---

Paid Media: Winning the Attention Battle in Q4

James emphasized that Q4 is not the time for conservatism. While CPMs rise, the opportunity to offset slower months makes aggressive, well-planned campaigns worth the investment. His four-stage roadmap for BFCM success includes:

• Data-Driven Planning
  Review 3–4 years of historical performance data.
  Focus on engagement spikes, best-performing offers, and profit margins (not just sales volume).
  
• Craft Irresistible Offers
  Move beyond flat discounts.
  Use tactics like gift-with-purchase, bundles, or “buy more, save more” to increase average order value (AOV) without eroding margins.
  
• Creative Production
  Lean on proven, evergreen ads.
  Add seasonal overlays or text updates instead of testing unproven creative angles.
  
• BFCM Calendar Strategy
  Start warming up audiences in September/October with teaser offers, video views, and email signups.
  Differentiate offers throughout November, ramping up toward Black Friday.
  Extend the momentum with “cool down” sales or founders’ specials after Cyber Weekend.
  

Pro tip: Ensure inventory alerts and automations are in place to pause ads when products sell out. Nothing is worse than driving clicks to unavailable items.

CRO: Turning Clicks Into Conversions for Black Friday 2025

With traffic secured, Soma highlighted seven + one CRO priorities to maximize revenue:

1. Streamline Checkout – Allow guest checkout, minimize fields, and offer fast payment options like Apple Pay/Google Pay.
2. Mobile First – With 70%+ of BFCM traffic on mobile, optimize load speed, navigation, and tappable CTAs.
3. Site Speed & Reliability – Even a 1-second delay can cut conversions by 7–10%. Stress test your infrastructure.
4. Personalization – Use AI-powered search, filters, and recommendations to make discovery seamless.
5. Trust Signals – Highlight reviews, return policies, guarantees, and social proof to reduce hesitation.
6. Urgency & Scarcity – Show stock levels, countdown timers, and last-chance offers (but don’t overuse pop-ups).
7. Post-Purchase Upselling – Cross-sell and upsell at checkout, thank-you pages, and via confirmation emails.
8. (+1) AI Agents – Chat-based shopping assistants can guide customers from discovery to checkout, offering a fully conversational commerce experience.

Trends to Watch in 2025: From Q5 to Generative SEO

Both speakers emphasized that the shopping season doesn’t end with Christmas.

• The Rise of Q5
  Coined by Meta, Q5 refers to the post-holiday window in January. While CPMs drop, purchase intent remains high, especially for health, fitness, and beauty brands. Extending BFCM campaigns into Q5 can deliver outsized ROI.

• AI Reshaping Search & Discovery
  Google’s new AI Mode in Chrome and AI Overviews in Search are redefining SEO. Instead of traditional keyword queries, shoppers ask conversational, long-tail questions (e.g., “affordable waterproof boots under €100, size 9”). This shift has birthed GEO – Generative Engine Optimization. To win in this AI-first search era:
• Maintain clean product feeds and structured data.
• Develop comprehensive content that answers related sub-questions.
• Double down on trust signals (reviews, authority, transparency).

Sites that adapt stand a chance of being featured directly in AI-generated results—prime visibility real estate.

Summary

Black Friday 2025 success requires a blend of data-driven ad strategy, flawless user experience, and early adoption of AI tools. Brands that:

• Warm up audiences well before November,
• Optimize every step of the conversion funnel, and
• Embrace Q5 and AI-driven discovery,

…will be the ones driving record-breaking results.

For more details, watch the full recording of the webinar:

A well-organized Shopify product catalog is the foundation of every successful Shopify store. When your product data is structured, clean, and easy to manage, shoppers can discover products faster, search engines can index them better, third-party apps can be integrated easier and your team can scale without headaches.

What’s more, a well-structured product catalog optimizes it for generative engines and increases the chance of being included in AI answers, like Google’s AI Overview or ChatGPT.

Metafields: Add Unique Details to Product

Metafields let you extend your product catalog beyond Shopify’s default fields. They’re ideal for capturing unique product attributes that help shoppers make informed decisions and keep your catalog structured. Examples include:

• Care instructions (e.g., “Machine wash cold, tumble dry low”)
• Fabric composition (e.g., “80% cotton, 20% polyester”)
• Warranty length (e.g., “2 years”)
• Technical specifications (e.g., laptop battery life, screen resolution)
• Benefit statements (e.g., “Moisture-wicking fabric keeps you cool”)
• Custom trust badges (e.g., “Fair Trade Certified”, “Organic Cotton”)

Where to set up metafields in Shopify

• Admin → Settings → Custom Data → Products → Add Definition
• Choose the field type (text, number, image, video, etc.)
• Populate via the product editor or bulk editor
• Connect through the theme editor’s Dynamic Source

Metafields are best for: Adding product-specific details (like materials, care, or specs) without creating multiple templates—making each product page richer and more relevant for shoppers.

For even more details, visit Shopify Academy, Shopify Help Center or the developer documentation.

Metaobjects: Structure Repeatable Content Blocks

Metaobjects allow you to create custom content models that store structured, reusable data, separate from any one product, so you can link this content to multiple products or pages via metafields. This makes it easy to maintain consistency and update info in one place.

Real-World Examples:

• Product Highlights (Feature Cards)
  Create a Product highlight metaobject with fields like image, title/heading, caption, description. Then link it to products so you can display key selling points (e.g. “Long-lasting battery,” “Eco-friendly materials”) dynamically.
  
• Size Charts & Fit Guides
  Make a metaobject that holds structured size data (e.g. chest, waist, inseam, length). Attach the right size chart to each product (or category) so shoppers always see correct sizing info.
  
• Brand or Designer Profiles
  Build a metaobject for Brand Profile with logo, name, origin, story, images. Then attach it via metafield to all products of that brand — so brand details appear consistently across the catalog.
  
• Ambassador / Influencer Profiles
  Shopify’s docs show using metaobjects to model Ambassador profiles (image + bio) and reuse them in multiple places (product pages, collection pages, campaign pages).

Where to set up metaobjects in Shopify

Create a metaobject definition

• Admin → Content → Metaobjects → Create Definition
• Define fields (e.g. image, title, text) and configure settings (Storefront access, publishing)

Add entries (instances)

• Once the definition is ready, add entries (e.g. a “Highlight A”, “Highlight B”, or a specific brand profile) in the metaobject list panel.

