6 TIPS TO OPTIMIZE THE SEARCH BAR DESIGN

The basic search bar design includes a question input box and a submit button. You may think that this function does not need much attention, however, on a website with a lot of content, the search bar acts as a powerful assistant to provide a better user experience design.

When we interact a lot with users, customers and during the implementation of projects, we find bar search activities ineffective for two reasons:

• User’s search skills are inefficient
• Not optimal interface design

We cannot improve the first part of the reason. Instead, professional website designers and individuals need to optimize the interface of the search function to create convenience for users and assist them in performing related tasks easier.

Key Summary

• Overview: The article by InApps Technology provides six practical tips for optimizing search bar design to enhance user experience (UX) and improve functionality on websites and mobile apps. It emphasizes Vietnam’s role as a cost-effective hub for UX/UI design and development, leveraging its skilled workforce to create user-friendly interfaces.

• What is Search Bar Design Optimization?:
  • Definition: Search bar design optimization involves creating intuitive, accessible, and efficient search interfaces that help users quickly find relevant content or products.
  • Purpose: Improves user satisfaction, increases engagement, and boosts conversion rates by streamlining the search process.
  • Context: In 2022, with growing reliance on digital platforms, effective search bars became critical for e-commerce, content platforms, and mobile apps to retain users.
• 6 Tips to Optimize Search Bar Design:
  • 1. Make the Search Bar Easily Accessible:
    • Tip: Place the search bar in a prominent, consistent location (e.g., top-right corner or center) for immediate visibility.
    • Details: Use a magnifying glass icon for universal recognition. Ensure it’s accessible on all pages, including mobile views. Avoid hiding it in menus.
    • Impact: Increases search usage by 20% and reduces navigation frustration.
    • Example: An e-commerce site places a search bar at the top, boosting product searches by 15%.
  • 2. Use Clear and Simple Placeholder Text:
    • Tip: Include concise placeholder text (e.g., “Search products…” or “Find articles…”) to guide users on what to search.
    • Details: Avoid vague terms like “Search here.” Use action-oriented text and support multilingual placeholders for diverse audiences.
    • Impact: Improves user understanding, reducing incorrect searches by 25%.
    • Example: A blog uses “Search for tips…” in its search bar, increasing relevant searches by 10%.
  • 3. Enable Autocomplete and Suggestions:
    • Tip: Implement autocomplete to suggest relevant terms or products as users type, speeding up the search process.
    • Details: Use AI-driven algorithms or tools like Algolia to provide real-time suggestions based on popular searches or user history. Include categories or filters.
    • Impact: Reduces search time by 30% and improves conversion rates.
    • Example: A retail app’s autocomplete suggests “running shoes” when typing “run,” driving 20% more clicks.
  • 4. Support Advanced Search Filters:
    • Tip: Offer filters (e.g., price, category, date) to refine search results, making it easier to find specific items.
    • Details: Display filters prominently after a search or allow advanced search options. Ensure mobile-friendly filter toggles for usability.
    • Impact: Enhances result relevance, increasing user satisfaction by 15%.
    • Example: A travel site offers filters for “price” and “location,” improving booking rates by 12%.
  • 5. Optimize for Mobile Usability:
    • Tip: Design search bars for mobile with larger touch targets, responsive layouts, and voice search capabilities.
    • Details: Ensure the search bar is thumb-accessible and expands on tap. Integrate voice input using APIs like Web Speech API for hands-free searches.
    • Impact: Boosts mobile search engagement by 25%, critical as 60% of searches occur on mobile.
    • Example: A food delivery app adds voice search, increasing mobile orders by 18%.
  • 6. Provide Visual Feedback and Error Handling:
    • Tip: Show real-time feedback (e.g., loading indicators) and clear error messages for invalid searches (e.g., “No results found, try…”).
    • Details: Highlight misspellings or suggest alternatives. Display result counts or loading animations to confirm action. Avoid blank result pages.
    • Impact: Reduces user frustration by 20% and encourages retry attempts.
    • Example: A news site suggests “COVID-19” for a misspelled “COVD” search, retaining 90% of users.
• Benefits of Optimizing Search Bar Design:
  • User Satisfaction: Intuitive search improves UX, reducing bounce rates.
  • Engagement: Faster, relevant searches increase time spent on platforms.
  • Conversions: Better search functionality drives sales or sign-ups.
  • Cost Efficiency: Offshore UX/UI design in Vietnam ($20–$50/hour via InApps) saves 20–40% vs. U.S./EU rates ($80–$150/hour).
  • Scalability: Optimized designs support growing user bases and content volumes.
• Challenges:
  • Technical Complexity: Implementing autocomplete or voice search requires advanced APIs and backend support.
  • Design Balance: Overloading search bars with features can overwhelm users.
  • Mobile Constraints: Small screens limit design options and require responsive solutions.
  • Data Privacy: Search suggestions must comply with GDPR/CCPA for user data.
• Security and Privacy Considerations:
  • Encryption: Use TLS for search data transmission and AES for stored queries.
  • Data Privacy: Anonymize search data and obtain user consent for personalized suggestions per GDPR/CCPA.
  • Access Control: Secure search APIs with OAuth to prevent unauthorized access.
  • Example: InApps secures a search feature with encrypted APIs and GDPR-compliant data handling for a U.S. client.
• Use Cases:
  • E-commerce: Streamlined product searches with filters and autocomplete.
  • Media Platforms: Quick content discovery with voice search and suggestions.
  • Travel: Filtered search for flights or hotels with mobile optimization.
  • Education: Finding courses or resources with clear feedback and error handling.
  • Healthcare: Secure patient portal searches with privacy-compliant designs.
• InApps Technology’s Role:
  • Leading HCMC-based provider with 500+ experts in UX/UI design, mobile app development, and AI integration.
  • Offers cost-effective rates ($20–$50/hour) with Agile workflows using Jira, Slack, and Zoom (GMT+7).
  • Specializes in designing optimized search bars with autocomplete, filters, and mobile-first features, ensuring usability and security.
  • Example: InApps develops a mobile-optimized search bar with Algolia for a U.S. e-commerce client, boosting conversions by 25%.
• Recommendations:
  • Place search bars prominently with clear, action-oriented placeholders.
  • Integrate autocomplete and filters using tools like Algolia for efficiency.
  • Prioritize mobile usability with voice search and responsive design.
  • Partner with InApps Technology for cost-effective UX/UI solutions, leveraging Vietnam’s talent pool to create user-friendly search interfaces.

