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Brightshelf Search Fixes

See which searches find nothing, then send shoppers to a product or page you choose instead.

  • Free plan available
  • English
  • Needs an online store
  • One app embed

What it does

Send searches like “returns” or “shipping” straight to a page you chooseA page, product, collection or any https:// link.

See which searches find nothingWith a suggested fix where there is one.

Synonyms for brand nicknames, old product names and supplier codesSee when each group is live in your store’s search.

Pin a product to the top of results for a search (beta, Pro)From Search insights, with Shopify’s product picker.

Import synonym groups with a preview (Pro)Export them as CSV too. Remove the app’s tags any time.

Get started

Five steps, no code.

  1. Install the app

    Install Brightshelf Search Fixes from the Shopify App Store. Your store needs an online store. Home shows the setup steps.

  2. Turn on the app embed

    On Home, choose Open theme editor, go to App embeds, turn on Search redirects (Brightshelf Search Fixes) and Save. It’s one toggle and no code. Search redirects only work while this embed is on.

  3. Add your first synonym group

    Go to Synonyms → Add synonym group. Separate words with commas, or use => for one-way, e.g. nqk => nordqvik: searching “nqk” also finds Nordqvik products. The group shows Checking your store’s search, then Live in search.

  4. Add a search redirect

    Go to Search redirects: when a shopper searches “returns”, send them to /policies/refund-policy. Check the page exists, then save.

  5. Watch Search insights

    Searches are counted automatically from the first one after install. Search insights lists what shoppers searched for and flags searches that found nothing.

Search insights counts only submitted searches from shoppers who allow analytics cookies, so real totals are higher.

Plans

Free

$0
  • 10 synonym groups
  • 3 search redirects
  • Search insights, last 7 days
  • Suggested fixes for no-result searches

Pro

$6.99 USD / 30 days
14-day free trial, once per store
  • Unlimited synonym groups
  • Import and export (CSV)
  • Unlimited search redirects
  • Search insights, last 90 days
  • Pin products to the top of search results (beta)

Billed by Shopify on your Shopify invoice every 30 days. Change or cancel any time from Plans in the app. Charges on development stores are test charges. The App Store listing shows the current prices.

FAQ

Which words are worth adding as synonyms?

Shopify search already handles plurals, small typos and SKUs, and on many stores everyday synonyms too. Synonyms help most with words it can’t guess: brand nicknames (nqk for Nordqvik), old or renamed product names, and supplier codes that aren’t in the SKU field. Search the word on your store first and add it only if nothing relevant comes back.

How do synonyms work?

Matching products get the words as product tags, including products you add or edit later. Your own tags are never changed.

Will shoppers see the synonym tags?

Only if your theme shows product tags. In Settings → How synonym tags look, the hidden style uses tags starting with “_syn-”, which many themes hide.

What does “Checking your store’s search” mean?

We’ve added the tags and Shopify is updating its search. Every 5 minutes we search your storefront for each word. After 3 checks in a row find a tagged product, the group shows Live in search.

Do these checks show up in Shopify’s search reports?

They can. Each check is one ordinary storefront search per word, only while a group is being checked. They’re never counted in Search insights.

How do I pin a product to the top of a search?

On Pro, open Search insights, choose Pin to top on a search and pick the product. It’s a beta feature. A product can be pinned for up to 10 searches, Shopify’s limit.

Can I import synonyms in bulk?

Yes, on Pro: Synonyms → Import. Upload a .csv or .txt file or paste one group per line. The preview shows new groups, merges and lines it can’t read before anything changes.

sofa, couch, settee
couch, divan => sofa
hoody => hoodie
What happens if I uninstall?

First use Remove all synonym tags on the Synonyms page; it removes only the tags Search Fixes added. Products you pinned stay pinned after uninstalling. Remove their search terms in Shopify’s Search & Discovery app (Search section).

Troubleshooting

A search redirect doesn’t work
  • Check the Search redirects app embed is on in your theme (Online Store → Themes → Customize → App embeds). The redirect shows Not live: app embed off while it’s off.
  • If you switched or edited your theme, turn the embed on again in the new theme.
  • Check the target page exists.
A synonym group is stuck on “Checking your store’s search”

Shopify can take a while to update its search. If your store is password-protected, checks can’t run until the password is removed (Online Store → Preferences). If we can’t reach your store’s search several times in a row, checks pause and the group shows Can’t check until you next open the app.

Search insights is empty

Searches are counted from the day you install, and only searches shoppers submit. Typing in the search dropdown without submitting isn’t counted, nor are shoppers who decline analytics cookies. While your store is password-protected only visitors with the password can search.

I turned a group off but results still show

We remove the tags right away, but Shopify search can take up to an hour to stop showing those products for those words. The group shows Removing from search meanwhile.

How do I unpin a product?

Turning a synonym group off doesn’t unpin products. Remove the product’s search term in Shopify’s Search & Discovery app (Search section). Shopify can take well over an hour to stop applying it.

Synonym tags show on my product pages

Your theme displays product tags. Switch to the hidden tag style in Settings → How synonym tags look. It applies to groups you add or edit from then on.

Still stuck?

Email us with your store’s .myshopify.com address and what you were doing. We reply within 1 business day.

hello@brightshelfapps.com

Privacy: read the Brightshelf Search Fixes privacy policy.