Hidden Ways to Increase Sales Using Tools Built into Your Search App

Case Study
Anastasia Bezuglaya
By Stacy
March 19 2026
6 min to read
Time to read
Many ecommerce store owners think of the search bar as a simple navigation tool, but modern search apps include built-in features that actively drive sales and improve product discovery. Advanced capabilities like search banners, product recommendations, merchandising rules, redirects, action buttons, and product labels help guide shoppers to the right products faster and encourage them to take action directly from search results.

This article illustrates how strategically implementing alike features can drive measurable improvements in conversion rates, average order value, and overall sales.

How Do Banners in Search Results Increase Conversions?

Banners are a dynamic and visually compelling feature within e-commerce search apps that significantly enhance promotional strategies and drive customer engagement. Shoppers who use site search are already 2–3x more likely to convert than general browsers, so surfacing highly relevant banners in search results lets you place your best offers in front of your highest-intent visitors.

They could be displayed in search results and on collection pages to highlight specific products, collections, or marketing campaigns in a way that captures attention and motivates action. Unlike traditional product listings, banners provide a visual break and draw the eye, making them an effective tool for guiding customer attention.

Read more: Maximizing Impact: The Art of Incorporating Banners into
Ecommerce
banners
A banner promoting a sale on dresses displayed in search results to attract attention and encourage clicks.

Key Features of Banners

Targeted Promotions
Banners can be configured to appear based on specific search queries, ensuring that promotions are highly relevant to the customer's interests.
Example: Display a banner for "New Arrivals" when customers search for "latest trends" or "new in."

Customizability
Store owners can upload their own images and design banners that align with their brand's aesthetic and marketing goals.
Example: A custom banner with the store's logo and branding elements promoting a limited-time offer.

Conditional Display
Banners can be set to appear during specific time frames, allowing for precise control over promotional efforts.
Example: Show a "Holiday Sale" banner only during the month of December.

Examples of Effective Banner Strategies

Seasonal Sales
Strategy: Use banners to promote seasonal sales and discounts prominently within search results related to seasonal items.
Outcome: Drives traffic to seasonal products and increases sales during peak shopping periods.

New Product Launches
Strategy: Highlight new product launches with banners that link directly to the product pages or launch collections.
Outcome: Generates excitement and awareness for new arrivals, boosting initial sales and customer interest.

Special Collections
Strategy: Promote special collections, such as "Eco-Friendly Products" or "Exclusive Designer Collaborations," with dedicated banners.
Outcome: Attracts customers interested in niche categories and increases visibility for unique product offerings.

Flash Sales
Strategy: Use time-sensitive banners to advertise flash sales and limited-time promotions, creating a sense of urgency.
Outcome: Encourages immediate action and drives quick sales, capitalizing on impulse buying behavior.

Loyalty Programs
Strategy: Promote loyalty programs or member-exclusive offers with banners that encourage customers to join or take advantage of their benefits.
Outcome: Increases customer retention and engagement by highlighting the value of the loyalty program.
Advice from the Searchanise team

By effectively utilizing banners, e-commerce store owners can create a more engaging and dynamic shopping experience. Banners not only enhance the visual appeal of search results and collection pages but also play a crucial role in driving targeted traffic, increasing conversions, and ultimately boosting sales. Learn how you can add banners with the help of Searchanise.
🛒 Turn search into your highest-converting aisle.

Most Shopify stores treat search like a static list, but your search bar is where shoppers are ready to buy. The key to higher conversions isn’t just showing products, it’s guiding customers with clarity and relevance.

In this video, you’ll learn how to turn Shopify search into a powerful merchandising tool using promotional banners inside Searchanise Search & Filter.

What Are Merchandising Rules in eCommerce Search?

Merchandising rules in e-commerce search apps help store owners to strategically position products for maximum visibility and impact. These rules allow for precise control over product display based on various criteria, enhancing the relevance and attractiveness of search results. Visitors who use site search can generate up to 40–45% of your total revenue, which makes it critical to control which products they see first through smart merchandising rules.​
merchandising rules
A bag and a dress are prioritized in the search results whenever a customer types “dre,” highlighting merchandising rules in action.

Types of Merchandising Rules

Now, let’s take a look at how Searchanise Search & Filter can help you create different merchandising rules to fine-tune product visibility and impact.

A few words about Searchanise: it’s a versatile Shopify app that goes beyond simple search. It offers features like autocorrect, AI-powered personalization, advanced filters, merchandising, and product recommendation widgets. These tools guide customers at key points in their shopping journey, helping increase engagement, conversions, and sales across your store.

