[Explained] Synonyms and Synonym Recommendations

As an e‑commerce business owner, you want your customers to have a smooth and effortless shopping experience on your website. One of the biggest challenges to achieving this goal is the dreaded “no results found” message that often appears when a customer searches for a product that is not labeled exactly as it is in your catalog. This is where synonyms come in.

But how to use synonyms effectively so it does not become a nightmare that slows down the search process but shows accurate search results?

Modern e‑commerce search engines, including Luigi’s Box, use artificial intelligence and machine learning to counteract such issues by creating a recommended synonyms list for you. It even allows you to create your synonyms so your search performs optimally, regardless of your visitor’s query. So let’s take a closer look at how it works.

In language, synonyms can add variety to speech or writing, avoid repetition, or express shades of meaning. In the context of e‑commerce search, synonyms are essential for improving the accuracy and relevance of search results as they allow customers to find the products they seek, even if they use different terms to describe them.

Why do synonyms matter in e‑commerce?

Synonyms can significantly improve the user experience and increase the chances of customers finding relevant products. For example, customers searching for products on an e‑commerce website might use different terms or phrases to describe the same thing.

For example, a customer might type “moisturizer” in the search box, while another might search for “hydrating lotion,” even though both are looking for the same product type. Setting up a synonym for “moisturizer” would allow the customer to find the desired product without encountering a “no results found” message.

By incorporating synonyms into e‑commerce search, the search engine can recognize these variations and return relevant results that match the customer’s intent, regardless of the specific words used in the search query. This ensures that customers can find what they are looking for quickly and easily, improving their overall shopping experience and increasing the likelihood of purchasing.

How to set up synonyms?

Setting up synonyms with Luigi’s Box is a breeze. Luigi’s Box allows you to create your own synonyms so your search performs optimally, no matter what your visitors type. In your Catalog Management dashboard, you’ll find the Synonyms tab. Adding your synonyms is as easy as clicking the Create New Synonym button and inputting the word or phrase from your catalog.

Here’s a step-by-step guide to setting up synonyms using Luigi’s Box Analytics:

1. Log in to your Catalog Management dashboard.
2. Navigate to the Synonyms tab.
3. Click the “Create New Synonym” button.
4. Input the word or phrase from your catalog that you want to associate with a synonym.
5. Enter the synonym you want to use for that word or phrase.
6. Click “Save.”

Practices for using synonyms in e‑commerce

When choosing synonyms, it’s essential to be diligent and select relevant and accurate terms. However, some can be unnecessary, negatively impact your search results, or even damage your potential sales. Luigi’s Box Search provides recommendations based on past user behavioral data to help you make informed decisions when selecting synonyms. See the following examples from the Electronics segment:

Implementing synonyms in e‑commerce searches can improve the user experience and drive sales. Here are some points which should be kept in mind for using synonyms effectively:

1. Choose relevant and accurate synonyms that accurately reflect your product catalog.
2. Regularly review and update your synonyms to ensure they remain relevant.
3. Use synonyms to cover common misspellings or alternative phrasing.
4. Don’t overuse synonyms, as this can negatively impact your search results.

Synonym recommendations

The Catalog Management dashboard also includes the Synonym Recommendations tab. Luigi’s Box Search’s Synonym Recommendations feature uses AI‑powered technology to suggest relevant synonyms based on gathered data from users’ interactions and past behavioral data. This feature allows you to review and edit the recommended list of synonyms before implementing them on your website, saving you time and improving your overall search performance.

For example, customers are looking for sneakers, but after they enter the query “sneakers” into the search box, they do not get any results because it’s not how these products are listed in your e‑shop. However, they may try typing “running shoes” again and get relevant products. If this is a pattern, our system can recognize that the query “sneakers” is often used after searching for “running shoes” and thus recommend it to you as an appropriate synonym.

You can edit, apply, or ignore the recommended synonyms to ensure their accuracy before implementing them in your website’s search feature. However, checking this list regularly will save you time and help you improve your overall search performance.

Conclusion

E‑commerce businesses that successfully implement synonyms have significantly improved search results and overall user experience. For example, using Luigi’s Box Search or similar tools, you can optimize your search results and provide customers with relevant products and a seamless shopping experience. In addition, implementing synonyms can also help you decrease the exit rate on your website since 30% of people immediately leaves your e‑shop if they get no results from their search and will probably buy from your competitors.

In conclusion, setting up synonyms is crucial for any e‑commerce business looking to improve its search results and user experience. Luigi’s Box Search provides a user-friendly solution for setting up and managing synonyms, and following best practices can ensure the best possible results.

We want to ensure you’re getting the most out of Luigi’s Box, so don’t forget to check out our guides on Custom Keywords and Boosted Items vs. Boosted Terms too.

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