Improve Shopify Sales with a Custom Search Bar on Your Homepage

In the world of e-commerce, providing a seamless shopping experience is crucial for success. For Shopify store owners with large inventories, an efficient search function can make all the difference. This article will guide you through the process of adding a custom search bar to your Shopify homepage, making it easier for customers to find exactly what they’re looking for.

Understanding the Importance of a Prominent Search Bar

Why Search Functionality Matters

In today’s fast-paced online shopping environment, customers want to find products quickly and easily. A well-placed search bar can significantly improve user experience and increase the likelihood of conversions.

The Limitations of Standard Navigation

While navigation menus are important, they may not always be the most efficient way for customers to find specific items, especially in stores with extensive product catalogs.

The Power of Search in E-commerce

A robust search function can help customers pinpoint exactly what they need, reducing frustration and potentially increasing sales.

Adding a Custom Search Bar to Your Shopify Homepage

The Standard Solution

The most straightforward method to add a custom search bar to your Shopify homepage involves editing your theme’s code. Here’s how:

1. Log in to your Shopify admin panel

2. Navigate to Online Store > Themes

3. Click “Actions” > “Edit code” on your current theme

4. Locate the main-search.liquid file

5. Add the following JSON code at the end of the file:

   , "presets": [
     {
       "name": "custom-search",
       "category": "Custom"
     }
   ]

6. Save the changes

7. Go back to Online Store > Themes > Customize

8. Click “Add section” and select the new “custom-search” option

This method should add a new search section to your homepage. However, some users have reported issues with this approach, such as error messages or the search section not appearing immediately.

Alternative Approaches

If the standard solution doesn’t work for your store, there are alternative methods you can try:

Using Custom Liquid Code

One effective workaround involves adding custom Liquid code to your theme. This method has proven successful for many Shopify store owners. Here’s a simplified version of the code you can use:

<div class="page-width page-width--narrow" onClick="document.querySelector('.header__search').click()">
  <div style="padding:5px 10%">
    <div class="smi-d-flex smi-align-items-center smi-column-gap-md smi-px-md">
      <input style="margin:5px auto;width:100%;height:40px;border:none;padding:15px" type="text" placeholder="Search" value="">
      <div class="smi-icons smi-d-flex smi-align-items-center">
        <div class="smi-icon-search smi-lh-0">
          <svg class="smi-svg-icon" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg">
            <!-- SVG path data here -->
          </svg>
        </div>
      </div>
    </div>
  </div>
</div>

This code creates a search bar that, when clicked, opens the actual search functionality of your theme.

Third-Party Solutions

There are also third-party apps and snippets available that can add a permanent search bar to your header, both on desktop and mobile. While these may not provide the exact functionality of a section-based search bar, they can be an effective and easy-to-implement alternative.

Customizing Your Search Bar

Changing the Search Bar Title

To change the title of your search bar, you’ll need to edit your theme’s language settings:

1. Go to Online Store > Themes
2. Click on “Actions” > “Edit languages”
3. Search for “Search” in the filter box
4. Locate and edit the relevant entries

Modifying Search Bar Appearance

To change the color or style of your search bar, you may need to add custom CSS to your theme. This can typically be done through the theme editor or by editing your theme’s CSS file directly.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Liquid Errors

If you encounter a Liquid error mentioning that “Array ‘search.results’ is not paginatable,” you may need to modify the search results logic in your theme. This often requires removing or adjusting pagination code.

Search Results Not Updating

If your live site’s search results seem out of date, it may be an indexing issue. Ensure that your products are properly indexed by Shopify’s search engine. This process can sometimes take time, especially after adding many new products.

Search Bar Not Appearing

If the search bar doesn’t appear after adding it, try refreshing your browser cache or waiting a short while. Sometimes, changes to Shopify themes can take a few minutes to propagate.

By implementing a custom search bar on your Shopify homepage, you’re taking a significant step towards improving your store’s user experience. While the process may require some technical know-how, the potential benefits in terms of customer satisfaction and increased sales make it a worthwhile endeavor for any Shopify store owner with a large product catalog.