Improving Search on GrowthHackers.com

By @andrewthompsonx

The Problem

1. Many search queries return few results

Query: ‘sean ellis’ Query: ‘retention’Query: ‘ctr’

More posts and comments exist but aren’t being returned

1 Result 1 Result

2 Results

2. “Popular” posts aren’t ranked highestQuery: ‘uber’ Query: ‘square’

These popular posts should be ranked higher

Users are already unable to find great GH content

The Goal

Improve search on GrowthHackers.com so users are able to easily find content they’re looking for.

The Solution

Develop like a @leanstartup...

So we should build a search algorithm:

That’s mad… let’s rather build an MVP

Swiftype has the ideal snap-in site search

Setup in under 1

hour

I have it working… try it out on my blog today:

http://www.andrewthompson.co/2013/01/improving-search-for-growthhackerscom.html

Query: ‘sean ellis’

178 Results

Measure

Search Navigate Comment

Set up a funnel to measure search completion rates

Measure

Ask users about their search experience

Yes

No

Did you find what you were searching for?

Measure

Swiftype also has analytics for searches that return zero results

Learn

Are GH users finding more of the content that they’re searching for?

Andrew ThompsonVP of Growth, RESAAS

Six years of experience building software, managing products & growth hacking for startups in Europe and Canada.

@andrewthompsonx