Product merchandising in search (also called Searchandising) is a powerful feature of ecommerce site search. It allows you to modify search results to boost your ecommerce sales, improve conversion rates, and ultimately increase profitability.
Research shows that businesses leveraging Searchandising significantly boost their conversion rates.
LupaSearch clients have reported up to an 8-fold increase in conversion rates after implementing this feature [1].
So, how can you increase online sales with product merchandising?
How does product merchandising work?
Product merchandising in search offers freedom and control over how products are displayed in search results. Businesses can rank products based on individual needs such as sales performance, ongoing campaigns, seasonality, key performance indicators (KPIs), and more.
Search merchandising mirrors traditional merchandising in physical stores, where product placement significantly impacts sales.
By ranking certain products higher in search results and organizing the display of products, businesses can significantly influence customer buying decisions and drive sales growth [2].
So, how can you implement product merchandising in your ecommerce search to grow business sales?
How can Searchandising help you increase online sales?
Effective eCommerce site search can be a critical factor in a business’s success.
Statistics indicate that nearly half of website visitors go directly to the search bar upon landing on a website.
Moreover, users who engage with the search function typically generate significantly more revenue, spending at least 2.6 times more than those who do not use search [3].
Here is how you can improve your ecommerce results using Searchandising:
1. Rank best-selling products higher
Displaying the best-selling or most popular products higher in search results can significantly boost conversion rates.
For instance, a shoe retailer, FootSmart, increased its conversion rates by 82% by prominently displaying top-selling products in search results.
Research supports this strategy, showing that prioritizing popular products can enhance the user experience and increase sales [4].
2. Hide out-of-stock products
When customers search for generic products, it’s crucial to hide out-of-stock items (and offer relevant alternatives instead).
Also, ensure that the search engine handles zero-result queries effectively by offering related products or suggesting synonyms.
This reduces user frustration and enhances the likelihood of a sale, as supported by studies on the importance of search accuracy in maintaining customer engagement [5].
3. Merchandise categories, special offers, discounts
Special deals effectively sell in physical stores. Make sure to use similar tactics online.
Product merchandising allows you to highlight specific categories, special offers, or discounts directly in the search results.
Tailoring search results to emphasize these aspects can significantly impact sales, as research indicates that personalized and strategically organized product displays lead to higher conversion rates [3].
4. Boost specific search phrases
Boosting specific search phrases that align with your business goals can also be highly effective.
If a user’s search query matches certain product titles or campaigns, these results should appear at the top of the search results, driving visibility and sales for key items.
This targeted approach improves conversion rates by making the most relevant products easily accessible to customers [1].
Ready to grow your e-commerce sales?
Product merchandising (or Searchandising) is an essential feature offered by modern ecommerce site search solutions that can drastically improve your ecommerce business effectiveness.
Choose a trusted search partner (like LupaSearch) and discover how product merchandising in search can help you grow revenue effectively and increase customer satisfaction.
Schedule a demo with a LupaSearch product consultant. We will happily assist you in your business growth.
References
Zhou, J., Liu, B., Hong, J., Lee, K., & Wen, M. (2023). Leveraging Large Language Models for Enhanced Product Descriptions in eCommerce. ArXiv, abs/2310.18357. https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2310.18357.
Rano, A., & Sungkur, R. (2019). The impact of interactive design as a conversion rate optimisation tool for e-commerce. International Journal of Information Systems and Management. https://doi.org/10.1504/ijisam.2019.10025254.
Fatta, D., & Lu, D. (2018). Conversion rate determinants in e-commerce websites. What about moderation effects?. International Journal of Electronic Marketing and Retailing, 9, 366-377. https://doi.org/10.1504/IJEMR.2018.10012150.
Sobecki, A., Szymański, J., Krawczyk, H., Mora, H., & Gil, D. (2020). Smart Services for Improving eCommerce. , 575-584. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-48256-5_56.
Ubrangala, D., Sharma, J., Kondapalli, R., Rama, K., Agarwala, A., & Bou’e, L. (2023). Domain specificity and data efficiency in typo tolerant spell checkers: the case of search in online marketplaces. ArXiv, abs/2308.01976. https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2308.01976.