Product discovery optimization is about helping shoppers find the right product quickly, with minimal friction. In 2026, that means optimizing navigation, on-site search, filters, sorting, and recommendations so users do not get stuck on generic grid pages. This guide outlines the key discovery paths, the most common friction points, and how to improve them in a way that directly lifts conversions and revenue.
Table of Contents
Product Discovery Optimization: Helping Shoppers Find the Right Products Faster
Why Product Discovery Optimization Matters in 2026
Most visitors do not arrive on the perfect product page. They land on a homepage, collection, or campaign page, then need to find what fits their needs. If that journey feels confusing or slow, they leave.
In a world where acquisition costs are rising and attention spans are shrinking, product discovery becomes a critical CRO lever. When shoppers can quickly narrow down to the right product, you see:
- Higher add-to-cart rates
- Better conversion rates
- Higher average order value
- More satisfied customers
Product discovery optimization is about respecting your users’ time and making it easy for them to say yes.
What Product Discovery Actually Means in eCommerce
Product discovery is every interaction that helps users go from “I am browsing” to “I found the product that fits me.”
It includes:
- Navigation menus and category structure
- Internal search
- Filters and sorting options
- Collection page layouts
- Recommendation blocks and bundles
- Landing pages for specific use cases
When these elements are well designed and aligned, visitors feel guided instead of lost.
The Main Product Discovery Paths on Your Store
There are three primary ways users find products:
- Browsing through navigation and collections
- Top nav menus
- Category pages
- Themed collections
- Searching with intent
- On-site search bar
- Autocomplete and suggestions
- Search results pages
- Following recommendations
- “You might also like” blocks
- Related products on product pages
- Bundles and curated sets
Different users prefer different paths. A strong discovery strategy supports them all.
Common Product Discovery Friction Points
Brands often underestimate how much friction exists in discovery. Common problems include:
- Overloaded navigation with too many options
- Category labels that use internal jargon, not customer language
- Weak search results or too many “no results” pages
- Filters that feel incomplete or do not match how customers think
- Collection pages that look like endless, unprioritized grids
- Weak or irrelevant recommendations
Every one of these issues pushes users toward bouncing or abandoning.
How To Optimize Navigation for Faster Product Finding
Navigation is often the first product discovery touchpoint.
1. Use customer language, not internal labels
If your customers say “workout leggings,” avoid labelling your category “performance bottoms.”
Talk the way they talk.
2. Group categories by use case
Instead of only organizing by product type, consider:
- “By problem solved”
- “By use case”
- “By audience”
For example, “For Gifting”, “For Beginners”, “For Daily Use.”
3. Limit top-level complexity
Top navigation should be scannable at a glance.
Keep top-level categories focused and push complexity down into submenus where necessary.
4. Make mobile navigation a priority
On small screens, consider:
- Simple hamburger plus key quick links
- Showing top categories prominently
- Avoiding deep nesting that forces users to tap too many times
Good navigation lets a user think “I know where to click next” at each step.
How To Optimize On-Site Search for Real Queries
Search is where your highest-intent visitors go to find what they want fast.
1. Study search term reports
Look for:
- Top searched phrases
- High-exit searches
- Zero-results queries
These show you where search is failing your users.
2. Support synonyms and common misspellings
If users search “shampoo bar” and your catalog calls it “solid shampoo,” update your search configuration so both lead to the right products.
3. Improve search results layout
Strong search results:
- Highlight relevant products first
- Allow refinement by filter
- Avoid burying key items under irrelevant results
4. Use autocomplete wisely
Autocomplete can:
- Suggest popular searches
- Help users find category pages when they do not know exact product names
- Reduce typing effort on mobile
An optimized search experience can turn impatient visitors into buyers quickly.
How To Improve Filters, Sorting, and Collection Pages
Once users reach a collection or search results page, filters and sorting help them narrow down options.
1. Align filters with how customers decide
The best filters mirror actual decision criteria, such as:
- Size
- Color
- Price range
- Fit or style
- Use case
- Material or ingredients
If your filters only reflect internal product attributes that customers do not care about, they will not help.
2. Make filters easy to use on mobile
On mobile, filters should:
- Be easy to find
- Open in a clear panel or overlay
- Allow quick selection and clear “apply” actions
Avoid burying filters at the bottom or making them painful to use.
3. Use sorting options that matter
Useful sorts might include:
- Best sellers
- New arrivals
- Price low to high / high to low
- Top rated
Defaulting to “Most relevant” or “Best sellers” often works better than arbitrary defaults.
4. Prioritize key products visually
Collection pages should not feel like a random grid. Use:
- Feature rows
- Highlighted tiles
- Banners for important segments
Treat collection pages as merchandising, not just lists.
Using Recommendations and Bundles To Enhance Discovery
Recommendations help visitors discover products they might not search for directly but still want.
1. Related products
On product pages, show:
- Complementary items
- Variations that solve the same problem in different ways
2. Bundles and sets
Bundles can:
- Increase AOV
- Make decision-making easier by packaging related items
- Support themed use cases like “starter kit” or “travel set”
3. Behavior-based personalization
As your data grows, recommendations can:
- Reflect browsing history
- Highlight previously viewed items
- Show “customers also bought” for social proof
Done right, recommendations feel helpful, not pushy.
Measuring Product Discovery Performance
To know whether discovery is working, track how users move through your site.
1. Browse vs search contribution
Measure:
- What percentage of revenue comes from browsing paths
- What percentage comes from search-driven journeys
2. Click-through and engagement on navigation and filters
- Top nav click rates
- Filter usage rates
- Search usage and refinement patterns
3. Funnel KPIs tied to discovery
Track:
- Product views per session
- Add-to-cart rate by landing page type
- Bounce rates on collection and search results pages
4. Qualitative insight
Use:
- Session recordings to see where users get stuck
- Heatmaps to see which elements are used or ignored
- On-site surveys for “Can’t find what I am looking for” signals
Strong product discovery shows up as smoother journeys and less friction between arrival and first add-to-cart.
FAQs
What is product discovery in ecommerce?
Product discovery is the process by which shoppers find the products that match their needs, using navigation, search, filters, collections, recommendations, and other on-site tools.
How do you improve product discovery on an online store?
Start with clear navigation, then optimize search, filters, and collection pages, and finally layer in personalized recommendations and bundles. Always base changes on real user behavior.
Is search or navigation more important for product discovery?
Both matter. Navigation supports browsing behavior, while search serves high-intent users who know what they want. Strong ecommerce experiences make both paths effective.
What are best practices for ecommerce filters?
Align filters with how customers choose products, not just with internal attributes. Make filters easy to use on mobile, and include obvious criteria like size, color, price, and style.
How do you measure whether product discovery is working?
Track metrics like product views per session, add-to-cart rate from collection and search pages, search usage and performance, and filter engagement. Combine this with qualitative insights from recordings and surveys.
Ready To Improve Product Discovery? Get a Free Audit
If shoppers struggle to find the right products on your site, your marketing is working harder than it should. Our team at Glued evaluates your navigation, search, filters, collections, and recommendations to build a product discovery plan that increases add-to-cart rate and overall conversions.
Request your free audit here:
We’ll identify what’s leaking revenue on your site and show you how to fix it.
Conclusion
In 2026, product discovery optimization is one of the most reliable ways to increase conversions without more traffic. By improving navigation, search, filters, collections, and recommendations, you help shoppers find the right product faster and with less effort. Done systematically, product discovery becomes a quiet but powerful engine behind better performance, higher AOV, and stronger customer satisfaction.
