Expanding search queries

A system comprising:

• one or more computer processors;
• and
• one or more computer-readable mediums storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more computer processors, cause the system to perform operations comprising:
• receiving, from a client device, search parameters entered by a user of the client device, the search parameters including a search term comprising at least one keyword and a geographic indicator describing a first geographic region;
• executing, by a search system, an initial search query based on the search term and the geographic indicator, yielding search results, wherein executing the initial search query comprises searching data stored in a data store in network communication with the search system for data items that are associated with the first geographic region and that include the at least one keyword;
• in response to determining that a number of the search results is less than a threshold number, determining, based on historical search logs including records of previously submitted search queries by other users in the first geographic region, a likelihood value indicating a likelihood that the other users in the first geographic region would expand the geographic indicator included in the search parameters in an expanded search query, wherein determining the likelihood value comprises:
• using the first geographic region as input into a statistical model generated from the historical search logs, the statistical model outputting the likelihood value based on receiving the first geographic region as input;
• determining, whether to expand the geographic indicator or the search term for the expanded search query by:
• comparing the likelihood value to a threshold likelihood value, yielding a comparison;
• determining, based on the comparison, whether the likelihood value meets or exceeds the threshold likelihood value;
• and
• in response to determining that the likelihood value meets or exceeds the threshold likelihood value, determining to expand the geographic indicator for the expanded search query;
• and
• in response to determining to expand the geographic indicator, executing the expanded search query based on the search term and an expanded geographic indicator describing a second geographic region, yielding expanded search results, the second geographic region encompassing the first geographic region, wherein executing the expanded search query comprises searching the data stored in the data store in network communication with the search system for data items that are associated with the second geographic region that include the at least one keyword.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by one or more computer processors of a computing system, cause the computing system to perform operations comprising:

• receiving, from a client device, search parameters entered by a user of the client device, the search parameters including a search term comprising at least one keyword and a geographic indicator describing a first geographic region;
• executing, by a search system, an initial search query based on the search term and the geographic indicator, yielding search results, wherein executing the initial search query comprises searching data stored in a data store in network communication with the search system for data items that are associated with the first geographic region and that include the at least one keyword;
• in response to determining that a number of the search results is less than a threshold number, determining, based on historical search logs including records of previously submitted search queries by other users in the first geographic region, a likelihood value indicating a likelihood that the other users in the first geographic region would expand the geographic indicator included in the search parameters in an expanded search query, wherein determining the likelihood value comprises:
• using the first geographic region as input into a statistical model generated from the historical search logs, the statistical model outputting the likelihood value based on receiving the first geographic region as input;
• determining, whether to expand the geographic indicator or the search term for the expanded search query by:
• comparing the likelihood value to a threshold likelihood value, yielding a comparison;
• determining, based on the comparison, whether the likelihood value meets or exceeds the threshold likelihood value;
• and
• in response to determining that the likelihood value meets or exceeds the threshold likelihood value, determining to expand the geographic indicator for the expanded search query;
• and
• in response to determining to expand the geographic indicator, executing the expanded search query based on the search term and an expanded geographic indicator describing a second geographic region, yielding expanded search results, the second geographic region encompassing the first geographic region, wherein executing the expanded search query comprises searching the data stored in the data store in network communication with the search system for data items that are associated with the second geographic region that include the at least one keyword.