6 quick checks · ~5 minutes · no setup

Is your internal search working as well as it should?

Many ecommerce teams assume their search works well enough. Simple checks often reveal ranking issues, query gaps, or relevance problems that quietly affect revenue.

How to use this  ·  Run these checks on your own site. If you notice repeated warning signs, your search likely needs closer evaluation.
01Relevance check

Core relevance

Search your most important commercial query.

black running shoes
  • Top results match intent
  • Bestsellers appear early
  • Irrelevant products do not dominate
If unclear: ranking logic may not reflect user intent.
02Query parsing

Attribute queries

Try a query with multiple attributes.

waterproof hiking boots men
  • Attributes are interpreted correctly
  • Filters behave logically
  • Ranking does not become erratic
Common issue: compound queries expose parsing and ranking weaknesses.
03Coverage check

Coverage gaps

Review searches that return zero results.

trail running vest
  • Legitimate searches do not return nothing
  • Synonym gaps are visible
  • Small wording changes do not radically change results
Often reveals: missing synonyms, indexing gaps, or normalization issues.
04Ranking controls

Sorting behavior

Switch between key sorting modes.

price / newest / popularity
  • Sorting actually changes results
  • Relevance is not destroyed
  • Overrides do not create chaos
Watch for: hidden merchandising rules or brittle ranking logic.
05Query assistance

Autocomplete quality

Type slowly and watch the suggestions.

running sho
  • Suggestions are useful
  • Spelling recovery works
  • Popular intents are surfaced
Watch for: weak autocomplete often signals poor query understanding.
06Facet check

Filter behavior

Apply and combine a few important filters.

brand + size + price
  • Result counts stay sensible
  • Strong products do not disappear unexpectedly
  • Filter combinations feel stable
Often reveals: broken faceting logic, bad attribute data, or hidden inventory issues.

How to interpret what you found

Count how many checks showed meaningful warning signs.

0–1 warning signs

Search likely behaves well.

2–3 warning signs

Some ranking or query-handling issues likely exist.

4–6 warning signs

Search likely needs deeper diagnostic work.

Assessment complete

Want help interpreting what you found?

We specialize in diagnosing internal search systems in ecommerce and marketplaces. If something looked off, we can take a closer look.