Empty results and error messages

Visitors will reach an empty result. What they read at that moment decides whether they try again or leave.

The two messages

There are two, from two different places:

The no-results message

Settings → POM Events → Archive → Error message — Set custom error message.

Left empty, visitors read a default apology explaining that no events matched their search criteria.

Set it. The default is generic and says nothing about what to do next. A better message does three things:

1. States plainly that nothing matched.
2. Suggests an action.
3. Points somewhere useful.

No events match those filters right now. Clear the filters to see everything coming up, or write to us and we will tell you when there is something.

The field is translatable, so a multilingual site can set it per language.

The empty-month message

The date picker lets visitors browse by month, and some months will be empty. That message is set on the shortcode:

[web_event_search_form error_msg="Nothing scheduled this month — try another"]

Left unset, visitors read a default explaining that there are no events for the chosen month.

Write both, and write them differently

They mean different things:

• no events this month → try another month;
• no events match these filters → clear the filters.

A visitor who reads the wrong advice takes the wrong action and concludes the site is broken.

Empty is not always an error

The most common empty result is entirely legitimate: a site with a real programme has quiet months.

Word the messages accordingly. Sorry, something went wrong is misleading when the truth is that August is quiet. Say what is true, and offer a route.

Reduce empty results at the source

Configuration cannot fix an empty programme, but it can avoid pointless dead ends:

• Remove unused taxonomy terms. A filter offering Conferences when you have none guarantees an empty result.
• Assign terms to every event. An unclassified event is invisible to every filter, which makes filters look broken.
• Publish upcoming events promptly. A programme announced late reads as no programme.
• Check the whole list is not empty — if the search form shows nothing at all, the cause is usually that every event's end date has passed.

An empty list is a diagnosis

If the search form shows nothing when you know events exist, work through:

1. Are the events published?
2. Have their end dates passed? The list excludes finished events.
3. Are their dates set at all?
4. Are filters applied from a previous interaction? Reload the page.
5. Is the POM theme active? Without it, nothing renders.

See An event does not appear.

Verify

1. Set the Archive error message and save.
2. Filter for a combination with no results and confirm your message appears.
3. Set error_msg on the shortcode and pick an empty month; confirm that message appears.
4. Confirm the two are distinguishable.
5. Read both on a phone.