23 eCommerce Site Search Statistics for 2024

Imagine having Google right inside your favorite online store! 

That’s what an eCommerce search engine is all about. 

It’s the go-to tool for anyone looking to buy anything online.

In this article, I’ll share some eCommerce site search statistics and data that prove just how crucial search is for your customers’ online shopping experience. 

And I’ll show you why having a top-notch eCommerce search engine is a game-changer when it comes to making purchases online.

But if you really want to dig into this topic, I highly recommend downloading our free eBook: “Site Search Intelligence: Data-Driven Insights for eCommerce Success”.

It’s a must-read for anyone that’s serious about streamlining their eCommerce business!

Inside our eBook, you’ll discover a wealth of information, such as:

• eCommerce industry insights
• Top-searched products in the online marketplace
• Peak search times and frequency
• User preferences for desktop or mobile search

And that’s just scratching the surface! 

Our eBook is packed with tons of valuable eCommerce site search statistics, data, and insights.

But if you don’t want to get a sneak peek before diving in, keep reading.

eCommerce Industry Statistics

Before we get into the importance of search, let me give you some context:

Did you know that online shopping already accounts for 20% of total retail sales worldwide? 

That’s right, nearly 2 billion people are expected to buy something online this year alone!

And when we look at the numbers, it’s clear why online commerce is such a big deal. 

• Online sales have already surpassed a whopping 231.66 billion GBP in the United Kingdom.
• In the United States, online sales have hit 6,310 billion USD and are projected to reach 8,148 billion USD billion in just three years. 
• And each American online shopper is expected to spend around $7,000 per year!

So what does all of this mean? 

Simply put, it’s super important for any online business to offer an efficient shopping experience in order to attract and retain customers. 

And to stay ahead of the competition, businesses must be willing to adapt and innovate.

Now that you have an idea about some eCommerce industry statistics, let’s dive deeper into the importance of search.

Search Engine Usage Statistics

To give you an idea of the importance of search, consider this: up to 30% of users rely on the search engine to navigate eCommerce sites. 

And even more impressively, over 50% of eCommerce sales can be traced back to customers who use the search bar!

At Doofinder, we have over 10,000 eCommerce sites, and we record a staggering 175 million searches every single month. 

This data clearly shows that search usage is a critical factor in the online customer journey.

In fact, search engine usage and purchase intent are closely intertwined. 

Customers who use the search bar are typically looking for something specific, and businesses that can provide relevant search results are more likely to make a sale.

Of course, if you want to learn more about the power of search in eCommerce, be sure to download our eBook. 

We’ve packed it with even more data and insights that will help you take your online business to the next level!

eCommerce Search Metrics: Lost Opportunities

Unfortunately, the generic site search offered by many platforms often falls short when it comes to delivering relevant results. 

In fact, the situation in online stores can be quite dire:

• 36% of eCommerce sites don’t support thematic search queries
• 49% don’t recognize symbols and abbreviations
• 39% offer no results for non-product searches

It’s no wonder, then, that 63% of e-retailers are dissatisfied with their search engines.

But what do all these percentages really mean? Missed opportunities. 

Customers with a strong purchase intent are visiting online stores and trying to find products, but they’re being let down by ineffective search engines.

As a result, many customers become frustrated and 12% end up turning to the competition in search of the products they couldn’t find before. 

It’s a problem that can lead to significant revenue losses for businesses that fail to prioritize the search experience for their customers.

eCommerce Stats by Search Type

It’s true, most people have a specific way of searching for things online. 

Here are some of the most common types of searches, along with some interesting facts:

1. Accurate searches

It’s quite common for potential customers to search for a product by typing its exact name or reference. 

Unfortunately, research shows that only about 60% of these searches actually generate relevant results. 

That means that a significant number of searches don’t yield any useful results at all. 

2. Searches with jargon, abbreviations, or symbols

Many people who visit an online store don’t always use the exact terms that appear in the product titles when they search for something. 

In fact, research shows that about 9% of searches contain spelling mistakes.

To make matters worse, nearly half (49%) of online stores don’t allow symbols or abbreviations in their searches, even for basic products. 

This can make it even harder for customers to find what they’re looking for, especially if they’re using shorthand or common abbreviations.

3. Searching by category

Another common way people search is by category. 

This is especially true for products like shoes, where people might search for synonyms like “sneakers”, “kicks”, or “trainers”.

However, even though search engines can usually index categories without any issues, 60% of online stores don’t offer results for synonyms. 

This means that if a customer searches for “kicks” instead of “sneakers”, they might not see any relevant results.

4. Searching by characteristics

Isn’t it frustrating when you have a clear idea of what you want to buy, but the search engine of an eCommerce site just can’t seem to understand you? 

You type in “black sneakers” or “cotton sweatshirt”, hoping to find the perfect item, but end up scrolling through irrelevant results or finding nothing at all. 

Unfortunately, this happens more often than you might think. 

Shockingly, around 25% of eCommerce sites don’t respond to searches with multiple attributes, leaving potential customers high and dry.

5. Thematic searches

Imagine you want to buy a “winter coat” or a “party dress” but you don’t know the exact name of the product. 

No worries, you can simply type in what you want the product for, and the search engine should show you relevant results, right? Well, not always.

It turns out that even though search engines can index these topics, 36% of eCommerce websites do not support thematic searches. 

6. Searching for a “problem”

Many people use the search engine as an assistant to help them find solutions to their problems. 

For example, in pharmacies, people may search for “headache” to find pain relief medication. 

But 39% of eCommerce websites do not allow non-product searches. 

7. Non-product searches

Searching for information beyond products is a common use of search engines. 

For instance, people may search for shipping information or frequently asked questions. 

It turns out that 34% of online shoppers try to search for non-product content.

8. Mobile searches

These days, it seems like almost everyone has a smartphone, which means they’ve got the power of online shopping right at their fingertips, no matter where they are.

In fact, mobile searches are a major player when it comes to eCommerce sales – we’re talking about 30% of all digital sales coming from mobile devices.

What Do These eCommerce Site Search Statistics Mean?

The eCommerce site search statistics provided highlight the importance of understanding how people search and the need for an advanced search engine like Doofinder to meet those needs. 

By having a search engine that can accurately and efficiently provide relevant results for various types of searches, eCommerce businesses can increase customer satisfaction and sales. 

Doofinder’s features not only benefit potential customers but also make eCommerce management easier. 

For more information on the relevance of eCommerce search and the importance of an advanced search engine, download our free eBook “Site Search Intelligence: Data-Driven Insights for eCommerce Success”.