The Fast Lane
Discover the world of AI-driven shopping optimization and fast-track your way to increased conversion rates, AOV, and customer loyalty. Explore expert insights on e-commerce personalization, merchandising, site search, and more.
Search & discoveryBard vs ChatGPT: Which Is the Future of Search Optimization?Using ChatGPT or Google Bard can improve your eCommerce search engine’s performance. And with nearly half of your visitors going straight to the search box, delivering relevant results is key.
These advanced tools give developers and businesses the means to improve search relevance, tailor user experiences, and upgrade eCommerce search functionality, often using an application programming interface (API). So, which one offers the best search optimization, and why? Let’s give a brief overview before we get into the details.
FeatureChatGPTGoogle BardNatural language understandingVery goodGoodRanking and organizationVery goodGoodAutocomplete and predictive searchGoodVery goodIntegration and availabilityVery goodLimited
Meet the Expert
Jameela Ghann is a seasoned online store owner with over a decade of eCommerce experience. Apart from running Alora Boutique, she's also the marketing manager for Fera Product Reviews.
What is ChatGPT?
ChatGPT is a large language model chatbot developed by OpenAI that utilizes generative AI technology to excel in understanding natural language and user intent.
Its API allows you to integrate its capabilities into your applications to provide personalized search experiences, conversational interactions, and creative text generation.
» Get more info in ChatGPT API documentation
What is Google Bard?
Google Bard is a large language model chatbot developed by Google AI that utilizes search-centric AI technology to excel in understanding natural language and search queries.
Its API allows you to integrate its capabilities into your websites and applications to enhance site search relevance, optimize content for search engines, and generate creative text formats.
» Get more info in Google Bard API documentation
Chat GPT vs Bard: A Comparative Analysis for Search Optimization
Search optimization is about making your website as easy to navigate and discover as possible. This involves incorporating intelligent search functionality that can help users find more relevant answers to their queries quickly and efficiently.
You can do this through out-of-the-box AI-led search tools made just for this purpose, or you can take a DIY approach, incorporating the API into your application. Let's compare ChatGPT and Bard to help you make an informed decision.
1. Natural Language Understanding
In eCommerce, customers often interact with the platform through search queries or chatbots, which are driven by AI.
ChatGPT excels in natural language understanding (NLU), enabling it to provide contextually relevant answers to search queries. Its ability to decipher user intent and preferences makes it well-suited for personalized search experiences.
Natural Language Understanding is "the ability of a computer to understand human language. You can use it for many applications, such as chatbots, voice assistants, and automated translation services."
While Bard can also understand natural language, its main purpose is to provide accurate and informative search results, rather than creating personalized experiences. It uses search-focused AI technology to grasp search queries and deliver relevant information.
2. Ranking and Organization
ChatGPT offers valuable assistance in ranking and organizing website content. It can help structure headings, data, and even create regression charts, improving the overall organization and searchability of content.
Bard's capabilities in ranking and organizing content are more limited compared to ChatGPT. While it can provide some assistance in structuring headings, it doesn't extend to creating regression charts or in-depth content organization.
3. Autocomplete and Predictive Search
Bard shines in autocomplete and predictive search features. Its vast training data lets it make accurate predictions and suggestions as users type their queries.
Integrating this into your eCommerce search engine can also enhance the autocomplete and auto-suggestion features. By understanding the context and user intent, Bard can provide more relevant and accurate suggestions, making it easier for customers to find the products they're looking for quickly.
4. Integration and Availability
ChatGPT boasts broader integration across various apps and platforms, making it more accessible for eCommerce and conversational shopping assistance. Its widespread adoption by major retailers like Walmart further strengthens its position.
Bard's availability is more restricted compared to ChatGPT. It's unavailable in several regions, including parts of the European Union and Canada. This restricted availability can be a decisive factor in your choice.
I would say Chat GPT is more widely used and assists more with eCommerce, search, and finding things on websites, primarily because it has been around longer than Bard. While Chat GPT currently has a slight edge, especially in terms of integration and usage, Bard’s potential for growth, backed by Google’s resources, cannot be underestimated.
Future of the AI-Powered Search Optimization
The way people search is changing, so you may need to change how you optimize your website. Pay attention to these trends so you can stay ahead of the curve and make sure your customers can find you and find what they are looking for.
Visual search: Visual search is set to become more prevalent. Users will increasingly rely on images to find products and information. AI-driven systems will enable users to search for items simply by uploading an image or using their device's camera. This trend is particularly significant for eCommerce, as it simplifies finding and purchasing products.Voice search: Voice search is another area where we can expect substantial growth. AI-powered voice assistants will not only understand spoken queries but also respond in a more natural and conversational manner. Voice-activated chatbots will become more common, providing users with voice responses and even accompanying visual elements where necessary.Video search: As technology advances, chatbots and AI-driven systems will become more proficient at parsing video content. This means they will be able to understand and respond to user queries related to video content. Video search optimization will be essential for platforms that host video content and want to improve user engagement.Augmented Reality (AR): While virtual reality (VR) adoption may still be a bit distant, augmented reality (AR) is likely to gain traction. AI models will play a crucial role in AR applications, enhancing the user experience by overlaying digital information in the real world. For eCommerce, this could mean more interactive and immersive shopping experiences.
