15 Best Practices To Improve Site Search On eCommerce Stores

Ellie Ho

November 11, 2024

•

6 min read

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Online shopping often begins with a search. Whether a customer uses Google or your store's internal search bar, their ability to find what they want quickly and easily is paramount to your success. Searchers convert 5-6x better than regular visitors, highlighting the importance of a seamless and effective site search experience.

The advancement in AI technology has revolutionized global search, making it more intuitive and responsive than ever. Today’s customers are more discerning, and if they can’t find what they want in one eCommerce store, nearly a third will quickly look elsewhere. Features like typo tolerance, natural language processing, and synonym recognition have shifted from being “advanced” to essential.

This article outlines 15 best practices to transform your eCommerce site search into a powerful conversion engine.

Why Site Search is Critical for eCommerce Success

Effective site search is no longer a luxury but a necessity for eCommerce success. Customers are more discerning than ever, and a frustrating search experience can quickly send them to a competitor. Here's why prioritizing site search is crucial:

Increased Conversions: Site search users are significantly more likely to purchase than regular browsers. Maui Divers Jewelry got 700+ orders from the AI-powered search provided by Boost. Another Boost’s user, Özel Beslenme, saw a 50% increase in AOV after implementing our search engine. A well-optimized search helps them find what they need faster, leading to higher conversion rates.
Improved User Experience: A smooth, intuitive search experience creates happy customers. Happy customers are more likely to return and recommend your store to others.
Reduced Bounce Rates: When customers can easily find what they're looking for, they're less likely to leave your site empty-handed. Effective site search helps keep visitors engaged and reduces bounce rates.
Valuable Data Insights: Site search data provides a wealth of information about what your customers are looking for, what's popular, and what's not. This data can inform inventory decisions, marketing strategies, and product development.

15 Best Practices for eCommerce Site Search

1. Implement predictive search wisely

Predictive search allows “search as you type". This means shoppers will see suggested terms, products, and other content types when they are inputting the keywords into the search bar. This feature saves customers time and effort by reducing the number of keystrokes needed to find a product. It also helps prevent possible spelling errors since searchers can click the displayed suggestions instead of typing.

The following are some easy-to-set-up ways to optimize the autocomplete feature.

2. Make sure synonyms are taken into account

All the benefits of autocomplete feature are in vain if it can't generate relevant suggestions. Inaccurate search results usually occur when users use different terms to describe the same product. To address this, use Synonyms and Suggestion Dictionary in your search algorithm. For example, if a shopper looks for "sneakers," the algorithm should also return results for "tennis shoes" and "athletic footwear."

The 3.0 generation of Boost offer AI-generated Synonyms so you don’t have to spend time adding them manually.

GET A SNEAK PEEK

3. Apply visual elements in the instant search widget

Human is visual-oriented. Our brain can process an image sixty thousand times faster than it does written text. Therefore, displaying product suggestions with images on the instant search widget is an excellent idea to arouse searchers' interest.

The autocomplete suggestions with product images are more attractive.

4. Set up search redirects where relevant

Redirects take the searchers to a particular page instead of search results. This is of great help when it comes to searching for information like return policy, shipping policy, and payment methods. Another application for search redirects is when you want to boost seasonal or sales collections. You should set up redirects to relevant collections for search terms like “sales", “discount", “mother's day", and “Christmas".

5. Make use of Scoped search suggestions

Unlike regular auto-suggestion that auto-fills the query only, scoped suggestions come with context. The “scope" here means a specific category or subset of products.

For example, consider an online fashion megastore. If a customer searches for "shoes," they may be presented with thousands of results. This can be overwhelming and frustrating, leading to a poor customer experience. However, by implementing a scoped search feature, the store can offer the ability to refine their search to specific categories such as "men's athletic shoes" or "women's dress shoes." This can greatly improve the relevance of the search results and make it easier for the customer to find what they are looking for.

Scoped search suggestions on Walmart.

7. Incorporate Natural language processing

Natural Language Processing (NLP) is a layer of AI search. It focuses on understanding the complexity of human language by adding structure and meaning to unstructured data. In the context of e-commerce search, NLP helps extract the necessary information to provide the most suitable products to the input queries.

NLP model in Boost 3.0 with AI power enhances accuracy for search results through:

Facet extraction combined with intent understanding
Auto-generated synonyms
Enhanced typo tolerance

Find details about AI Search in the epic release of Boost 3.0.

8. Always have filters and sorting options on search result pages

Search filters are a powerful tool for searchers to streamline product discovery. By selecting specific filters, customers can tailor their search to their preferences, making it easier for them to find the products that meet their needs. Such personalization leads to increased customer satisfaction and loyalty, as well as higher sales and revenue.

Filter and Sort by options on Ted Baker London.

Essential product filters are different for each store. Still, some basic ones you should always have on your search result pages are:

Price
Review rating
Product options (size, color, etc)
Availability

Besides filters, Sort by options are necessary for customers to reach their desired items in an instant. Search result pages normally use Sort by Relevance as default. However, merchants should allow shoppers to sort the result list by Price, % Sale, Best selling, and Arrival/Published Date too. This caters to the needs of some customer segments like the price-sensitive and the trend followers.

9. Leverage product rankings on search results pages

The first 5 positions on the results are a gold mine for conversion rate optimization. Make sure that no stock-outs or left-overs from last season take these places by using some kind of “Demote" merchandising rules. You can also pin or boost your bestsellers or high-margin products here to squeeze more sales.

The new Merchandising in Boost 3.0 helps merchants manipulate the product order on collection pages and search result pages with ease. Install the app and wait for the epic release now.

