3 Key Shopify Searchandising Strategies to Increase Ecommerce Sales

You’ve likely come across the term "merchandising," a well-known technique used in both brick-and-mortar and online stores to boost sales. In physical retail, it’s all about product placement, arranging items strategically to catch customers' attention. In eCommerce, however, merchandising takes on a digital form, focusing on promoting products effectively through site search.

This technique, known as searchandising (or search merchandising), fine-tunes how search results appear to improve key business metrics such as revenue, conversions, and customer engagement. By implementing searchandising, store owners can spotlight high-performing products, whether best-sellers, high-margin items, or seasonal favorites, ensuring they are seen first and more often by potential buyers.

Why search merchandising matter? Because seamless product discovery directly impacts sales. Studies show that nearly one-third of online shoppers go straight to the search bar, and these users are five times more likely to make a purchase than those who simply browse (Econsultancy).

In today’s competitive eCommerce landscape, success isn’t just about having great products, it’s about making them easy to find. And with the rise of AI-powered search, savvy retailers are gaining an edge by delivering smarter, more intuitive search experiences. Imagine being able to compete with major marketplaces like Amazon by offering shoppers a fast, relevant, and personalized journey. Sounds like a game-changer? Let’s dive in and explore how to make it happen.

We’ve already covered why searchandising is a game-changer, but let’s back it up with some hard data. Here’s what the numbers reveal:

Increasing Conversions Sales: A well-optimized search experience leads directly to higher conversions. On Shopify, the average store sees a 1.4% conversion rate, while top-performing stores reach 4.7% (Littledata). What sets high-converting stores apart? A seamless search experience with relevant results, autocomplete, and smart filtering. Without it, shoppers struggle to find what they need, leading to frustration and cart abandonment.

Boosting Average Order Value (AOV): Want consumers to spend more per order? Smart search tactics like upselling and cross-selling make it happen. The typical Shopify store sees an AOV of around $85, but with AI-driven personaliized product recommendations, that number can soar past $192—landing in the top 20% (Littledata). Go even further, and you’re looking at $311, securing a top 10% spot (Littledata). By suggesting the right add-ons and complementary products at just the right moment, you turn casual shoppers into high-value customers.

Lowering Bounce Rates: Shoppers won’t stick around if they can’t find what they need fast. With the average eCommerce bounce rate at 47%, anything under 40% is a win (BusinessDasher). The solution? AI-powered search and personalized product recommendations. By guiding visitors to relevant products instantly, you keep them engaged and browsing—rather than bouncing after one page. Shopify search optimization can help keep visitors on your site longer, increasing the chances of conversion.

These numbers make it clear - searchandising isn’t just a nice-to-have tool; it’s a necessity for increasing conversions, revenue, and customer retention.

Let’s talk about leveling up your eCommerce game with smarter searchandising. When customers can easily find their desired item, they buy more - it’s that simple. The good news is that the Searchanise Search & Filter app takes the guesswork out of it, helping you optimize product discovery and boost sales effortlessly.

Smart merchandising strategies are all about showcasing the right products to the right shoppers at the perfect moment. By highlighting top-selling items, high-margin products, and seasonal favorites, you can boost engagement and drive more sales. Need to clear out slow-moving stock? Implement smart rules to promote or discount those items automatically. The strategy is simple—streamline the shopping experience, and the revenue will follow.

What you can do with Searchanise Search & Filter:

1) Promote Products in Search

You can promote products in search by pinning them to the top of search results. For instance, you can choose to always display your promoted product at the top, no matter what the search query is - the way Fragrance Rich does:

You can also boost a certain product in search results. For example, a cosmetics store may want to recommend a "Body Lotion Gift Set" whenever the term "body lotion" appears in search.

