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Storefront Enterprise Search

Updated

Your storefront search is one of the most powerful conversion tools in your e-commerce platform. Shoppers who use search are 3-5 times more likely to convert than those who only browse categories. Pulse Commerce's Enterprise Class Search uses intelligent indexing, logic, and customizable filters to help customers find exactly what they're looking for—even when they make typos or use alternative product names.

Important: New products take up to 24 hours to appear in search results due to automatic indexing. If you need immediate visibility, contact support for a manual re-index.
🔍 How Enterprise Search Works - Indexing and Matching

Enterprise Search automatically indexes your product catalog every 24 hours, creating a searchable cache that delivers fast results to your customers.

What Gets Indexed

The search engine indexes multiple product fields to maximize findability:

  • Product Name - Highest ranking weight
  • SKU - Exact match supported (customers can search by internal codes)
  • Search Terms - Space-separated keywords you add (invisible to customers)
  • Short Description
  • Long Description
  • Product Attributes - Size, color, material, etc.
  • Category - Provides context for relevance
  • Brand - When assigned to products

Intelligent Match Hierarchy

When a customer searches, the system processes their query through multiple levels:

1Full Exact Match: Searches for complete phrase match across all indexed fields.

2Individual Word Match: If no full match exists, searches for exact matches on individual words.

3Fuzzy Logic Match: If no exact matches exist, finds the closest semantic match based on your catalog density.

4"Did You Mean?" Suggestions: Offers alternate suggestions for common misspellings.

Typo Handling Example

If a customer types "blck" instead of "black," the system first checks if "blck" exists in any product field. If not, it assumes a typo and retrieves the closest match. If your catalog contains more products with "black" than "block," it will suggest black items. However, if you sell more woodworking supplies with "block" terminology, those results may rank higher due to catalog density.

24-Hour Indexing Window: Products created or updated today may not appear in search results until tomorrow. The automatic index runs once every 24 hours to maintain performance.
⚙️ Configuring Search Settings - Display and Behavior

Navigate to Settings > Enterprise Site Search Settings to configure how search appears and behaves on your storefront.

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Display Settings

Control what information appears in search results and navigation:

1Display Item SKU in Search Results: Set to Yes to show SKUs beneath product names in results.

2Display Brand in Search Navigation: Enable brand filtering in the left sidebar.

3Display Category in Search Navigation: Enable category filtering in the left sidebar.

4Display Price Range in Search Navigation: Add product price in search results.

5Display Product Attributes in Search Result: Show size, color, material options in result listings.

6Display Description in Search: Set to Yes to show product descriptions beneath product names in search results. The number of characters displayed is controlled by the Number of characters in description to display in Search setting (default: 400 characters).

Layout Settings

1Default Search Result display: Choose List (detailed vertical layout with descriptions) or Grid (compact tile view). Note: Customers can toggle between views using the sort options on the search results page.

2Guided Navigation Menu Display: Position the filter sidebar at Left, Right, Top, or Bottom of the search page. Most sites use Left for familiar e-commerce layout.

3Search Background Color: Click Edit to customize the search page background color.

4Search Highlighter Color: Click Edit to choose the color used to highlight search keywords in product names and descriptions.

Behavior Settings

1Redirect User to Shopping Cart After Adding the Item: Set to Yes for single-item buyers who want immediate checkout. Set to No for multi-item shoppers to keep them on search results.

2Display Alert Message When Item Added to Shopping Cart: Set to Yes to show "Added to cart" notification without redirect.

3Display Products in Product Group Only: For matrix products (parent-child SKUs), set to Yes to show only the parent group, or No to show individual variants.

4Highlight Search Word in Result: Set to Yes to highlight searched keywords in product names and descriptions.

Navigation & Content Limits

1Search Brand Nav Display Limit: Enter the maximum number of brands to show in the filter sidebar (default: 5). If you have more brands, customers will see a "Show More" option.

2Search Category Nav Display Limit: Enter the maximum number of categories to show in the filter sidebar (default: 8). Additional categories can be expanded by customers.

3Search Category Nav Expand All: Set to Yes to automatically expand all category filters when the search page loads, or No to let customers expand them on demand.

4Number of characters in description to display in Search: Controls how much of the product description appears in search results (default: 400 characters). Longer descriptions will be truncated with "..."

Critical Step: After making any changes, scroll to the bottom and click Rebuild Site Search Settings. This clears the cosmetic cache and applies your new configuration. The build process will open in a new window and show completion status.
🎨 Customizing Search Page Header and Footer

You have two options for headers on your search pages: use your global site header, or create a custom header specifically for search.

Understanding Your Header Options

Use Site Header: The search page will display your global site header (configured in Content > Logo and Custom Header Editor). This includes your standard navigation, login links, shopping cart, and search box. Choose this if you want consistency across all pages.

Use Custom Header: Create a simplified or specialized header just for search pages. Many merchants choose this option to create a cleaner, more focused search experience without duplicate navigation elements.

Custom Header

1In Settings > Enterprise Site Search Settings, locate the Search Site Header setting.

2Click the dropdown and select Use Custom Header.

3Click the Edit button next to the dropdown to open the WYSIWYG editor.

4Design your custom header using the visual editor. You can include:

  • Store logo and branding
  • Security badges (GeoTrust, SSL certificates)
  • Custom search box with branded styling
  • Navigation elements

5Click Update to save your custom header.

Tip: Since the search page already includes a search box by default, many merchants create simpler custom headers that focus on branding rather than duplicating navigation elements from the global header.

Custom Footer

Follow the same process for Search Site Footer to add custom footer content to search pages.

