What is Predictive Search?

Featured article by Andre Smith, Internet Marketing and E-Commerce specialist

What is predictive search anyway? Wordstream.com explains it as “Google’s predictive search feature uses a predictive search algorithm based on popular searches to predict a user’s search query as it is typed, providing a drop-down list of suggestions that changes as the user adds more characters to the search input.” In other words, it helps to make searching for something easier because it tries to predict what you will be typing in the search box.

Makes Shopping a Breeze

Etailers are turning this technology into a way to increase their revenue. Predictive search can be used to help your shoppers find what they want to buy more quickly. It can provide them with an improved way to find the products that they are searching for, whether they search by using the name of the product, the category, the brand, or even by the SKU. Because the products will be easier to find, revenue will also go up. Because the shopping process is made easier, shopping will be more fun, which in turn, means that your customers will be more loyal and return to shop again.

Two Different Terms

You hear the term predictive search and then you hear the term predictive analytics. What is the difference? Well, predictive search was explained above, so we won’t rehash that. Predictive analytics can be described as being the practice of getting information from data sets that already exist, in an effort to determine if there are any patterns so that future trends and outcomes can be predicted.

Search engines actually use predictive analytics in an effort to provide faster feedback with predictive search.

Predictive Search – Looking Back

Did you know that we have been using predictive search since 2004? That was when Google first introduced auto-complete – then named Google Suggest. Since then, predictive search has become a regular part of our interactions on the internet. We really don’t even tend to notice it anymore, except for when it can help us type fewer characters to find what we are looking for. It just makes things a bit easier. It helps us to search for things faster and get results quicker while allowing us to discover the answers to questions that we might not have even known that we had.

Predictive search is becoming more powerful too. Google has taken it a step further with the creation of Google Now. This is an app that is used to deliver relevant and personalized information before we even ask for it. How long will it be before that technology is being used in online stores? That would be fun, wouldn’t it?

How it Works

Predictive search used an algorithm for the search that is based on the most popular searches for things in order to attempt to predict the search query as it is being typed in. As the query is being typed, a drop-down box will appear that contains a list of suggestions that will change depending on what the user is typing into the search input. We see this in just about every online store now and it makes searching easier for us.

This might seem to be such a minor thing, but the fact of the matter is that people type much slower than they read. Because of this, predictive search actually saves users a considerable amount of time because they will not need to type their full search terms every single time they are looking for something.

Google has estimated that the typical search can take anywhere from 9 to 90 seconds to type into the search box. Now, with predictive search, that time can be shaved. Yes, it is only a few seconds that will be saved, but how many of us wish on a daily basis that we had more time in the day? A few seconds isn’t a bad way to start.

This is also helpful if you don’t exactly know the name of what you are searching for. Going back to the predictive search being used in online stores for a minute, what if you had purchased an item that you loved, but you can’t remember the name of it? If you know what category, brand, or department it falls into, you would be able to search by .

Andre Smith is an Internet, Marketing and E-Commerce specialist with several years of experience in the industry. He has watched as the world of online business has grown and adapted to new technologies, and he has made it his mission to help keep businesses informed and up to date.