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sales@websell.io

Why Site Search Matters and Introducing SmartSearch

21 August 2024 • 7 min read

User experience is everything in the world of e-commerce. When customers land on your site, they want to find what they’re looking for quickly and easily. Whether it’s a specific product, your return policy, or information about shipping, a good site search feature ensures that customers don’t get frustrated or leave without making a purchase.

At WebSell, we understand how vital it is to provide the best possible shopping experience, which is why we’re excited to introduce our newest feature: SmartSearch. Designed to offer lightning-fast search results, intelligent typo tolerance, asynchronous loading, and a host of other powerful features, SmartSearch is the next generation of site search for your webstore.

Before we dive into the specifics of SmartSearch, let’s take a closer look at why a robust site search functionality is so important for e-commerce stores.

When you think about it, a site search feature is essentially your digital store assistant. Imagine walking into a physical store, asking for a specific item, and being greeted by a blank stare. Not a great experience, right? A poor search function does exactly that in an online environment— it leaves your customers confused and frustrated, possibly driving them to your competitors instead.

Here are some compelling reasons why a great site search function is crucial for the success of your e-commerce business:

1. Improves User Experience

A well-designed search feature enhances your customers’ experience by helping them find products faster and more accurately. For users who already know what they want, a powerful search tool saves them time and eliminates unnecessary clicks. According to research by Econsultancy, up to 30% of visitors use the site search bar when available. This means that nearly a third of your site’s traffic relies on this feature to find what they are looking for.

2. Increases Conversion Rates

Visitors who use site search tend to have higher intent to purchase compared to those who are just browsing. These are potential buyers who already know what they want and are trying to locate it quickly. Research has shown that visitors who search are up to 216% more likely to convert into paying customers.

A powerful search tool can turn these high-intent visitors into loyal customers by helping them find exactly what they want in a short amount of time. In contrast, a poor search experience could frustrate them, leading to abandoned carts and missed opportunities for sales.

3. Reduces Bounce Rate

A bad search experience is a significant contributor to a high bounce rate. If users can’t find what they’re looking for on your website within the first few minutes, they are likely to leave your site for a competitor. On the other hand, a highly responsive and accurate search feature can keep users engaged and lead them directly to what they want, increasing the chances of them staying longer and making a purchase.

4. Encourages Product Discovery

Sometimes customers come to your website without a clear idea of what they want to buy. A good search tool can suggest related products or offer predictive text as the user types, helping them discover items they might not have known about otherwise. Features like autocomplete and personalized recommendations based on previous search queries or purchase history can significantly increase the average order value by promoting additional products.

5. Enables Faster Troubleshooting

Good site search is not just about finding products; it’s also about making it easier for customers to find relevant information about your business. If a customer needs to know about your return policy, shipping information, or how to contact your support team, a robust search feature ensures they can access this information quickly. This reduces the load on your customer service team and helps customers find answers faster, improving their overall experience.

Now that we’ve established the importance of having a top-notch search tool on your website, let’s explore how WebSell’s SmartSearch can transform your online store’s search functionality and help you achieve all these benefits.

Introducing WebSell’s New SmartSearch: Next-Gen Site Search for E-Commerce

WebSell’s SmartSearch is designed to take your store’s search functionality to the next level. We’ve packed it with features that not only improve the search experience for your customers but also help drive sales and reduce friction across your site. Here’s a closer look at what SmartSearch has to offer:

1. Faster Search Results

SmartSearch is engineered to deliver lightning-fast search results, ensuring that customers can find what they need in a fraction of the time. When customers enter a query into the search bar, results are loaded almost instantaneously, allowing for a seamless browsing experience. Faster search results reduce the likelihood of frustration and abandonment, keeping customers engaged on your site longer.

2. Asynchronous Loading for Seamless Navigation

Another powerful feature of SmartSearch is its asynchronous loading capability. This means that when a customer searches for an item, only the product listing is refreshed, rather than the entire page. This makes navigation feel smoother and faster, providing a more seamless user experience.

3. Typo Tolerance

Let’s face it— typos happen. But with SmartSearch, spelling errors no longer mean that your customers will end up with zero results. SmartSearch is equipped with typo tolerance, allowing it to recognize and correct common spelling mistakes automatically. This means customers can still find the products they’re looking for, even if they mistype a word.

4. Enhanced Search Capabilities

SmartSearch goes beyond just product searches. It allows your customers to access other important pages directly from the search bar, such as your “Contact Us” page, “Shipping Information,” or “Return Policy.” This multi-dimensional search functionality ensures that all essential information on your site is easily accessible.

5. Customizable Price Filters

Price is often a determining factor for many customers when making a purchase. SmartSearch’s new customizable price filter allows users to search for products within their desired price range. This feature empowers your customers to make informed purchasing decisions based on their budget, improving their overall experience and increasing the likelihood of a sale.

SmartSearch Pricing

We’ve designed SmartSearch to be accessible to businesses of all sizes, with flexible pricing tiers based on the number of transactions your store processes each month:

  • Basic Plan: $14/month for up to 250 transactions.
  • Standard Plan: $29/month for up to 1,000 transactions.
  • Premium Plan: $69/month for up to 10,000 transactions.

All charges are billed in USD, with standard rate conversions applied to other currencies like EUR and GBP. These affordable plans make SmartSearch a valuable addition to any webstore, regardless of size.

How SmartSearch Can Boost Your E-Commerce Store

We believe that SmartSearch will not only enhance your customers’ shopping experience but also help improve your business’s bottom line. By offering faster and more accurate search results, reducing the likelihood of abandoned carts, and promoting product discovery, SmartSearch is an investment that will pay off in increased conversions and customer satisfaction.

But don’t just take our word for it. To see how SmartSearch can transform your e-commerce site, we invite you to book a call with our team or open a support ticket to discuss adding this powerful feature to your webstore.

Conclusion

A robust site search is a critical component of any successful e-commerce store. It improves user experience, increases conversion rates, reduces bounce rates, encourages product discovery, and makes troubleshooting easier for your customers. With WebSell’s new SmartSearch feature, you can offer your customers a faster, more efficient, and more accurate search experience that keeps them engaged and boosts your store’s overall performance.

Don’t let outdated search technology hold your business back. Upgrade to SmartSearch today and take the next step toward optimizing your e-commerce store for success.

We look forward to helping you transform your webstore with SmartSearch.

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