If Your eCommerce Site Has Keyword Search, You're So 2022

Let’s recreate what shopping looks like in a physical store versus an eCommerce site to understand why cart abandonment isn’t the problem. The real issue? Shoppers never even find something worth adding to the cart:

You walk into a shop that looks appealing. Maybe the window display caught your eye, or a social media story piqued your interest. You didn’t plan on buying anything, just browsing.

The store assistant comes over and asks if they can help you, much like a chatbot popping up online. You reply with the classic “I’m just looking” or ignore the chat.

Then it hits you—your mom’s birthday is coming up. So now you approach the assistant and ask about “lightweight dresses for the beach.” They ask about your mom’s style and advise you on colors and fabrics.

Online? The chatbot or search bar spits out a generic result and dumps you on a page with over 200 dresses. The result? In the physical store, you’d probably buy something or come back later. On the website, you leave thinking, “Ugh, too much effort.”

Keyword search was built for speed, but shopping is often about discovery.

There are big differences between shopping in-store and online, but expectations for a good experience are the same. Your customer might not have a specific product in mind when they land on your site, but they are open to finding something they’ll love:

• 58.6% of shoppers land on your site with no intention to buy immediately¹
• 69% say their searches return useless results
• 80% bounce after a bad search experience²

These numbers point to a huge opportunity. This is where digital marketing teams can turn low purchase intent into product discovery.

Keywords and filters are great when customers know exactly what they want. But the reality is that more than half of your potential customers come to your site wanting to browse, be entertained, and see if there’s something that catches their eye.

The shopper’s intent is more important than the words they type into your search bar. AI can help uncover that intent.

eCommerce sites that still rely on keyword searches assume users know what they want and how to phrase it. That’s why focusing solely on cart abandonment misses other critical pain points in the journey, starting with search.

Why can a semantic search engine turn searches into sales far more effectively?

• It allows users to speak naturally: “I’m looking for a travel camera that takes great photos and videos but is compact and lightweight.”
• It doesn’t just analyze product descriptions; it can also analyze images, enriching the detail in search results.
• It goes beyond product listings to provide arguments that boost customer confidence in making a purchase.

Watch this demo from BIMBA Y LOLA to see what semantic search looks like in action >

Semantic search improves not only your customer’s experience but also yours. You’ll gain deeper insights into the products or information your visitors are missing, helping you tailor promotions or plan new launches to meet those needs.

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