Presentation at Oz IA 2008, on Faceted Search Case Study Abstract: Easy content discoverability is a goal for any business. Faceted search is considered an effective interaction model to achieve this. But is this true? With the dominance of Google, it is also easy to conclude that a simple text box search interface is a familiar and intuitive model for users. But is this also true? During this session, we will look at search on drive.com.au as a case study. We’ll discuss the challenges of designing for faceted search and how data from the multivariate testing has helped refine the search experience.

1. Are users really ready for faceted search? Elizabeth Pek Oz – IA Conference / 2008

3. Content discovery = GOLD!

5. What’s faceted search?

6. This integrated searching and browsing experience lets users begin with a simple keyword search , but then offers useful next steps and insights into the content and its organization. Peter Morville

7. Common Search Behaviour Taken from: Peter Morville’s presentation at IA Summit 2008 http://www.slideshare.net/morville/search-patterns

8. Narrow = New search

11. Case study: Drive.com.au

12. Buyers, sellers, car enthusiasts Dealer & display advertising 860K UBs / 24 Million PIs

13. The old search…

14. The old search…

15. Project Goals by 10% by 5%

16. Design constraints Ad requirements Databases New Cars Used Cars Medium Rectangle Ad

18. Design challenges Search suggest Starting point or

19. Drop-downs

20. Google-esque

21. Results for both

22. 80% 20% Drop-downs Google-esque

23. New car PIs Search results New car leads 60% 20% 6% 15% Used car PIs Search results Used car leads

24. Google-esque = 21% more PIs Drop downs Google-esque

25. Google-esque = 50% less leads Drop downs Google-esque

26. ute , wagon , vw , diesel , convertible , prado , wrx , xr6 , van , coupe , utes , 4wd , automatic , 4x4 , landrover , volkswagon , lpg , hatch , black, sport

27. Search box not recognised!

28. Refine panel not obvious

29. Google-esque revised

30. Hybrid

31. 60% 20% Google-esque 20% Drop-downs Hybrid

32. Hybrid = 20% more PIs Drop downs Google-esque Hybrid

33. Hybrid = 4% more leads Drop downs Google-esque Hybrid

34. Are users really ready for faceted search?

35. Expert searcher Novice searcher No category knowledge High category knowledge

38. How do I do this mummy? Expert searcher Novice searcher No category knowledge High category knowledge

39. Finally, they’ve got faceted search! Now I can get on with it! Expert searcher Novice searcher No category knowledge High category knowledge

40. Least ready Most ready Learns category Learns interface No category knowledge High category knowledge Novice searcher Expert searcher