WooCommerce search typos and synonyms: what to set up

Two problems cause most empty searches. The shopper misspells the word, or uses a different word than your catalogue. Each has a simple fix.

Why the default search misses

The default search compares the typed letters to your product text. "Hedphones" does not contain "headphones", so nothing matches. "Sofa" does not match a product that says "couch". The software is doing exactly what it was built to do.

Typo correction

Typo correction compares what was typed with the words in your catalogue and picks the closest one. It should only step in when the search finds nothing, so it does not rewrite searches that work. It should also tell the shopper what it did, so they can trust the result.

Synonyms: how to build the list

Start with your own data. List your ten most common product types and ask what else a customer might call each one. Add regional words if you sell in more than one country: trousers and pants, lift and elevator. Add brand shorthand people use. One group per line works well:

• tv, television
• sofa, couch, settee
• trainers, sneakers
• mobile, phone, smartphone

Review the list every month against the searches that found nothing.

Model numbers and spacing

Product codes cause a third kind of miss. "a7 iv", "a7iv" and "a7-iv" should all find the same camera. Check that your search treats spaces and dashes inside a code as optional.

How to do it with Lodestar Search

Lodestar Search has typo correction, model number matching and a synonym box built in, in the free plugin. Typo correction runs in the visitor's browser, only when a search finds nothing. Typo correction is one switch under the Dropdown tab. Add synonyms there, one group per line. Get the free plugin.

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