Site Search

[iteriwarren]

What is the average percent of site search users vs non users?

[realityhack]

Your question is not specific enough.

Do you mean the percentage of people who use an on site search box, vs people who use other navigation?
Or does this have something to do with off site search engines?

[iteriwarren]

Sorry, to clarify I'm talking about the percentage of people who use an on site search box. I want to know if it's worth putting more into making our site search box better or if we're getting the average amount of use.

[realityhack]

Every study I have ever seen on the topic says that:
1. Correctly implemented site search increases conversions
2. Incorrectly implemented site search is worse than no site search.

There is no one percentage of people using site search. It will depend highly on your site.
For example, technically there may be a way to get to any item on Amazon without using site search. I would not recommend trying.
Their site search percentage is likely several searches per visitor minimum, with a tiny fraction buying items from their wish list that they already searched for.
OTOH Think Geek might find a significant number of people browsing for stuff rather than searching for something specific.
And a site with a smaller product line and good navigation might find even fewer.

Site search is hard to do right. But if you do it will likely convert more visitors. The question is... how necessary is it for your site, and how much can you spend on it etc.

An example of bad site search might be staples. I literally leave their site and do a Google site: search to find things on that disaster of a site.