Understand the revenue behind failed searches
A search problem becomes easier to prioritise when you can express it as a commercial scenario. This calculator estimates the revenue associated with unsuccessful search sessions using your monthly sessions, overall conversion rate and average order value. It is a planning aid: the result is an illustrative opportunity, rather than a measurement of sales your store has actually lost. Start with a typical month and use figures from the same reporting period so that seasonal traffic and order values do not distort the comparison.
The default example assumes that 43% of sessions use search, searchers convert at 1.8 times the overall rate, 12% of search sessions fail, and 55% of the modelled opportunity is recoverable. These are editable scenario assumptions, not verified benchmarks or promises about Indexa. Open Advanced assumptions to replace all four values. In this simplified model, searches means sessions using search; a visitor who submits five queries does not count as five search sessions.
How the calculation works
Search sessions equal monthly sessions multiplied by the search share. Failed search sessions multiply that result by the failure rate. Monthly revenue at risk then multiplies failures by overall conversion rate, the searcher conversion multiplier and average order value. Annual revenue at risk is the monthly figure multiplied by twelve, so it assumes the same month repeats throughout the year. Recoverable monthly revenue applies your recovery share to monthly revenue at risk. Figures are rounded only for display; calculations and shared links retain the original precision.
The model intentionally keeps the assumptions visible. It does not account for returning visitors, attribution windows, margins, refunds, stock availability or the cost of a search solution. A failed search is also broader than a zero-results query: irrelevant results, unusable filters or a slow response can prevent a purchase even when products appear. Use a consistent definition when entering your own failure rate. Choosing EUR, USD or GBP changes the currency label and formatting only; enter average order value in that currency because no exchange conversion is performed.
Turn a scenario into an evidence-based decision
Try a conservative and an optimistic scenario before setting a budget. Share the complete calculation with a colleague using the link, or request a manual follow-up with the current result attached. For a stronger estimate, compare search and non-search sessions in your analytics, inspect failed queries and check the catalogue against customer language. The free audit gives us a starting point to replace assumptions with store evidence. A subsequent pilot can test changes on real traffic; only measured outcomes can establish whether a search improvement creates incremental revenue.