Site search for ecommerce: why shoppers who search buy more
Shoppers who use search often know what they want. See why a visible search box matters, how to place it and what a good search does.
2 min read
Area
CRO & UX
Severity
Medium
Fix effort
Medium
Stores failing
0%
Of 154 stores we scanned where this check applies, 0% fail it and 86% pass. See all benchmarks.
Visitors who use site search tend to know what they want and are closer to buying. A visible search box lets them go straight to it. This check confirms that shoppers can search the catalogue from the page.
Why it matters
Stores with large catalogues rely on search because navigation cannot show everything. A search icon hidden in a menu, or a search that returns nothing useful, sends high-intent visitors away. Even small stores benefit, since search replaces browsing for returning customers.
What the audit looks at
The audit looks for a search form or search control in the header or navigation of the home page.
What usually causes it
- A theme that hides search behind a small icon on mobile
- Search removed in a redesign to simplify the header
- A search app installed but its widget failing to load
- A search page that returns blank results
How to fix it
Add a search box visitors can find. The effort is medium, a theme or template edit that takes an afternoon.
- Visitors who search convert at several times the rate of those who browse, so a hidden search icon is an expensive saving.
- Show a real input on desktop rather than an icon that opens one.
- Check what people search for and make sure those searches return results -- a search returning nothing is worse than none.
On Shopify
- Most themes have a search setting in the header section of the theme editor; set it to show the full field rather than an icon.
How to check it yourself
- Find the search on your phone without scrolling.
- Search for a product name, a typo and a category word and read the results.
- Check the search results page for useful sorting and filters.
Frequently asked questions
Should search be a box or an icon?
An open box is faster for large catalogues. An icon that expands is fine for small stores.
What should a no results page do?
Suggest alternatives and offer popular categories, not a dead end.
Related checks
Check your own store
See whether your store passes this check
Paste your store URL. The audit loads your pages in a real browser and shows the result for this check with the evidence behind it.