Merchandising Rules Best Practices
To optimize conversion and revenue, implement effective search rules, a strong default listing rule, and category rules (beta). Adjust rankings using sales data, stock, promotions, and intelligent ranking.
It is crucial to establish a well thought out default rule. Your default rule determines how search results are initially sorted when no more specific search rule applies, which improves discovery and purchase likelihood. Review it regularly so it keeps pace with shopper needs and campaigns.
Tips to optimize search rules
- Pin or boost products with high sales volumes or recent sales activity.
- Prioritize products with high ratings and positive reviews.
- Ensure that in-stock items are ranked higher.
- Slightly prioritize products with higher profit margins without compromising relevance.
- Highlight products that are on sale or part of special promotions.
- Set search rules during promotion or sales periods automatically by using the date range during your promotion period.
- Tailor search results based on individual shopper behavior using intelligent ranking, such as “recommended for you”, “most viewed” and so on.
- Always use the “Test your rule” panel to preview how your intelligent ranking strategy affects actual search results for different queries.
Tips for category rules
IMPORTANT
Category rules are in beta.
- Use category rules on high-traffic or high-margin category pages where curated order matters as much as search—for example, seasonal collections or featured departments.
- Align intelligent ranking (for example, trending, most viewed) with how shoppers browse that category; category pages do not use search query text the way search rules do. See Intelligent ranking.
- Apply pin, boost, and bury consistently with your campaign plan; remember that manual positions usually apply only when the shopper uses the default sort for the listing. See Manual ranking.
- Preview in the category rule flow in the editor and validate on the storefront after publish, the same discipline you use for the “Test your rule” panel on search.
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