Always-visible search bar on mobile: +19.4% conversion rate
Test run bySplitBaseCRO agency
Commentary byLiftArchiveOur analysis, not theirsMaking the search bar visible across the site, instead of hiding it behind an icon, lifted Roots Of Fight's mobile conversion rate by 19.4% and revenue per user by 24.8%.
SplitBase ran this A/B test for the athlete-inspired apparel brand for about three weeks.
- Mobile conversion rate: +19.4%.
- Revenue per user: +24.8%, so the extra orders did not come from cheaper baskets.
- The test ran for about three weeks. Sample size and confidence level were not shared.
The change
The variant replaces the search icon with an always-visible search bar.
Simplified mockup drawn by LiftArchive from the shared screenshots.
Control
Search was hidden behind a magnifying glass icon. Mobile shoppers had to tap it before they could type.
Variant
A search bar shown openly on every page, so shoppers could start typing right away.
Why it likely won
Our reading of the result, not the practitioner's claim.
- Analytics showed many visitors viewed only a few pages before buying, which suggests they arrived knowing what they wanted.
- With a large catalog, finding one specific shirt by browsing on a small screen is slow. An open search box cuts that path short.
- A visible field is an obvious prompt, while an icon is easy to miss or ignore.
Caveats: The test ran for about three weeks, and sample size and statistical confidence were not shared. Results are reported by the agency that ran the test.
Who ran it
SplitBase ran this test for Roots Of Fight and published the results (SplitBase case study). The numbers are theirs; the summary and commentary on this page are ours.
Read the original case study on SplitBase →
How to run this test on your store
- Hypothesis
- If we show an open search bar on every page instead of a search icon, then mobile conversion rate will rise because shoppers who know what they want can find it faster.
- Primary metric
- Mobile conversion rate
- Guardrails
- Revenue per user
- Search exits (searches with no results)
- Mobile bounce rate
- Who should test it
- Stores with large catalogs where many visitors arrive looking for a specific item, such as licensed or named products. It's less likely to help small catalogs where browsing a few collections is quick.
Questions
Should my mobile site show a full search bar or just an icon?
If many visitors know what they want and your catalog is large, an open search bar is worth testing.
Check your analytics for short sessions that end in a purchase as a sign of this.
Does a visible search bar take too much space on mobile?
It pushes content down a little. In this test that cost was outweighed by faster product finding, but watch bounce rate on landing pages.
What should I check before testing search visibility?
Make sure your search returns good results, including for typos and product nicknames.
A more visible search with weak results can frustrate more people.
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