# Visible search bar in the mobile header: +13% conversion

- Outcome: Won
- Page type: Site-wide (Ecommerce)
- Elements: Filters, sorting & site search, Navigation & mega menus
- Test run by: [Blend Commerce](https://liftarchive.com/practitioners/blend-commerce/)
- Commentary by: LiftArchive (our analysis, not theirs)
- Original source: https://blendcommerce.com/blogs/ab-tests-shopify/visible-mobile-search-bar-usa-containers
- Page: https://liftarchive.com/test/usa-containers-visible-mobile-search/

Showing a search field by default in the mobile header raised conversion rate by 13% for USA Containers. Revenue per visitor rose 12%. Blend Commerce ran this two-week mobile A/B test in Intelligems, and it reached 80% significance, below the usual 95% bar.

## Result

**+13% conversion**

- Conversion rate: +13% on mobile.
- Revenue per visitor: +12%.
- Collection page views and add-to-cart rate rose slightly.
- Average order value: -1%, and product page view rate: -2%. Small drops.
- The result reached 80% significance, which is weaker evidence than the usual 95%.

## Control

On mobile, search sat behind an icon in the header. Shoppers had to tap it before they could type.

## Variant

The search icon was removed and a search field showed by default. The header was made shorter, with tighter spacing, so the field didn't push content down.

## Why it likely won (our reading)

- Only 0.76% of shoppers used search, but those who did converted 50% above average. Making it visible put that route in front of more people.
- About three quarters of traffic was mobile, where an extra tap matters more.
- Shoppers looking for a specific part could type it instead of browsing menus.

## Caveats

The test ran for two weeks on mobile only and reached 80% significance, below the usual 95% threshold. Sample size was not shared.

## How to run this test

- Hypothesis: If we show the search field by default in the mobile header, then mobile conversion will rise because shoppers with a specific need reach the right product faster.
- Primary metric: Mobile conversion rate
- Guardrail: Revenue per visitor
- Guardrail: Average order value
- Guardrail: Searches with no results
- Who should test it: Stores with large or technical catalogs where shoppers know what they want. It will probably help less for small ranges or browse-led shopping, such as fashion.

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Credit: Blend Commerce ran this test and owns the result. Summary and commentary by LiftArchive (https://liftarchive.com/test/usa-containers-visible-mobile-search/).
Usage: Free to use, quote and build on, with credit and a link: name the practitioner or organization that ran the test and link to its LiftArchive page. The results belong to the practitioners who ran and shared them; the summaries and commentary are LiftArchive's.