Test what customers actually type.
Build a small query list from common customer questions. Include exact product names, broad categories, everyday descriptions, and phrases that do not match the catalog title. The goal is to find useful results without requiring visitors to know your internal terminology.
Check what is in the index.
A search interface cannot find content that was never indexed. Check whether products, pages, articles, availability, and useful attributes are included and refreshed. Look for deleted or outdated items that still appear in results.
Make the result set easier to navigate.
Useful filters let visitors narrow a broad query without starting over. Check that labels make sense, counts are accurate for the result set, and selections can be cleared. On mobile, filters and results should remain easy to reach.
Design for the unsuccessful search.
A zero-result screen should help someone continue: simplify the query, clear a filter, browse a relevant category, or ask for help. Measure whether visitors reach useful content, not just how often the search box is opened.
Walk through Nova Find with Dave.
Nova Find focuses on discovery inside WordPress and WooCommerce sites. Book a demo to see natural-language search and catalog filters, then discuss your content, indexing needs, and integration requirements.