What will you do if you walk into a store and you don't find what you're looking for? You'll walk away, check another store, or probably just change your mind about buying the item. That's how most ecommerce stores lose customers and make lesser sales when they neglect their ecommerce search tool. This feature allows customers to type in keywords or phrases to find products in an online store. It uses search algorithms to match the user's query with relevant products. Over 73% of customers will leave a store in less than two minutes if they can't find what they're looking for. So, it's high time you take a second look at your store's ecommerce search. If you want to learn more about ecommerce search and examples to follow in 2024, then you should read along.
What is ecommerce Search?
An ecommerce site search is a tool on your website that helps visitors quickly find specific products or information. It works by using the keywords your customers type in to filter items on your site, showing them either the exact product they want or suggesting similar items based on their search.
Benefits of Using eCommerce Search on Your Online Store
Just as we've said previously, ecommerce search gives your customers the ability to find what they want on your website, but it goes beyond that. It also provides more benefits. They include:
- Improved Customer Experience
The ecommerce market is very competitive. There are lots of stores out there selling the same products as you, and they also want to make more sales. So, the more efficiently your site search engine is set up, the easier it is for people to find the information they need on their own. This way, they don't have to leave your website because they feel unsatisfied. - Increased Conversion Rates
Easier product discovery leads to more purchases, boosting your sales. If customers have a good experience, they will come back for another purchase, and even go as far as to recommend your store to a friend. Hence, a good ecommerce site search is the most effective form of marketing by far. - Enhanced Product Discoverability
Ecommerce search is a torchlight that helps your customers find products. When products are easier to find, especially those buried deep in your catalog, it will increase visibility and sales opportunities - Insights from Search Data
With Ecommerce search, you can discover what your customers want and when they want it. For instance, during the Christmas season, analyzing search queries helps you understand what customers want the most in that season, allowing you to optimize your inventory and marketing strategies.
Best Practices for eCommerce Search
Knowing about ecommerce search is not enough to keep you running. However, gaining extra insights on the best practices for ecommerce search will enhance your search bar.
Make Site Search Highly Visible
One of the best reasons for having an ecommerce search is to make your website visible. Ensure that the search bar is well positioned on your site so customers can find it easily. For instance, customers will easily locate the search bar on the front page.
Utilize Autocomplete and Error Correction
People are prone to misspellings and forgetfulness, and sometimes they are begging to be helped. So your ecommerce search should be willing to help them by providing users with a faster way to find products since they don't have to type out the entire query. You can Improve their experience by offering smart suggestions and correcting typos.
Avoid Dead Ends in Site Search
Two words should not be found on your website: "error" and "not found". You should ensure every search query returns relevant results to keep customers engaged. Furthermore, if customers cannot find what they want, you can give them a link to related products. You can also display top search terms and popular categories when no results are found, guiding users to high-interest areas of the site.
Optimize for Customer Terms, Not Industry Jargon
It is important to speak in your customer's language and not industry-based language. You can achieve this by avoiding jargon and using familiar words. Use your customer's language to make searches more effective. For instance, instead of using "product bundling", you can use "discount."
Leverage Analytics Data
If you're going to be productive with ecommerce search, you need to take advantage of data. Learn to use search data to gain insights on market trends, and improve functionality through customer feedback or complaints.
Expand Search Access Beyond Products
A little instruction or guide could go a long way for your customers. To make their search experience even better, try looking beyond just products. Include things like blogs, guides, and other helpful content in your search results. This way, your customers will find not only what you’re shopping for but also useful tips and information that can help them make better decisions.
Offer Abundant Filtering Options
Because there is a heap of products on your website, customers may feel easily overwhelmed. Allow your customers to narrow down their search results easily with various filters. You can add filters for price, sizes, colors, number of items, etc. This will help customers find what they want easily.
Focus on Metadata Importance
Metadata is very important if you want to enhance the relevance of search results on your website. You can use tags and descriptions to make search results more relevant to what people are looking for.
Optimize Mobile Search Functions
Currently, most people make their purchases from their phones. Your mobile search functions must be well-optimized. Ensure that mobile users have an easy search experience. Whatever changes you make to your search design, be sure to test them thoroughly with real users to ensure they work effectively.
