How to Customise your Shopify Store - Search

Customising the search functionality on your Shopify store can enhance the user experience by making it easier for customers to find what they are looking for and ensuring the search results align with your brand’s style. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to do it:

How to Customise Your Shopify Store's Search Functionality

Step 1: Access Your Shopify Admin

1. Log in to your Shopify account.
2. Once logged in, you'll be directed to your Shopify admin dashboard.

Step 2: Navigate to the Theme Editor

1. From the Shopify admin dashboard, go to "Online Store" and click on "Themes."
2. Locate your current theme and click the "Actions" button next to it.
3. Select "Edit code" from the dropdown menu to open the theme editor.

Step 3: Locate the Search Templates and Sections

1. In the theme editor, look for the "Templates" or "Sections" folder on the left-hand side.
2. Find the files related to search functionality. These may include:
   • search.liquid: The main search results page template.
   • search-bar.liquid: The template for the search bar, if your theme has it as a separate section.

Step 4: Customise the Search Bar

1. Click on the search-bar.liquid file (if available) to open it.
2. Familiarise yourself with the existing code. This template includes HTML and Liquid code that defines the search bar's structure and appearance.
3. Customise the search bar to match your brand’s style. You can:
   • Adjust the layout to make it more user-friendly and visually appealing.
   • Add branding elements such as your logo, colours, and fonts.
   • Customise the placeholder text to provide clear instructions (e.g., "Search for products...").
4. Save your changes.

Step 5: Customise the Search Results Page

1. Click on the search.liquid file to open it.
2. Familiarise yourself with the existing code. This template includes HTML and Liquid code that defines how search results are displayed.
3. Customise the template to match your brand’s style. You can:
   • Adjust the layout to make it more user-friendly and visually appealing.
   • Add branding elements such as your logo, colours, and fonts.
   • Include filters or sorting options to help customers narrow down their search results.
   • Ensure the search results display relevant information clearly, such as product titles, images, prices, and descriptions.
4. Save your changes.

Step 6: Add Custom CSS (if needed)

1. If you need to make further style adjustments, you may need to add custom CSS.
2. In the theme editor, look for the "Assets" folder and find your CSS file (often named theme.scss.liquid or similar).
3. Add your custom CSS at the bottom of this file. For example, you might want to adjust the spacing, font styles, or colours of the search bar and search results.
4. Save your changes.

Step 7: Preview and Test

1. After making your changes, click the "Save" button to save your modifications.
2. To ensure your customisations look as expected, navigate to your store and use the search functionality.
3. Verify that the layout, design, and functionality are all working correctly. Test searching for various terms to ensure the search bar and results page display as intended.

Step 8: Make Additional Adjustments (if necessary)

If you notice any issues or areas for improvement during testing, go back to the theme editor and make the necessary adjustments. Repeat the testing process until you are satisfied with the customisations.

Conclusion

Customising the search functionality on your Shopify store helps create a seamless and branded experience for your customers, making it easier for them to find what they are looking for. By following these steps, you can ensure the search bar and results page are not only functional but also visually appealing and user-friendly, enhancing the overall user experience on your store.