Visible search bar on mobile: +88% conversion rate
Test run byBlend CommerceCRO agency
Commentary byLiftArchiveOur analysis, not theirsShowing a full search bar on mobile, instead of hiding search behind an icon, lifted conversion rate by 88% for automotive parts brand Aeromotive.
Blend Commerce ran this A/B test. Revenue per user rose 109%.
- Conversion rate: +88%.
- Average purchase revenue per user: +109%.
- Add to cart per session: +30%.
- Search clicks: +126%, so far more shoppers used search.
- Average order value: +14%.
The change
The mobile search icon becomes a full, visible search bar.
Simplified mockup drawn by LiftArchive from the shared screenshots.
Control
The mobile header hid search behind an icon.
Variant
The mobile header showed an open search bar, ready for typing.
Why it likely won
Our reading of the result, not the practitioner's claim.
- Shoppers who searched on the site showed higher purchase intent, so getting more people to search likely meant more sales.
- Mobile sessions outnumbered desktop, so a hard-to-find search icon affected most visitors.
- Parts buyers often know the exact part or number they need. A visible search bar gets them there fastest.
Caveats: Sample size, duration and significance were not shared. Lifts this large are unusual and may shrink over time.
Who ran it
Blend Commerce ran this test for Aeromotive and published the results (Blend Commerce A/B test). The numbers are theirs; the summary and commentary on this page are ours.
Read the original case study on Blend Commerce →
How to run this test on your store
- Hypothesis
- If we show a full search bar on mobile instead of an icon, then conversion will rise because high-intent shoppers can find products faster.
- Primary metric
- Conversion rate
- Guardrails
- Search exit rate
- Revenue per user
- Mobile bounce rate
- Who should test it
- Stores with large catalogues and shoppers who know what they want, such as parts or spares. With a small catalogue, browsing usually works fine and the gain will be smaller.
Questions
Should my mobile site show a full search bar?
If many shoppers search, probably worth testing. Aeromotive saw search use more than double and conversion rise 88%.
How do I know if search matters for my store?
Compare the conversion rate of visitors who use search with those who don't.
If searchers convert better, making search easier to find is a good test.
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