Suggest Complementary Items or Upgrades
Sometimes, people don't know what they want until they see it. When a customer clicks on "dry hair shampoo", do well to show them other skin-care products. With just a subtle push you can point their attention to the product and easily increase sales.
Use Search Analytics to Fine-Tune SEO
Improve your SEO strategies by analyzing search data to understand customer behavior. If your search analytics reveal that "organic skincare products" is a frequently searched term on your website, create a page dedicated to this topic. You could include a guide on the benefits of organic skincare, a list of essential ingredients to look for, and product recommendations. This focused content will not only help your site rank better in search results for that term but also give your onsite search tool more relevant resources to work with.
Essential Features for eCommerce Search
Here are some essential features for ecommerce search.
Quick Loading Times
A 1-second delay in search results can decrease customer satisfaction by 16%. To keep shoppers engaged, aim to provide relevant results as fast as you can.
Autocomplete and Suggestions
Autocomplete and search suggestions help users find products faster by reducing the need to type out full queries and correcting spelling mistakes. Offer helpful suggestions as users type to speed up their search.
Full-Text Search
Search queries generally fall into four categories. Exact product searches are when users are looking for a specific item by name. It could be "PS 5."
There are also Product type searches which are quite broader. This type of search has users looking for general categories of products, like "handbags" or "wristwatches."
On the other hand, Problem-based searches, focus on finding solutions to issues without specifying a particular product, such as searching for "concealer for dry face."
Let’s not forget the non-product searches that involve users looking for information rather than purchasing items, like checking "order status." So, you can choose to use any type of the aforementioned searches on your ecommerce site. However, we'll recommend you go for the first one (exact product searches), because it is the easiest.
Product Images in Search
Customers prefer to see products with images. High-quality images make shoppers three times more likely to buy. They provide a mini preview, letting your customers view essential details like the photo, price, and availability right from the search bar.
Merchandising
This feature makes shopping easier for your customers by offering a shorter path to the products they want. But it’s also a big win for you as an online store owner. With merchandising-in-search, you can highlight certain products as suggestions, chosen by you. Plus, you can promote your goods right on the search results page using merchandising.
Synonyms
Brands often create unique names for their products to stand out, while customers might use their slang. For instance instead of using "flip flops", you could use "slippers". It is important to recognize different terms users might use for the same product to ensure accurate results.
Social Proof
Most of the time, customers want to know they're not they're only one buying from you. To ease their inquisitiveness, you can include ratings and reviews in search results to add credibility and help customers make better decisions.
Conclusion
To wrap things up, making the search feature top-notch on your e-commerce platform is very important for keeping customers happy and boosting sales. When shoppers can easily find what they're looking for, they're more likely to buy and come back for more. By adopting some best practices for your site like making it highly visible, avoiding dead ends, and using auto-complete and error correction, you're one step away from achieving your sales target for the year. If you still need help figuring this out, why not book a demo with us? Our experts are more willing to help you find your feet on your ecommerce journey.
FAQs
What is eCommerce search?
eCommerce search refers to the search functionality on online store websites that helps customers find products quickly and efficiently. This tool not only interprets user queries but also provides relevant search results, enhancing the overall shopping experience and increasing the likelihood of a purchase.
What are examples of e-commerce?
Examples of e-commerce are online stores like Amazon, Alibaba, Walmart, and eBay. Other examples include niche online shops, digital marketplaces for services, and platforms selling digital products like software and e-books.
What are the top 5 e-commerce websites?
Amazon: Known for its vast selection of products and fast shipping.
Alibaba: A major player in B2B e-commerce, primarily in China.
eBay: Popular for auctions and consumer-to-consumer sales.
Walmart: An established brick-and-mortar retailer with a strong online presence.
JD.com: A leading Chinese e-commerce platform known for electronics and general merchandise
What is smart search in e-commerce?
Smart search in e-commerce involves advanced search functionalities like autocomplete, natural language processing (NLP), and machine learning. These features help in understanding and predicting user queries, providing accurate and personalized search results, and ultimately improving the user experience.
How can I improve my eCommerce search?
Improving your ecommerce search is a whole lot. You'll have to use relevant filters, keep an eye on search data to see what's working and what's not, and make sure your search function is working well on mobile phones. Also, design your search bar in a way that is easy to find with auto-complete and spell-check features.
