Enhancing Engagement with Sitecore Search

A frustrating search experience can be the difference between a loyal customer and a lost opportunity.

In the US alone, $300 billion is lost yearly due to bad online search experiences.

Users expect information at their fingertips, and navigating a website shouldn't feel like a treasure hunt. On-site search users who successfully found what they were looking for led to nearly doubled conversion rates.

The Importance of Good Search

Effective search functionality is crucial in retaining users and helping with conversions, whether that is lead generation, product signups, or purchases from your e-commerce site.

When users can't quickly find what they need, frustration sets in, and they are likely to abandon your site for a competitors.

The digital marketplace is unforgiving; a poor search experience can turn potential loyal customers into lost opportunities.

52% of consumers abandon their entire cart and go elsewhere if they cannot find just one item.

Here's where Sitecore Search comes in. It's not just a search engine; it's a powerful tool that transforms users' interactions with your content, fostering engagement and driving conversions.

Traditional Search vs Sitecore AI-Powered Search

Traditional search engines rely on basic keyword matching to deliver results.

They scan the text of web pages for exact matches to the words in the search query, using an inverted index to map keywords to documents. This approach can be limited, often yielding irrelevant results and frustrating users, as it lacks the ability to understand the context or intent behind the search terms.

In contrast, Sitecore Search leverages advanced AI technologies to provide a more intuitive search experience.

It uses natural language processing (NLP) to comprehend the context and intent behind user queries, delivering highly relevant results. Sitecore's advanced indexing process organises content semantically, allowing for rapid and accurate retrieval. Its AI models predict user intent and pre-fetch relevant results, ensuring fast response times.

Combining UX and Technology

Driven by AI, personalised search determines a user’s goal and serves up results based on its understanding of that goal.

For example, suppose the same user searches for ‘EV cover’ on an AI-powered search engine. In that case, the engine uses behavioural signals, such as past visits and queries, combined with NLP to correctly predict that they’re looking for information about car insurance for an electric vehicle. Relevant results are then delivered to the user. Best of all, the entire process takes just milliseconds.

Going beyond results, another area we think traditional Search lacks is giving users advanced refinement options within the results, a feature often seen on Product description pages in e-commerce.

Sitecore Search empowers users to filter results by date, category, author, or even specific criteria relevant to their industry. This granular control allows users to tailor their search journey and find the exact information they need, fast.

Think of it like browsing a well-organised library, where you can easily navigate to the specific section that holds the information you seek.

Beyond the Search Bar: Continuous Improvement

The best search experiences are living entities that evolve with user needs.

Sitecore Search provides comprehensive analytics that helps you understand how users interact with your search function. By analysing this data, you can identify:

• Popular search terms: This helps you tailor content strategy and refine your information architecture. By understanding what users are looking for, you can ensure your content effectively addresses their needs.
• Underperforming searches: Are there searches that consistently yield poor results? Analyse these terms to identify gaps in your content or improve their relevance.
• User journeys: Understanding how users navigate the search process further allows you to streamline it. A/B testing different layouts or functionalities can help you optimise the search journey for maximum user satisfaction

By harnessing the power of Sitecore Search, you can create a search experience that delivers results and builds trust, empowers users, and drives conversions.

Remember, search is no longer just a tool; it's a conversation starter, a gateway to deeper user engagement, and a powerful driver of brand loyalty.

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