» Want to engage customers like never before? Discover conversational commerce
ChatGPT and Bard: Two Worthy Contenders for the Future of AI
ChatGPT and Google Bard are at the forefront of AI-powered search optimization. While ChatGPT currently leads in certain areas, Google's Bard is making significant strides.
Programming your search using APIs takes time and expertise so it may be wise to choose a ready-to-use AI-driven solution. These solutions, powered by natural language processing and machine learning, can significantly enhance search functionality.
As the capabilities of Google Bard and ChatGPT expand, their potential to connect customers with relevant products and services will only grow. Businesses that embrace these AI-powered tools are well-positioned to succeed in the ever-evolving digital world.
MarketingChat GPT Alternatives: 4 AI Technologies to Watch for in 2024With the AI market share set to reach $407 billion by 2027, businesses can expect a dramatic increase in innovative tech that will boost their revenue and productivity. From voice search to personalization, the AI tech industry is growing fast, with plenty of exciting new tools to try.
While AI integration can be a fantastic asset to your business, there are areas where the human touch is still needed. Let's discuss which key ChatGPT alternatives you should look out for in 2024, and how you can pick the right one to suit your business goals.
Meet the Expert
Jameela Ghann is a seasoned online store owner with over a decade of eCommerce experience. Apart from running Alora Boutique, she's also the marketing manager for Fera Product Reviews.
ChatGPT Alternatives for eCommerce
eCommerce businesses that embrace emerging AI technologies can gain a significant competitive advantage. While ChatGPT has proven its worth, several emerging AI solutions deserve your attention as potential alternatives or complementary tools. Let's explore some of these cutting-edge developments.
1. Google Bard
Bard is a promising AI language model that is gaining traction and attracting significant investment from Google. Its enhanced capabilities could complement or even replace ChatGPT in specific applications.
Google is integrating Bard into its other digital products, such as Gmail, Maps, and YouTube, to expand user interaction and value.
So, users could use Bard to compose emails, get directions on Maps, or find videos on YouTube. And Google is also making Bard available to developers through its AI Platform to foster innovative AI applications in various industries.
2. Google's Vision AI
Google Vision AI is a cloud-based AI tool that helps developers build and deploy computer vision applications. It can identify objects, scenes, and faces in images and videos, and extract text from them.
Google Vision AI can be used to power visual search applications.
Visual search is a type of search that uses images or videos instead of text queries to find information.
This technology is still under development, but it has the potential to revolutionize the way we interact with the internet. Imagine shoppers uploading images or using their cameras to search for items. While it's already being used at big retailers like Amazon, it's set to become more accessible to smaller eCommerce businesses in the near future.
» Is a picture worth 1,000 words? Find out how visual search can help product discovery
3. Voice Commerce and Virtual Assistants
Voice commerce is a rapidly growing trend, and virtual assistants are playing a key role in this growth. As voice recognition technology continues to improve, more and more people are using virtual assistants to shop online. This is because voice commerce offers a number of advantages over traditional text-based shopping, including convenience, accuracy, and naturalness.
If you're an eCommerce business owner, you should consider integrating virtual assistants into your platform through platforms such as Voiceplug.ai. This can help you to attract new customers, improve the customer experience, and increase sales.
4. Inventory management and advanced analytics
AI-driven solutions, similar to ChatGPT, can transform inventory management. Tools such as Inventoro provide insights that help reduce overstock, address sold-out products, and guide customers toward alternatives, optimizing your supply chain and efficiency.
Inventoro connects to your existing eCommerce platform and collects data on your inventory levels, sales history, and customer behavior. It then uses this data to generate insights and recommendations that can help you to improve your inventory management.
Choosing the Right AI Tool
The best way to select the right AI tool for your eCommerce business is to carefully consider your specific needs and challenges. Evaluate the data sources and training methodologies of each tool, as well as its fact-checking capabilities and ethical features. Consider the following factors:
Data sources and training: Some AI tools are trained on general data, while others are trained on more specialized data. If you need an AI tool that can understand your specific needs, it's important to choose a tool that is trained on the right data.Fact-checking: How accurate is the AI tool? Does it offer built-in fact-checking capabilities? Fact-checking is important, especially if you're using the AI tool to generate content for your website or marketing materials. Accuracy and contextual understanding: Be aware of the limitations of AI tools and carefully review all AI-generated content.Data privacy: Choose an AI tool with robust security measures and compliance with data privacy laws.Trust and transparency: Be transparent about your use of AI and provide customers with a way to escalate to human agents.Handling complex inquiries: Choose an AI tool that can handle routine tasks and integrate with a CRM system or provide a link to human agents for complex inquiries.Scalability and high-traffic periods: Choose a cloud-based AI tool for scalability and high-traffic optimization.Budget, support, ease of use, and scalability: Consider your budget, support needs, ease of use, and future scalability needs.
