The appropriate type determines the area in which suchen.expert searches for results. A category narrows the results within that type more precisely. If both choices match what you are looking for, the results become easier to review. A choice that is too narrow or unsuitable, however, can hide relevant adverts.
Why you should select the type first
On a search or results page, only the type that is currently open is searched. First open the area that matches what you are looking for. If you are in ‘Marketplace’, the search does not include content from ‘Lost’, ‘Found’, ‘Services’ or other types.
A category cannot change this search scope. It only narrows the results within the type that is already open. Removing the category does not make the search global either. To search a different type, you must first open that type and run the search there again.
Which type matches what I am looking for?
Use the kind of content you are looking for as your guide:
- Open ‘Lost’ if you want to look for a lost-item report.
- Open ‘Found’ if you want to check whether a matching item has been reported as found.
- Open ‘Giveaway’ if you are looking for items offered free of charge.
- Open ‘Services’ if you are looking for a service being offered.
- Open ‘Marketplace’ if you are looking for products offered there.
- Open ‘Events’ if you are looking for an event.
- Open ‘Incidents’ if your search concerns an incident published there.
If several types could match what you are looking for, search them one after another. Someone who has lost an item should search in ‘Found’ for a matching found-item report. Conversely, someone who has found an item can search in ‘Lost’ for a matching lost-item report. Each of these searches remains limited to the type that is open at the time.
When a category is helpful
A category is particularly helpful if a search term can relate to different subjects within a type or produces a very large number of results. Depending on the type, it can narrow the results by, for example, kinds of product or groups of items.
Choose the category according to the content you are actually looking for. A category that is only an approximate match can hide relevant results. If you are unsure, start without a category, check the results and then narrow them step by step.
Recommended order
This is how to structure a search in a way that is easy to follow:
- Determine what kind of content you want to find.
- Open the corresponding type.
- Enter a clear search term that is no longer than necessary.
- Check the first results.
- If necessary, choose a suitable category.
- Use other available filters only to the extent that they match what you are looking for.
If the number of results becomes too small, first remove the restriction you applied most recently. This makes it easier to identify which choice may have been too narrow.
Example: lost item
You have lost a set of keys and want to check whether it has been reported as found. First open ‘Found’ and search for ‘set of keys’ or ‘keys’. Then choose a suitable category if it usefully narrows the existing results. Details such as colour or brand can help as additional search terms if they are distinctive and likely to be mentioned in the advert.
If you have found a set of keys and want to search for the corresponding lost-item report, switch to ‘Lost’ and start the search there again. Removing the category in ‘Found’ would still show only results from ‘Found’ and would not change the type.
Example: product in the Marketplace
If you are searching for a vehicle or an accessory in the Marketplace, first open ‘Marketplace’. Start with a clear name, such as ‘BMW’ or the specific name of the part. Then choose the appropriate category and add the model or model range if necessary.
A search for ‘BMW’ in a different type can produce completely different results because only content from that other type is included there. If you see unexpected results, first check the type that is open and then the category.
Avoid common misunderstandings
These points are particularly important for understanding how the search is classified:
- A category does not automatically search across multiple types.
- Removing a category or filter broadens only the results within the current type.
- The same search term can produce different results in different types.
- To search a different type, you must first open that area and then run a new search.
- If it is unclear which type is correct, a global search from the home page can provide a broader starting point.
Adjust the search if there are too few results or they are unsuitable
Check the type first. If it is correct, remove a category that is too narrow or an additional filter. Then simplify the search term or try a common alternative term. Change the type only if what you are looking for actually belongs to a different area or if several areas need to be checked one after another.
The general steps are described in The basics of searching on Suchen Expert. The difference between the two starting points is explained in Global search vs. results search – the difference explained simply.
Selecting a type and category makes it possible to narrow the search more precisely, but it cannot create suitable adverts. The results that appear depend on the content currently published and the information it contains.
