A/B test: a visible search bar on mobile instead of an icon
If search shows as a visible bar on mobile instead of a magnifying glass icon, then more people will search and reach a product page, because a bar invites typing and an icon gets overlooked.
By Fernando Blanco Dosil · Updated November 2, 2026
Why it can work
The mobile header is crowded: menu, logo, account, cart and the magnifying glass. The search icon is one small symbol among four others, and some people never notice it.
Someone who searches knows what they want, which puts them closer to buying. With a large catalogue, browsing menus on a phone is slow, and a bar that says “Search 2,000 products” saves that shopper half a minute of tapping.
How to set it up
In Bixlow you describe the change to the agent, it builds it on your site and launches it as an A/B test once you approve it. A/B tests are on the paid plans, starting with Standard.
- In the variant, a full-width search bar appears under the header, with example text: “Search by product or brand”.
- Tapping it opens the search you already have, with its suggestions.
- Decide whether the bar stays fixed on scroll or disappears; start with disappearing, it takes less space.
- Run it on mobile only, on every page.
What to measure
| Metric | |
|---|---|
| Primary metric | Visitors who reach a product page |
| Metric that must not get worse | Orders per visitor on mobile |
| Where it is measured | Product page visits and search usage |
More searches is only good news if they lead to product pages and orders. People searching more and finding nothing can be a sign of weak search.