The Future of AI Tech for eCommerce
AI tech is opening up exciting opportunities for you to enhance customer experiences, optimize inventory management, and stay competitive. But perhaps your eCommerce business needs a tailored AI-driven solution rather than a broad large language model chatbot to really specialize your operations.
From personalizing the shopping experience to automating repetitive tasks, AI can help businesses streamline processes and improve their bottom line. AI-powered site search and discovery capabilities can also make it easier for customers to find the products they're looking for, leading to increased sales and conversions. So, when considering ChatGPT alternatives, take a thoughtful approach to reap the many benefits that AI has to offer.
MerchandisingeCommerce Homepage: 4 Best Practices for Promotions (+ Examples)Your eCommerce homepage is often the first thing your visitors see, so it's a crucial place to showcase promotions and make sure your merchandising is on point. After all, potentially 67% of your visitors can make unplanned purchases based on a promotion. To help you get started, consider these best practices with examples to convert visitors to your eCommerce homepage into customers.
1. Keep It Simple
Simplicity is key when it comes to your eCommerce homepage promotions. If your text and visuals are too busy or confusing, you'll lose the critical window of opportunity to capture and keep your customers' attention. This window is extremely short—just 3 seconds.
But when you have a clear, consistent, and concise message, you're able to drive your customers through the funnel quickly and more efficiently. They'll know exactly what the offer is and what they need to do next.
Amazon: No-Frills Promotions
Amazon's "Today's Deals" page does a great job of this. The page starts with categories of products, including a crisp photo with a white background to represent each category. This helps users easily navigate to the types of products they're looking for.
This visual merchandising strategy continues down the page with intuitive organization, clear photos, descriptive titles, and badges that show the percentage discount.
» Enhance your visual merchandising to create an engaging eCommerce experience
2. Highlight the Value Proposition
It's critical that, right off the bat, your customers recognize why your promotion is worth their time and money. They must be encouraged to take action and convert. You can do this by being clear about the terms of your promotion. If it's a discount, state the percentage or dollar value clearly up-front. Don't make them fish around for the most relevant information.
Sephora: The Beauty of a Good Deal
Sephora's "Beauty Offers" section states the 50% discount in a bright pink bar across the top of the page. This also includes how long the promotion is running, which further grabs the customers' attention and piques their interest. An additional merchandising technique is showing which of the discounted items are already sold out by using an "Out of Stock" button instead of an "Add" button. This builds extra value for customers, creating the impression that these items are so hot they'll be gone soon if customers don't act fast.
» Ensure your promotions stand out and drive traffic with promotional tiles
3. Create A Sense of Urgency
When your message instills a sense of urgency and limited supply, your customers are less likely to say, "Maybe later..." and more likely to say, "Gotta have it!" You can create urgency through the "limited time offer" or "limited stock left" sections on your eCommerce homepage.
H&M: Not Fashionably Late
H&M chose to offer free shipping on orders for a limited time. This is communicated through a banner that runs across the top of the screen, claiming, "Free shipping ends tonight!" To drive home the urgency of the offer further, H&M includes a countdown timer that shows how many hours are left until the promotion expires. This is a classic eCommerce strategy to alert shoppers that the good deals won't last.
Underneath this, another brighter banner advertises the Winter Sale, which gives access to deals up to 50% off. Combined, these two banners create a visual hierarchy that packs a powerful punch to create urgency and nudge shoppers to make a purchase they otherwise may not have made.
» Implement these critical visual merchandising strategies to drive sales
4. Personalize Promotions
Personalization can help you stand out from the competition and build strong relationships with customers. It also assures customers that you "get them" and have an understanding of what they're looking for when they shop.
A study from Accenture showed that a whopping 91% of respondents said they're more likely to shop with brands that personalize the shopping experience and provide recommendations accordingly. This fact is no hard-kept secret. Customers expect personalization—and will go elsewhere when brands don't provide it.
Netflix: Personalize Your Watchlist
Netflix runs on one of the most successful and well-known personalization engines in the world. It churns out a never-ending list of suggestions based on titles you've already watched as well as titles that are popular in certain regions and within certain categories. It keeps people locked in for hours of viewing.
In the eCommerce world, personalization can be found everywhere, from global powerhouses like Amazon to mom-and-pop shops.
» Delve deeper into how personalization can help merchandising
Maximize Your eCommerce Success the Fast Way
Effective eCommerce homepage promotions can be a game-changer if you want to attract and retain customers. When executed well, they can paint a bright, vivid picture for your customers about the opportunities and deals they have access to. By implementing these merchandising strategies and best practices, you can deliver an incredible user experience, draw your customers in, lead them to exactly what they're looking for, and keep them coming back for more.
In today's highly competitive online marketplace, can your eCommerce business afford to ignore the power of effective promotions on your homepage?
Search & discoveryeCommerce Product Search Engine: 5 Key Features and BenefitsAn eCommerce product search engine is a "local" site search engine built for your eCommerce store. When a customer types in a query, the engine indexes all of your products and uses sophisticated AI algorithms to help match customers with exactly what they're looking for—fast.