Now, let’s explore the specific rules you can create with Searchanise.
Always
Purpose: The product is always at the top of the search results no matter what the customer typed in.
Use Case: Promote best-sellers, high-margin items, or flagship products consistently to maintain their visibility.

On Match
Purpose: The product is at the top of the list if it’s included in the search results.
Use Case: Highlight products that match specific search terms, such as showcasing summer clothing when users search for "beachwear."

Keywords
Purpose: The product is at the top for particular keywords.
Use Case: Boost the visibility of new arrivals or promotional items when customers use certain keywords, such as displaying new gadgets when searching for "latest tech."

Last
Purpose: The product is at the end of the list if it’s included in the search results.
Use Case: Move out-of-stock products at the bottom of the search results page.

Examples of Effective Merchandising Strategies

Seasonal Promotions
Use merchandising rules to promote seasonal items during relevant periods, such as highlighting winter apparel in the search results during the holiday season.

New Product Launches
Ensure new arrivals are featured prominently in search results to capture the attention of early adopters and trend-conscious shoppers.

Clearance Sales
Apply "Always" rules to display clearance items consistently, helping to clear out old inventory and make room for new stock.

Merchandising rules can help you to create a dynamic and responsive search experience. They not only enhance product discovery but also play a crucial role in driving sales. Discover how to set up merchandising rules in your store.
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How Can Redirects Improve eCommerce Navigation?

Redirects in e-commerce search apps are powerful tools that can drive targeted traffic to specific pages. By configuring redirects, store owners can guide customers to the most relevant content or promotional pages based on their search queries.

Read more: How to Set up Redirects and Why You Absolutely Need Them
Redirects in search
Redirect configuration in the admin panel showing how the search term “iPad” is mapped to a targeted page, helping guide customers to relevant products.

Examples of Effective Redirect Strategies

Promotional Campaigns
Strategy: Redirect searches related to specific promotions (e.g., "Black Friday deals") to dedicated landing pages showcasing discounted products.
Outcome: Increases visibility of promotional offers and drives higher traffic to campaign pages.

Product Launches
Strategy: Redirect searches for new product categories or recently launched items to product launch pages.
Outcome: Ensures customers quickly find and explore new products, boosting initial sales and interest.

Customer Support
Strategy: Redirect searches for help or FAQs (e.g., "return policy," "shipping info") to customer support or FAQ pages.
Outcome: Enhances customer service by providing immediate access to helpful information, reducing support queries.

Content Marketing
Strategy: Redirect searches for specific content topics (e.g., "styling tips," "how-to guides") to relevant blog posts or content hubs.
Outcome: Drives traffic to valuable content, increasing engagement and establishing the store as an authority in its niche.
Advice from the Searchanise team

By effectively utilizing redirects, e-commerce store owners can create a more seamless and intuitive shopping experience. Redirects not only improve navigation but also support strategic marketing initiatives, ultimately driving higher sales, enhancing customer satisfaction, and fostering loyalty. Learn how to set them up.

What Action Buttons Should You Use in Store Search?

Action buttons streamline the shopping process and enhance user interaction. By incorporating action buttons such as "View Product," "Add to Cart," and "Quick View" directly within search results, store owners can significantly reduce the steps needed for customers to engage with and purchase products.

Moreover, studies on call‑to‑action design show that clear, specific CTAs can more than double conversion rates and have an outsized impact on sales.This seamless functionality not only improves user experience but also drives higher conversion rates.
action button
Action buttons such as “Add to Cart” can be directly placed in search results, speeding up checkout actions.

Types of Action Buttons

View Product
Function: Opens the full product page, providing detailed information, images, reviews, and additional options.
Benefit: Allows customers to explore product details thoroughly before making a purchase decision.

Add to Cart
Function: Adds the product directly to the shopping cart from the search results page.
Benefit: Simplifies the purchase process by reducing the number of steps required to add an item to the cart, which can significantly increase conversion rates.

Quick View
Function: Opens a pop-up window with essential product details, allowing customers to get a quick overview without leaving the search results page.
Benefit: Enables customers to make faster decisions by providing key information at a glance, such as price, availability, and a brief description.

Examples of Effective Action Button Usage

Flash Sales
Strategy: Use the "Add to Cart" button prominently during flash sales to encourage quick purchases and capitalize on impulse buying.
Outcome: Drives rapid sales and maximizes revenue during limited-time promotions.