10. Dig into site search analytics

Data is the most valuable asset of all businesses. Therefore, make sure you use a site search engine that provides analytics and reports. Below are some suggestions on how to turn site search analytics into actionable strategies

Track popular search terms

By tracking top search terms that users are typing into your site search, you can identify popular products or categories that are in high demand. This can help you optimize your inventory and product pages to better cater to your customers' needs.

Analytics and reports on Boost 3.0 with AI Power.

Analyze search data for trends

A broad time range in site search reports can uncover trends in customer behavior and preferences. For example, a 365-day total searches graph shows which months are high season (the period that gets the most searches), and which ones are low season (the periods that has the least searches). This is useful to plan your marketing and merchandising strategies to better align with customers' rise and fall in demand.

Revamp searches without results

“No result" searches can imply new product opportunities. Based on the Searches without results on Boost Product Filter & Search, Protein Package realized that Per4m, GFuel, and C4 were unavailable brands but attracted a lot of shoppers. As a result, the store began to take on these brands and begin stocking to meet the customers' needs.

Adding synonyms or merchandising rules is another workaround to reduce failed searches and let shoppers continue exploring your store.

More actionable strategies on how to mitigate “No result” cases.

Use search data to inform product recommendations

By analyzing search data, you can identify products that are frequently searched for together or are popular among customers with similar search behavior. This can help you make more targeted and effective product recommendations to drive sales.

11. Personalize with Product Recommendations

Offering tailored product recommendations on product and cart pages based on user behavior and preferences can significantly enhance the shopping experience. By strategically placing these personalized recommendations where customers are most likely to engage, you create valuable opportunities for cross-selling and upselling.

This approach not only helps customers discover complementary items, ultimately maximizing revenue potential but also fosters loyalty and satisfaction.

12. Utilize Search Results for Product Bundles

Product bundles are a fantastic way to increase basket sizes and boost your average order value (AOV). To maximize their impact, it's essential to feature these bundles prominently in key areas, such as instant search results and search results pages. Boost AI Search & Discovery is leading the charge in this area, being the first in the market to offer bundle placement directly in the instant result dropdown.

13. Support Voice Search Functionality

As voice search continues to gain traction, ensuring that your site search is equipped to handle spoken queries effectively is essential. Customers increasingly rely on voice commands for convenience, making it crucial for your search functionality to understand natural language and varied phrasing.

14. Prioritize Mobile-Friendly Search Experiences

With more consumers using their smartphones for shopping, a seamless mobile experience can significantly enhance user satisfaction. Make sure your search functionality is intuitive and responsive on smaller screens so customers can find what they need quickly and easily.

15. Optimize for Speed and Performance

Your search results should load quickly to keep users engaged and prevent drop-offs. Fast loading times significantly reduce frustration, encouraging shoppers to stay on your site longer. When customers can access the information they need without delay, they are more likely to explore additional products and complete their purchases.

Which eCommerce Search Engine Should You Choose?

Not all search engines are created equal. Some may excel in certain areas while lacking in others. Choosing the right ecommerce search platform is critical to implementing the best practices outlined above.

Key Considerations When Choosing a Search Solution

Scalability: Can the solution handle your current and future product catalog size and traffic volume?
Features: Does it offer the features you need, such as NLP, AI-powered personalization, and robust analytics?
Integration: How easily does it integrate with your existing ecommerce platform and other systems?
Customization: Can you customize the search interface and functionality to match your brand and user experience?
Support: Does the provider offer reliable technical support and documentation?
Pricing: Does the pricing model fit your budget and business needs?

Leading eCommerce Search Solutions To Consider

Algolia

Algolia is a popular choice for large eCommerce sites, renowned for its speed and robust API. However, its technical complexity often requires a dedicated and skilled IT department for implementation and maintenance.

Outstanding features: Instant search results with semantic, personalization algorithms, extensive merchandising options
Pros: Fast performance, easy integration with various platforms
Cons: Can be costly at scale, requires tech-savvy users to utilize all the features

See the comparison between Boost AI Search & Discovery and Algolia.

Shopify Search & Discovery

This app is free for all Shopify merchants, providing essential functionalities tailored for startups and small businesses. Shopify Search & Discovery lacks options for customizing the appearance of search results and does not offer extensive re-ranking rules, which may restrict growth as your business expands.

Outstanding features: Integrated search capabilities, autocomplete suggestions, and filtering options.
Pros: Seamless integration with Shopify stores and a user-friendly interface.
Cons: Limited customization and advanced features like personalization compared to dedicated search platforms.

See the comparison between Boost AI Search & Discovery and Shopify Default Search.

Boost AI Search & Discovery

Boost provides a highly scalable, customizable, and feature-rich search experience. The app leverages AI/ML and personalization technologies to optimize site search and drive conversions. With features like AI-generated synonyms, NLP, and advanced merchandising capabilities, Boost helps eCommerce businesses create a truly exceptional search experience.

Outstanding features: Advanced NLP capabilities, typo tolerance, dynamic filtering, extensive merchandising rules, predictive product bundles, pre-orders, etc.
Pros: Highly scalable, customizable solutions, various pricing tiers with a free plan available, excellent customer support.
Cons: May require technical expertise for optimal setup.

Every journey starts with a small step

Optimizing site search for eCommerce is an ongoing process. More and more bullet points can be added to the checklist as new technology becomes popular. Therefore, merchants should always keep an eye on the site search trends as well as the competitors. It's also a wiser choice to stay with a site search app that is scalable and proactive in acquiring cutting-edge technology. Hope that our solution, Boost AI Search & Discovery, is among your selection.

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Ellie Ho

•

Content Marketing Specialist

November 11, 2024

•

7 min read

15 Best Practices To Improve Site Search On eCommerce Stores

Try Boost AI Search & Discovery for FREE

Start your 14-day free trial

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