md)
4. Using the [search as menu item](/getting-started/search-as-menu-item.md)
5. Using the Post editor or the [WPBakery Builder (Visual Composer)](http://codecanyon.net/item/visual-composer-page-builder-for-wordpress/242431) plugin


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# Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation

If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:

```
GET https://documentation.ajaxsearchpro.com/getting-started.md?ask=<question>
```

The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.