8 Key Features to Consider When Choosing a Site Search Tool

When a customer searches for something on your website – a product, an answer, a resource –   they want the experience to be easy. Fast, high-quality and personalized ecommerce site search equals great user experience. 

Site search is about findability – about flawlessly helping your customer unearth the correct product. But it’s also about discoverability – about connecting shoppers with products that resonate with them, items they might not know you carry, but are definitely interested in exploring.

There are some essential features that good site search tools need to achieve peak findability and discoverability. Among them, the ability to manage and process data and the AI functionality that turns this data into relevant, useful search results for every visitor. Below, we list eight features you should look for in a site search tool with a focus on capabilities and technology that work together to elevate the shopping experience for every single visitor.

Fundamental Features of a Site Search Tool

With great site search, certain features stand out as essential for delivering an exceptional user experience. Again, it’s as much about discoverability as it is about findability. A search engine’s capabilities must go beyond basic keyword matching to truly understand and serve your customers’ needs. Some critical features to look for in a site search tool include:

1. Natural Language Processing (NLP) to Understand Search Intent

Look for a site search tool that uses natural language processing (NLP) and machine learning to decipher the context behind a user’s query. Baked into a personalization platform like Monetate, these AI functions make it possible for intelligent site search tools to interpret complex phrases, handle typos, and recognize synonyms.  So, if a shopper searches for “comfy office chair” they may see results for ergonomic desk chairs even if the words “comfy” and “office” aren’t present in the product title or description. This is what we mean by understanding the intent behind the search query. 

2. AI-Powered Discovery for Personalized Results

eCommerce site search goes beyond straightforward keyword matching. It’s a utility that actively guides shoppers to relevant products with features like personalized search results and product recommendations. Monetate uses machine learning algorithms to analyze the endless amounts of data that moves through your ecommerce ecosystem. Data like customer behavior, preferences, and purchase history is used to deliver hyper-personalized results for individual shopper. For example, a hiker searching for “jacket” may get a list of waterproof parkas versus a parent searching for “jacket” who may a list of children’s jackets tied to the season.

3. Analytics and Insights to Inform Better Decisioning

Popular search terms, zero-result searches, user engagement with search results and content –  all of this represents a trove of search-related intelligence that can help you identify content gaps and better understand what your customers want. Analytics from site search can help inform your content strategy and messaging approach, for example, by revealing searches for a product you don’t currently offer or revealing an emerging trend. Make sure you look for a platform with robust analytics and reporting features.

4. Machine Learning so that Search Gets Better 

A top-tier site search tool should continuously learn and improve. An intelligent search tool like Monetate uses machine learning to optimize results in real-time based on user interactions. As shoppers engage with search results, the system adapts, and refines results based. For example, if shoppers who search for “sugar skull decor” in October consistently click on your coveted sugar skull shower curtain, the system learns to prioritize that item in the search results. Ongoing optimization keeps search results relevant and aligned with what shoppers want in the moment.

5. Use Product Recommendations to Enhance Discovery

Effective site search may start at the search box, but it rarely ends there. Search goes beyond producing the exact item a customer is looking for (after all, sometimes customers don’t know precisely what they want. That’s why features like product recommendations and bundling are important because they help shoppers discover similar products that they might love. Look for a search tool that integrates product recommendations into search results using AI to analyze user behavior, purchase history, and current search context to suggest relevant items. Grouping products together via dynamic bundling is another feature that helps with discovery. For example, a search for “hiking boots,” could include recommended socks, insoles, or waterproofing spray.

6. Go Mobile or Go Home 

According to Adobe, mobile is expected to contribute 53% of sales during the 2024 holiday season. It’s become a site search best practice to ensure that search works well on all screens, regardless of size. Look for a site search solution that allows for mobile-first design, with features like voice search, auto-complete suggestions, and touch-friendly filters. A well-designed mobile search should also account for the limited screen space, presenting results in an easily scannable format. Remember, a frustration-free mobile search experience can be the difference between a completed purchase and an abandoned cart.

7. Use Social Proof Elements to Build Trust 

Social proof leverages collective user behavior to showcase an item’s popularity and value. Integrating social proof elements (e.g., product ratings, reviews, popularity signals, etc.) into the search results can instill confidence as a customer is shopping. Monetate’s Social Proof feature allows you to display real-time information like how many times an item has been viewed, added to carts, or purchased. This creates a sense of urgency and validates product quality. It helps the searcher make quicker, more confident decisions directly from the search results page.

8. Use a Product Finder to Guide Shoppers to Their Perfect Match

When shopping online, customers often need help navigating extensive product catalogs. A Product Finder enhances addresses this challenge by offering an interactive quiz experience that acts like a virtual in-store assistant. Monetate’s Product Finder allows retailers to set up a brief quiz that asks shoppers a series of questions about their preferences and needs. The tool then uses AI to recommend the most suitable products. It simplifies complex product selections and narrows down large catalogs to personalized – and highly relevant – recommendations. Our clients see 2x higher conversion rates for visitors interacting with Product Finder.