What is Semantic Search?
Semantic search goes beyond traditional keywords-based search methods. It possesses Natural language processing (NLP) and Machine learning (ML) to deliver intent, context, and meaning behind a search query.
Semantic search understands the relationship between words, phrases, and concepts to give relevant search results.
For instance, if a user searches for “best hotels to stay in the Maldives,” a semantic search engine doesn’t just look for similar words but gets the intent of the search query. It identifies “best hotel” as a ranking preference and “Maldives” as a location-based criterion, delivering accurate results that align with the user’s needs. This kind of search approach delivers smarter and more intuitive results with greater precision.
How Does Semantic Search Work?
Semantic search leverages advanced technologies like Natural Language Processing (NLP) and Machine Learning (ML) to analyze and understand the context, meaning, and relationships within user queries rather than relying solely on keyword matching.
- According to a 2023 study by BrightEdge, 68% of online experiences begin with a search engine, emphasizing the importance of effective search results.
Google’s semantic search capabilities, powered by its RankBrain and BERT algorithms, improve search result relevance by 20%.
Imagine searching for “best winter jackets for snowy weather.” Without a semantic search, you might get a mix of irrelevant results, from summer jackets to unrelated content. With semantic search, the system understands your intent, considering factors like weather, location, and preferred jacket features, ensuring you find exactly what you need, just as if you were speaking to a helpful salesperson.
Types of Semantic Search
1. Lexical Search vs. Semantic Search
Lexical Search
Lexical search matches exact words in a query, while semantic search focuses on understanding the meaning and intent behind those words.
According to a study by Moz, traditional keyword-based searches have an accuracy rate of approximately 50-60%, while semantic search can achieve relevance rates upwards of 85%.
Imagine searching for the “best phone for photography.” With lexical search, you’d get pages with the exact phrase but might miss out on pages about top-rated camera phones. Semantic search, however, understands your intent, showing options like detailed camera reviews or “phones for photography lovers,” helping you make better decisions.
2. Contextual Search vs. Semantic Search
Contextual search just focuses on providing results based on the user’s environment (like location or device). Meanwhile, semantic search understands user intent on a deeper level.
For example, in the keyword “restaurants open now”, the contextual search focuses on location and nearby restaurants. And semantic search will interpret “open now” because that’s what deep down user is looking for.
3. Keyword Search vs. Semantic Search
A keyword search looks for the exact keyword in the database and a semantic search delivers results based on deeper analysis like synonyms, and related phrases.
Let’s suppose a student on your website searches for “Affordable laptops for students”. Keyword search results might show cheap laptops and not budget-friendly options. Semantic search shows laptops that fit your budget and student needs.
4. Vector Search vs. Semantic Search
Vector search shows results based on mathematical representations to find similarities while semantic search analyses these vectors to understand and deliver results that exactly align with the user intent.
For instance, you search for, “What are some books like Harry Potter?” A vector search algorithm identifies the thematic and stylistic elements of the books. Semantic search enhances this by recognizing the magical, adventurous tone of Harry Potter and delivering results that match your interests, like “Percy Jackson” or “The Hobbit.”
Benefits of Semantic Search
1. Enhanced User Experience
As semantic search delivers precise, reliable, and intuitive search results, it directly has a positive impact on user experience.
Semantic search understands user intent and boosts sales and customer satisfaction. Understanding the true meaning of intent behind a user query semantic search leads to a more satisfying and productive online search.
Here are a few ways semantic search enhances user experience:
- Understanding context
- Identifying user intent
- Improve search discoverability by (finding related content & discovering hidden gems)
- Personalized search experience by (tailored results & predictive search)
- Enhance user satisfaction (through fast & easier, improved information discovery)
2. Increased Conversion Rates
HubSpot reports that businesses using personalized search experiences see a 20% increase in conversion rates compared to those that don’t.
Semantic search understands user intent beyond keywords and often boosts conversion rates for businesses & here’s how:
- Eliminate the frustration of irrelevant search results and guide users directly to the information they need.
- A satisfying user experience encourages users to engage with the brand further.
- This satisfaction relates to higher customer loyalty and repeat business.
