Zero-Result Analysis

Zero-result queries are searches that return no matching products. They represent a direct signal from shoppers about what they expect to find in your store. Analyzing and addressing zero-result queries is one of the highest-impact actions you can take to improve product discovery.

Viewing Zero-Result Queries

Go to Analytics > Zero Results to see:

• Zero-result queries -- A ranked list of search terms that returned no products, sorted by frequency
• Zero-result rate -- The percentage of all searches that returned zero results (aim for under 5%)
• Trend over time -- Whether your zero-result rate is improving or worsening

Why Queries Return Zero Results

1. Missing Synonyms

The shopper used a different word than your product data. For example, searching "hoodie" when your products are listed as "sweatshirt."

Fix: Add a synonym pair in Search > Synonyms.

2. Typos Beyond Tolerance

The search engine's typo tolerance handles common misspellings, but extreme typos may still fail.

Fix: If a specific misspelling is common, add it as a one-way synonym pointing to the correct term.

3. Products Not in Catalog

The shopper is looking for a product you do not carry.

Action: This is valuable market research. If a query appears frequently, consider adding that product to your catalog.

4. Products Not Indexed

The product exists but is not indexed -- perhaps it is a draft, or it was recently added and indexing has not completed.

Fix: Check the sync status in Settings > Sync Status and trigger a re-sync if needed.

5. Products Hidden by Merchandising

A merchandising rule (like "Hide Out-of-Stock") may be removing the product from results.

Fix: Review active merchandising rules in Merchandising > Rules and adjust if necessary.

Taking Action on Zero-Result Queries

Synonym Suggestions

The system automatically generates synonym suggestions from zero-result data. When a zero-result query is similar to terms that exist in your product catalog, a suggestion appears in Search > Synonyms > Zero-Result Suggestions.

Batch Review Workflow

1. Go to Analytics > Zero Results weekly
2. Sort by frequency (most common zero-result queries first)
3. For each query, determine the cause:
   • If synonym issue: click "Add Synonym" to create a synonym pair
   • If product missing: note it for your buying team
   • If indexing issue: trigger a re-sync
4. Track your zero-result rate over time to measure improvement

Benchmarks

Relationship to Fallback Content

Even with aggressive zero-result optimization, some queries will always return no results (e.g., products you genuinely do not sell). For these cases, configure fallback content in Merchandising > Zero Results to keep shoppers engaged. See the Zero-Result Handling guide for details.