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If you run an online store, having an effective search bar can really help your business stand out.

Let’s walk through some simple tips to make your search bar intuitive and inviting for your customers to use.

Start by figuring out how your customers usually search for products in your store. Check what words they use, how they phrase their searches, and how they like to browse through the results.
This info will help you make a search bar that fits what they need.

2. Keep Your Search Bar Easy to Find

Ensure the search bar is easy to spot on every page of your website. Most of the time, it’s best to put it at the top of the page, either in the middle or on the right.
This way, people can find what they need quickly without having to click through a bunch of menus.

3. Add Autocomplete

Autocomplete helps by suggesting products or searches when someone starts typing. This feature speeds things up for your customers and helps them complete their searches without needing to type everything out.
Statistics have shown that autocomplete significantly reduces the search time and decreases the typo rate, which improves user experience and satisfaction [1].
Additionally, advanced autocomplete systems can increase the quality of search suggestions, enhancing overall customer satisfaction [2].

4. Add Filters and Sorting Options

Give your customers ways to sort and filter their search results. They might want to see products by price, brand, or how popular they are.
Filters help them narrow down the search results so they can find exactly what they’re looking for faster.
Alternatively, turn on dynamic filters. This will automatically assign user query-relevant filters and hide the irrelevant ones.

5. Fix Typos and Use Synonyms

Not everyone spells things perfectly, and people might use different words to name the same thing.
Be sure your search bar can handle misspellings and understand synonyms so it still shows the right products, even if someone types something a bit wrong.
Incorporating error-tolerant features in autocomplete systems can enhance search efficiency and accuracy [3].

6. Show High-Quality Pictures and Simple Descriptions

When showing search results, include clear pictures and simple descriptions of the products.
Add important details like price and reviews so customers can make quick decisions without needing to click around too much.

7. Make Sure It Works Well on Mobile Phones

A lot of people shop on their mobile phones, so make sure your search works well on mobile devices.
The search bar should be easy to use with a touch screen, and the pages should load quickly.

8. Offer Help Through Live Chat

Sometimes people need help when searching. A live AI chat (or a conversation-like search, as in Lupa GenAI) significantly improves user shopping experience.
Why? Because they can get answers right away.
Research shows that live interactions can significantly improve customer satisfaction, trust, and conversion rates, especially when combined with comprehensive product information [4].

Bonus Point: Keep Testing and Improving

Once everything is set up, keep an eye on how it’s working and make changes when needed. Regular checks of your site search Analytics will help keep your search bar working well and your customers happy.

A good search bar makes shopping easier and can turn more visitors into buyers. By making your search bar user-friendly and keeping up with improvements, you’ll provide a better shopping experience that keeps customers coming back.

Ready to scale your e-commerce business with a converting site search?

Then book a free product demo at LupaSearch - an effective e-commerce site search solution - and let’s see your business grow.

References:

  1. Holstrom, C. (2020). The effects of suggested tags and autocomplete features on social tagging behaviors. Proceedings of the Association for Information Science and Technology, 57. https://doi.org/10.1002/pra2.263.

  2. Kastrinakis, D., & Tzitzikas, Y. (2010). Advancing Search Query Autocompletion Services with More and Better Suggestions. , 35-49. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-13911-6_3.

  3. Chaudhuri, S., & Kaushik, R. (2009). Extending autocompletion to tolerate errors. Proceedings of the 2009 ACM SIGMOD International Conference on Management of data. https://doi.org/10.1145/1559845.1559919.

  4. Mero, J. (2018). The effects of two-way communication and chat service usage on consumer attitudes in the e-commerce retailing sector. Electronic Markets, 28, 205-217. https://doi.org/10.1007/S12525-017-0281-2.