Link metaobjects to products (via metafields)

• Create a product metafield whose content type is a metaobject reference (single or list)
• Choose the metaobject definition you’ll reference (e.g. Product Highlights)
• Assign one or multiple entries to each product’s metafield field

Display metaobject content in your theme

• Use the theme editor’s Dynamic Source / Connect option to connect metaobject fields to blocks/settings in templates
• Ensure that metaobject reference types and block settings have compatible types (e.g. a metaobject’s image field matches a block’s image setting

Metaobjects are best for: when you need consistent, structured content blocks that are reused across products (or beyond) — e.g. size charts, highlight lists, brand profiles, or care guides. They prevent duplication, simplify updates, and keep your catalog clean and scalable.

Product Options: Shopper-Facing Variants

Product options are the backbone of your Shopify product catalog when it comes to customer choices. These create actual variants that shoppers select and buy, directly tied to inventory and pricing.

Examples include:

• Size
• Color
• Material

Where to set up metaobjects in Shopify

• Admin → Products → Select Product → Variants → Add Options
• Shopify generates the variants automatically

Product Options are best for: Any choice that changes the product in checkout (e.g. SKU, price, or stock).

Tags: Organize and Automate Behind the Scenes

Tags aren’t visible to shoppers but are a powerful way to organize your catalog internally.

Use them for:

• Automated collections
• Admin filtering
• Shopify Flow or app workflows

Where to set up tags in Shopify

Admin → Products → Select Product → Tags (right sidebar)

Tags are best for: Organization, categorization, and backend automation, not customer-facing details.

Comparison: When to Use Which

Tool	Best For	Examples	Where to Set Up
Metafields	Adding unique, product-specific details beyond Shopify’s default fields	Care instructions (“Machine wash cold”), fabric composition (“80% cotton, 20% polyester”), technical specs (battery life)	Admin → Settings → Custom Data → Products → Add Definition
Metaobjects	Creating structured, reusable content blocks that can be linked to multiple products	Product highlights cards (eco-friendly materials), size charts & fit guides, care instruction sets, ingredient lists	Admin → Content → Metaobjects → Create Definition
Product Options	Managing shopper-facing variants that change SKUs, inventory, and checkout	Size (S, M, L), color (Forest Green, Midnight Blue), material (Leather vs Vegan Leather), storage capacity (64GB vs 128GB)	Admin → Products → Select Product → Variants → Add Options
Tags	Organizing and automating behind the scenes (not visible to shoppers)	Seasonal collections (“Spring 2025”), campaign labels (“Email-promo”), workflow triggers (“Dropship”, “Pre-order”)	Admin → Products → Select Product → Tags (right sidebar)

Quick rule of thumb:

• Affects checkout → Use Product Options
• Organizational label → Use Tags
• Unique product detail → Use Metafields
• Reusable structured block → Use Metaobjects

BONUS: Optimizing Your Shopify Product Catalog for Google AI Overviews

Search is changing, and so must your product catalog. With Google AI Overviews (GEO), shoppers may ask conversational questions like:

“Affordable waterproof hiking boots under $100 in size 9”

To get your products surfaced, your product catalog must be machine-readable and structured:

• Add schema.org structured data for key attributes (price, size, colour, availability).
• Use consistent naming (don’t mix “navy blue” and “royal blue” as separate values).
• Keep filterable attributes (size, colour, material) in metafields or options, not buried in descriptions.
• Highlight trust signals (reviews, return policies) as structured content.

Best practices for maintaining a scalable Shopify product catalog

1. Keep naming consistent (e.g. always “XL,” not “Extra Large”).
2. Limit variant sprawl — too many variants can overwhelm both customers and your admin.
3. Use metafields for unique, product-level info.
4. Use metaobjects for structured content blocks.
5. Regularly audit tags — remove outdated or unused ones.
6. Check catalog performance — large stores should test for speed and indexing issues.

For all the essentials on product page SEO check our other article.

Final Thoughts

A clean, structured Shopify product catalog is more than admin hygiene, it’s a growth lever. The right combination of metafields, metaobjects, product options, and tags makes your catalog flexible for merchants, simple for shoppers, and visible in the evolving world of AI-driven search.

By mastering these tools, you’ll not only improve your store’s conversion rate, but also ensure your products remain competitive in the age of conversational commerce.

1) Your foundation: platform trade-offs

Your commerce platform shapes everything from release velocity to uptime. Weigh financial cost and time cost across two models:

• Self-hosted (e.g., WooCommerce-type setups): often cheaper to launch and highly flexible, but ongoing maintenance (security patches, plugin conflicts, infrastructure downtime) becomes a hidden tax—especially on peak days like Black Friday.

• Hosted (e.g., Shopify-style platforms): higher sticker price, but updates, compliance changes (e.g., Consent Mode v2), and scaling are handled centrally in minutes—not days.

Whatever you choose, insist on native integrations across payments, analytics, consent, ERP, and mobile. Native connectors reduce fragility and keep Ecommerce tech adaptable as your stack evolves.

2) Product discovery that actually converts

Search isn’t “just a feature.” It’s one of the largest revenue drivers because shoppers can’t buy what they can’t find.

AI-powered search only matters if it uses vector/semantic retrieval, not just keyword matching.

Vector search understands concepts like “flowy dress for a summer wedding under $150,” returning relevant options even when the exact words aren’t in the product title. Brands moving from text-match engines to true AI search typically see conversion and revenue lift, plus far less manual rule-tuning.

3) AI agents move from support to shopping

Agentic commerce isn’t five years out—it’s here. Train an AI agent on your catalog, FAQs, PDFs, and content to deliver a guided, associate-style experience 24/7. Early adopters report responses that match—or beat—human accuracy most of the time, with rapid time-to-value.

Practical tip: blend chat + results in one UI with rich product cards; customers want conversation and visuals.

4) Personalization that feels like a great salesperson

The goal is simple: show the right item to the right customer to lift conversion and AOV. Success depends on:

• Sufficient volume (rule of thumb: 200–500+ orders/month) so models actually learn.
• Clean catalog attributes (canonical color/size vocabularies; avoid duplicates like “red,” “red2,” “rojo”).
• Smart placement (don’t show alternative couches in cart; do show complements and repeat-purchase staples where relevant).

