diff --git a/web/modals/search/message-search-modal.css b/web/modals/search/message-search-modal.css
--- a/web/modals/search/message-search-modal.css
+++ b/web/modals/search/message-search-modal.css
@@ -12,3 +12,11 @@
   margin-bottom: 8px;
   margin-top: 24px;
 }
+
+.footer {
+  color: var(--modal-secondary-label);
+  size: 14;
+  font-weight: 400;
+  text-align: center;
+  margin: 20px;
+}
diff --git a/web/modals/search/message-search-modal.react.js b/web/modals/search/message-search-modal.react.js
--- a/web/modals/search/message-search-modal.react.js
+++ b/web/modals/search/message-search-modal.react.js
@@ -155,21 +155,33 @@
     possiblyLoadMoreMessages();
   }, [clearTooltip, possiblyLoadMoreMessages]);
 
-  const loader = React.useMemo(() => {
-    if (endReached) {
-      return null;
+  const footer = React.useMemo(() => {
+    if (query === '') {
+      return (
+        <div className={css.footer}>Your search results will appear here</div>
+      );
+    }
+    if (!endReached) {
+      return (
+        <div key="search-loader" className={css.loading}>
+          <LoadingIndicator status="loading" size="medium" color="white" />
+        </div>
+      );
+    }
+    if (modifiedItems.length > 0) {
+      return <div className={css.footer}>End of results</div>;
     }
     return (
-      <div key="search-loader" className={css.loading}>
-        <LoadingIndicator status="loading" size="medium" color="white" />
+      <div className={css.footer}>
+        No results. Please try using different keywords to refine your search
       </div>
     );
-  }, [endReached]);
+  }, [query, endReached, modifiedItems.length]);
 
   return (
     <div className={css.content} ref={messageContainerRef}>
       {messages}
-      {loader}
+      {footer}
     </div>
   );
 }
diff --git a/web/theme.css b/web/theme.css
--- a/web/theme.css
+++ b/web/theme.css
@@ -237,4 +237,5 @@
   --change-member-role-modal-generic-text: var(--shades-white-100);
   --change-member-role-modal-disabled-background: var(--shades-black-80);
   --unsaved-changes-modal-text-color: var(--shades-white-60);
+  --modal-secondary-label: var(--shades-black-60);
 }