What is the refined search function?
A refined search is a convenient search method when a user wants to search for products that meet multiple conditions.
For example, in the case of a bag, there are various factors such as size, color, and shape.
It's black, it's a backpack, it can hold a 13-inch laptop, and it costs less than 20,000 yen...
For users who have specific requirements, the refined search function is extremely useful.
Below is the search filter function on the Porter e-commerce site.
You can search by factors such as size and style, making it easy to find the bag you're looking for.
And here's an example from Amazon:
You can also narrow down your search by a number of criteria.
Narrowed search is now a common feature in modern e-commerce, and I think it's a function that anyone who shops online has used.
Narrowed search is an important guide for users to find the product they are looking for from a huge number of products, so if you haven't implemented it on your e-commerce site yet, start considering it right away.
What kind of shops are recommended for narrowing down your search?
What kind of shops should have a search filter function?
Consider this mainly from two perspectives.
Number of products
If there are too many products, users will become confused and bothered, and the chances of abandoning the site will increase, which will result in lower CVR and lower sales.
There are so many products on Amazon that it seems like there is an infinite number of them, but thanks to the excellent search engine and this filter function, users can find the product they are looking for.
Keyword searches work well for users who know exactly what they want, but narrowed-down searches are more appropriate for users with vague needs.
We recommend implementing this feature to provide users with a better shopping experience and satisfaction.
Number of product elements
Products with many search elements also work well with the refined search function.
For example, fashion items have many parameters such as size, color, brand, style, etc. For shops that sell products with such characteristics, narrowed search is a "must" feature. We strongly recommend that you implement it.
On the other hand, if your product lineup is similar to a single-item mail-order business, with only a few to several dozen products and three or less product elements, there is no need for a refined search function. In fact, it may even get in the way.
Please consider implementing it according to the product lineup of your shop.
How to implement search refinement functionality in Shopify?
Let’s take a quick look at how to implement it on Shopify.
There are free themes that come with a refined search function, but they often leave something to be desired, as they have limited functionality or do not allow you to change the design.This time, we will install an app called " Power Tools Suite " to add additional functionality.
It costs $15.99 per month, with a 14-day free trial.
We recommend that you try it out for 14 days and then decide whether or not you want to continue using it during the free period.
If you try to implement a filter search function without using an app, you will need to do some very tedious customization. Customization requires coding skills such as HTML and CSS, so if you want to implement the function smartly, we recommend using the app.
The following six types of data are available for filtering searches in Power Tools Suite.
- tag
- collection
- Product Type
- vendor
- Product Price
- variant
We recommend that you decide in advance how you will classify your product data using these items. If you do not organize your data in advance, your store will be difficult to maintain, and you will have a lot of trouble later on.
Data preparation means defining in advance, for example, using the "Vendor" field for brands and the "Collection" field for product categories.
You can also choose from a wide range of options for the design of the options used to narrow down your search.
The default is radio buttons, but you can also choose dropdowns, swatches, etc. Choose your preferred display method depending on your shop design.
< Sample site >
This app also includes many other useful features, such as the ability to efficiently edit tags and collections, change the order of products, etc. For more information, please see the app description page or sample site.
→ App description and installation page
→ Sample site
How to install
Installing the app is just like installing any other Shopify app - just click through the on-screen instructions.
The theme has an automatic installation function. All major themes such as those provided by Shopify can be installed automatically. It only takes a few minutes. Don't worry, you don't need any knowledge or experience of HTML or CSS.
If you are using a paid theme, an original theme, or a free theme that has been deeply customized, you may not be able to use the automatic installer. In that case, you can use a manual installation (adding code directly to the theme).
Support
Support is only available in English, and unfortunately the support site is not of high quality.
If you have any questions, you can get a more accurate answer by asking the support directly. The response speed is also fast, and when we made an inquiry, we received a response within one day.
summary
A refined search is a search method that narrows down products using multiple conditions. It is an almost essential function for shops with a large number of products or many product elements, so we recommend introducing it.
To easily implement search refinement in Shopify, we recommend the app we introduced in this article, "Power Tools Suite," which is simple to use and has many functions.