When implemented well, personalization often delivers 10–40× ROI; sessions that engage with recommendations commonly show 30–50% higher conversion and AOV.

5) Lifecycle automation is better than paid re-acquisition

Email/SMS/push are your always-on associates. Choose platforms with native connectors to your stack and robust automation + A/B testing (subject, content, send time). Trigger browse/cart flows and education sequences to reclaim demand more efficiently than ads: critical as paid media costs rise.

6) Analytics you’ll actually use

Keep a small, durable KPI set visible weekly and monthly: conversion rate, AOV, revenue per user, CAC, LTV, and cart abandonment. Pair GA4 Enhanced Ecommerce with server-side tracking once you pass ~500–1,000 orders/month to see past cookie consent gaps. Dashboards (e.g., ecommerce-focused BI layers) are a later acceleration, not a prerequisite.

7) Proving ROI (without fooling yourself)

Define one primary metric per initiative (e.g., revenue per user for recommendations).

• If you have volume, run a clean A/B test (aim for ~5,000 measured events/month for the layer you’re testing).
• If you lack volume, use sequential testing only for big changes; seasonality can swamp small effects.
• Instrument custom events (agent interactions, rec widget clicks) before you test.
  Calculate profit impact and compare to tool cost; buy what returns profitable lift, cut the rest.

8) A simple evaluation framework for Ecommerce tech

Use a FIRE-style lens: Flexible, Inexpensive, Rapid, Easy.

Prefer cloud-native, composable tools with native connectors, quick implementation, fast feature velocity, and everyday usability—so your team keeps shipping as the market shifts.

9) Operate like this: audit → outside eyes → gap plan

Run an honest audit of costs (money + time), have a third-party review for blind spots, then prioritize a gap plan toward your “castle.” The brands that move first on modern Ecommerce tech (semantic search, agents, clean data, native integrations) will widen the distance every month.

Bottom line: Customers now expect conversational, visual, and personalized journeys. Build your stack so discovery feels inevitable, data flows cleanly, and experiments answer one question: did this make us more money, reliably?

For even more details, watch the full recording of our webinar:

From keywords to conversations

For years, Google trained shoppers to compress intent into three words. Now, tools like ChatGPT have flipped the script: a shopper types, “I need a flowy dress for a summer wedding under $150,” and expects a helpful, guided response. When sites still return literal, keyword-based results, shoppers bounce—to an AI agent that understands context.

What’s changing:

• Natural-language queries replace rigid filters.
• Expectations are set by AI assistants, not legacy site search.
• Patience is thin—if the right result isn’t in the first screen, customers leave.

Why the AI agent wins

An effective AI agent interprets intent, clarifies details, blends content and products, and personalizes results—just like an in-store associate. It also supports multimodal interaction (text, images, and voice), meeting shoppers where they are and how they prefer to communicate.

Key capabilities:

• Understands ambiguous requests (“guest dress for Spanish wedding”).
• Personalizes with first-party data and loyalty context.
• Presents rich, visual product cards, not just blue links.

Don’t just rank, be discoverable to AI agents

Discovery now starts beyond your domain. If your products aren’t understood by external AI agents (ChatGPT, Perplexity, voice assistants), you may never enter the consideration set.

Make products agent-discoverable:

• Structure your product data (rich attributes, clean taxonomy).
• Write conversational, FAQ-style copy that maps to questions an AI agent can summarize.
• Establish authority signals through consistent, accurate content.

The infrastructure shift: vector search + MCP

Delivering conversational commerce isn’t a copy change: it’s an architecture change.

1. Vector search
   If your search returns literal matches, shoppers feel the gap immediately. That’s why traditional keyword search has started to lag behind lately. A modern stack uses semantic/vector retrieval to map “pretty summer wedding guest dress” to relevant results, even if those exact words aren’t in the title.
   
2. Model Context Protocol (MCP)
   To transact across a growing ecosystem of AI agents, expose commerce capabilities (search, cart, checkout, order history) through a standard interface. MCP acts like “USB-C for AI,” letting any compliant AI agent discover products and complete tasks. Major players are aligning around this approach, and brands that implement MCP-style endpoints will be easier for agents to work with—meaning more visibility and conversions.

Voice is next (and natural)

Conversational discovery will increasingly be spoken. Voice lowers friction and fits how people actually ask for help. Your AI agent experience should support voice input and responsive, visual output (cards, carousels, video) to keep the journey fluid.

Two places to win today

• Off-site, via third-party ai agents: Ensure agents can understand, rank, and recommend your products.
• On-site, via your own agent: Blend chat and search into a single, visual, guided experience that feels like a great store associate.

Your 90-day action plan

• Upgrade search to a vector/semantic engine.
• Restructure data and enrich product attributes.
• Rewrite content in conversational, FAQ-friendly formats.
• Expose APIs (search, cart, checkout, account) with MCP-style tooling.
• Prototype an AI agent UI that merges chat, results, and product cards—desktop and mobile, text and voice.

Bottom line: Agentic commerce isn’t a future bet—it’s the current customer expectation. Brands that become AI-agent ready now will own discovery, loyalty, and growth as this shift accelerates.

For even more details, watch the full recording of our webinar:

---

Quick FAQ on Shopify Search Analytics

What is Search Analytics?

Search Analytics is the process of collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data from your store’s search activity. It shows what products customers want, which searches lead to sales, and where gaps in your catalog or UX exist.

Why are search analytics important for Shopify stores?

Because it provides demand-driven insights. While traffic analytics shows how visitors arrive, search analytics reveals what they’re looking for once they’re on your site: helping you optimize merchandising, marketing, and product availability.

Which search analytics are the most important?

The three main areas to focus on in Shopify search analytics are:

• Daily charts (search and engagement metrics)
• Popular searches
• Zero result searches

These are covered in more detail later in the article.

Where to find search analytics in Shopify?

Shopify has some built in search reports under Shopify’s Admin Dashboard -> Analytics. Be aware that these reports only populate if you use Shopify’s native Search & Discovery app.

If you use a more specialized third-party solution, such as Prefixbox AI Search & Filter, you’ll also have access to a dedicated analytics section. These apps often provide more detailed metrics, and you can combine them with Shopify’s native sales and session reports for a complete picture of customer behavior.