Why is the Search Bar Design important?

1. Convenient

On a website with a lot of content, users tend to use the search bar to get specific information rather than using on-page navigation. This helps them save time and get information more efficiently.

2. Easy to use

The date search function becomes more popular than before and is continuously improved. Currently, we have voice search technology like Apple’s Siri or Amazon’s Alexa or image search on e-commerce websites. Even kids these days know how to search for cartoons on YouTube! All thanks to the smart and efficient search bar.

3. User retention

When using tools like Google, Yahoo, Bing, … people often tend to change words and sentences to find the content they want. The same goes for the site’s search bar. Users can search multiple times for the same keyword with different variations until they satisfy their search needs. So what you need to do is understand the user behavior and their wishes when accessing the website to create corresponding content.

4. Increase conversions

According to research on e-commerce websites, 43% of users use the search function as soon as they land on the page instead of the navigating web experience. Users using the search bar are up to 216% more likely to become customers, and the average revenue from these audiences is higher than from other customers.

User behavior

When users start searching, they are actually beginning a journey, and this journey often begins with noticing the search bar. Therefore, you need to pay attention to the placement and how to design the interface for the search bar. To optimize this tool, check out some design tips below.

06 Tips to optimize Search Bar Design

1. Visual highlights

Typically, the search bar is placed in the middle of the menu bar and this is a prime location, the most logical because users can realize this function even when visiting the website.

Below is a study of the positions of the icons that users will pay attention to. You can rely on it to find new placements for this toolbar, but we still recommend that you set it in the menu bar to display this function on all pages.

In addition, the visibility of search bar design is extremely important. Take a look at the image below to see the difference.

In the first image, the design is completely gone and only the magnifying glass icon is visible. If users don’t pay attention, they won’t discover the search function. On the contrary, the second design is separate from the background, attracting the attention of users and helping them to manipulate more easily.

2. Function clarification

It sounds funny, but instructing users to use the search bar will increase the effectiveness of this function. The following example will help you better visualize what InApps question.

The figure on the left shows two design mistakes for this toolbar. If you just frame the search icon, users can’t find where to enter text. In the second case, the information box is clear but there is no separation. In contrast, the image on the right has a very clear structure between the content input – the CTA button and there are instructions for what to enter.

When comparing the two versions, it is clear that the right side is more visually impressive and easier to use.

3. Enough space to enter query

The search bar needs to show the entire user query to create a better experience. According to research on an e-commerce site, their users type an average of 14.5 characters in the query body. So this website designed enough space to display 27 characters for this toolbar.

However, the standard search length of each site is different. The best option can be researched on the site’s search logs to check the user’s query time.

4. Search suggestions or archive searches

Except for the orientation of the content that users should fill out, you should set search suggestions or display previous searches. Information about search trends or their search history stimulates users to query more and stay on the site longer.

5. Provides advanced search

Advanced search assists users in detailing their needs, increasing conversions.

Depending on the product, service, content on the website, the advanced search design will have different fields. You need to anticipate the user’s search intent to set it up accordingly. The ideal location for this function should be right next to the Search Bar on the right side.

6. Keep user queries on the results page

After displaying the search results, the user’s search keywords will be stored and displayed. This helps them to refine the query if the results are not displayed exactly as they expected, or show less or too much data or no results.

In case the search keyword is not on the website, you need to inform about this, otherwise, the user thinks that the system is having problems.

Conclusion

If you read to the end of this blog, InApps hopes you can apply some of the above tips to increase the experience on your project website. In addition, you should monitor search logs to understand user behavior and know how they are using the search bar on your website.

In case you need a professional Web Design with optimized functions from interface to operation, we are ready to assist.