If you run a Shopify store and want to boost sales without spending extra money, there’s good news. Shopify’s Search & Discovery app is a free tool that lets you enhance your store’s shopping experience effortlessly. From recommending related products to organizing categories, it’s a great option for budget-conscious authors or anyone managing an online bookstore.
In this post, I’ll walk you through why this app can be a game-changer for authors and show you how you can use it step-by-step to make your Shopify store work smarter, not harder.
What Is the Shopify Search & Discovery App?
The Search & Discovery app is an official Shopify tool designed to make your store more user-friendly. It helps customers navigate your products with features like filters, search options, and personalized recommendations.
What sets this app apart is its ability to suggest complementary products, giving you a way to upsell without needing a separate, paid app like “Frequently Bought Together.” This makes it ideal for stores selling books in a series, multiple genres, or even across different pen names.
Plus, it’s completely free. If you’re just starting out or trying to minimize costs while building your store, this is a resource worth having.
Why Authors Should Use the Search & Discovery App
As an author, you’re likely juggling multiple products such as books, audiobooks, or merchandise tied to your brand. Recommending the right items to your readers not only boosts sales but also enhances their experience on your site.
Here’s why this app is perfect for book stores:
- Customizable Recommendations: Show related products like other books in a series or companion content.
- Seamless Upselling: Offer bundles or complementary items directly on your product pages.
- Reader-Friendly Filters: Help visitors find products by price, availability, or specific tags.
If you’ve been using separate Shopify stores for different series or pen names, this app can help streamline everything under one store while keeping recommendations relevant.
How to Set Up and Use the Search & Discovery App
Step 1: Install the App
Getting started is simple. Go to the Shopify App Store and search for the “Search & Discovery” app. Select it and click the “Install App” button. Once installed, you’re ready to start customizing your store.
Step 2: Add Product Recommendations
This app lets you manually choose which products to display as recommendations for each listing. For example, if you have a book series, you can suggest other titles in the same series as complementary products.
Here’s how:
- Open the app from your Shopify dashboard.
- Pick a product you want to customize.
- Under the recommendations section, select complementary products. These could be sequels, audiobooks, or any related items.
- Save your changes.
Pro tip: Ensure every product variation (like paperback and audiobook) has a price, even if one version is free. That way, your free products still appear in the recommendations.
Step 3: Organize Filters and Placement
The Search & Discovery app also lets you add filters to your store’s layout. Options like “Price,” “Availability,” and “More Filters” can help readers narrow down their choices.
You can control where these features show up. For instance, you might choose to display recommendations on product pages but not on blog posts or static pages.
By placing these elements strategically, you’ll help readers find what they need without overwhelming them.
Step 4: Let the App Learn
One of the best features of this app is its predictive capability. As customers interact with your store, the tool gets smarter, fine-tuning its recommendations based on what works.
While you might notice slower results in the first couple of weeks, don’t worry. As traffic increases, the recommendations will become more accurate and useful.
Practical Example: How I Use It for My Store
Let me share an example from my own Shopify setup. I combined two separate Shopify stores into one to save on expenses. Since I have books across different pen names, I use the app to ensure recommendations are genre-appropriate.
For a romance series, I recommend other books from that series as well as free prequels or audiobooks. When bundling is possible, I prioritize showing the full bundle first.
The app also highlights these recommendations before the “Frequently Bought Together” section, making it easier for readers to discover related products right away.
Final Thoughts on Shopify’s Search & Discovery App
The Search & Discovery app is a must-have tool if you want to optimize your Shopify store at no extra cost. It brings e-commerce features that are perfect for authors looking to promote related books, bundles, or branded products.
Whether you’re just starting out on Shopify or streamlining an existing store, this app is simple to set up, easy to use, and highly effective. Plus, it saves you from paying for third-party tools to do the same job.
If you haven’t already, give it a try and see how it can transform your customer experience.
Got questions or need more tips? Leave a comment or check out our other Shopify tutorials. Don’t forget to follow for more helpful resources tailored to authors like you!