How often should Shopify merchants review search analytics?

At least weekly. For stores with frequent promotions or seasonal demand, checking daily ensures you can quickly catch trends, stock issues, or technical problems.

Daily Search and Engagement Trends on Shopify

Start with daily search and collection engagement charts available through your Shopify reports and analytics integrations. You’ll see something like this:

If you notice an upward or downward trend, you should check the following 5 factors:

1. Product Catalog or Site Changes – Did you update your Shopify catalog or change product visibility? Cross-check with Shopify’s built-in traffic reports or Google Analytics.
2. Seasonal / Calendar Effects – Holidays, back-to-school, and other recurring events impact search behavior.
3. Marketing & Campaigns – Shopify discount codes and promotions can spike interest in certain keywords.
4. Technical Issues – Ensure your search function, apps, and indexing are working properly.
5. User Behavior Shifts – Look for emerging keywords that reflect new customer preferences.

Similar to Search engagements and results, most apps offer a Category chart too, showing how shoppers interact with Category pages.

Learning from Popular Shopify Searches & Categories

Your Popular Searches and Categories report is one of the most powerful parts of Shopify’s search analytics.

Treat search volume as a leading indicator of demand.

Similarly, Popular Categories report shows the most visited product collections.

If a product is highly searched but not converting, investigate: stock availability, product description clarity, or checkout UX friction.

Compare this data to Shopify’s Most Sold Items report. If they don’t align, check these 4 factors:

1. Stock levels – Are top-searched items often out of stock?
2. Pricing – Compare searched product price points to your top sellers.
3. Product Data – Enrich product pages with attributes, images, and reviews.
4. Synonym & Typo Handling – Make sure common variations (e.g., “tshirt” vs. “t-shirt”) deliver relevant results.

Insights from Shopify search analytics should feed into your buying strategy, promotional campaigns, and content calendar.

Zero-Result Searches: Fixing Search Gaps

The Zero Result Searches and Zero Engagement Searches reports highlight missed opportunities. They differ in:

• Zero result searches – List of keywords that showed no results
• Zero engagement searches – Searches where shoppers didn’t click or engage

How to handle zero result and zero engagement searches

• Add synonyms for frequent zero-result queries.

• Expand product metadata so Shopify indexes products under more search terms.

• Spot catalog gaps: if customers search for products you don’t carry, it’s a signal for buying decisions.

Optimizing Shopify’s Zero Result Pages

Customize “no result” message to provide helpful search tips such as:

• Check your spelling
• Try fewer keywords
• Browse related collections

Include contact options on zero result pages so customers can request help or products.

Showcase bestsellers or related products to keep shoppers engaged.

This ensures that even when Shopify can’t find a result, the customer still has a chance to convert.

For more on zero result page best practices, check our previous blogpost on the topic.

Bonus: Advanced Analytics with Prefixbox AI Search & Filter

If you want to go beyond Shopify’s built-in reporting, the Prefixbox AI Search & Filter app provides a richer layer of search analytics designed for ecommerce growth.

With Prefixbox, you can track:

• Search Volume & Engagement – Monitor how many searches take place and how shoppers interact with results.
• Conversion Metrics – Understand how often searches lead to product views, add-to-carts, and purchases.
• Zero-Result & Low-Engagement Queries – Pinpoint failed searches and fix them before they cost you sales.
• Top Queries, Categories & Products – Identify customer intent and align your merchandising strategy.
• Revenue Attribution – See how much revenue your search function directly generates.

These actionable insights give Shopify merchants the ability to continuously optimize product discovery, improve search relevance, and boost conversion rates. Prefixbox’s AI-powered search and advanced analytics work hand-in-hand to ensure you’re not just collecting data, but using it to grow!

Final Thoughts

For Shopify merchants, search analytics isn’t just a data point, it’s a roadmap to growth. By tracking daily trends, analyzing popular searches, and optimizing zero-result experiences, you can increase conversions, improve customer satisfaction, and stock smarter.

And with tools like Prefixbox AI Search & Filter, you can move beyond basic Shopify search analytics and unlock the full power of customer intent data.

Glossary

Find all the definitions for the shown metrics from the article:

Search engagement metric definitions

Metric	What it means
Search ER (Engagement Rate)	% of searches where the shopper clicked, added to cart, or converted
Search CTR (Click-through Rate)	% of searches that led to a product click
Search CR (Cart Rate)	% of searches that led to a cart event
Search Success Rate	% of searches that showed at least one relevant result

Search result metric definitions

Metric	What it tracks
Searches	Total searches during the selected period
Unique searches	Number of unique search terms (excluding duplicates)
SERP (Search Engine Results Page) Click events	Product clicks from the search results page
SERP Cart events	Add-to-cart events from search results
Search session count	Count of individual search sessions (per user per visit)

With customer expectations at an all-time high, seamless product discovery is key to satisfaction and loyalty. Prefixbox enables retailers to deliver ultra-relevant product recommendations and intelligent search experiences in real time, tailored to individual preferences and behaviors. When combined with Antavo’s dynamic loyalty engine with agentic AI, brands can now reward and retain shoppers not only at checkout but from the very first click.

“Loyalty isn’t just about what customers earn, it’s about how they experience your brand at every touchpoint,” said Michelle Ellicott-Taylor, Global Head of Partnerships at Antavo. “Partnering with Prefixbox allows us to bring that philosophy to life, pairing smart search with strategic loyalty engagement to create smoother, more rewarding digital journeys.”

“At Prefixbox, we believe product discovery is a key driver of customer satisfaction and loyalty” said Paige Tyrell, Chief Growth Officer of Prefixbox. “Joining forces with Antavo lets us support brands in going one step further by turning helpful search experiences into personalised loyalty moments that drive deeper engagement and return visits.”

Together, Prefixbox and Antavo empower E-commerce businesses to build stronger emotional connections with their customers by integrating loyalty mechanics into every touchpoint, from product search to post-purchase engagement. The result? Smarter shopping journeys that increase conversion and foster brand advocacy.

About Antavo

Antavo is revolutionizing the customer loyalty landscape with its cutting-edge AI Loyalty Cloud. As the market’s most powerful pure-play loyalty technology, Antavo’s platform seamlessly combines advanced AI capabilities with effortless integration, setting a new standard in the industry.

