Optimising Site Search

Search has long been a critical capability for ecommerce websites, especially for large catalogue retailers where product range and complexity demands a super smart search algorithm to help customers quickly find relevant matches.

However, site search UX still isn’t ideal on many ecommerce sites. For example, search for ‘bodyfit vibration plate’ on Mailshop.co.uk and you’re shown a results page with only one product (instead of taking you direct to the product page) and then interrupted with an email sign-up overlay.

Typically search sessions convert higher than non-search sessions (even when you strip out non-bounce sessions from the comparison for greater accuracy). So there’s a commercial imperative to getting this right. Today’s we’ll discuss what you need to do to nail site search.

As ever: there will be 3 conversation starter questions and anyone is welcome to join in using the #EcomChat hashtag on Twitter.

Here are the 3 questions:

1. What are the most common mistakes with ecommerce site search?
2. What does good practice look like & what KPIs should you measure?
3. What tools can you use to improve performance & why?

Join us at 1pm UK time on Monday and do share this post either on Twitter or via email with anyone you think would be interested.

Thanks, Dan & James.

p.s. If you’re wondering “what’s this about?” there is a page explaining all just here.