Both options can be easily set up with the help of Searchanise product ranking rules. If you want to show a product always at the top of search results, like in the first case, use the Always ranking rule:

If you want to boost the product in search results, like in the second case, use the On match ranking rule:

2) Promote seasonal products

Set up searchandising to make the most out of seasonal or limited-time offers. Let's say a new collection of Christmas clothing is now available for sale, and you want to make these products easier to discover. You can show Christmas sweaters at the top of search results for a query "sweater," Christmas socks at the top of search results for "socks," and so on so on for other types:

To do so, you need to add a "Christmas" tag to all the seasonal products, then open the Searchanise control panel, go to Merchandising by Tags, add a new merchandising rule with ranking On Match, and click the "Apply changes" button.

3) Fix the "no results" page

Searchandising is a great way to provide your customers a getaway from the "no results" page. You can display best-selling items or even offer customized products if your customers do not find what they are looking for. For example, a chocolate store may choose to show customized chocolate bars for queries with zero results.

Use the Always ranking rule for the product you want to appear on the zero results page:

It is worth investing time to fix the "no results" page because you will not only increase sales but also enhance shopping experience on your website.

Read more: The ultimate guide to improving your digital customer experience

4) Bury search results

With merchandising, you can also move products to the bottom of search results. This feature is handy for out-of-stock or discounted items. For instance, on boydsphila.com, Women's and Men's products on sale are shown last, making customers first look at products without a discount:

To set it up, use categories merchandising and apply the Last ranking rule to the clearance products (i.e. products on sale):

5) Display banners

Searchandising also allows you to display banners at the top of search results to highlight key promotions, new arrivals, or special offers directly within search results. These eye-catching visuals guide customers toward high-priority products or campaigns, increasing engagement and conversions. For example, when a customer searches for the brand “Allina Liu,” a banner showcasing the brand can appear at the top of the search results.

To make banners appear, put the keyword in search terms and place it first in the banner position.

A powerful Shopify searchandising tactic is AI-driven search personalization. This technology tailors search results based on each shopper's browsing and purchase behavior, ensuring they see the most relevant products. Rather than displaying generic results, AI dynamically adjusts to individual preferences in real-time, boosting engagement and driving more conversions.

Searchanise's AI Personalization refines search results by analyzing:

• Product Views: Frequently viewed items gain priority in search rankings.
• Cart Additions: Products added to the cart appear more prominently in future searches.
• Purchases: Previously bought items influence personalized recommendations.
• Brand Preferences: For Shopify stores, brand affinity shapes suggested products.

For example, if a customer frequently views a specific sneaker brand or adds accessories to their cart, AI ensures similar products appear at the top of their search results. Merchants can also fine-tune personalization settings, adjusting priority levels and product attributes like category, brand, and type.

Want to give your customers an effortless and smooth shopping experience? Two words: Autocomplete and Synonyms. These features make searching quicker, more intuitive, and ultimately boost conversions.

Autocomplete: As shoppers start entering their search query, autocomplete kicks in, suggesting products that match their search instantly. This quick feedback speeds up product discovery and keeps users from abandoning their search.

For example, if a shopper types "blu", they might see options like "blue dress," "blue jeans," or "blue sneakers" pop up, helping them refine their search before they even finish typing.

Synonyms: Different customers may use different words to describe the same item, but with synonyms, your store will catch it all.

For example, if a shopper types in "winter coat" but your store uses "parka" for the same item, a synonym rule ensures the shopper sees the right results for both terms, no matter which one they use.

To achieve the best results from your searchandising campaign, make sure to rely on customers' behavior data when planning it. And site search analytics is a great source of data.

You can use analytical reports of your search app to find out which products are most often bought straight from the search and make them stand out even more. Or, you may learn what search queries end with zero results and work on your "no results" page.

By applying smart merchandising strategies, you can guide customers toward high-value products, clear excess inventory, and create a more curated shopping experience that boosts conversions.

You may be wondering how these strategies are used in real life. Check these examples out:

KicKee Pants, a trendy children’s apparel brand, shows how smart searchandising can revolutionize shopping and drive sales. By fine-tuning their search and product display strategies, they’ve made product discovery effortless, resulting in more engaged shoppers and a noticeable increase in conversions.