In an age where customers expect a smooth user experience and immediate results, an eCommerce product search engine is a must-have for every online store owner. And fortunately, this tool is highly accessible: it can be integrated with most major eCommerce platforms, including Shopify Search, BigCommerce Search, Magento Search, WooCommerce, Wix, and more.
Let's look at five key features and benefits that you can start reaping today.
» Add, remove, and customize your Shopify search bar for better search results and a seamless shopping experience
1. Fast Loading Time
How quickly your site loads is closely connected to your customers' satisfaction, your site's bounce rate, and its ranking. Your customers may feel that your loading time is a reflection of your service and quality. So, the faster your site loads, the less likely your customers are to leave your site. This keeps your bounce rate down (an average of 9%) and helps to boost your search engine ranking.
Ideally, you should aim for a 2-second loading time for your eCommerce store and its product search functionality to make sure your customers quickly find what they're looking for.
2. Autocomplete Text
Autocomplete text is an AI feature that aims to finish your customer's query as they're typing it. This gives them a quicker path to your product, requiring fewer keystrokes to get to their end goal. It also helps to prevent spelling errors, which can alter their search results and provide a less-than-ideal user experience.
Take Ruggable, for example. When a user types "ze" into the search bar, the product search engine automatically pulls results for zebra-related items. This helps to cut the time the user spends searching, sending them straight to their results.
» Learn how AI can optimize your customers' eCommerce experience
3. Full-Text Search
Sometimes, your customer may know exactly which product they want. But often, this isn't the case. Search queries fall into four types:
Exact product search: Your customers know exactly what they need, down to the product's name.Product type search: Your customers search for a general product, not a brand or model.Problem-based search: Your customers need a solution to an issue, but they're not sure which form it comes in.Non-product search: Your customers are looking for information, not a product.
Full-text search is a helpful feature when your customer hasn't entered an exact product search. It compares every word in your customer's query against your database(s), helping to fill in the gaps where the query lacks specificity or precision.
In this example, a user might type the problem-based search "organize kitchen". Wayfair's eCommerce product search engine returns multiple types of organizers, dividers, and racks to solve the problem.
4. Product Images In-Search
Images are non-negotiable to convince your customers to convert. They need to see the item to visualize if it's what they're really looking for. When your website contains images within search engine results, it speeds up the shopping process, opening the possibility of finding what they're looking for in seconds instead of minutes.
On Hoover's website, a user can type in "pets" and see multiple product suggestions as well as photos and prices—all right from the search bar dropdown. This completes a mini product preview, providing at a glance all the key decision-making information they need.
» Find out how AI visual discovery can inspire your shoppers to buy
5. Synonyms
It's rare that your customer will be able to search for a product verbatim as it's listed on your website. If your product search engine doesn't include synonyms, they may be served "no search results" pages when that's not truly the case. Synonyms help to give your customers as many options as possible by showing results based on similar terms.
For example, you can fine-tune your product search engine to display jumpsuits when your customer types "jumper", or denim if they misspell it as "demin". You can make searches more specific or general, like showing rings and bracelets when your customer types "jewelry".
» Explore how a personalized search and recommendation engine can drive you forward
Take the Fast Way
To capture today's online shoppers, your eCommerce product search engine needs to match your competitors in terms of speed, flexibility, and problem-solving. The features we've discussed here can supercharge your user experience, earning loyal customers and predictable revenue.
Search & discoverySearch Within Shopify Collections: Improve Product Discoverability and UXShopify Search collections are a great way to organize and present your products on your online store. However, they're only useful when shoppers can quickly sort through the results and choose the products they're interested in. To get the most out of your collection pages and boost product discoverability and UX, consider integrating site search within Shopify collections.
What Is Search Within Collections?
Search within collections is a function that allows shoppers to easily find specific items in a particular collection.
It typically works like this: shoppers visit a collection page (for example, a shoe collection) and enter phrases or keywords related to the product they need (for example, red heels size X) in the search bar. The smart collection page then returns a list of shoes that match the search criteria.
With the right Shopify search functionality for collections, you can boost the customer experience on various fronts.
Customers Find Exactly What They're Looking for
A Shopify search results page within collections can be highly valuable for shoppers. With robust search parameters, they can find the item they're searching for in the exact color, size, style, brand, etc. Collection search saves them from the virtual legwork of looking through all product variants to find the item they want.
For example, 401 Games allows their customers to not only search within their categories (like Board Games) but also refine their search results with filters (in stock, price, vendor, etc.).
» Do your product filters need some help? Try these product filter optimization methods
More Relevant Search Results
The default Shopify search results can be hit or miss with your customers. They may search for a specific product and instead get a sea of product pages that are only vaguely associated with the searched item. A Shopify search bar within collections can improve their experience by offering more relevant results. It accounts for things like alternative phrasings and natural language characteristics to ensure results are tailored to your customers' searches.
For example, Fragrance Buy makes it even easier for their customers. If a customer searches within the Womens fragrance collection, a list pops up with all the relevant brands. If the customer types in "giv" to search for "Givenchy", the search functionality immediately recognizes the customer's intent and gives "Givenchy" as the result. This removes the risk of spelling mistakes or typos.
