These days search marketing is more than just SEO and PPC. The quest for information, inspiration, and validation now spans various platforms, from social media to chatbots. That said, the future of search is not just text-based, but it’s also visual.
Whether you want to know how to do a visual search on Google with Google Lens image search, or you’re just curious about what a visual search is, this article will help you gain some much-needed insight.
What is Visual Search?
In the context of SEO, visual search is a result of AI advancements that allow for search functionalities beyond simple textual queries. It’s a lot like using Shazam to identify a snippet of music or a scene from a movie. In essence, visual search empowers users to search for images using other images.
Google’s reverse image search and Pinterest’s innovative visual search tool are prime examples as they both allow users to upload images to find similar ones. These tools are often used for products or unidentified images and drastically simplify the search process.
The accuracy of these engines is the tricky part as there is a constant influx of images on the internet. This is why labelling and annotation are incredibly important, they often require human intervention.
Benefits of Visual Search
- Boost Discoverability
Visual search amplifies eCommerce discoverability, enabling brands to reach new customer segments while giving the overall customer experience a boost. It’s highly beneficial for many brands to make use of social commerce platforms, such as Instagram that roll out new visual search tools to customers.
- Increase Conversion Rates
Users employing visual search tend to add products to their carts and complete purchases more than those using traditional keyword searches. It’s been shown that consumers who use visual search tend to have a higher likelihood of adding products to their basket and buying them than those using a traditional keyword search.
- Brand Success
Brands like CCC Group and Pinterest have witnessed remarkable growth in conversion rates and engagement through Google Lens image search and Pinterest Lens, respectively. Pinterest, for example, noted a boost in visual searches, leading to prolonged decision-making periods and increased monthly spending per user.
How Does Visual Search Work?
Since Google’s Reverse Image Search in 2011, visual search has been steadily evolving, and a lot of that evolution has largely been due to advancements in AI and machine learning.
If you’re wondering “Well, how do I do a visual search?”, you’d be pleased to know that the process is fairly straightforward, follow the steps below:
- Simply capture or upload an image using your smartphone.
- The software will then interpret the image and retrieve relevant results through computer vision.
- Search results ranging from similar images and product listings to websites and translations, etc. will be displayed on the screen.
Visual search and the future
Visual search opens up doors for increased discoverability and higher conversion rates while facilitating an image-driven shopping experience. As technology advances, visual search algorithms will continue to become increasingly refined, allowing for more intuitive and efficient search. At Yellowball, we understand that visual search is opening up new avenues in search marketing while offering profound benefits for brands in eCommerce. Want a digital, web design and development agency that gets it? Contact Yellowball today and discover how we can elevate your online presence.
