Most e-shops today have access to plenty of data. But not all data is equally useful. While contact information and order history show who the customer is, it's their behavior on the website that reveals what they really want. And that's the kind of insight that holds the most business value.
In this article, we’ll show you what exactly can be learned from customer movement and search behavior on your e-shop – and how to make the most of it.
What customer behavior tells you
When you know what customers search for, what they click, what they buy – and especially what they don’t buy – you have more than just numbers. You have the key to understanding their real needs. Let’s take a look at the data that matters most.
1. What customers do on your website
Behavioral data helps you track:
- which products the customer views
- how often they revisit the same category
- how long they stay on each page
- when and why they abandon their cart or leave the site
Example: A visitor opens the “running shoes” category three times but never adds anything to the cart. Maybe they can’t find the right type, the filter doesn’t suit them, or a key parameter is missing. With this data, you can adjust the UX or product offer so they complete the purchase next time.
2. What customers type into the search bar
When a customer uses the search bar, they’re telling you what they want – in their own words. They might use slang, an abbreviation, or a term from a competitor’s site. That’s where the gold lies.
If you know:
- what customers search for (including typos and synonyms)
- which queries return zero results
- what they click on vs. ignore
you’ll get a precise picture of what your website offers – and what it lacks.
Real-world example: Customers often search for “organic bathroom cleaner,” but your e-shop lists similar products as “eco-friendly sanitary solution”. Result? No search results and a lost order. Just add a synonym and the problem is solved.
What Search Ready reveals
Search Ready is a smart search tool for e-shops. In addition to delivering high-quality search results, it provides detailed insight into what customers are really looking for – and how they behave while searching.
It tracks:
- what terms people enter – including typos, slang, or foreign languages
- how many results are shown and how relevant they are
- what customers click on and what they ignore
- which queries result in no results (zero-results)
- what filters they use and how they modify their search
What you can gain from this
Adjust product names to match how customers search
If people often search for “winter softshell,” but your product is called “women’s Alpine 7500 jacket,” they probably won’t find it – even though it’s in stock. Adding synonyms or editing product descriptions to match customer language increases the chances of both being found and purchased.
Customize filtering and result sorting based on real user behavior
If users frequently filter by size “S” or color “beige,” it makes sense to display these filters right away. Likewise, you can change default sorting based on what people actually click – not what you think is “most relevant.”
Add missing products or update descriptions when search returns no results
Common zero-result queries are a valuable signal. If people search for “1,000 CZK gift card” and nothing shows – but you do have gift cards (just without the amount in the title) – simply tweak the description. And if a repeated query targets a product you don’t offer yet, it’s a clear cue to expand your catalog.
Fine-tune the search so customers find what they need faster – and don’t leave
If customers often revise their query, use more keywords, or rely on filters, it means the initial results weren’t clear or relevant. Search Ready helps identify and improve these areas to shorten the path to the product – ideally to a single search and a single click.
The essential insight?
You won’t get this from surveys or direct feedback. Customers often don’t know why they didn’t make a purchase – but their behavior says it all.
Try Search Ready
Want to know what your customers are really looking for – and why they sometimes don’t buy? Search Ready gives you precise data on their search behavior. Stay ahead of the competition and turn search into a powerful sales engine.
Let´s talk and we´ll show you how our smart search enhances your website.
.png)
