Have a minute to help us? We'd love to know how you use search on Mumsnet!

[KatyMumsnet]

Hi,

We know our search function is a pain point for many of you, so we're doing some research to improve it.

We've looked through all the feedback on the various threads, but now we're specifically trying to learn more about the type of searches you make and what you expect to see in the results.

If you'd like to help us out and you have a few minutes to spare, then please fill out this survey - surveys.hotjar.com/41675fc3-cff9-44b9-82a9-083a737830dd

Thanks!

Katy

Can’t use that survey for some reason. But I’ve learned that the best way to search is to use google and just type “thing I’m looking for + mumsnet” and you get more answers than trying to use the Mn search functions.

I’ve tried searching my own posts to see what shows up (my ex knew my username) and it’s usually only a couple of older threads that pop up. Usually several posts on the same thread, even though I post a lot!

Yep definitely agree, I never ever ever use the mumsnet search, always ‘X mumsnet’ on Google and it’s much better. Even do that to find my own threads sometimes and they seem to disappear off the ‘I Started’ tab.

Agree with PP's the search function on here is beyond useless. I always end up using Google +mumsnet.

TBH if I was looking for a specific thread I would have more luck finding it on the Daily Mail website than Mumsnet's own searches.

I also use Google. An example would be "treadmill mumsnet" or "waterproof warm coats mumsnet".

@GenghisCalm

Agree with PP's the search function on here is beyond useless. I always end up using Google +mumsnet.

TBH if I was looking for a specific thread I would have more luck finding it on the Daily Mail website than Mumsnet's own searches.

This made me laugh aloud at the absurdity, but it is indeed exceedingly accurate.

I've completed the survey although I'm not sure what the point of the point of it was because it didn't really ask anything useful.

Thanks for your feedback - it's helpful to hear about the types of searches you make.

The answers to the survey questions will help us figure out some specifics in the way we index all of the information on Mumsnet. So it is very useful for us!

Same as above, Google.

Search on the site brings up very old replies. I Google now as it's more accurate & timely.

I don't understand the order the results are displayed in when you search. I assume you get the results and then throw them up in the air and display them how they land

I mainly Google too.

@SillyBub

I don't understand the order the results are displayed in when you search. I assume you get the results and then throw them up in the air and display them how they land

Yes, seems totally random.

I filled it in but didn’t have the opportunity to feedback that when you search on a specific user, it’s very irritating that their posts seem to come up in a nonsensical jumble. It would be better if they were automatically ordered by date, most recent first.

Oh didn’t read that someone had literally just written this!

Please ensure that if people are searching for more than one word the results include all of those. If I'm searching for 'red velvet cake' for example don't want to read about red shoes, red books, velvet curtains and any type of cake imaginable. Which is what I'd get now.

I don't use search because the feature doesn't work.

@SillyBub

I don't understand the order the results are displayed in when you search. I assume you get the results and then throw them up in the air and display them how they land

Me either. Today for example I tried to use the search function. My first 3 results were from 2014, 2017 and 2008 despite knowing I'd seen threads on the subject in the last few weeks.

I always use Google.

Yes why can’t user’s threads be in chronological order! That’s definitely what’s most annoying

@user2908143823142536475859708

I don't use search because the feature doesn't work.

Same here. I want to be able to use it, and I even helped with the recent trial of the improved search (I say recent but it was a while ago now)

I don't think MNHQ actually want to fix or improve search, so i've given up using it. 🤷🏻‍♀️

I did the survey but none of the questions related to the issue I have with the search function, which is that it seems to bring up very old responses and it doesn't seem possible to sort them from newest to oldest, which would be helpful. I use the app, don't know if that makes a difference.

I'm probably being stupid, but I've never worked out what all the search boxes actually mean. The results are never really what I expect, regardless of basic or advanced search.

Not being rude @mnhq but you have have basically asked what people would like to search. Do you know how search works?

I might use advanced search for, say, threads about a particular product so I could read reviews. If I was looking for one particular thread I'd use Google.

I like the simple design on here, but it does mean I don't really notice usernames, and so I'd only really be searching a username to search past threads of someone being a bit ridiculous.

Still nothing on the (really in depth with only 6 questions ) questionnaire about being able to see search results sorted by date.

So many people are saying this is their first priority, and yet it's not even a question we can respond to now? So much for @MNHQ having read previous comments about what we'd like to see fixed with the search function - the sort by date thing is literally the most commonly asked thing!

Hi all,

Let me reassure you - we absolutely know that the most important thing is that you want to see results in chronological order. Search is really difficult to get right - the reason why Google can do this so well is because they have literally spent billions making the best online search system on the internet.

We want to make ours much better but there are a lot of things we need to consider in order to get the best results possible.

At the moment it is possible to sort by date on the main site search but there's an issue with the way we've indexed content so it includes content that might not be totally relevant to your search term.

This survey is about the basics of search but it's intended to help us understand what you want to see so we can prioritise the type of content we surface and how we prioritise it in the results. If we get these basic foundations right then the rest of it should be more simple.

We already have a lot of feedback and we will be taking everything on board along with these survey answers to plan the improvements.

We are intending to fix these issues but it is complicated so it's not a quick fix.

Thanks for all your feedback!

Katy