Location of the search box on a page

Testing to find the perfect spot and increase usage.

[micklearn]

As I browse across many sites on any given day, I've found myself starting to notice the location of the search box. A few tests have been run in moving it around with no significant increase in searches. I want to do some more testing but I'm wondering if I am just spinning my wheels. Do a lot of visitors perform a search once they get to your site?

[Essex_boy]

Yes Ive found that they do for product searches based on your site. I place mine top right

[micklearn]

Gosh, only one reply, not a hot topic, I guess? Have you done any testing Essex_boy with regard to higher search volume based on where the search box appears on the page?

[phranque]

i haven't done any testing, so i can't answer with specifics, but i will say...

Do a lot of visitors perform a search once they get to your site?

i'm sure the answer to this depends heavily on visitor intent and the type of site.

from experience as a site visitor i can tell you that it is often not obvious where the search function is, so this will factor into your "conversion rate" through on-site search.
you might also consider the browsing platform of your visitors as the use of search and the visibility of the search box may change significantly for mobile visitors.

[pontifex]

thanks for drawing me in, phranque! i believe there is NO definite answer in general for that.

if you have a blog, the search box is not nearly as important as on big shops...

if I can reach products in your shop with two or three clicks, that is still faster than typing in a long search term...

and i think there are much more reasons why a search field can or can not be converting good.

Do you guys remember the search discussion for WebmasterWorld and how desperately everyone wants a good one? well, i LEARNT to use the forum without it... and even if there is one now, I still do not use it!

That said: for OUR site, the search is the most important navigation to find something in over 40 mio products... and it converts best of all navigational elements on the site. So, i put it BIG and I put it top right...

That topic goes further, but just for the question: Do a lot of visitors perform a search once they get to your site?

On our big shopping market: YES, on our blogs and smaller outlets: NO...

Cheers,
P!