In the age of digitalization, eCommerce has become an indispensable part of our lives. In the competitive eCommerce marketplace, the success of an online store depends on various factors. One of the most important factors that directly impact customer satisfaction and sales is the eCommerce site search functionality.
Do you know? With the booming Internet & Technology, the online sphere has unsurprisingly extended its domains to 12-24 million online retailers or eCommerce sites globally. Surprisingly, as per econsultancy, up to 30% of customers rely solely on this functionality to find what they want. That's why the internal search feature on eCommerce sites has become an essential tool for customers and businesses.
In this blog, we will delve into the importance of eCommerce site search functions & the consequences it has on your eCommerce website.
Why does your eCommerce product search matter?
ECommerce search refers to the functionality of an online store that allows users to search for products or services within the website. The search function is typically located in the header of the website and allows users to enter keywords related to the product or service they are looking for. This functionality plays a vital role in providing a seamless user experience and driving sales.
How does eCommerce search impact user experience?
ECommerce search is an essential aspect of the user experience on an eCommerce website. User-friendly and efficient eCommerce site search solutions can make it easier for consumers to find the products they need, increasing the chances of them making a purchase. On the other hand, a poorly designed search feature can lead to frustration and, ultimately, users abandoning the website.
ECommerce search is a critical component of any online shopping experience. It impacts the user experience in several ways:
Accuracy: the accuracy of search results greatly affects user experience. If the search results are irrelevant or incomplete, users may get frustrated and leave the site. Therefore, it is crucial to have a search engine that accurately matches users' search queries with relevant products.
Speed: users expect search results to be delivered quickly. Slow search results can negatively impact the user experience, as users may become impatient and leave the site.
Relevance: search results must be relevant to the user's search query. If the results are not relevant, users will not find what they are looking for, and they may not visit your site again.
Navigation: eCommerce site search can provide a way for users to navigate through a website. Users can enter a search query and be presented with relevant categories or subcategories to browse, which can help them find what they are searching for more easily.
Personalization: personalized search results can enhance the user experience by presenting products that are more relevant to the user's interests and preferences. This can lead to higher engagement and increased conversions.
How does eCommerce search impact sales?
Did you know that your eCommerce site search alone generates 30-60% of revenue by on-site searches?
The eCommerce search functionality can have a significant impact on sales. If the search results are relevant and accurate, customers will be more likely to find the products they are seeking, which boosts the chances of making a purchase.
ECommerce search has a significant impact on sales. Here are some ways it affects sales:
Conversion rates: conversion rates or click-through rates can go up if the search engine is laid out better. When customers don't have to work too hard to find what they want, they are more likely to buy.
Average order value: eCommerce site search can also impact the average order value. When users can easily discover related or complementary products through search, they are more likely to shop for more items, leading to a rise in the average order value.
Customer satisfaction: a good search experience can lead to higher customer satisfaction, which leads to increased sales. Customers who are happy with a website may come back and buy from it again.
Repeat purchases: eCommerce search can also impact repeat purchases. When customers have a positive search experience, they will probably return to the site in the future and make additional purchases.
Cross-selling and upselling: eCommerce site search can be used to suggest complementary products, which can lead to cross-selling and upselling opportunities. By presenting users with relevant products, they would consider additional items they may not have otherwise discovered.
What are the consequences of having a poor eCommerce product search?
We had been reading about the importance of having a good eCommerce search. But do you know what happens if your website has a poor site search? It can lead to several negative consequences, and we will read them below.
“You are driving traffic & sales to your competitor’s site by offering poor site search on your site.”
5 consequences of having a poor eCommerce search, including:
- If visitors can't find what they need, their experience may suffer. They may leave your site and hunt for information elsewhere, losing business or engagement.
- Users may not engage with your information, products, or services as much if you can’t fulfill their needs. The business will lose out on potential revenue.
- If search results are inaccurate or irrelevant, this can result in a lower search engine ranking and decreased visibility for the online store.
- Poor eCommerce site search can also boost bounce rates when a person visits your site and departs without browsing.
- Your annoyed users may recommend your products to others, which can lead to a negative perception of your brand and decreased customer loyalty.
Final Words
ECommerce site search is an essential feature of an online store that can impact user experience and sales. A good eCommerce search functionality can provide relevant and accurate search results, improve navigation, and increase the chances of making a purchase.
To improve the eCommerce search functionality, online store owners can implement various strategies, such as using relevant keywords, providing filters and sorting options, and using artificial intelligence-based search algorithms. By using the best eCommerce product search engines, online store owners can make their customers happier, boost sales, and give themselves an edge in the market.
In case you need an advanced eCommerce website search solution, nopCommerce has many product search plugins, as well as catalog management ones, that are available on Marketplace. You can also boost your sales by developing and integrating customized eCommerce search engines with our solution partners, like nopAccelerate.
This post was written by nopAccelerate, a leading nopCommerce Gold Solution Partner renowned for delivering exceptional eCommerce solutions. With a proven track record, they specialize in customized B2B & B2C eCommerce with seamless integrations, and optimized performance ensuring delivering customer-centric software and mobile app development services on the top of nopCommerce, resulting in reliable and integrated eCommerce experience for their customers, offering increased conversions, enhanced user experience, and scalable solutions tailored to business needs.
Comments
Keep up the good work.
I used it for many eCommerce store and it really improve in search result, performance and specially SALES. We see good improvement. Thanks and highly recommended. (y)