People will usually visit your website with a specific purpose in mind, this could include looking for specific services, products, pricing, contact details or answers to questions.
With lots of information online it can sometimes take a while to find the right information on your website. A search functionality can help visitors find what they are looking for quicker and easily.
Improving the search functionality of your website can improve their overall experience and let them find what they are looking for.
What Is Website Search?
Website search is a tool that lets visitors search for information.
They can type in words or phrases and get results relating to those words. This could include specific pages, products, services or other content.
For example, a visitor to a property based website in Qatar can search for ‘Apartments in Doha’ rather than having to search manually.
The website will also depend on how it is built and how the content is laid out.
Why Website Search Is Important
Not everyone will search your website in the same way. Some will look through the menus and some will know what they are looking for.
Having a search functionality will give visitors another option.
This can be useful if you have lots of products, services, blog posts or other resources.
If visitors can find what they are looking for quickly they are more likely to spend more time on your website and are more likely to contact.
Find Content Quicker
One of the main benefits is that it makes searching easier.
If you have lots of services and pages on your website, a visitor may not want to go through each category looking for a specific service. Adding a search box will make it easier.
If they are looking for a service such as ‘Website Maintenance’, they should be able to find the right page without having to guess what category it will be in.
Making it easier to find the correct information can improve the visitors experience.
E-Commerce Websites
Website search is an important tool if you have an online store.
Customers may know exactly what they want but may not want to scroll through multiple categories. Having an easy to use search box lets them type in the name of the product, brand or type and find the right results quickly.
Having filters can improve the experience. Depending on what type of store you have, they may be able to filter by price, size, category, stock etc.
If you sell products online as a business in Qatar, having an easy to use search functionality can help make it easier for them to shop.
Make Sure It Works On Mobile
Many people will browse your website using their smartphone. Having a search functionality that isn’t easy to use on mobile can cause unnecessary frustrations.
The search box should be easy to find and click. The text should be easy to read and the results should display well on a smaller screen.
Test your website search across multiple devices.
Use Search Suggestions
Using search suggestions can help visitors find the right information quicker.
If they start to type ‘web’, they may get suggestions for related searches such as ‘Web Development’, ‘Website Maintenance’ and ‘Web Design’.
This can save them time and can help them find relevant services/products. However, the suggestions should be accurate and useful. Too many irrelevant suggestions can cause confusion.
Make Sure Results Are Relevant
Having a search box won’t do much if the results aren’t relevant.
If someone is searching for a specific service but gets irrelevant pages they may assume you don’t offer what they are looking for.
Take a look at how your website search is performing for common search terms. You should also look at how it deals with different spellings and how customers may refer to the same product/service.
This is especially important if you use specific industry terminology.
Useful Insights
Website search can give you some useful insights.
Look at what the common search terms are, this can give you an idea of what they are looking for.
If lots of visitors are searching for a service that is difficult to find using the main menu you may want to make it more visible.
You can also see what topics you should add to your content/FAQ section.
Of course, any analytics or search data should be used responsibly and with the correct privacy requirements.
Common Issues With Website Search
Some websites will have a search functionality that doesn’t work well. Common issues include;
Irrelevant results
Difficult to find
No useful results for common search terms
Doesn’t work well on mobile
No filters for large products
Slow results
No helpful message if no results are found
This can cause visitors to become frustrated and leave.
Having a helpful no results message can help. Letting them know what they could search for instead or directing them to popular pages.
How To Improve Website Search
You don’t necessarily need a complex search system. The most important factor is ensuring it is useful to your visitors.
Start by thinking about what they are likely to search for. Test common search terms and ensure results are accurate.
Ensure the search box is easy to find, especially on mobile. If you have lots of content/products consider adding filters and categories.
Regularly check how people are searching and update your content if you notice common missing information.
Final Thoughts
Although website search may seem like a small aspect, it can have a big impact on how people use your website.
Having an easy to use search functionality can make it easier for visitors to find products, services and information. It can also give you some useful insights into what your customers are searching for.
A good website shouldn’t make visitors struggle to find basic information. Having clear navigation, useful search and organised content can provide a better experience.
We can help businesses in Qatar improve their website with web development, AI automation and digital marketing. Planning your website correctly can make it easier for your customers to find information.
Ready to Get Started?
Orbition X builds WordPress websites, Shopify stores and landing pages from Doha. See our web development service or book a call and we will scope your project and give you an itemized quotation.