» Discover why understanding shoppers' intent is important
Personalizes Product Discovery
Shopify search collections are great for personalization. By using data about customers' behaviors and preferences, you can offer them a personalized product discovery experience. This may involve tracking products your customer has viewed in the past and using that information to suggest similar products in future searches. Additionally, collection search may use data from personas and product rating systems to inform their Shopify search and discovery experience.
For example, a customer may search for "red dresses" on Princess Polly and initially get general search results. But after shopping for a while for long-sleeve red dresses specifically, their search results become personalized.
» Learn more about a personalized search and recommendation engine
Why Shopify Stores Invest in Search Within a Collection
Smart Shopify owners know that an effective site search feature within their collections makes all the difference for success. The right solution can help you:
Improve the user experience
If your Shopify store has a lot of collection pages, the navigation can get complex, and shoppers may end up struggling to find the right page for product purchase. Search within collections can help them escape the complexity of navigation and get straight to the page and buy products quickly.Tailor your marketing
An effective Shopify collection search tool can gather valuable information about customer searches and interactions with your pages. You can use this data to generate analytics reports that give you insight into the popularity of products, allowing you to tailor your marketing strategy accordingly.Increase your sales
Collection search also shortens people's path to purchase by not requiring them to perform extensive site exploration. This makes shoppers not only more likely to buy but also spend more. A study found that such shoppers spend 2.6 times more on average than those who were not facilitated by a search function.Strengthen your brand
Robust search solutions for Shopify collections do more than just satisfy the search intent—they use data from search to dynamically present customers with the most relevant items, filters, and categories. Additionally, they help deliver a consistent user experience and look across all your store pages and results, which in turn strengthens your brand image and maximizes trustworthiness.
» Here's how to tackle eCommerce hiccups that bust brand loyalty
Make It Fast
Search within Shopify collections can be a game-changer for your eCommerce business. With the right search solution, you can enhance your customers' experience and improve your product discoverability, thereby improving retention and sales too.
Even though your customers aren't interacting with you face-to-face, they still want to feel that personal touch. This means giving them a personalized shopping experience and making sure they can find the products they're looking for without a fuss.
» Don't have a Shopify store? Explore your Magento Search and BigCommerce Search options instead
Search & discoveryAdd Product Filters to Shopify: A Step-By-Step GuideOne of the most important factors behind the success of any Shopify Search store is adding product filters. This way, your customers can refine their site search results and find their intended products faster by applying different criteria, such as product type, size, color, or price. Product filters can therefore help improve the user experience and sales. Here is a step-by-step guide to adding a product filter to your Shopify store.
What Is a Product Filter?
A product filter is a tool that allows your customers to narrow down a wide array of products and find the ones they're looking for quickly and efficiently.
This extremely beneficial navigation tool streamlines your customers' shopping experience because, by simply clicking a few buttons to enable the right filters, they can easily find the right products at their fingertips. For example, if a customer wants to buy a red shirt within a certain price range, they can select the "red" and "price" filters, and the search results will be narrowed down to just red shirts that meet the specific price criteria.
Product filters can also improve the product catalog of your store and increase the visibility of certain products, resulting in a better shopping experience for your customers and higher sales for you.
How to Add the Filters to Your Shopify Store
There are two different processes for adding product filters to a Shopify store: one is for desktop, and the other is for mobile. There are also two types of filters you can add.
Basic or default filters include options like primary price, vendor, and product type. These filters work with any store, and you can add up to five to your store.Advanced or custom filters depend on the type of products you sell, so you'll use your product variants to determine which custom filters you need. You can add up to 20 of these filters to your store.
On Your Desktop
First, you need to check which filters are available to you based in your store theme. Once checked, you have to enable the filters in Navigation. Now, you can start adding filters to your store.
Go to your Shopify Admin and click on Online Store.Click on Navigation and find the section named Collection and search filters.Click on the Add filters button.
You'll see a list of available filters. Select as many as you want.Click Done and save to update.
On Your Mobile
Adding product filters to Shopify on mobile is quite easy and very similar to the process on your desktop.
Install the Shopify app and log in.Go to the sales channel section and click Online Store.Click on Navigation and find your way all the way down to Collection and search filters.Click Add filters, and you'll see a list of available filters.Select as many as you want and click Done to save and update.
Importance of Filtering Your Products
Product filtering is an important factor for eCommerce businesses because it not only helps to improve your customers' search experience but also helps to enhance navigation, which ultimately increases your chances of making sales.
Filtering can also be beneficial for your product organization because the more product filters your store has, the more satisfied your customers are with its great look and feel.
» Make sure your filters are the best: Here's how to optimize eCommerce filters and avoid common mistakes
Simon Says Automate Your Filters
Overall, product filters are an essential part of online stores that have a large number of products and want their customers to have an extraordinary search experience.
But we know that manually creating filters can take a lot of time and money, especially if a developer is involved. Instead, consider automatically generating filters for your Shopify store. Once generated, these filters are fully customizable, so they can suit your store and brand. Just choose the filters you want to use to drive your store forward.
