A customer’s journey is rarely a straight line. It’s a series of moments — encounters, decisions, comparisons — and each phase calls for a different approach.
At the very beginning, people are just exploring. They may not even realize they need something, or how much they need it. They're looking for ideas. This is where you help spark their interest and guide their thinking. These customers are open to inspiration, but far from ready to buy. Converting them takes time, effort, and often considerable nurturing.
As they move into the next phase — consideration — they start comparing products, gathering reviews, and weighing options. But the real shift comes when they say, “I want this.” That’s the start of the intent phase — and now, time is critical. Because just like the rest of the buying journey, this moment is charged with emotion, and emotions fade fast.
The intent phase: when customers act, not think
From a business perspective, this is the moment that matters most. A customer who knows what they want is ready to buy, and they’ll buy from whoever makes it easiest. They’re not looking to be convinced, just reassured. They don’t want to think. They want to find. Quickly.
Every second of delay, every extra click, confusing category, or slow checkout stands in their way. If something slows them down, they leave. Not because they changed their mind, but because you made the process more complicated than it needed to be.
The data is clear: people who use search are more likely to buy
Search data backs this up. Users who search on an e-commerce site are 2–3 times more likely to make a purchase. Why? Because they’re deep in the intent phase. They know exactly what they’re looking for, and expect to find it fast.
These shoppers don’t need to be inspired, educated, or persuaded. They just want to see the right product and feel confident hitting “buy.” From a conversion standpoint, it’s ideal: low-cost, high-intent, no fluff. However, that advantage can vanish in an instant, with one outdated description, one incorrect price, or one sluggish page. Or with a search that does not deliver.
Search: the bridge between intent and purchase
This is where search becomes critical — and where many e-shops still fall short.
You might have polished product pages, beautiful images, compelling headlines, and smart pricing strategies. But if the customer can’t find the product quickly and easily, none of that matters.
An optimized search experience is the bridge between a customer’s inner intent and the right product. Great search is fast, intuitive, typo-friendly, and laser-focused. In the best case, it starts delivering beneficial results as they type, with images, prices, and availability all visible at a glance. No thinking required. Just click. Buy. Done.
Search Ready: designed for the moment of intent
That’s exactly what our Search Ready engine delivers. It’s a quiet yet powerful guide that adapts in real-time to what people type. It understands synonyms, handles typos, works with facets, and even shows smart alternatives when nothing matches.
For someone in the intent phase, this is exactly the kind of subtle support they need: always helpful, never intrusive.
Bottom line: don’t slow down a ready customer
Intent-driven customers are ready to buy. They don’t want to wait. They don’t want to navigate complex menus or dig through emails for a discount code. They want to find it. Buy it. And move on.
If you make that easy, they’ll likely come back, because they’ll remember that your shop simply works. Especially when it matters most.
Want to boost conversions on your e-shop with smarter search?
Let’s talk. Together, we’ll explore how Search Ready can turn intent into revenue.