Antavo’s innovative Loyalty Planner speeds up implementation by making program planning up to 10 times faster, while the flexible Loyalty Engine, featuring an intuitive Workflows editor, brings any loyalty concept to life. At the heart of the solution is Timi AI, a groundbreaking agentic AI that guides and enhances your work at every step. 

This excellence has not gone unnoticed. Antavo is recognized by industry leaders such as Forrester, Gartner, and IDC, and it’s the preferred choice for global brands, loyalty consultants, and system integrators worldwide. Antavo’s diverse client portfolio, including household names like KFC, Skims, C&A, Flying Tiger, Notino, Scandic Hotels, Kathmandu, Brightline and Benefit Cosmetics, spans industries from fashion, beauty, retail, travel, and hospitality, showcasing the versatility and effectiveness of the platform.

Experience the future of customer loyalty with Antavo. Visit antavo.com to learn more.

About Prefixbox

Prefixbox is a leading AI-powered product search and discovery solution for E-commerce retailers.

Prefixbox’s powerful product discovery suite of AI Search, AI Agents, and Product Recommendation help retailers increase conversion rate by 45% without manual optimization.

Their robust product discovery solution is used by leading retailers like Carrefour, Leroy Merlin, and Bauhaus.

Prefixbox AI Search is now natively available in the Shopify app store and is the first of its kind to earn the ‘Built for Shopify’ badge. For more information visit: prefixbox.ai

What is Shopify Semantic Search? A comprehensive feature list

Shopify describes Semantic Search as a major shift from traditional keyword-based search; instead of focusing on exact word matches, it understands the meaning behind a query by considering product descriptions, images, and contextual clues.  

Semantic search contrasts with traditional keyword-based search by factoring in the meanings of words, relationships between concepts, image data, and other additional context surrounding a query.

In theory, it allows shoppers to use natural, everyday language when they search. For example, you can type ‘something to wear in the summer’, and still get relevant results like shorts, dresses, or sandals. 

Key Benefits of Shopify Semantic Search 

More relevant results 

By focusing on the intent behind a search, Semantic Search delivers more accurate results than traditional keyword matching. For example, a query like “housewarming gifts” will return practical items for someone moving into a new home, not just products with “gift” in the title. 

Automatic Synonym Management 

Semantic Search understands synonyms and related terms without manual setup. So, if your catalog says “laptop” but a customer searches for “notebook,” the system connects the dots. 

Smarter contextual understanding 

Semantic Search understands synonyms and related terms without manual setup. So, if your catalog says “laptop” but a customer searches for “notebook,” the system connects the dots. 

Limitations of Shopify Semantic Search: What users are complaining about

While Shopify Semantic Search offers impressive technology (like image recognition) on paper, Shopify merchants have reported several limitations in practice. 

Doesn’t power predictive search bar 

Semantic Search only works on the actual Shopify search results page, not for the predictive search bar in the Shopify Search & Discovery app. Users need to hit ‘Enter’ after searching for a query to land on the search page to get the results enhanced by Semantic Search. This creates inconsistency in the user experience. 

Underwhelming image recognition 

Although Shopify promotes its image-based search capabilities, many merchants say it delivers poor results because it prioritizes image data over text and returns irrelevant products many times. 

Decline in quality of search result 

Some store owners feel Shopify search results have become less accurate since Semantic Search was enabled. Unfortunately, there’s currently no way to disable it and get the traditional keyword-based results back, as it became mandatory in March 2025. 

What’s the Alternative? Try Third-Party Search Apps 

Luckily, third-party search apps provide robust alternatives to Shopify’s built-in solution. Thanks to Shopify’s Online Store 2.0 updates (introduced in 2021), integrating or removing these apps is as simple as flipping a toggle. Many also integrate seamlessly into the drag and drop Shopify Theme Editor, where merchants customize them just like any other native Shopify element. 

‘Built for Shopify’ apps 

Another extra feature to look for is apps with the ‘Built for Shopify’ badge. meet Shopify’s highest standards for security, performance, and design. 

One standout example is Prefixbox AI Search & Filter. It’s Built for Shopify and offers both Semantic and AI-powered search utilizing vector search. Prefixbox also offers Semantic search in its predictive search bar (autocomplete search bar), unlimited filters with mini search bar for filter values for both the search and collection pages, and many more features. 

Summary

As of March 18, 2025, Shopify’s Semantic Search became a mandatory feature in the Search & Discovery app, aiming to improve results by understanding user intent and context.  

While this shift promises more relevant search results and better search experience in general, many merchants report issues such as irrelevant results, underwhelming image recognition, and inconsistent behavior. 

With no option to revert to traditional keyword search, frustrated store owners are turning to third-party solutions.  

Apps like Prefixbox AI Search & Filter, a Built for Shopify solution, offer advanced features like vector-based AI search, semantic autocomplete, and customizable filters—providing a powerful and user-friendly alternative to Shopify’s built-in system. 

What is the Shopify Theme Editor?

The Shopify Theme Editor is an intuitive, built-in tool that allows merchants to make real-time design and functionality changes to their store’s theme. It enables store owners to customize their store’s layout, colors, fonts, and other design elements without needing to code. You can think of it like WordPress’s Site Editor, for example. 

This user-friendly editor helps businesses create a cohesive and on-brand shopping experience for their customers. 

Vintage Themes vs. Shopify Online Store 2.0: What Changed?

Shopify has come a long way in enhancing drag-and-drop store customization, and one of the biggest leaps forward was the transition from Vintage Themes to Online Store 2.0 in 2021.

Before this update, customizing a Shopify store required modifying Liquid templates, working with custom code, or using limited theme sections on the homepage. With Online Store 2.0, merchants now have far greater flexibility in designing their storefronts—without needing to touch a single line of code.

Key Differences in Customizability

Theme Editor Upgrades

• Improved UI: The new Theme Editor provides a much smoother experience, with better organization and a preview panel for real-time edits.
• Faster Performance: Online Store 2.0 themes load faster and handle customization more efficiently as compared to older themes.

More Sections Everywhere

• Before (Vintage Themes): Merchants could only add sections (like banners or product lists) to the homepage, while other pages were static and required coding for modifications.

• Now (Online Store 2.0): Sections can be added to any page, such as your Search page or Collection pages, giving merchants full control over their store layout.

