Improve Magento Search for Faster and More Accurate Results

• What is Magento Search?

• 6 Tricks to Improve Magento Search

• 8 Native Magento Search Settings

• 6 SEO Benefits of Improved Search

• 5 Common Challenges and Solutions of Magento Search

• FAQs

• Summary

What is Magento Search?

Magento search is the built functionality provided by the Magento eCommerce platform.

The feature helps customers shopping online to find what they are looking for. There is no endless scrolling and frustration. You can enter keywords in a search bar. It then displays relevant results based on the query.

MySQL powers the default Magento search engine. Third-party solutions like Elasticsearch optimize it for faster, more accurate results. It indexes product data and allows users to search by product name and SKU attributes.

The basic search system works for smaller stores. The speed and flexibility are less for stores with a large product catalog.

Magento allows store owners to enrich the search experience. It is through extensions and third-party search solutions.

6 Tricks to Improve Magento Search

1. Understand Magento's Default Search Limitations

• Magento’s default search engine depends on MySQL. It may not provide the speed and accuracy needed for larger stores.

• Common issues include:

  1. Slow search results

  2. Irrelevant results

  3. Lack of advanced filtering options

• Consider upgrading to Magento 2 Elasticsearch or Algolia. It helps provide faster, more relevant results.

2. Use Advanced Search Tools and Extensions

• Configure Elasticsearch by specifying server details. Optimize indexing settings for speed and accuracy. It offers advanced features like:

  1. Typo tolerance

  2. Faster indexing

  3. Better handling of large product catalogs

• Use third-party extensions to enhance your Magento search. A few extensions also include typo correction and advanced filtering for better results.

3. Autocomplete and Instant Search

• Use autocomplete for faster results as users type their queries in the search bar.

• Install and configure autocomplete extensions such as Instant Search or Mageplaza Search. They offer real-time suggestions and reduce search abandonment.

• The functionality speeds up the search for users. It also reduces issues in the purchasing process.

4. Enable Faceted Navigation and Filters

• Faceted navigation allows customers to screen search results. It depends on attributes like price range and brand.

• The functionality helps them find exactly what they are looking for faster. It enhances the user experience by narrowing down choices.

• It impacts conversions. Studies show that faceted navigation can increase conversion rates by up to 48%.

• Personalized filtering options improve both customer satisfaction and retention.

5. Test and Measure Search Performance

• Use Google Analytics to track search behavior, including bounce and conversion rates.

• Set up search query reports in Magento. It helps identify underperforming search terms or products.

• Use tools like Google PageSpeed Insights. It helps benchmark search speed and use optimizations.

6. Future-Proof Magento Search

• Consider integrating AI-powered search extensions like Magento 2 Semantic Search. It provides more intuitive and accurate search results.

• As voice commerce grows, optimize your Magento search for voice queries. It helps cater to this rising trend.

8 Native Magento Search Settings

1. Enable/Disable Search Suggestions

• You can enable search suggestions. It helps display recommended search terms as users type in the search bar.

• The feature guides users toward the most relevant products. It reduces search abandonment.

• The functionality improves the user experience by offering fast suggestions. It also advances the likelihood that customers will find the right product.

2. Adjust Search Weight Settings for Attributes

• You can adjust the weight of various product attributes in the search index.

• It ensures that the search results focus on the most relevant attributes. Common attributes to adjust include:

  1. Product name

  2. SKU

  3. Description

• Set the product name weight to a higher value than the description. It is if you want search results to focus on product titles.

3. Manage Synonyms

• Synonyms can help improve search accuracy. It is by recognizing different terms that mean the same thing.

• It makes search results more relevant for users who use different terms for the same product.

4. Use of Stopwords

• Stopwords are common words. These may not contribute to the relevance of search results.

• Removing them ensures your store's search engine doesn't waste time indexing unnecessary words.

• It helps improve the accuracy of search results. It is by preventing common but irrelevant words from affecting search relevance.

5. Configure Least Query Length

• The option determines the shortest number of characters a user can type. It is before Magento starts returning search results.

• It helps avoid unnecessary searches for very short or unhelpful terms. The feature also ensures that more specific queries trigger search results.

6. Use of Search Indexing

• Magento uses indexers to manage search functionality. Regular reindexing helps improve performance. It is particularly true when there are updates to your product catalog.

• It helps ensure that search results reflect the most up-to-date catalog information. Regular indexing improves search speed and accuracy.

7. Configure Search Result Page Settings

• You can configure how many search results per page of the search results page displays.

• Customizing this helps improve user experience. It is by displaying a more manageable number of results.

8. Search Query Logging and Reporting

• Magento allows you to track what customers are searching for. It can help you identify popular or underperforming products.

• Enable search query logging to track and analyze search terms. It helps identify search terms that lead to poor results.

• You can optimize those queries with more relevant products or adjust weights.

