An empty search results page is the most expensive page in a parts store. The shopper knew what they wanted, typed it, and was told you don’t have it. Often you do.
Find out why searches fail
Before fixing anything, look at the searches that found nothing over the last month (see search analytics for parts stores). In most parts stores, the causes are the same few, roughly in this order of how easy they are to fix.
1. Part numbers in a different format
The shopper typed 92442167. Your catalog says 92-442-167. The search compared characters and found nothing.
Fix: use a search that matches part numbers with dashes, dots and spaces ignored, in every field where numbers live: SKUs, variant SKUs, metafields and descriptions. See how to make part numbers searchable on Shopify.
2. A number you don’t store
The shopper typed an old number, another brand’s number, or the original equipment number. The part is in your store under a different number.
Fix: add the number to the product, in a metafield or a cross-reference list. Label it so the shopper knows why it matched. See cross-references and superseded part numbers.
3. Sizes written differently
1/2 inch vs 1/2", 60 cm vs 600 mm, 1,5 kW vs 1.5kW.
Fix: a search that reads measurements, not just characters. See sizes and units in site search.
4. Different words
Shoppers write viton, you write FKM. They write breaker, you write MCB. They write gasket, you write seal.
Fix: synonyms. Add them from your missed searches, not from a list of every word you can think of. Two-way synonyms (both words find both) are usually right; one-way synonyms are for cases where one word is more general than the other.
5. Typos
berings, contacter, gaskit. More common on phones.
Fix: typo tolerance for words, with a limit based on word length. Not for part numbers, where one wrong character means a different part.
6. Products you really don’t have
Some searches are real gaps in your range. Those are useful too: they tell you what to stock.
Fix: don’t end the visit on an empty page. Offer a short form where the shopper can send the part number and their email, and reply when you can source it. Keep the list for purchasing.
Make the empty page useful anyway
Even with all of this, some searches will find nothing. The page that appears should:
- say clearly that nothing matched, and repeat the search so the shopper can spot a typo;
- offer a way to ask for the part;
- show how to contact you, for shoppers who prefer to talk;
- avoid filling the page with unrelated products that look like matches.
How Tolra handles it
Tolra matches part numbers in any format and other part numbers from your cross-reference list, reads sizes and units, applies your synonyms in both directions and corrects small typos in words (never in part numbers). Search rules can pin products, hide them, show a banner or send a search to a page. When nothing matches, the results page can show a “Can’t find what you need?” form; requests arrive on your Product requests page, and the shopper’s email is only kept if they tick a box to share it.
Try a few of these cases in the interactive demo.
Questions
Should an empty search show popular products instead?
Showing a few popular products is better than a blank page, but it doesn't help someone looking for one specific part. A short message, a request form and contact details help more.
Do typos matter in a parts store?
For words, yes, especially on phones. For part numbers, be careful: a part number with one wrong digit is a different part. Typo tolerance should apply to words, not to codes.
Can I redirect a search to a page?
Yes. Some searches are better answered by a page, for example a brand page or a sizing guide. Tolra's search rules can send a search to any page on your store.
Examples use made-up brands and part numbers unless a real format is needed to show the point. Try them in the interactive demo.