Easier App Integration

• Before: Apps would often inject their code into the theme files, making them harder to customize or remove.

• Now: Apps built for Online Store 2.0 integrate seamlessly within the Theme Editor, appearing as configurable App Blocks—just like built-in Shopify sections. These apps can be customized directly inside the Theme Editor with a drag-and-drop interface.

Metafields for enriching product catalog

• Before: Merchants had to rely on third-party apps or custom Liquid code to add extra product information.

• Now: Shopify Metafields allow merchants to add custom data fields—such as size charts, care instructions, or product highlights—without extra apps or coding

Why Upgrade to Online Store 2.0?

If you’re still using a Vintage Theme, switching to Online Store 2.0 will unlock a much more customizable and app-friendly Shopify experience. Not only does it make store design more flexible, but it also ensures that third party apps work seamlessly within the Theme Editor. 

By taking advantage of Online Store 2.0’s improved customizability, Shopify merchants can create more dynamic, conversion-optimized stores all while keeping the editing process simple and intuitive. 

Key Features of the Shopify Theme Editor

Whether you’re using a free Shopify theme or a premium one, the Theme Editor allows you to modify your store’s layout, add dynamic elements, and now, even customize certain third-party apps (like Prefixbox AI Search & Filter) as if they were native Shopify sections.

Drag-and-drop customization

Arguably the greatest feature of Shopify’s Theme Editor is its intuitive drag-and-drop interface. This means that store owners can easily rearrange content, add new sections, and remove unwanted elements in real time. Unlike older Shopify versions, which required manual code changes, Online Store 2.0 themes support section-based editing on any page, giving merchants full control over their storefront’s design.

Example: Want to highlight a “Best Sellers” section on your product pages? Just add a Featured Collection block and drag it to the perfect spot.

Live preview on multiple devices

Shopify Theme Editor has a live preview panel, which allows users to see changes in real time before publishing them. This eliminates the guesswork of theme modifications and ensures that every adjustment aligns with the store’s branding and user experience.

Moreover, the editor lets users preview their store not only on desktop, but also on tablet and mobile as well – ensuring the layout and the design works on all platforms and screen sizes.

Merchants can experiment with different banner images, colors, or button placements and see how they look before saving changes. 

App block integration

One of the biggest upgrades in Online Store 2.0 is the ability to integrate third-party apps directly into the Theme Editor. Instead of relying on complicated Liquid code or external app settings, supported apps now appear as App Blocks—making them as easy to customize as any native Shopify section.

This means that third party apps can be configured directly from the Theme Editor.

Think about wanting to add a predictive search bar to your homepage or collection pages. If you’re using Prefixbox AI Search & Filter, just add the Prefixbox App Block, customize its size, colors, and layout, and save the changes, all within the Theme Editor.  

Merchants can:

• Adjust search bar placement within their theme
• Modify filter layouts for better product discovery
• Customize search results to match their branding

Theme settings panel

The Theme Editor also includes global settings, allowing merchants to adjust store-wide elements such as:

• Colors (buttons, background, text)
• Fonts (headings, body text, product descriptions)
• Image settings (logo size, banner styles)

This ensures that every page on your store maintains a consistent brand identity, making the shopping experience more professional and engaging.

Example: Want all your “Add to Cart” buttons to be a specific shade of blue? Simply update the primary button color in the Theme Settings, and it will apply across the entire store.

Summary

The Shopify Theme Editor is a game-changer for store customization, allowing merchants to design their storefronts effortlessly—without touching code. With the introduction of Online Store 2.0, Shopify has made it even easier to customize every page, integrate third-party apps, and create a seamless, branded shopping experience.

Mastering the Shopify Theme Editor—along with powerful app integrations like Prefixbox AI Search & Filter—empowers merchants to create a highly customizable, user-friendly, and conversion-optimized store. Whether you’re upgrading from a Vintage Theme or fine-tuning your Online Store 2.0 setup, these tools help you build a storefront that not only looks great but also drives sales and enhances customer experience.

One of the biggest advantages of this upgrade is the ability to embed and configure third-party apps—like Prefixbox AI Search & Filter—directly within the Theme Editor. This means that merchants installing Prefixbox can customize their search bar, product tiles, and filters with a simple drag-and-drop interface, ensuring that their store’s navigation is as intuitive and efficient as possible.

What is a search bar and how it works

A search bar is the white search box at the top of an online E-commerce store and helps shoppers quickly find the products they are looking for. Instead of browsing through countless categories, customers can simply type a keyword or phrase into the search box and get relevant results (keyword and product suggestions) in milliseconds.

Behind the scenes, the way an E-commerce search bar works is quite complex. It relies on algorithms, indexing, and machine learning to deliver accurate results. When a user starts typing, the system processes their input in real time, compares it to a database of products and categories, and return relevant suggestions in the blink of an eye.

More advanced search solutions incorporate Natural Language Processing (NLP) to understand intent, typo tolerance to correct errors, and AI-driven personalization to tailor results based on user behavior. The more intelligent and intuitive the search bar, the easier it is for shoppers to find what they need—leading to higher engagement and increased sales.

When users hit ‘Enter’, or click on the search button at the side of the search bar, they are taken to the Search Engine Result Page (SERP), where they sees a thorough list of relevant products, advanced filters to narrow down results, sorting options and often product recommendations. Learn more about Shopify Search pages in this article.

The Impact of a Search Bar

Search users generate six times more revenue compared to non-search users, according to our data, because they have a high purchase intent.

Additionally, among search users, 60% click on predictive search suggestions, whether they are products or keywords.

Encouraging more shoppers to engage with you search functionality—which always begins with the search bar—is one of the easiest and most effective ways to boost revenue.

If you want to learn more about optimizing your autocomplete, check our separate article on best practices for making predictive autocomplete search experience better.

Shopify’s Predictive Search Bar: an overview

Shopify calls their own smart search bar ‘Predictive Search’ in their Search & Discovery app. Predictive Search provides real-time suggestions as users type, helping them refine their search without navigating away from the current page.

Predictive Search suggests products, collections, pages, and blog posts based on the user’s input. By default, Shopify’s search bar displays up to 10 relevant results, drawing from searchable properties such as product titles, types, variant titles, and vendors.