Searchandising Strategies for Seamless Discovery

• Smart Merchandising: KicKee Pants highlights key products like bestsellers and seasonal favorites by positioning them prominently in search results, increasing visibility and driving more sales.
• Synonyms & Variants: With the use of synonyms, the store allows customers to find what they’re looking for even if they use different terms.

The Impact of Searchandising

By adopting these advanced search and merchandising techniques, KicKee Pants has simplified the shopping process, helping customers effortlessly find the right products. This optimization not only enhances product visibility but also strengthens customer satisfaction, drives engagement, and shortens the journey from browsing to buying.

N Brown Group, a prominent UK retailer behind brands like JD Williams, Simply Be, and Jacamo, has revamped its online shopping experience by fine-tuning its search and merchandising strategies. Through the power of searchandising, N Brown has crafted a more tailored and fluid shopping experience for its customers.

Searchandising Strategies to Improve Product Discovery

• Intent-Based Search Optimization: AI-powered search functionality was implemented to better understand customer intent, ensuring that shoppers were presented with the most relevant and useful search results.
• Merchandising: Automated product placement helped prioritize bestsellers, trending items, and high-margin products at the top of search results, while minimizing the visibility of low-performing or out-of-stock items.

The Impact of Searchandising

By implementing these strategic changes, N Brown Group boosted product visibility and simplified navigation, creating a more seamless and personalized shopping journey. As a result, customer engagement improved, satisfaction soared, and the path to purchase became more efficient.

The Vitamin Shoppe, a leader in nutritional supplements, aimed to recreate the in-store personalized experience online. By enhancing their search and merchandising strategies, they transformed the shopping journey, resulting in greater engagement and increased conversions.

Searchandising Strategies in Action

• Tailored Search Results: They enhanced product discovery by refining search results to reflect shoppers' intent, enabling customers to quickly find the wellness products they were seeking.
• Optimized Product Placement: High-demand, seasonal, and high-margin products were given priority in search results, ensuring they stood out to customers and increased purchase likelihood.

The Impact of Searchandising

These optimizations helped The Vitamin Shoppe improve product visibility and streamline the browsing experience. As a result, customers found what they needed with greater ease, leading to higher engagement and increased sales.

Now that we’ve done with explanations and real-world examples, let’s get down to metrics figures. Marketing and sales are all about figures, aren’t they?

To gauge the success of your searchandising efforts, track these essential performance metrics:

• Conversion Rate: How many visitors who search end up making a purchase.
• Click-Through Rate (CTR): The proportion of search results that actually get clicked.
• Revenue Per Search: The average revenue generated every time a search is conducted.
• Engagement Time: The amount of time customers spend exploring search results and product pages.

Monitor these key metrics with tools like Google Analytics 4, Shopify Analytics, or services like Algolia.

To calculate your searchandising ROI, try this formula:

ROI = (Revenue from Search - Cost of Implementing Searchandising) ÷ Cost of Implementing Searchandising

This gives you a clear picture of how your investment in improving search and merchandising is paying off, showing how much extra revenue you’re making for every dollar spent.

To ensure you're making the most of searchandising in your store, follow this streamlined checklist:

Harness the full potential of your Shopify store with AI-driven search merchandising. By refining product discovery, customizing search results, and implementing intelligent merchandising techniques, you’ll seamlessly lead customers to the products they’re looking for - driving higher conversions, increasing sales, and improving overall customer satisfaction.

All of that can be done with the Searchanise Search & Filter app. With the app, you’ll be able to refine your approach over time, enhancing your store’s performance and keeping customers engaged with AI-driven searchandising. Start today to increase Shopify sales by getting your hands on the app, integrating these best practices, and watch as your store becomes a more intuitive, efficient, and profitable destination for shoppers.