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Search usage on an online marketplace fell 20%, but only on mobile. Diagnose it.

How to approach it

The mobile-only pattern is the clue. Look at what changed on mobile: an app release, an OS update, or a redesign.

How a strong answer opens

“The mobile-only pattern is my biggest clue. Is it both iOS and Android, and what changed on mobile recently: a release, an OS update or a redesign?”

Outline of a strong answer

Try answering out loud for a few minutes before you open this.

Confirm it is real on both iOS and Android, or just one
Check app versions and recent releases
Check OS updates and app store changes
Look at the funnel: search bar taps, queries, results clicked
See if users moved to browsing instead of search
Decide on a fix or rollback

Where this question usually goes wrong

Investigating site-wide causes like seasonality or demand when a mobile-only drop already points to something mobile-specific.

Learn the method

Diagnosing a metric drop in Module 2, Metrics and execution.

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