Product Comparisons
Strategy: Implement the "Quick View" button for products within the same category to facilitate easy comparison and decision-making.
Outcome: Helps customers make informed choices quickly, reducing decision fatigue and increasing the likelihood of conversion.
Advice from the Searchanise team

Action buttons help create a more intuitive and engaging shopping experience, allowing customers to perform key actions without leaving the search results page. They facilitate quick navigation and decision-making, simplifying the customer journey and driving higher conversion rates. Find out how to set up action buttons in Searchanise.

How Do Product Labels Enhance Product Discovery?

Product labels are dynamic visual cues that can significantly enhance the visibility and appeal of products in search results. These labels, which include tags like "On Sale," "In Stock," or custom labels like “Best Sellers”, serve as immediate attention grabbers, providing crucial information at a glance and influencing customer decisions.

In fact, social‑proof‑driven labels like “Best Seller” or “Customer Favorite” act as a shortcut to trust and can tap into the same effect seen with reviews, where products have been shown to convert around 68% higher than items with no visible proof at all. Integrating product labels into your search functionality can lead to increased click-through rates, higher conversions, and improved overall user experience.
labels
Product labels like “On Sale” and “In Stock” displayed in search results draw attention and guide customers to products ready for purchase.

Types of Product Labels

Discount Labels
Function: Indicates that a product is on sale or available at a discounted price.
Benefit: Attracts bargain hunters and encourages impulse buying by highlighting savings.

In-Stock Labels
Function: Shows that a product is currently available and ready for immediate purchase.
Benefit: Provides assurance to customers that they won't face out-of-stock issues.

Custom Labels
Function: Allows store owners to create labels tailored to specific promotions, product attributes, or marketing campaigns.
Benefit: Offers flexibility to address unique selling points and promotional strategies.
Example: A "Best Seller" label on a top-performing product leverages social proof to boost its appeal, while a "Limited Edition" label creates a sense of urgency and exclusivity.

Examples of Effective Product Label Usage

Holiday Sales
Strategy: Use "Holiday Sale" labels during festive seasons to attract attention to discounted items.
Outcome: Drives seasonal sales and capitalizes on increased shopping activity during holidays.

New Arrivals
Strategy: Highlight new products with "New Arrival" labels to generate excitement and interest.
Outcome: Encourages customers to explore the latest additions, boosting early sales for new inventory.

Stock Alerts
Strategy: Employ "Low Stock" labels on products that are running out to create urgency.
Outcome: Prompts customers to act quickly to avoid missing out, reducing the likelihood of abandoned carts.

Customer Favorites
Strategy: Label top-rated or frequently purchased items with "Customer Favorite" tags.
Outcome: Leverages social proof to build trust and encourage purchases of popular products.

With the help of product labels e-commerce store owners can boost sales and conversion rates as well as improve overall customer satisfaction, leading to long-term loyalty. You can leverage product labels with the help of Searchanise; check out the help article for detailed instruction.

What Role Do Product Recommendations Play in Store Search?

Product recommendations, often used for upselling and cross-selling, play a critical role in enhancing the customer journey after search. When shoppers find a product through search, recommendations on product, collection, home, search results, and cart pages suggest relevant or complementary items based on customer behavior and preferences.

By guiding customers from initial search to exploration of related products, recommendation widgets make the shopping experience more personalized and engaging, helping store owners increase conversion rates, boost average order value, and drive overall sales growth. To back this up, according to Invesp, purchases influenced by recommendations have a 10% higher average order value than those without.
Most Popular Products
Most Popular Products recommendation widget highlights best-selling items in the store, leveraging social proof to nudge prospects toward purchase.

Types of Recommendation Widgets

New Products
Function: Displays recently added products from your store catalog.
Benefit: Helps customers discover the latest inventory and keeps your store looking fresh and up to date.

Featured Products
Function: Shows products that store owners manually select for promotion.
Benefit: Allows you to highlight strategic items such as seasonal products, high-margin items, or promotional offers.

Similar Products
Function: Recommends products similar to the one currently being viewed based on attributes like product type, tags, vendor, collection, or product options such as size and color.
Benefit: Encourages shoppers to explore alternatives, increasing the chances they will find a product that matches their preferences.

Most Popular Products
Function: Displays your store’s all-time bestselling products.
Benefit: Leverages social proof by showcasing items that other customers frequently purchase.

