Autocomplete, or type-ahead, is an ecommerce search feature that suggests possible completions for a user’s query as they type in a search box. It helps your website visitors find the products they need more quickly.

This feature alone can boost your ecommerce sales by 24%.

So, how can you exploit autocomplete to increase your ecommerce sales by up to a quarter?

Let’s find out.

Why should you use autocomplete in your ecommerce store?

In an ecommerce store, everything is about user convenience and relevance. That means helping users find what they want and when they want and do it fast.

Therefore, the single - and most crucial - task of an ecommerce search is to match products with the user queries perfectly.

To do that, autocomplete becomes an irreplaceable feature.

Why?

• It reduces spelling errors.

Autocomplete reduces the number of spelling mistakes, especially if your products are tricky to spell. For instance, if you sell Italian gourmet food like bruschettas, pancettas, or teas like rooibos or echinacea.

• It improves user experience.

Autocomplete makes searching faster and easier, especially on mobile devices where typing can be cumbersome.

Besides, it reduces the number of zero results pages and ensures a more satisfying and smooth user experience.

• It increases engagement and retention.

Autocomplete shows relevant and popular suggestions while the user types that capture the user’s attention and spark curiosity.

By keeping them engaged and interested, you can reduce bounce rates and increase repeat visits.

• It promotes new products.

Autocomplete encourages website visitors to explore more products or categories and discover new items they might not have thought of before.

Long-tail keywords can guide users to new, more valuable, and cost-effective products.

• It boosts conversions and revenue.

The faster the user finds the right product, the higher the conversion rates. Autocomplete leads the shopper to the products that match their intent and preferences.

How can you exploit autocomplete to drive more sales?

Autocomplete is a powerful tool that can drastically boost your ecommerce sales.

Here are five tried and tested strategies to help you make the most out of this feature.

1. Introduce autocomplete.

First things first, introduce an ecommerce search engine that supports autocomplete (like LupaSearch).

Autocomplete suggestions should be based on real data, such as user behavior, search history, product popularity, inventory availability, etc.

As users start typing in the search bar, the autocomplete suggestions should dynamically display relevant products, categories, or attributes. It helps users immediately find what they are looking for.

2. Focus on providing long-tail keywords.

Every word added to a search query drives a 15% increase in the conversion rate.

Therefore, set your ecommerce search accordingly, so it suggests longer and more specific phrases.

This will not only help you guide users to highly relevant product pages but also encourage them to explore new or more expensive products.

3. Optimize product listings.

Optimize your product titles, descriptions, and metadata to align with popular autocomplete suggestions. Include relevant keywords and phrases that users frequently search for.

Keep in mind that product listing optimization is a continuous process. Get back to the search results at least once a month and apply relevant updates.

4. Cross-selling and upselling.

Leverage autocomplete suggestions to implement cross-selling and upselling strategies. When users search for a specific product, show them related or complementary items they may be interested in.

Such a feature alone can increase the average order value and drive more sales.

5. Analyze past search data to make decisions.

Autocomplete is not a set-it-and-forget-it feature. You should constantly monitor its performance and impact on your store’s key metrics, such as search volume, click-through rate, etc.

You can also use artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) to analyze your data and generate related phrases and synonyms that would drastically improve the autocomplete relevance even further.

Don’t take autocomplete for granted. Yes, it is a powerful tool on its own. But if you invest a little time into it, you can notice the tremendous impact on your sales.

Maybe even more than a quarter. Who knows?

Schedule a demo with LupaSearch product consultants, and let’s see how your ecommerce sales grow.