Additional Content Options

  • Top Banner Content: Set to Yes to add promotional banners or messaging above search results
  • Right Widget Content: Set to Yes to enable a right sidebar with widgets like new arrivals, recently viewed items, or shopping cart summary. This appears in addition to the guided navigation (filter) sidebar.
  • Display Recent Searches in Search Page: Set to Yes to show recently searched terms on the search page, helping customers quickly re-run previous searches
Note: If you select Use Site Header instead, the search page will use your global site header configuration.
🔑 Optimizing Search with Keywords and Synonyms

The most effective way to improve search results is by adding search keywords to your products—invisible metadata that helps customers find products using alternate terms.

Adding Search Terms to Products

1Navigate to Products > Product Catalog Manager and open any product in the Product Editor.

2On the Simple tab, scroll to the middle-right section and locate the Search Terms (space-separated) field.

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3Enter space-separated keywords that customers might use to find this product. For example:

  • Product: "T-Shirt"
    Search Terms: "tee shirt tshirt top"
  • Product: "Running Shoes"
    Search Terms: "sneakers trainers athletic footwear"

4Click Update to save the product.

Best Practices for Search Keywords

  • Add synonyms: Alternative names for the same product type
  • Include misspellings: Common typos customers might make
  • Use industry terms: Both technical and casual terminology
  • Add color/material variations: If not already in product name or attributes
  • Consider regional terms: "Sneakers" (US) vs "Trainers" (UK)

Product Name Optimization

Since product names have the highest ranking weight, keep them:

  • Descriptive but concise: Include key details without being verbose
  • Keyword-rich: Front-load important search terms
  • Consistent: Use the same format across similar products
Remember: Changes to product data (names, keywords, descriptions) require the 24-hour indexing cycle before appearing in search. For immediate updates, request a manual re-index from support.
📦 Adding Search Boxes to Your Site

Pulse Commerce offers multiple ways to add search functionality to your storefront.

Option 1: Built-in Search Widget (Recommended)

1Navigate to your site's navigation settings (location varies by theme).

2Enable the Enterprise class site search checkbox.

3Click Update to display the search widget in your site header.

Option 2: Custom HTML Search Box

For custom placement or styling, you can insert HTML code into any WYSIWYG editor such as, Content > Logo and Custom Header Editor

Enterprise Search HTML:

<div class="c1">
  <span style="color:#FFFFFF;font-weight:bold;">Search:</span>
  <form class="c2" name="frmSearch" id="frmSearch"
        action="http://YOURDOMAIN.com/searchadvanced.asp" method="get">
    <input type="hidden" value="y" name="frmSearch">
    <input type="text" id="stS1" name="searchfor" class="c1">
    <input type="submit" value="SEARCH" class="submit_btn">
    <input type="hidden" value="1" name="csess">
  </form>
</div>

Important: Replace YOURDOMAIN.com with your actual domain name.

Option 3: Standard Search (Legacy)

The built-in standard search navigational element is available but Enterprise Search is recommended for its advanced features.

Mobile Optimization: Ensure your search box is visible and easily accessible on both mobile and desktop devices. Test across different screen sizes after implementation.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions - Common Issues

Why isn't my new product appearing in search results?

Products are indexed automatically every 24 hours. If you added a product today, it won't appear in search until tomorrow. To make it visible immediately:

  • Contact support and request a manual re-index of your catalog
  • Verify the product is published and set to visible
  • Check that the product is assigned to a category

Why does search return the wrong products?

Search relevance is affected by multiple factors:

  • Check search keywords: Conflicting keywords may cause incorrect matches
  • Review product names: Ensure they accurately describe the product
  • Verify catalog density: If you have many similar products, the fuzzy logic may prioritize based on quantity
  • Adjust search settings: Navigate to Settings > Enterprise Site Search Settings and check if the search setting is on "Partial Search" or "Full Search" (contact support for guidance)

The search box isn't displaying on my site. What's wrong?

Common causes and solutions:

  • Missing Global Header variable: Check that the category or page has the required Global Header variable assigned
  • Widget not enabled: Verify the Enterprise class site search widget is checked in navigation settings
  • JavaScript conflicts: Check browser console for errors

Search is stuck spinning and won't return results. How do I fix this?

This is typically a technical issue. Try these steps:

  • Clear your browser cache and cookies
  • Test in a different browser or incognito mode
  • Check if the issue affects all products or specific ones
  • Contact support with specific details (which search terms, which browser, screenshots)

Can customers search for partial SKU or model numbers?

Yes, on desktop. However, mobile search may require configuration for partial matches. If customers report this issue on mobile devices:

  • Contact support to enable partial model number matching on mobile
  • Add partial SKUs to the Search Terms (space-separated) field as a workaround

How long does it take for product changes to appear in search?

Up to 24 hours for automatic indexing. Changes that affect search:

  • Product name updates
  • Search keyword additions
  • Description changes
  • Category reassignments
  • SKU changes

For immediate visibility, request a manual cache purge or re-index from support.

Are product attributes included in search?

Yes, product attributes (size, color, material, etc.) are included in the search index and can help customers find products. Make sure attributes are properly configured in your product data.

Can I manually link customers to search results?

You can use the following syntax to provide links to search results:
www.YOURDOMAIN.com/searchAdvanced.asp?searchfor=black&Search.x=0&Search.y=0&Search=Search  

Replace the section with your specific domain name, and change out the key word searched for, and test the link.

Why does search show out-of-stock products?

The search index includes all published products regardless of inventory status. The number of results may change over time as:

  • Products go out of stock and are hidden from the site
  • New inventory is added and products become visible again
  • You can configure visibility settings to hide out-of-stock items globally

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