Introduction
What is the Shopify Search Bar?
The Shopify search bar is a built-in feature allowing customers to find products quickly and easily. It enhances navigation, saves time, and helps improve overall customer satisfaction by making product discovery more intuitive.
Importance of Effective Search in E-commerce
In a digital storefront, speed and relevance of search are essential. A user-friendly and responsive search bar can drastically increase conversion rates, reduce bounce rates, and improve the customer journey.
How Shopify Search Works
Native Features
Shopify offers a basic yet functional search tool, allowing users to find products, blog posts, and collections. It’s built into most themes and can be extended through Shopify’s Search & Discovery app.
Limitations of Default Search
The default search lacks intelligent suggestions, misspelling tolerance, and advanced filtering. It often returns limited or irrelevant results, which can be frustrating for users.
Benefits of an Optimized Search Bar
- Improved User Experience: Quick results and relevant products.
- Higher Conversions: Shoppers who search are 2-3x more likely to buy.
- Lower Bounce Rate: Search engages users more deeply with your catalog.
Setting Up the Shopify Search Bar
Accessing the Theme Editor
- Go to your Shopify Admin panel.
- Navigate to Online Store > Themes.
- Click Customize on your active theme.
Adding the Search Block
- In the theme editor, go to Header or add a new section.
- Choose Search Bar from the list of blocks.
- Position it appropriately (usually in the top-right of the header).
Customizing the Search Bar Design
Changing Placement
Drag the search block in your header layout to a new location, such as center or left-aligned.
Styling with CSS
Add custom CSS via Assets > theme.css to change colors, size, or borders.
Mobile Optimization
Ensure your theme is responsive, and test the search bar’s visibility and usability on various screen sizes.
Enabling Search Suggestions
Using Predictive Search
Some Shopify themes and the Search & Discovery app support autocomplete. Predictive search shows instant results while typing.
Best Practices for Autocomplete
- Use product images in dropdown suggestions.
- Include categories and collections.
- Keep results fast and relevant.
Using Shopify Search & Discovery App
Installing the App
Available from the Shopify App Store. Once installed:
Managing Filters and Sorting
Customize search filters by product type, tag, price, availability, etc.
Enhancing Product Discovery
Add category landing pages, boost high-margin products, and curate result order.
Search Bar Analytics in Shopify
Tools for Monitoring Queries
Use Google Analytics, Hotjar, or Shopify Analytics to track search terms and behavior.
Understanding User Behavior
Analyze which products are frequently searched, and which queries yield no results.
Limitations of Shopify’s Default Search
- No voice search.
- Limited misspelling tolerance.
- Doesn’t support custom ranking algorithms.
- No AI-powered personalization.
Introduction to Expertrec Search
What is Expertrec?
Expertrec is a powerful AI-driven search engine that integrates easily with Shopify to deliver instant, personalized, and typo-tolerant results.
Features and Benefits
- No coding required
- Voice search and filters
- Custom UI options
- Lightning-fast performance
Why Choose Expertrec for Shopify
- Custom UI: Matches your brand.
- Voice Search: Adds accessibility.
- AI-Powered Results: Understands intent.
- No Latency: Instant results as you type.
Steps to Integrate Expertrec Search Bar
Step 1: Create an Expertrec Account
Go to Expertrec’s official site and sign up for a free trial or subscription.
Step 2: Index Your Shopify Store
- Enter your store URL in Expertrec’s dashboard.
- The crawler will fetch your product catalog.
Step 3: Embed the Code
- Copy the provided JavaScript code.
- Paste it inside Shopify: Online Store > Themes > Edit Code > theme.liquid
- Insert it before the
</head>tag.
Customizing Expertrec Search
Change Layout and Colors
Inside the Expertrec dashboard, use the visual editor to match your store’s theme.
Enable Filters and Facets
Add filters for price, category, tags, and more to improve UX and help users narrow down results quickly.
Troubleshooting Integration Issues
Common Errors and Fixes
- Search not displaying? Clear cache or check for theme conflicts.
- No results? Re-index the store manually.
Support and Documentation
Expertrec offers live support, and their documentation includes step-by-step guides.
15. Comparing Shopify vs Expertrec Search
| Feature | Shopify Default | Expertrec |
|---|---|---|
| Autocomplete | Limited | Advanced |
| Voice Search | No | Yes |
| Custom UI | Basic | Fully customizable |
| AI Search | No | Yes |
| Filters/Facets | Limited | Extensive |
Expert Tips to Optimize Site Search
- Use Synonyms: Add alternative keywords for better results.
- Monitor Analytics: Refine based on user search patterns.
- Update Index Frequently: Keep results fresh with new products.
FAQs
Yes, but it’s best to disable the default one to avoid confusion.
Plans start from $9/month, depending on your store size and needs.
Absolutely, it supports multiple languages out of the box.
No, it loads asynchronously and doesn’t affect site speed.
Yes, Expertrec has built-in analytics for this purpose.
Yes, it’s fully responsive and optimized for all screen sizes.
Conclusion
Shopify’s native search is a great starting point, but if you want to take your store’s user experience to the next level, integrating Expertrec is the way to go. It’s fast, intelligent, and fully customizable. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned developer, this solution can help your customers find what they want faster and help you sell more.
