What is Search Merchandising?

Search merchandising, also known as “Searchandising” mirrors the assistance provided by a salesperson in a brick-and-mortar store, transferred to the digital e-shop.

This digital strategy combines the capabilities of data analytics, AI-driven algorithms, and visual merchandising techniques to create a personalized shopping environment that understands and caters to individual preferences and intents.

So, how can you exploit search merchandising in your e-shop?

How Search Merchandising Enhances E-Commerce

At its core, search merchandising focuses on analyzing customer behavior and preferences to predict and fulfill user needs effectively.

The process begins with real-time and historical data collection on user interactions, including search queries and clicks.

Advanced algorithms then analyze this data to identify patterns, preferences, and trends, which helps e-commerce platforms understand what products customers are searching for and how they are engaging with the site.

Personalization of search results is a crucial outcome of this analysis, enabling the display of products more likely to appeal to each user based on their behavior and preferences.

This tailored approach is akin to having a dedicated virtual store manager who strategically arranges products to maximize their visibility and relevance to shoppers.

In the case of the best LupaSearch clients’ use cases, e-shops have used such strategies as featuring best-sellers, promoting new arrivals, or cross-selling related items.

Search merchandising = an automated ecommerce sales booster

63% of modern shoppers expect personalized product offers. What does that mean?

Your ecommerce store has to recommend the right product to the shopper most interested in buying it.

And that is the goal of search merchandising.

When implemented and used correctly, searchandising can be a game-changer for your ecommerce business.

Why?

- Improved customer satisfaction = undivided loyalty

Shoppers tend to become loyal to brands that offer a seamless shopping experience. That translates to higher revenue per purchase and an increased average lifetime user value. It is profitable to satisfy the consumers’ needs.

- Higher conversion rates = boosted sales

According to a study by Forrester Research, ecommerce search merchandising can increase conversions by up to 50% and revenue by up to 30%. For businesses that seek rapid growth, sales merchandising can do a large part of the work.

Top 5 search merchandising strategies you should exploit

Make search merchandising work towards your business success.

Apply the top 5 strategies frequently used by leading ecommerce businesses and exploit the possibilities:

Integrate synonyms

Implement synonyms for common product-related terms to ensure that users find what they’re looking for, even if they use different terminology.

If the user searches for “Evian” (water brand), don’t forget to show them all types of water brands you currently have in stock.

Exploit Faceted search

Allow users to refine and narrow their search results by applying filters based on various criteria, such as category, price, rating, color, size, brand, or availability. It helps them to find the most suitable products for their needs and preferences.

Use visual Merchandising

Feature best-selling or high-margin products prominently in search results. Create and add visually appealing banners or badges to showcase new arrivals, free shipping, or other special information.

Rank products

Rank and order products in the search results based on various factors, such as relevance to the user’s query, popularity among other users, sales performance, profit margin, inventory level, or seasonality.

Don’t forget A/B testing

Don’t expect search merchandising to work on its own. Continuously test different strategies to identify what works best for your specific audience. Monitor metrics like click-through rates (CTR), conversion rates, and revenue to make data-driven decisions.

Search merchandising at its best with LupaSearch.

Search merchandising represents a powerful tool for e-commerce businesses, enabling them to offer personalized and engaging shopping experiences akin to those in physical stores.

By understanding and implementing strategic search merchandising practices, e-commerce platforms can significantly enhance user satisfaction, foster loyalty, and achieve higher conversion rates.

For ecommerce businesses that seek rapid online growth and unrivaled user satisfaction, LupaSearch is the go-to ecommerce search partner. LupaSearch offers effective search merchandising crafted to satisfy your business and its customers’ needs.