A failed search is a search that returned no results. Each one tells you exactly what a reader was looking for and couldn't find. Use failed searches to decide which docs to write next.
📷 Image placeholder: the Failed searches list in the Search report.
View failed searches
Open the Search report
Go to PinkDocs → Analytics and open the Search report.
Choose a time range
Choose 30 days for a monthly review, or 90 days to see longer trends.
Open failed searches
Scroll to Searches with no results. Searches are sorted by how many times readers tried them.
📷 Image placeholder: the Searches with no results table with search terms and counts.
Decide what to do with each search
| The search is for… | Do this |
|---|---|
| A topic you haven't documented | Write a new doc. |
| A topic you have documented, in different words | Add the reader's words to the doc's title, headings, excerpt or tags. |
| A misspelling | Add the common misspelling as a tag. |
| A feature you don't offer | Add an FAQ entry explaining the alternative. |
Fix a failed search
Pick the top search
Start with the failed search that has the highest count.
Check for an existing doc
Search your docs for the topic using different words. If a doc exists, add the reader's words to it.
Write a new doc if needed
If no doc covers the topic, write one. Use the reader's words in the title.
Test the search
Search for the original term on your site and check that your doc now appears.
Common questions
Check once a month, or weekly after a product launch when readers are trying new features.
No. AI questions are in the AI report. The Content gaps report shows both together.