Learn more about automated filters from Fast Simon on YouTube:
Search & discoveryGuide to Shopify Search Bar: Add, Customize, Troubleshoot, Remove, and MoreAs a leading eCommerce platform, Shopify offers its users a variety of tools and features to help them sell their products online, including a search bar. You may have heard about the advantages of the Shopify Search bar, like enhancing your site search capability and maximizing product discoverability, but you're unsure about its technicalities. In this guide, we provide easy-to-follow steps so you can effortlessly add, customize, troubleshoot, or remove your Shopify search bar.
1. How to Add Your Shopify Search Bar
First, you need to get your Shopify search bar up and running. There are two paths you can choose: enable this function directly in your Shopify store or via a third-party app.
Enable Your Shopify Search Bar in Your Shopify Store
Please note that you can only follow this method if your Shopify theme supports it.
Log into your Shopify account and navigate to your admin page.Click on Themes.Click on Theme Editor or Customize, depending on your setup.Click on Theme Settings and navigate to Add-Ons.Locate the search add-on in the list and check the box to activate it.
If you can't find this in your theme settings, then your theme most likely doesn't support a search functionality. But not to worry! You can just as easily add a Shopify search bar through an app.
Add Your Shopify Search Bar via an App
Go to your Shopify dashboard and log in to your account.Click on the Apps section on the left-side menu and visit the Shopify App Store.Search for "search bar apps", and you'll see apps like Fast Simon.Install the app and follow the installation instructions to add the app to your Shopify store.Go to the app's settings to configure the search bar.Click on Save to apply the changes.Go to your website and test the search bar to ensure that it's working correctly.
Adding a search bar will help your customers find their ideal products quickly and easily, thereby improving their overall shopping and user experience.
2. How to Customize Your Shopify Search Bar
Now that you've added your Shopify search bar, you can start customizing it.
Log in to your Shopify account and click on Online Store.Click on Themes.Find the theme you want to edit and click on Customize.Click on Search Bar.Change the search bar settings and save to update.
Customization is important because it gives your store a certain look and feel. This includes changing the search suggestions, result display settings, and whether the product description should be available in the results.
3. How to Remove Your Shopify Search Bar
Removing your Shopify search bar will depend on how you added it, directly in your Shopify store via its theme or with a third-party app.
Remove Your Shopify Search Bar in Your Shopify Store
Log into your Shopify account.Navigate to Themes.Click on Actions and select Edit Code. Navigate to the list of codes and select icon-search.liquid. Delete the code in the section.
Remove Your Shopify Search Bar via an App
Log into your Shopify account.Click on Apps to review the list of apps installed on your store.Click the delete icon of the app you want to remove.Click Uninstall.
Removing your Shopify search bar may seem strange, considering its advantages. But perhaps you have a limited number of products, so your customers don't use the search option, or your website is just one page with minimal navigation.
How to Troubleshoot Common Shopify Search Bar Issues
Here are some common problems your Shopify search bar may encounter and their quick solutions.
Search Icon Issues
The most common issue comes with the search icon. Normally on mobile devices, the search bar won't appear until your customer clicks on the magnifying glass icon. If they have connectivity issues and the icon doesn't load, then the search bar will always be kept hidden.
Tip: Try clearing your cache, checking your theme, or reverting to the previous update.
Theme-Specific Issues
Popular themes like Venture or Debut come with a hidden search bar for mobile devices, and when the themes are upgraded or changed manually, search bar issues can happen.
Tip: Try reverting to old updates or contacting the theme developers.
Why Is the Shopify Search Bar Important?
Shopify's search bar gives your customers a quick and easy way to find the products they're looking for, which ultimately results in an enhanced shopping experience for them. By reducing the time it takes to find a product, your customers are 2-3 times more likely to convert. A good and functional search bar can therefore lead to:
Improved customer experienceIncreased brand recognition, loyalty, and social proofBetter product discoveryIncreased sales
Benefits of the Shopify Search Bar
There are several benefits associated with the Shopify search bar. Some of them are:
Improved product catalog
With search analytics, you can understand which products are in demand and push them as per your customer's previous search history, thereby giving them a personalized shopping experience.Improved Shopify SEO
Your search pages can be a great source of SEO-optimized links that will improve your website's ranking in search results.Design marketing campaigns
Knowing your customer's search data can help you launch relevant promotional campaigns and give you opportunities for upselling and cross-selling.Improve product linking
Understanding your customers' search intent means you can add relevant search keywords to your search functionality, products, and collections to ensure your customers' search results are more tightly knit.
» Don't have a Shopify store? Explore your Magento Search and BigCommerce Search options instead
Start Your Search Today
In a nutshell, the Shopify search bar is one of the greatest aspects of your store's success and can be the game changer in your Shopify store's performance. Once added, you can leverage the benefits from more specialized search functionalities like federated search and predictive search. As you've seen, adding and managing your Shopify search bar is easy and fast, so start optimizing your Shopify store today.
MerchandisingeCommerce Web Design: How to Create the Best eCommerce Website Layouts for 2024First impressions matter. In fact, 94% of your customers' first impressions of your website are layout and design-related. So, revamping your eCommerce site to create an irresistible layout and merchandising strategy can be the first step toward boosting your conversions and keeping your customers coming back for more.
