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How are product filters used in ecommerce sites?
Ecommerce sites implement product filters in many different variations. As a result, the consumer is left to learn and relearn how to use filters whenever they embark on a different journey on a different site. There are best practice guidelines to the use of filters that retailers should consider following.
What to look for in a product filter?
Look for higher-level groups of attributes you can use for busy product categories. Dresses might be grouped by occasion or season, for example. Thematic filter groups can help the visitor quickly hone in on the desired product. 8. Make filters stand out from the rest of the page.
How are filters used to improve product findability?
For users that are browsing in order to find a product, filtering within a category is crucial to enhance product ‘findability’. Filters let users reduce the number of items within any product listing by filtering out products that don’t conform to specific criteria.
What’s the best way to show filter options?
“Truncating filters” is a fancy term for partially displaying a selection of filtering options for each filter type with a clear “See/Show More” hyperlink prompting that action if necessary. This filter presentation option has the most benefits, but there are conditions to this approach in order for it to be effective.
When it comes to effective product filtering, filter values should not be mutually exclusive, meaning customers must be able to apply as many filtering values as possible within the same filter type and yield refined and more relevant results. However, 32% of ecommerce sites do not have this type of filtering logic implemented.
What should be avoided when using product filters?
As mentioned earlier, avoid using inline scrollable areas as it may cause interaction problems, especially if a customer is accessing your site on a mobile device. As a complement to your onsite search, treat your product filters as a way to improve your customers’ experience on your site.
When do you need to use a category filter?
Category filters are helpful for customers who come to your site unclear what their preferences are for a product they are interested in or lack familiarity about a product they are looking at. For instance, Staples lists printing speed of its printers as a product attribute, but printing speed is nowhere to be seen as category filter.
What kind of filters do you use on Zappos?
Unique as they may, but you have probably come across thematic filtering, such as casual, evening, and modern filters for dress styles, spring and winter filters for jackets, and cheapest and high-end filters for purchase parameter. Check out Zappos’ use of thematic themes for its Men Hoodies & Sweatshirts product category.