- Semantic search allows for more precise targeting of advertising campaigns
- With the right intent, businesses deliver highly relevant ads to the target audience
- Semantic search enables personalized AI recommendations based on user behavior.
- Tailored product recommendation recommends what resonates with the users
- This personalized approach builds stronger customer relationships.
- Semantic search guides businesses to create informative content that addresses user intent
- Businesses use semantic search to gain a competitive edge and provide a superior experince which leads to higher revenue & profitability.
3. Better SEO Performance
Semantic search enhances your website’s SEO performance and let’s see how:
- Increased organic traffic
- Broader keyword coverage: by targeting a wider range of keywords and phrases in your topic, you can significantly increase your website’s visibilty in search engine result pages (SERPs).
- Long tale keyword targeting: semantic search excels at understanding long-tail keywords which are more specific and often have lower competition.
- Improved content quality:
- Focus on user intent: To rank on Google’s first page, you need to create content that understands the user intent.
Summing it up, semantic search ranks meaningful content that matches user intent instead of keyword stuffing.
Moz revealed that 93% of all online interactions start with search engines, and websites optimized for semantic search witness a 2x boost in organic traffic.
4. Improved Customer Retention
Through semantic search, businesses can deliver exceptional customer experience. When customers feel valued and understood they’re more likely to visit again. it enhances brand loyalty and customer retention.
A survey by Salesforce found that 84% of customers are more likely to stay loyal to a company that understands their needs.
When users become loyal to the brand they are more likely to advocate it to other people, this world of mouth marketing can make a significant impact on customer retention.
By offering a personalized experience, and understanding user intent, semantic search empowers customer relationships with brands and drives long-term loyalty.
As AI & NLP technologies boom day by day, businesses that embrace semantic search will get a competitive edge.
What Were Search Engines Doing Before?
Search engines relied on keyword-based algorithms for ages. In 2023, google introduced the “hummingbird algorithm” which focuses more on user intent instead of keywords and it brings a major change.
Before it, there was a rudimentary system where search engines just matched the keyword and derived unrelated pages, it was frustrating and time-consuming for users. It often felt like talking to a robot that didn’t really get you. It was a far cry from the intuitive search experience that we now expect and rely on.
Why Do Ecommerce Sites and Marketplaces Need Semantic Search Engines?
Ecommerce is growing and it’s gonna be more growth in the coming ages. In the ecommerce world providing accurate search results and personalized AI-driven recommendations leads to boosted sales. If ecommerce businesses implement search engines, it helps ecommerce sites. Ultimately, marketplaces get competitive. It is based on relevant search results and user intent, rather than just keyword matching.
Online shoppers start their shopping journey with a search, and shoppers are more likely to buy if the site shows personalized search results. Those ecommerce sites that fail to deliver accurate search results negatively impact user satisfaction and conversion.
E-commerce businesses that implement advanced search engines, such as those powered by semantic search, see a 30% increase in conversion rates on average (source: Baymard Institute).
If a shopper wants to buy a new pair of sneakers, but the store only presents the basic results for “shoes” instead of showing results of high-performing sneakers. Without the intelligence of semantic search, shoppers might struggle to find what they’re looking for, which leads to lost sales.
However, with a semantic search engine in place, the site understands user intent and gets if the user wants running shoes, not just any shoes, and it quickly offers relevant products. Ultimately, it leads to a higher likelihood of purchase.
Semantic Search with Convertopia
Integrating semantic search with Convertopia helps ecommerce businesses stay ahead of the competition. It improves your ecommerce business and increases conversion.
- 93% of online experiences begin with a search (Source: Search Engine Journal), underscoring the importance of delivering relevant search results.
- 50% of consumers are more likely to purchase from a site that provides personalized search results (Source: Epsilon).
- Businesses using advanced search technologies like semantic search have seen a 15-30% increase in conversion rates (Source: McKinsey).
With semantic search, users find exactly what they need, be it a product, service, or information. They get what they want without sifting through irrelevant search results. With Convertopia, your ecommerce site offers a seamless experience, making sure users just don’t search but meaningfully engage with your brand.
Semantic search powered by NLP & ML makes convertopia a smart site search engine in the ecommerce industry. It delivers smarter, context-aware results that drive loyalty and lead to higher conversion. Your customers will thank you for it, and so will your bottom line.