Creating synonyms and replacement terms to enhance search results

In this task, you enhance your store search by using search term associations. Search term associations include both synonym and replacement terms, modifying a search query by providing additional, different, or replacement products in search results.Term association is used as a marketing strategy to increase sales when customers search for products, as the search submission is modified to increase or target results.

Procedure

  1. Open the Catalogs tool.
  2. From the explorer view, click Search Term Associations.
    The Search Term Associations Synonym List page opens.
  3. To create synonyms:
    1. Click the Synonyms tab. The synonym list is displayed.
    2. Click New New to create a synonyms row.
    3. Enter your synonyms in the row, according to the following specification:
      Synonyms
      The search term synonyms. Separate synonyms with a comma.
    For example, create a synonym for the search terms trousers and jeans. This synonym can be created by entering the value:
    trousers, jeans
  4. To create replacement terms:
    1. Click the Replacements tab. The replacements list is displayed.
    2. Click New New to create a replacements row.
    3. Enter your replacement terms in the row, according to the following specification:
      Search Term
      The submitted search term.
      Replacement Type
      The search action that is performed for the replacement terms. The following replacement types are available:
      Also search for
      The resulting search includes both the submitted search term and the replacement terms.
      Instead search for
      The resulting search includes only the replacement terms.
      Replacement Terms
      The terms that replace the submitted search term, which is separated by commas.
    For example, create a replacement term for wallet, substituting the term clutch. You can do so by entering the following parameter values:
    • Set the Search Term to be wallet
    • Set the Replacement Type to be Instead search for
    • Set the Replacement Term to be clutch
  5. Click Save; then click Close.

Results

You can verify your search term associations through Store Preview Store Preview, or by opening your site directly. Use Quick Search to submit a search query on your synonym or replacement term:
  • With the synonym example, shoppers see search results for both jeans and trousers whenever they search on either search term. This results in 40 matches in the Aurora starter store, instead of 35 for searching jeans, and 5 for searching trousers without the synonym.
  • With the replacement term example, shoppers see search results for clutches instead of wallets. This results in five matches in the Aurora starter store, instead of none without the replacement term.