Are you looking to improve your eCommerce web design? With many new Conversion Rate Optimization (CRO) trends, keeping up with the times can be challenging. It would help if you had patience and put effort into optimizing eCommerce site search. This article shares the best ways to optimize your site search.
First, we need to explain what an eCommerce site search solution is. An eCommerce site search solution is essentially a search engine connected to your online store, and it works to find the users the product is looking for by matching users’ search keywords with developments in your shop.
There is a difference between an eCommerce search engine and a Google search. Google focuses on content and text search, while eCommerce focuses on structured attribute research where filtering is a priority.
Here are some methods to approach eCommerce site search:
- Make sure users can see the search box.
- Make the search box big enough for users to type in their queries.
- Put the search box on each page of your eCommerce site.
- Strong error tolerance for a smooth user journey.
- Implement search query autocomplete.
- Use Natural Language Process for searching.
Did you know search users are 7-10 times more likely to convert than simple web page visitors?
On average, 40% to 80% of online revenue comes from search users.
Your goal should be encouraging people visiting your Orange County eCommerce site to use the search box. You need to make sure that you eliminate any obstacles that may interrupt a user’s shopping experience.
Understand the Two Types of Visitors
Two types of people visit your E-Commerce site:
- The Browser: This visitor is already aware of your product and has some understanding of what they are looking for. They need guidance. Tools such as automatic recommendations and prefilling the search bar can help them achieve desired results.
- The Searcher: This visitor already knows what they want from your online store. They are looking for something particular and are ready to type in the brand, product name, or even the product code in the search bar.
Why Site Search Matters
Site search is more than just a little search bar visitors use to type in their investigations. It involves autocompleting, related searches, the search engine, and analytics. All of these factors combined can enhance your eCommerce web design.
Site search can also help you save money by providing users with a responsive search experience. People want their needs met quickly, and if your site cannot do that, they will click out and find what they are looking for from one of your competitors.
You need to offer your shoppers comfort, ease, and fast results. Think of the price of eCommerce site search solutions as an investment. The more user-friendly your site search experience is, the more time and money shoppers will give to your online store. The more time and money shoppers spend on your site, the better your conversion rates will be.
Collect Data about Your Users’ Needs and Preferences
When you have data about your users’ needs and preferences, you can make analytics reports to improve your business strategy. For example, you may have data about which products in your online store are becoming more (or less) famous. You can use this data to adjust your focus and learn more about what your customers wish you would sell. If you notice a considerable number of searches for a brand or product you do not carry, you should consider adding it to your inventory.
You Need More Than Just a Solution
It would be best to have a strategy to stay ahead of your competitors. Did you know that 20% of search users type in an additional query after their first search, and 21% click out of the website out of frustration?
So, what can you do to make sure your site brings satisfactory results?
- Make sure users can clearly see the search box.
If your website is complex or content-heavy, you must ensure shoppers can quickly identify the search box.
Here are some tips to consider when designing the search box for your website:
- Make extra space. Do not put the search bar next to the newsletter sign-up icon. The search bar needs to have its central location on the website.
- Implement a magnifying glass icon to indicate to shoppers that they are looking at the search bar. If you do not want to use the magnifying glass icon, place a “GO” button next to the search box.
- Your search box should have an entire open text field next to it.
- Users have different preferences when it comes to approaching the search box. Some like pressing an “Enter” key, while others want to click the search button to submit their query. It would be best if you had several options for users.
Your search box should contain a prompt like “Search here” to help give the shopper some direction. Text in the search box can encourage searches and ensure that the text disappears from the search box once the shopper clicks on the box. Shoppers should not have to manually delete the prompt in the search box before typing their query.
You could try using other prompts in the search box, such as “Enter product, code, or brand,” to let shoppers know that your search can process elements such as product codes and brand names. Using this tip, you can make the search process faster and enhance the UX.
- Make the search box big enough for users to type in their queries.
Make your search box expandable. If your search box is too short, shoppers will get confused and think that their queries need to be shortened for them to process. Most shoppers’ queries can fit into a 27-character-long search box.
- Put the search box on each page of your eCommerce site.
You need to help your visitors maintain a sense of direction when they check out your site. They should not have to click a “back button,” which would erase their search results. Instead, put the search box on each page of your site. You can put it on the top, in the center, or on the right side of each page. If you are unsure about placement, look at your competitor’s websites and see where they place their search box on each page.
The only page that should not include a search box is the checkout page. The search box could distract shoppers from completing their purchase, so you should avoid placing it there.
Conclusion
When enhancing your eCommerce design, you need to put yourself in shoppers’ shoes and think about how you can help guide them through your online store.