Why Should You Have a Great Store Layout?
Your store's layout affects your customers' entire shopping experience. A well-designed layout can help you:
Showcase your products effectivelyMake navigation easyGuide your customers toward purchasing
It can also improve customer engagement and increase loyalty, leading to higher conversion rates and increased revenue. This isn't lip service: a study by Adobe showed that 59% of people prefer browsing 'beautifully designed' sites to 'simple and plain' ones.
Tip: Get constant customer feedback and A/B split test changes in your eCommerce site layout to create the perfect design.
Understanding Your Target Audience
Knowing your target audience is crucial when designing your eCommerce site because you can tailor the layout to their needs and preferences. If you know what your customers are looking for and how they like to shop, you can create a layout that resonates with them.
Here are some specific examples of how understanding your target audience can inform your site design:
Design for Mobile
If your target audience is primarily mobile shoppers, your site should be optimized for mobile devices. This means using responsive design, simplifying your layout, and prioritizing quick load times. For example, Mersi Cookware & Co. targets moms, so they include large, high-quality lifestyle images and large buttons that are easy to view and click on a mobile device.
Tip: If you need help determining the percentage of your mobile users, check your Google Analytics for the answer.
» Ensure your eCommerce merchandising is optimized for m-commerce
Prioritize Search
If you find your target audience is looking for specific products on your site, you'll want to make those products easy to find. This means prioritizing the site search functionality on your eCommerce store and making it visible and user-friendly. For example, 54kibo is a home goods store that targets busy parents, so they've included a prominent search bar on the homepage that lets their customers search for the products they need quickly.
» Discover the benefits of eCommerce product engines for your store
Highlight Social Proof
If your target audience is skeptical or values the opinions of others, you need to incorporate social proof into your site design. This can include customer reviews, ratings, or testimonials that demonstrate the quality and value of your products. For example, Fiji Water features their customer reviews on their product pages to boost the relevant product's credibility. A customer sees the rating system first, and then it takes them to testimonials when they click on it.
Tip: You can determine if your customers are skeptical about your products by searching for your brand name followed by "reviews" or "unboxing" in Google.
» Enhance your eCommerce and merchandising strategies with personalized reviews
Key Elements of an Irresistible Layout
An irresistible layout for eCommerce stores should be visually appealing, easy to navigate, and optimized for conversions.
Clear and intuitive navigation
Navigation should be easy and intuitive, with a clear hierarchy of categories and subcategories that allows your shoppers to quickly and easily find what they're looking for.High-quality product images
Using only the best images is essential for showcasing your products and giving your shoppers a clear idea of what they're buying. These images should be well-lit, high-resolution, and show the product from multiple angles. You should also use a Web format for quick loading times!Distinct and consistent color and branding
Your eCommerce store's branding should reflect your company's values and personality. This includes a well-designed logo, a cohesive color scheme, and typography.Persuasive product descriptions
Product descriptions should be compelling and informative to highlight your products' benefits. This helps your shoppers make informed decisions and encourages them to purchase.
Apple: Customers Like Them Apples
Apple's eCommerce site encompasses the majority of these elements. The site has a sleek and minimalist design with a clear focus on the products. The ample use of white space helps to create a clean and uncluttered layout and highlights the products on display. The product images are large and high-quality, while the calls-to-action are clear and prominent in blue.
Best Practices for Layout Design
Keep It Uncluttered
An uncluttered layout design can help shoppers focus on what's important—your products. Avoid cluttered layouts with too many graphics or distracting elements that can confuse or overwhelm your visitors.
Use White Space
White space, or the empty space around design elements, can help create a clean, organized layout that's easy to navigate. It also draws attention to the key elements of your site, such as your products and call-to-action buttons.
Follow a Grid System
Using a grid system can help you create a balanced and visually appealing layout. A grid system can help you ensure that your design elements are aligned, consistent, and easy to follow.
Make It Accessible
Accessibility is crucial in eCommerce. You can follow these tips to ensure your site is accessible:
Use descriptive alt tags for images.Ensure website compatibility with assistive technologies.Use high-contrast colors.Provide captions and/or transcripts for multimedia content.Avoid relying on color alone to convey information.Ensure keyboard navigation functionality.Test the website with users who have disabilities.
Call-to-Action Buttons
Clear and prominent call-to-action buttons should be used throughout your site to guide shoppers toward buying. Incorporating these key elements into your eCommerce layout will help you create a visually appealing site that is easy to navigate and optimized for conversions.
Fast-Track Your eCommerce Success
Don't let a poor layout design hold back your eCommerce success. By incorporating key elements such as clear branding, easy navigation, high-quality images, and persuasive product descriptions, you can revamp your eCommerce site's layout to engage shoppers and encourage them to make a purchase.
» Dive deeper into this ultimate merchandising guide to drive your store forward
PersonalizationAdding Personalization Options to Your Shopify Store in 2024In the world of eCommerce, Shopify Search stands out as a versatile platform that opens doors to an abundance of personalization opportunities. Adding personalization options to your Shopify store can significantly increase revenue—up to 20%.