Customization of these suggestions is possible through the Search & Discovery app.

Limitations of Shopify’s Predictive Search

While functional, Shopify’s Predictive Search some issues:​

• Only English language support: Query suggestions are exclusively available in English, limiting accessibility for non-English speaking users.
• Limited customization: Altering the default behavior, such as changing the number of displayed results or modifying searchable properties, requires advanced theme customization using Shopify’s Predictive Search API.
• Issues with relevance: Large product catalogs lead to slower response times and less accurate results.
• Limited customer support: Shopify’s customer support is often slow to respond, and the answers provided are too generic.

Prefixbox Rich Autocomplete search bar

Prefixbox’s AI Search & Filter app calls its smart search bar solution ‘Rich Autocomplete’, aligning with the search industry’s standard naming. It is designed to accelerate the shopping journey by offering intuitive recommendations and easy paths to purchase as soon as shoppers focus in the search box. It deciphers user intent and immediately offers search query, category, and product suggestions.

When a user clicks into the search bar, a dialog box pops up and automatically populates with the most popular products and keywords (and collections) by default. As shoppers start typing, the results update with each keystroke to show the most relevant matches to the query typed.

Prefixbox’s predictive search bar can be enhanced with customizable product tiles that include pricing, discounts, add-to-cart buttons, and other relevant information to help shoppers jump-start their shopping journey. Some of the design settings can be customized natively inside Shopify’s Theme Editor, just like any other Shopify element. Advanced design customizations may require custom CSS coding.

The layout of the search bar can also be customized, allowing you to set the number of columns, products, and suggestions displayed, as well as customize all labels.

Advanced features of Prefixbox Rich Autocomplete

Prefixbox’s Rich Autocomplete stands out due to its comprehensive set of advanced features:​

• Search Results Preview: As shoppers hover over autocomplete query suggestions on desktop, product suggestions dynamically change to preview search engine results pages (SERP), providing an interactive and seamless experience.

• Language Processing (NLP): Prefixbox’s NLP features understand natural language, ensuring relevant results every time. It supports typo-tolerance, multi-language support, suggestion removal, and manual suggestion blocking, enhancing the overall search experience.

• Merchandizing capabilities: Set up promotions under Merchandizing menu to override product results in autocomplete and showcase the products you want at the top – whether for a sale period or to clear out excess stock.

Wrap-up

A well-optimized search bar is no longer a luxury—it’s a necessity for an e-commerce store’s success. According to Prefixbox data, search users generate more than six times the revenue compared to non-search users. Additionally, among those who do use search, 60% click on predictive search suggestions. That means that retailers need to ensure they’re using a solution that consistently returns highly relevant results.

While Shopify’s Predictive Search offers a basic solution, it has notable limitations, including restricted customization, English-only support, and relevance issues for large catalogs.

Prefixbox’s own predictive search solution, Rich Autocomplete, on the other hand, delivers a superior shopping experience with NLP-powered recommendations, real-time search result previews, advanced merchandising controls, and fully customizable layouts. By providing smarter, faster, and more relevant search results, Prefixbox helps online retailers increase search adoption, boost conversion rates, and maximize revenue.

One effective way to achieve sustainable growth is through the strategic use of complementary products and smart curation. By offering products that naturally align with each other and cater to customer needs, Shopify merchants can boost sales, improve the shopping experience, and increase customer loyalty; all key factors when considering how to scale a Shopify store.

Let’s dive into how identifying the right products and curating them thoughtfully can lead to long-term success.

Identifying and Adding Complementary Products

When you are ready to scale your Shopify store, offering complementary products is an excellent strategy. Complementary products are items that pair well together and enhance each other’s value. For example, selling a phone case with a matching charger or offering a skincare set with all the necessary products for a full routine makes shopping easier for customers and increases the chance of additional sales.

To scale a Shopify store successfully, you must first understand your customer base. What do they need alongside your main products? For instance, if you sell yoga mats, consider offering complementary products like yoga blocks, straps, or water bottles. Understanding your customers’ behavior is crucial for selecting the right complementary products that will help you scale a Shopify store.

Using Data to Drive Decisions

Data analytics is a powerful tool when you wish to scale a Shopify store. By analyzing your store’s sales data, you can uncover trends and patterns in customer buying behavior. If you notice that customers often purchase a particular product along with another, it’s a good indication that these items complement each other. This insight allows you to create strategic product bundles, increasing both sales volume and average order value.

If you’re looking for an even smarter approach, consider using the AI-powered Syncee GPT for dropshipping product discovery. This tool helps merchants identify trending and relevant complementary products that align with their brand and customer preferences. With these insights, you can effectively scale a Shopify store by curating a thoughtful and relevant product lineup.

Leveraging Customer Feedback for Product Selection

Another critical aspect of identifying complementary products is actively seeking customer feedback. Understanding what your customers think about your existing products and what they feel is missing can provide valuable insights. By using customer reviews, surveys, and social media interactions, you can discover new complementary products that align with customer needs.

For instance, if customers frequently mention the need for a compatible accessory or express interest in a product bundle, consider adding those to your store. Customer feedback not only helps you refine your product selection but also fosters a sense of community and loyalty by showing that you care about their needs. This approach contributes significantly to scale a Shopify store by creating a customer-centric shopping experience.

Tips for Selecting Products that Enhance the Overall Shopping Experience

Curating the right set of complementary products isn’t just about increasing sales; it’s about creating a positive shopping journey that helps you scale a Shopify store by attracting loyal customers. Here are some tips to help you select products that enhance the overall shopping experience:

1. Brand Consistency: It’s important that complementary products align with your brand’s identity. Whether you sell high-quality luxury products or eco-friendly goods, the items you choose to pair together should reflect the same brand values. This maintains a cohesive shopping experience and strengthens brand loyalty.

2. Avoid Overloading Customers: While offering complementary products is great, avoid overwhelming customers with too many options. Too much choice can lead to decision fatigue, which may cause customers to abandon their carts. Focus on a few well-chosen, high-quality products that are highly relevant to your core offerings.

3. Seasonal Collections: Another effective strategy is to curate seasonal collections of complementary products. For example, offering summer-themed accessories or holiday-specific products can create a sense of urgency and drive seasonal sales. This can encourage customers to make purchases they wouldn’t have otherwise, capitalizing on limited-time offers.

