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Internet Retailer 2006 Workshop Summary: Site Search

Site Search: The Web’s In-Store Merchandising Tool
– 20-40% of online shoppers use search to find products (Forrester)
– 47% of searchers give up after one search

Insight: Users don’t care about searching, they care about finding. As such, search is one part of a “findability system”. Certain domains tend to be more searchable like books, CDs, jobs, clothing, etc.

Label – Best Practices
– Optional – better if button says “Search” rather than “Go”
– Filters and directionally suggestive

Input Field – Best Practices
– Eye catching and appropriate size
– Clearly visible, high contrast
– Do not put more than one input field per page

Button – Best Practices
– Non-optional
– Action-oriented wording
– Right next to input field
– Standard form element or image
– Make sure enter key works

Filter – Best Practices
– Only if it’s necessary, very useful or very commonly used
– Make options available
– Concise wording
– Limit number of advanced filters due to confusion

Be careful about going against common practices, titles, etc.

Simplicity is vital, do not clutter up the system!

Edwin Watts Golf – showed exponential growth in sales from simply fixing the search box – rags to riches story.

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