With an extensive app store housing a range of personalization-focused tools, Shopify simplifies the journey for store owners looking to elevate the customer experience. Let's look at how to get started, and the benefits you can expect when adding personalization to your Shopify store.
Meet the Expert
Jameela Ghann is a seasoned online store owner with over a decade of eCommerce experience. Apart from running Alora Boutique, she's also the marketing manager for Fera Product Reviews.
Getting Started: First Considerations
Shopify, known for its open platform, offers a wealth of opportunities for eCommerce personalization.
Personalization is the practice of using available data to create a uniquely tailored eCommerce experience for each individual customer.
Here's how you can get started:
Easy app integration: Shopify's app store makes it easy to browse and connect the apps of your choice with just a few clicks.Start simple: If you're new to personalization, it's advisable to begin with a straightforward and cost-effective app. This approach allows you to assess its effectiveness and understand your specific requirements.Progress to advanced solutions: As you gain insights into your personalization needs and witness the impact on your revenue, you can explore more advanced and robust personalization products. While these may come at a higher cost, they often deliver superior results.
By leveraging the array of personalization apps available on Shopify, you can gradually tailor your online store to meet your customers' preferences and boost your business's bottom line.
» Explore Fast Simon's personalization solution to get a head start
What Are the Benefits of Personalization for Your Shopify Store?
Enhanced customer experience
Everyone likes to feel known and valued. Using personalization on your Shopify site will allow you to tailor product recommendations and the overall user experience to each specific customer. More conversions
When customers see more of what they like, they're more likely to make purchases and convert.Better product recommendations
Personalization lets you get to know your customers better. In turn, this helps you to supply them with better product recommendations, making them more likely to complete a transaction.Increased brand loyalty
If your customers feel well looked after, and enjoy the recommendations that you make, they'll keep coming back. Personalization helps you to improve customer retention rates.
» Delve deeper into AI's benefits for eCommerce personalization
Shopify Personalization in Action: BrightMinds
BrightMinds is a children's educational online store. Because of their high stock inventory, they found it challenging to deliver relevant results to their different audiences.
After implementing personalization, their conversion rate and AOV increased:
3x more conversions from search5x more conversions from product recommendations18% of store revenue driven by personalization
The machine learning of Fast Simon that powers the personalization, merchandising, and recommendation across our site is an order of magnitude better than Shopify’s or other search providers we’ve tried. I also have to say that the tech support team is fantastic.
— Alison Quill, Founder & Managing Director of BrightMinds
Customer Segmentation: The Key to Personalization
One of the critical aspects of personalization is using customer segmentation. Here's how to approach it:
Start with the basics
Begin by segmenting users based on readily available information like device type, operating system, traffic source, and whether they're new or returning visitors. Incorporate user behavior
Next, consider user behavior and interests. For instance, display recently viewed products exclusively to users who have viewed at least five products on your site. This approach ensures relevance and avoids overwhelming visitors with premature product suggestions.Gradually refine segments
As your user base grows, delve into more advanced segmentation strategies. Explore RFM (Recency, Frequency, Monetary) segments or target users with specific interests in particular brands or product categories. The key is to adapt your segmentation to your expanding audience.Leverage user data wisely
With a substantial user base, you can layer multiple segmentation criteria, including zero-party data, to create highly specialized segments. These narrower segments empower you to deliver precise personalization that can significantly boost your revenue.
RFM segments customers by evaluating their "recency (how long ago they made a purchase), frequency (how often they make purchases), and monetary value (how much money they spend)."
Remember that the size of your user base matters when creating narrow segments. Building too-specific segments with a limited number of users won't yield noticeable results. As your user base grows, so does your ability to personalize effectively and drive tangible revenue growth through tailored user experiences.
» Discover the difference between customer personalization vs segmentation
Moving Forward
As we look to the future, personalization is already harnessing the power of AI, with innovations like ChatGPT leading the way. Here's why it's essential:
Immediate adoption for e-tailers: For any e-tailer not yet utilizing personalization, now is the time to embrace it. Personalization isn't merely a trend—it's a necessity for survival. Those who neglect it risk falling behind in the market, leading to higher costs and lower revenues.Evolving marketing landscape: Personalization will become a standard component of every e-tailer's marketing toolkit in the coming years. Alongside established ad and analytical tools, personalization tools will play a pivotal role.Expanding beyond eCommerce: The future holds a promise of personalized experiences extending beyond eCommerce. Industries such as FinTech, banking, telecommunications, and others, not traditionally focused on online sales, will increasingly adopt personalization to enhance customer interactions across various channels.
As personalization and AI evolve, staying ahead of the curve is imperative for businesses aiming to thrive in the dynamic market landscape.
eCommerce's Future: Evolution of Personalization
Shopify offers versatile personalization opportunities that can benefit businesses in many ways. Shopify's app store simplifies personalization, making it accessible for all store owners. Starting with cost-effective apps and progressing to advanced solutions is advisable, and implementing user segmentation is vital for success. Looking ahead, AI-enhanced personalization is essential for e-tailers to stay competitive.