Search questions that show what visitors looked for and missed
Ask visitors how searching your site went, from the words they typed to the page that should have come up first. Each question below comes with when to ask it and what the answer tells you.
What site search survey questions tell you
Site search feedback survey questions ask visitors whether the search brought back what they wanted, what they typed, how many results they read and which page should have come first. Search logs show the words, and these answers show whether the results answered them, which is what you need to tune ranking, filters and content.
Ask on your search results page with a popup after a short delay, or with a side button visitors can open when results miss. Keep it to two or three questions: whether it worked, what they typed and which page should have come up. Use targeting by pages so the survey shows only on search and help pages.
Each written answer gets a category, a theme and a sentiment, so the searches that fail sort into topics such as pricing, returns or setup. Results shows the median number of searches and the share for each result count, so you can see whether a change to your search helped.
- Questions
- 12
- Best asked
- On the results page, right after a search
- Industry
- Any business
- Where to find them
- From library in the Usertick survey editor, on every plan
The 12 finding what you need questions, with when to ask each
Grouped by what they tell you. Use them as they are or change the wording.
Whether search worked
Ask whether the search found it, how close the results were and how much digging it took.
- 01Yes / No
Did the search bring back what you wanted?
Whether the search brought back what the visitor wanted. Select No in Results to filter the page and read what those visitors typed and expected.
- 04Stars
How close were the results to what you had in mind?
Rates how close the results came to what the visitor had in mind, in five stars. Compare the average before and after you change ranking or add content.
- 03Multiple choice
How many results did you have to read before you found it?
How many results the visitor read before finding the right one. A rising share of I never found it is the clearest sign that search needs work.
- 08Number
How many searches did it take?
How many searches it took. Results shows the median and the middle half, and a median above one means visitors are rewording their searches to get there.
- 09Emoji
How did searching here feel?
Five faces for how searching felt. Results shows the share of each face, a quick way to follow search over time next to the yes or no question.
What visitors were looking for
These give you the words visitors typed and the page they expected, the raw material for better results.
- 02Text
What did you type into the search box?
The words the visitor typed into the search box. Read them next to the No answers, since failed searches show the words your pages don't use yet.
- 11Text
Which page should have come up first?
The page that should have come up first. These answers name pages to rank higher or to write, and they pair well with what the visitor typed.
- 12Screenshot
Capture the results page that missed what you wanted
Lets visitors capture the results page that missed, so your team sees the exact results they got. Results shows a gallery. Screenshot is on every plan, 1 per survey on Free.
How visitors look and what would help
Learn where visitors start looking and what would improve results before you change search or navigation.
- 07Dropdown
How do you usually start looking for something here?
Where the visitor usually starts looking, from the search box to a search engine. Results shows each share, which tells you whether to invest in search or in navigation.
- 06Customer effort
How much work was it to get to the right page?
A customer effort score for reaching the right page. Results shows the average and the share who found it easy, and selecting a low score shows how those visitors started looking.
- 05Multiple choice
What would improve the results?
Visitors pick every change that would improve the results, from filters to summaries. Results shows bars with each share, so you know which change to build first.
- 10Ranking
Pick the three ways you want results sorted
Visitors pick and order the three ways they want results sorted. Results shows the average place per item, which tells you the default order to use.
Tips for asking about finding what you need
Small choices that get honest, useful answers.
- 01
Ask on the results page
Target the survey to your search results page, so every answer is about a search that just happened.
- 02
Collect the exact words
Always ask what the visitor typed and which page they expected. Together they show the gap between the words and your content.
- 03
Fix the failed searches first
Read the No answers each week, and add or rename pages for the searches that come up most.
- 04
Measure after each change
Keep the same questions running after you change search, and compare with the period before.
Add these questions to a survey
From the library to the first answers.
- 1
Open the library
In the Usertick survey editor, choose From library, filter by industry and topic, and add several questions at once.
- 2
Or paste your own list
Paste questions reads up to 10 questions from any text on Free, 100 on Starter and 200 on Pro and above, keeps your wording and picks an answer type for each.
- 3
Choose where it runs
Show the survey on your website, send it by email, share its link and QR code, or switch it to a conversation.
- 4
Read the answers
Results counts every score and choice, and Usertick reads each written answer and files it by topic, on every plan.
Templates and more questions about finding what you need
Full surveys that ask about the same things, and neighboring topics in the library.
Templates
Browse all templatesFrequently asked questions
On your search results page, with a popup after a short delay or a side button visitors can open when the results miss. Targeting by pages keeps it off every other page.
Two or three. Ask whether the search found it, what the visitor typed and which page should have come up first.
Yes. Show the survey on your help center search pages with targeting by pages, or place it inside the page under the results.
Yes. The exit intent trigger shows the survey as a visitor is about to leave, and the idle trigger shows it when they stop moving on the page.
Yes. The question library comes with every plan, the free plan included, and the free plan covers 150 responses a month across your surveys.
Yes. Once a question is in your survey, reword it, change its options or its answer type, and add logic to skip it for some answers.
Yes. The library is translated into Usertick's built-in languages, and in any other language it shows in English for you to translate.
Listen better, act faster, and build what truly matters.
Start free, see what your customers mean, and get each answer to the person who can act on it.
- 150 responses a month on Free
- Every channel and AI analysis
- No card needed