Searchandising: The Ultimate Guide to Boosting Your eCommerce Sales

We’ve all been there: you’re shopping online, looking for something specific, but instead, you end up scrolling through endless pages of random products. It's frustrating, right? Guess what? As an eCommerce business owner, there’s a way to save your customers from this digital maze and turn that annoyance into excitement: searchandising.

In this guide, we’ll break down searchandising (aka searchandizing, if you’re feeling formal) and how combining ecommerce merchandising with smart search techniques can turn window shoppers into paying customers. Stick with us, and you’ll soon have a strategy that boosts conversions, increases average order value, and makes your customers fall in love with your site.

What is Searchandising? (It’s Like Magic, But Better)

Before we dive into the nitty-gritty, let’s start with the basics: What is searchandising? Picture this: You’re in a brick-and-mortar store, and all the best deals and newest arrivals are placed right at eye level. That’s classic merchandising at work. Now, imagine that same strategy applied to your website’s search function.

Searchandising is the art of blending search with ecommerce merchandising. When a customer types something into your search bar, instead of just getting a bland list of products, they see exactly what you want them to see: bestsellers, promotions, related products, and more. It’s like offering your customers a personal shopping assistant, minus the awkward sales pitch.

Why is Searchandising Important for eCommerce?

Here’s why searchandising matters—big time:

1. Shoppers Love to Search: Roughly 15-30% of online shoppers head straight to the search bar. These are high-intent buyers, folks! They know what they want, and if you can make it easy for them to find it, you’re halfway to a sale.
2. More Bang for Your Buck: When you show shoppers related products or bestsellers in their search results, you’re not just improving their experience—you’re increasing your average order value. Think of it as the digital equivalent of placing impulse buys at the checkout.
3. Boost Customer Loyalty: A seamless, personalized shopping experience makes customers feel understood and appreciated. When your site nails that, they’ll come back for more—and maybe tell their friends.

Quick Tip:

Did you know? Shoppers using the search bar on your site are 2-3 times more likely to convert than those who just browse! Make it easy for them to find what they’re after by using smart searchandising strategies.

How Does Searchandising Work?

Let’s break it down:

1. Relevance Meets Strategy: Your search engine pulls up products based on keywords, but with searchandising, you can also boost certain items (like seasonal products, bestsellers, or high-margin items). You’re not just showing what they searched for—you’re showing them what they didn’t even know they needed!
2. Personalization for the Win: Advanced searchandising tools use customer data—past purchases, browsing history, even geographic location—to serve up more relevant results. This means someone shopping for "jackets" in New York during winter gets the warmest, coziest options, while a shopper in Florida might get lightweight windbreakers. See what we did there?
3. Cross-Selling & Upselling: Why stop at giving customers what they searched for? Smart searchandising also recommends complementary products, turning a $50 cart into a $100 purchase. If someone’s searching for a laptop, show them laptop bags, wireless mice, or a stand. It’s the digital equivalent of, “Would you like fries with that?”

Real-Life Searchandising Success Story:

Ornamentallyyou, a small business running on Shopify, takes searchandising to the next level. Before customers even type into the search bar, Ornamentallyyou.com displays trending searches, featured categories, and bestsellers. When someone types “ceramic,” the search not only suggests ceramic ornaments but also shows relevant categories like personalized ceramic ornaments or Christmas-themed or Halloween-themed ceramic ornaments that can potentially sell well in the holiday season. This curated approach has led to higher conversions and happier customers.

6 Searchandising Strategies That Will Take Your eCommerce Sales to the Next Level

Now that we know what searchandising is and why it’s a game-changer, let’s dive into specific strategies you can use to boost your online store’s performance.

1. Personalize Search Results (Because One Size Does NOT Fit All)

Personalization isn’t just a trend—it’s a necessity. Use searchandising to personalize results based on each customer’s behavior. If someone frequently buys athletic wear, show them sneakers and leggings when they search for "shoes," instead of formal footwear.

Pro Tip: Take it a step further by offering localized search results. If your customer’s in a rainy region, show them water-resistant jackets and boots when they search for "outdoor gear."

Example: You can also customize based on the location of your customer when it comes to shipping and prices. Take a look at this neat example from Nordstrom:

2. Boost Your Best Products (Make Them Shine)

Got a hot new product? Is there a seasonal sale going on? Use searchandising to give these products a little extra love. Boost high-margin or best-selling items to the top of the search results so they’re the first thing customers see.

Quick Tip: Keep an eye on inventory. If you’re low on stock for certain items, you might want to adjust their visibility—no one likes getting excited about something only to find it’s out of stock!Example: When you visit www.amazon.com, Amazon consistently highlights best-selling or high-margin products at the top of search results. For instance, if you search for "wireless headphones," you will often see "Amazon's Choice", "Best Seller" or “Overall Pick” badges prominently displayed on top-performing products.

3. Use Autocomplete to Speed Things Up (Because Time is Money)

Who doesn’t love a good autocomplete feature? But don’t stop at just suggesting search terms—go a step further by displaying product images in the dropdown. This way, your customers won’t even need to hit "Enter" to find what they want.Example: Visit bestbuy.com and start typing a product name, such as "iPhone." As you type, BestBuy’s autocomplete feature will suggest various related search terms while also displaying small product images and prices in the dropdown.

4. Cross-Sell and Upsell Like a Pro

Don’t miss out on the chance to cross-sell and upsell through searchandising. When a customer searches for "laptop," show them accessories like chargers, bags, and screen protectors directly in the search results. This strategy increases cart value without feeling pushy.

Pro Tip: Offer product bundles or special discounts on complementary items to encourage shoppers to add more to their cart.

Example: If you visit www.apple.com and search for an item like "MacBook," Apple not only presents you with different MacBook models but also recommends accessories such as chargers, cases, and AirPods. These complementary products are often featured on the product page, right under the main item, in a "Frequently Bought Together" or "You Might Also Like" section.

5. Promote Special Offers and Banners in Search Results

Got a sale going on? Make sure your customers know about it! You can display promotional banners or badges right in the search results to draw attention to deals or limited-time offers.

Example: When you visit www.macys.com and search for items like "dresses" or "shoes," Macy's often highlights special offers, sales, or limited-time promotions directly in the search results. You will frequently see banners or badges like "50% Off" or "Special Offer" displayed on top of certain products, drawing immediate attention to those deals.

6. Analyze Search Data and Optimize

Data is your best friend when it comes to searchandising. Regularly analyze how users interact with your search function. Are they finding what they want? Are certain products underperforming? Use that data to refine your strategy and improve your results.

Did you know? Search abandonment happens when customers can’t find what they’re looking for. Analyzing search data helps you tweak your strategy to reduce those dreaded “No Results” pages.

Example: Take a look at your trending products or order statistics inside an intelligent search and filter app’s admin, like Rapid Search.

What’s Next? The Future of Searchandising

As AI and machine learning continue to evolve, searchandising is only going to get smarter. Natural language processing (NLP) will help your search engine understand the context of queries (even the ones with typos), and advanced AI will predict what your customers want before they even know they want it. The future is bright for search, my friends!

Final Thoughts: Time to Supercharge Your Searchandising Game

In a crowded eCommerce landscape, mastering searchandising can give you a serious competitive edge. By blending ecommerce merchandising tactics with smart search functionality, you can create a seamless, personalized shopping experience that not only increases sales but also boosts customer loyalty.

Are you ready to take your eCommerce merchandising to the next level? Start searchandising with Rapid Search today, and watch your conversions skyrocket!

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