Growth idea action plan
Top no-result queries become the docs repair queue
Review the most common searches that return no results and turn them into the next documentation or routing fixes instead of guessing which gaps matter.
Why this can grow a startup
Docs teams often write from internal memory while the real misses sit in the search log. Zendesk's Search dashboard exposes the top queries that returned no results, which is the cleanest possible queue of unmet demand. That matters because a no-result query is usually a user who already tried to self-serve and still hit a wall. Fixing those misses improves support efficiency, keeps searchers from bouncing to the inbox, and gives the help center a tighter relationship with the language customers actually use.
Key metric to watch
Zendesk surfaces the top 5 search strings that returned no results.
Ian's take
From scaling consumer platforms across MENA and Southeast Asia, my default is to distrust growth work that only looks good in a slide. For SEO and AI search, I care less about clever keyword tricks and more about clarity. A buyer, crawler, or answer engine should quickly understand who this is for, why it works, what proof backs it, and what page deserves to be cited. I would run it small enough to learn quickly, then only scale the parts that real users repeat, save, reply to, or buy from. For this tactic, I would watch Zendesk surfaces the top 5 search strings that returned no results. before putting more time or budget behind it.
Action plan
- Define one narrow startup segment where top no-result queries become the docs repair queue can create a measurable lift.
- Turn the tactic into one offer, page, campaign, or workflow for the Support and Analytics channel.
- Use the evidence from support.zendesk.com to set the first version of the message, format, and audience.
- Launch a small test for 7 to 14 days with one success metric: Zendesk surfaces the top 5 search strings that returned no results..
- Review the result, keep the winning message, remove weak variants, and turn the learning into a repeatable growth playbook.
Source-backed example
Zendesk's Search dashboard includes a 'Searches with no results (top 5)' report showing the most searched strings that returned no results.
Source: Zendesk Help: Analyzing help center search results (support.zendesk.com)
GrowthDex source hub: Zendesk Help: Analyzing help center search results
Last checked: 2026-05-29
Adjacent tactics in the same lane
If this page is close to your problem, these tactic pages usually belong in the same working set.
- Search dashboard segmented by brand, locale, and role same source · 3 shared channels · 1 shared stage
- Ticket-to-search ratio as self-serve failure signal same source · 2 shared channels
- Promoted help articles for homepage first-click routing 2 shared channels · 1 shared stage
- Curated strategic resources inside help center articles 2 shared channels · 1 shared stage
Related GrowthDex essays
- The support report should write the next help page support-led growth, SEO, documentation
- The answer should interrupt the ticket before it opens support-led growth, technical SEO, brand trust
Reading path: AI products
Use these essays to understand the broader lane this tactic belongs to.
- The support report should write the next help page 2026-06-07T07:09:50.000Z
- The answer should interrupt the ticket before it opens 2026-05-29T17:40:00Z
Reading path: customer support software
Use these essays to understand the broader lane this tactic belongs to.
- The support report should write the next help page 2026-06-07T07:09:50.000Z
- The answer should interrupt the ticket before it opens 2026-05-29T17:40:00Z
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GrowthDex starts with tactics that founders, marketers, and product teams have actually tried. Each essay turns the evidence into a practical move you can test without pretending one case study is a guarantee.
Ian Goh has helped grow consumer platforms across Southeast Asia, India, and MENA. His work includes scaling Tiki to 100M+ users, doubling BIGO's MENA revenue in 7 months, and increasing OYO's direct booking share across 6 Southeast Asian markets.
- Helped scale Tiki to 100M+ users.
- Doubled BIGO's MENA revenue in 7 months.
- Raised OYO's direct booking share by 50% across 6 Southeast Asian markets.
Want help turning this into a growth system?
If you want someone to pressure-test this against your real market, Ian works with founders on growth, market entry, and operator-led distribution.
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