By carefully selecting complementary products, you not only increase average order value but also enhance the overall shopping experience. This approach helps you scale a Shopify store by making it easier for customers to find exactly what they need and encouraging repeat purchases. Platforms like Syncee can help you easily find the perfect complementary products from reliable suppliers, ensuring you’re offering items that align with your store’s goals and values.

Creating a User-Friendly Store Experience

A seamless and intuitive shopping experience is indispensable if you want to scale a Shopify store. Here’s how you can create a user-friendly store that converts visitors into loyal customers:

Effective Product Organization and Navigation

Organizing products logically and clearly makes it easier for customers to find what they’re looking for. Group complementary products together in a “Related Items” section or create bundled product pages. Use categories like “Best Sellers,” “New Arrivals,” and “Recommended for You” to guide customers through the buying journey. A well-organized store helps you scale a Shopify store by maximizing user engagement and reducing cart abandonment.

Utilizing Smart Search Solutions

Smart search solutions like Prefixbox are essential tools for enhancing a store’s user experience. A search bar that understands natural language and provides highly relevant results based on customer queries can drastically improve the shopping experience. Prefixbox, for example, helps customers find complementary products and related items quickly, making it easier to add more to their cart.

An intelligent search system can also boost your chances of cross-selling by showing products that customers might not have thought of but would likely be interested in. With the right search solution in place, your customers will have a smoother path to purchase, and you’ll increase the probability of additional sales.

Optimizing Mobile User Experience

In 2025, mobile commerce continues to grow, and optimizing the mobile shopping experience is crucial to scale a Shopify store. Ensure your store is fully responsive and loads quickly on mobile devices. Simplify the navigation, minimize pop-ups, and streamline the checkout process to reduce friction for mobile shoppers.

Also, consider using mobile-specific features like swipeable product galleries, click-to-call customer support, and mobile payment options such as Apple Pay and Google Pay. A seamless mobile experience enhances customer satisfaction, reduces bounce rates, and increases conversion rates, contributing significantly to scale a Shopify store.

The Power of Social Proof and Customer Reviews

Social proof plays a crucial role in influencing purchase decisions. Displaying customer reviews, ratings, and user-generated content builds trust and credibility. Implementing review widgets, showcasing testimonials, and encouraging satisfied customers to share their experiences on social media helps establish your brand’s authority.

Positive reviews on complementary products also act as persuasive selling points, convincing new visitors to try out the bundled items. This strategy not only boosts conversion rates but also enhances brand loyalty, ultimately helping you scale a Shopify store effectively.

Social media platforms play a vital role in driving traffic and promoting complementary products. By leveraging platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest, Shopify merchants can showcase how products work together, inspire purchase decisions, and create a lifestyle narrative around their brand. User-generated content, influencer collaborations, and strategic hashtags increase product visibility and attract potential customers who resonate with the brand’s identity.

For instance, a fashion store can showcase a complete outfit, including accessories, shoes, and bags, allowing customers to purchase the entire look effortlessly. By integrating social commerce features and engaging storytelling, you can enhance the shopping experience and effectively scale a Shopify store.

Best Practices for Product Recommendations and Upselling

Once a customer adds an item to their cart, this is the perfect time to upsell or cross-sell complementary products. Using personalized product recommendations based on browsing history or previous purchases can help guide customers toward items they might need or want.

For example, if a customer is purchasing a camera, suggest a camera bag, lens filters, or a tripod—products that complement their original selection. Upselling and cross-selling not only increase AOV but also enhance the overall shopping experience by helping customers find items that will improve their use of the original product.

Encouraging Repeat Purchases and Building Customer Loyalty

If you want to scale a Shopify store, it does not just mean increasing your customer base—it also involves ensuring that your existing customers keep coming back. One of the best ways to encourage repeat purchases is through the strategic use of complementary products.

How Complementary Products Increase Repeat Purchases

When customers have a positive experience with your store and find products that work well together, they are more likely to return for more. For example, offering refills, accessories, or new seasonal versions of the products they previously purchased encourages them to come back. Complementary products also help increase the chances of multiple purchases in one shopping session, making it more likely for customers to complete their orders.

Personalized Recommendations

Personalization is key when it comes to encouraging repeat sales. Use customer purchase history to provide personalized product recommendations. A customer who bought a pair of headphones, for instance, might appreciate a recommendation for a carrying case or replacement ear pads. Personalized recommendations show that you understand the customer’s needs, which strengthens the relationship and encourages future sales.

Email Marketing and Retargeting Campaigns

Email marketing remains one of the most powerful tools for driving sales and nurturing customer relationships. Personalized email campaigns highlighting complementary products based on previous purchases can significantly increase repeat sales. For example, if a customer bought a camera, sending an email featuring compatible lenses, tripods, or carrying cases is an effective cross-selling strategy.

Segmentation is key to maximizing email marketing’s impact. Divide your email list based on purchase history, browsing behavior, and customer preferences to deliver targeted recommendations. Including dynamic product recommendations, limited-time offers, and personalized discounts encourages customers to explore new products, boosting average order value and customer lifetime value.

Additionally, abandoned cart emails with strategically suggested complementary products can encourage customers to complete their purchases. Offering a discount on bundled items or showcasing customer reviews for related products helps alleviate purchase hesitation, leading to increased conversions and sustainable store growth.

Loyalty Programs and Subscription Models

Another effective strategy is creating a loyalty program or subscription model for ongoing engagement. Offering customers rewards for repeat purchases or allowing them to subscribe to receive complementary products on a regular basis ensures that they stay engaged with your brand.

Conclusion

To scale a Shopify store in today’s competitive e-commerce landscape requires more than just offering great products—it’s about offering the right products in the right way. By strategically selecting complementary products and curating them thoughtfully, Shopify merchants can boost sales, enhance the shopping experience, and encourage repeat purchases.

Remember, the key to scaling is not just in attracting new customers, but in retaining them and ensuring they return for more. Tools like the AI-powered Syncee GPT for product discovery and Prefixbox’s AI search can make the process of curating and discovering complementary products much easier.

By adopting these strategies, Shopify merchants can set themselves up for sustainable growth, making their stores more customer-centric and profitable in the long run. If you’re looking to scale a Shopify store, start by focusing on the right products, the right experience, and the right customer relationships.