Direct Links / Actions

Direct links allow users to be redirected to a predefined page instead of performing a search.

Fields and Functions

Field	Function
Search Term	The exact search term that triggers the redirection. Multiple terms can be entered, separated by commas.
Direct Link	The URL or path to which the redirection should occur. If the “Action” type is selected, the article numbers must be entered here (comma-separated). More information about the direct link checker
Type	Three options are available: - “Link”: Redirects to an internal shop page. The link can be relative (e.g., /mein-konto/) and is typically opened within the same tab. - “External Link”: Redirects to a page outside the shop (e.g., a career site). Must include protocol and domain (e.g., https://jobs.example.com). Usually opens in a new tab. - “Action”: Generates a product list based on the provided article numbers.
Validation Term	A word that should be present on the target page. This word is used for automated link verification. If it no longer appears on the target page, an error is triggered, indicating that the link is no longer correct.

Note

The type of link determines both behavior and validation. For example, external links require a full URL with protocol and are usually opened in a new browser tab.

What EPS Can Return — Beyond Search Results

The Empiriecom Product Search (EPS) system doesn’t always return traditional search results. Depending on the configuration and input, it may trigger alternative behaviors such as:

• Direct Links: Redirecting users to predefined URLs instead of showing product results.
• SEO Redirects and Freelinks: EMP-specific mechanisms for forwarding traffic based on search terms or marketing campaigns.
• Replacements: Replacing or altering a search query to guide users to more relevant results.
• Query Reduction: Automatically shortening a complex or multi-word query to improve hit rate.
• Deep Query: Expanding the query to include additional alternatives when no results are found.
• Synonyms and Misspellings: Enhancing the search term with similar or corrected terms, each ranked accordingly.

Tip

These mechanisms work behind the scenes to improve user experience and search performance—and they may result in behavior that isn’t a direct search in the traditional sense.