Products by Attribute
Function: Shows random products from a selected product type, vendor, collection, or tag.
Benefit: Helps highlight specific categories, brands, or collections you want customers to explore.

Customers Who Bought This Product Also Bought
Function: Recommends products that other customers purchased together with the currently viewed item.
Benefit: Encourages cross-selling by suggesting complementary products that naturally go together.

Recently Viewed Products
Function: Displays products a shopper recently viewed while browsing your store.
Benefit: Makes it easy for customers to return to items they previously considered, reducing friction in the buying process.

Examples of Effective Product Recommendation Usage

Product Page Cross-Selling
Strategy: Display “Customers Who Bought This Product Also Bought” widgets on product pages. It encourages shoppers to add complementary items, increasing average order value.
Outcome: Encourages shoppers to add complementary items, increasing average order value.

New Product Promotion
Strategy: Place “New Products” widgets on the homepage or category pages. It drives early visibility and sales for newly added inventory.
Outcome: Drives early visibility and sales for newly added inventory.

Alternative Product Discovery
Strategy: Use “Similar Products” on product pages to suggest comparable options. It helps prevent lost sales if the current product doesn’t fully meet a customer’s needs.
Outcome: Helps prevent lost sales if the current product doesn’t fully meet a customer’s needs.

Popular Product Highlighting
Strategy: Feature “Most Popular Products” widgets on landing pages or in search results. It builds trust through social proof and encourages shoppers to choose proven bestsellers.
Outcome: Builds trust through social proof and encourages shoppers to choose proven bestsellers.

Returning Shopper Assistance
Strategy: Show “Recently Viewed Products” widgets on multiple pages throughout the store. This product widget makes it easier for shoppers to revisit items they previously explored, reducing friction during decision-making.
Outcome: Makes it easier for shoppers to revisit items they previously explored, reducing friction during decision-making.

By integrating product recommendation widgets into your search experience, Shopify store owners can increase product visibility, encourage product discovery, and drive higher conversions. These recommendations work alongside search to guide shoppers toward relevant products at every stage of their journey.

Recommendation widgets can be easily implemented using Searchanise; refer to the help documentation for detailed setup instructions.

Read More

🎥 Don’t Just Read About Hidden Features — Start Using Them

Before you explore the hidden gems inside the Searchanise app, make sure you’ve got the basics in place. Here's a quick tutorial to help you install your smart search bar on Shopify in minutes.

Once it's set up, you’ll be ready to unlock advanced features like merchandisinginstant search widgets, and custom filters that drive real sales impact.

Real-World Example: Fragrance Rich Boosts Conversions with Advanced Search Features

fragrance rich merchandising rules
Candles are prioritized in search results using merchandising rules, helping guide customers to high-priority products and contributing to increased conversions.
Fragrance Rich is a UK-based online store offering a wide range of fragrances for perfume lovers. With a growing catalog, the company faced a challenge: helping customers quickly find products and encouraging them to complete purchases.

To address this, Fragrance Rich implemented Searchanise, leveraged merchandising rules to strategically position high-priority products in search results and used action buttons like “Add to Cart” and “Quick View” directly within search results. This setup guided shoppers toward relevant items, highlighted promotions, and made it easier to explore and purchase products without extra clicks.

As a result, Fragrance Rich achieved a 35% increase in conversion rates, clearly demonstrating how smart merchandising and interactive search elements can improve product visibility, streamline the shopping experience, and boost sales.

Key Takeaways

  • Advanced search features drive results. Tools like banners, merchandising rules, action buttons, product labels, redirects, and product recommendations improve product visibility, guide shoppers, and increase conversions.

  • Merchandising rules and placement matter. Strategically prioritizing products in search results ensures high-priority items capture customer attention and drive sales.

  • Interactive elements simplify purchases. Action buttons like “Add to Cart” and “Quick View” reduce friction, allowing customers to act faster and boosting conversion rates.

  • Product discovery and engagement improve with labels and recommendations. Labels like “Best Seller” and recommendation widgets encourage exploration and increase average order value.

  • Real-world results prove effectiveness. In the Fragrance Rich case study, implementing merchandising rules and action buttons contributed to a 35% increase in conversions, showing how search enhancements can deliver measurable growth.

Frequently Asked Questions About Hidden Search Features

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Stacy
Stacy is a content creator at Searchanise. Her professional areas of interest are SaaS solutions and ecommerce. Stacy believes that quality content must be valuable for readers and achieve business goals. When she is not busy writing, which does not happen often, she reads passionately, both fiction and non-fiction literature.

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