6 SEO Benefits of Improved Search

1. Improved Dwell Time

• It is the time a user spends on your website. It is after clicking on a search result from a search engine.

• Giving users relevant search results helps them engage with the content of your site. It leads to longer visits and a higher dwell time.

• Google uses it as a factor to rank. When users spend more time on your website, it shows that your content is good. It can improve your rankings.

2. Reduced Bounce Rate

• It is the total number of visitors who leave your website after viewing only one page.

• A better search system helps users find what they are looking for. It prevents them from leaving in frustration.

• Users are more likely to explore when search results are relevant and immediate.

• A lower bounce rate is a positive ranking signal. Your site provides a valuable and engaging experience.

3. Increased CTR

• The percentage of users who click on a link by the total number of users who see the result.

• When your search results are relevant, users can click on them. Features like autocomplete and filters help users find what they want. It improves the likelihood of clicks.

• A higher CTR tells search engines that your content is relevant to users’ queries.

4. Better User Engagement

• User engagement is how visitors interact with your content. These include clicking on links or browsing different pages.

• Customers can find relevant products or content through an efficient search system. They are more likely to engage with other pages on your site.

• Search engines reward sites with higher user engagement. More engaged users often translate to more backlinks and social shares.

• ASOS, an online fashion retailer, has implemented a powerful search and filtering system. They saw increased time spent on the site and more pages visited per session.

5. Optimized Internal Linking and Content Discovery

• A well-functioning search system can encourage internal linking. Users will explore related content or products.

• Magento’s faceted navigation and filters can help users drill down into categories. They can then find related items.

• Search engines crawl sites according to internal links. Improving how users check your site with search results can improve the crawlability.

• Optimize product or content pages through filters and internal linking. It helps boost visibility and SEO.

6. Better Conversions

• User experience is the satisfaction of visitors while interacting with your site. It includes page load speed and content quality.

• Providing a smooth and intuitive search experience increases user experience. Features like autocomplete and accurate results contribute to a better browsing journey.

• Search engines focus on sites with good UX to serve users the best possible experience.

• Amazon has implemented a fast search system with features like autocomplete. It ensures that users can find products without friction. They have seen improvements in both conversion rates and customer satisfaction.

5 Common Challenges and Solutions of Magento Search

1. Slow Search Performance

As the product catalog grows, the default Magento search can become slow. It can lead to delayed search results and a poor user experience.

Solution:

• Elasticsearch is a powerful tool with faster indexing and search performance.

• Switching from MySQL to Elasticsearch can improve search speed. This is especially true for large catalogs.

2. Poor Search Relevance

Default Magento search may return irrelevant results. It is especially true if product names and descriptions are not optimized. It is also true if they contain common terms.

Solution:

• In Magento’s admin panel, adjust the weights of key attributes. These include the product name and SKU. It helps ensure that relevant products appear first.

• Adding synonyms and stopwords can help refine search results and improve accuracy.

3. Limited Search Features

The default Magento search lacks features like autocomplete and faceted navigation. It makes customers find products hard.

Solution:

• Extensions like Mageplaza Search or Amasty Advanced Search add features.

• These include autocomplete and typo tolerance, improving user experience.

4. Inability to Handle Complex Queries

Magento's default search struggles with complex or multi-word queries. It returns limited or incorrect results.

Solution:

• Integrating AI and NLP can improve how Magento handles complex queries. It makes search results more intuitive and accurate.

• Elasticsearch also supports complex queries and can better interpret user intent.

5. Lack of Faceted Navigation and Filters

Users often need to narrow down results based on attributes like size or price. The default search may not provide these options.

Solution:

• Use extensions or Magento’s native features to use faceted navigation.

• It allows customers to filter search results by size and price range attributes.

FAQs

1. How can I track Magento search performance?

You can use Magento’s built-in reporting tools to track search performance. These include queries and popular products. Analytics can help you identify search trends and areas for improvement. It optimizes the search experience further.

2. Why is my Magento product search showing irrelevant results?

Magento product search may yield poor results if attribute weights are not set. Improve accuracy by configuring search options in Magento admin and adding synonyms. Using extensions powered by AI can enhance relevance.

3. How can I customize the search function?

Go to search in the admin panel. Enable faceted navigation and integrate AI-based search solutions. Extensions like Amasty can further enrich the search box experience.

4. How do you set the number of search results per page?

In admin, go to search configuration and adjust pagination settings. It improves user experience by making the search for products easier.

Summary

Improve Magento search to help customers look for products within an online store. The article explores the key features of the functionality, including:

• Upgrade to Elasticsearch or Algolia for faster and better results.

• Use autocomplete, faceted navigation, and filters for better search results.

• Use AI-powered search and track performance through analytics tools.

• Better search leads to improved engagement, dwell time, and sales.

Optimize your store’s search experience with advanced tools. Pair it with managed Magento hosting for faster, more accurate results.