In our latest research endeavor, we delved into both competitive and comparative analyses to gain comprehensive insights into website search functionality. Through meticulous examination of Ansira’s competitors’ strategies and leading ecommerce platforms, we unearthed valuable trends and patterns. Our findings shed light on the evolving landscape of website search, offering actionable insights for optimizing user experiences.
Comparative Analysis: Examination of 10 Leading Ecommerce Websites
Our recent comparative analysis delved into 10 leading ecommerce websites on the market, featuring renowned platforms such as Amazon, Walmart, Target, Nordstrom, and others. This analysis aimed to glean valuable insights into the strategies, features, and user experiences these industry giants offer, providing us with valuable benchmarks within our own ecommerce offerings.
Full-Site vs. Scoped Search: All comparative sites provide full-site search capability, with additional scope features such as drop-down scope selection (found on Amazon) and autocomplete scope suggestions (present on the majority of other websites).
Dynamic Search Filter: A recent trend in top ecommerce platforms is the integration of dynamic filters within the dropdown website search suggestion menu, enabling users to refine their search results based on their input query. Specifically, three out of ten comparative sites (including Target, Amazon, and Walmart) feature the top suggested search result alongside filters for specific product attributes. Target and Amazon, for example, provide filters for brand, type, and size, while Walmart offers filters for delivery date, top-rated items, and more.
Search Suggested Text Appendage: Majority comparative sites (6 out of 10) insert the suggested text anywhere within the search query, while the others append the suggested text to the end of typed text.
Search Suggestion Menu: On desktop, it’s common (8 out of 10) to find search suggestions displayed in a dropdown menu positioned directly beneath the search box. Conversely, some opt for a full-width mega menu to showcase search suggestions. On mobile, the majority (7 out of 10) of comparative sites employ a separate search page.
Number of Search Suggestion Results: Most comparative sites display around 10 suggested search results, balancing the need for adequate item display without overly extending the menu.
Enriched Search Suggestions: Enriched suggestions are prevalent among comparative sites, offering valuable insights and recommendations to users. These enriched suggestions encompass a variety of features, including recently searched and viewed items, trending topics, related searches, AI-generated answers, and product recommendations.
Competitive Analysis: Examination of 9 Market Competitors of Ansira
A competitive analysis was conducted on 9 of our market competitors within our market space. This analysis aimed to provide valuable insights into the strategies, features, and functionalities implemented by these competitors, enabling us to identify potential areas of differentiation and opportunities for improvement within our own offerings. Among the findings:
Full-Site vs. Scoped Search: Limiting search functionality to only inventory items, is prevalent among the majority (5 out of 9) of our competitive sites. In contrast, full-site search capability is found in a minority of sites, with search results typically categorized into two groups: inventory and non-inventory. The limited adoption of full-site search capability could serve as a potential differentiator between Ansira’s websites and our competitors.
Search Suggestion Menu: Search suggestions are commonly displayed on a dropdown menu located directly below the search box on both desktop and mobile views.
Number of Search Suggestion Results: The number of suggested search results varies greatly, ranging from 6 to 20+ depending on the menu layout. Given that the optimal practice typically hovers around 10, balancing the need for adequate item display without overly extending the menu, it suggests that our competitors’ sites may not be optimally designed.
Enriched Search Suggestions: Expanded search content suggestions such as featured or recently searched items, are rarely used across all competitive sites, indicating potential opportunities for Ansira to differentiate and innovate in search functionality.
Our research into website search functionality through both competitive and comparative analyses has provided valuable insights into emerging trends within the e-commerce landscape. Our findings highlight the importance of full-site search capability, the integration of dynamic filters, and the value of enriched search suggestions in enhancing user engagement and satisfaction.
If you’re looking to take your website search functionality to the next level and create a seamless and engaging user experience, contact Ansira today. We have the expertise and tools to design and implement innovative website solutions that will boost your site performance and conversion rates.
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