Documentation Open BigCommerce app

BigCommerce App

The SearchIQ BigCommerce app embeds in your BigCommerce admin and injects a storefront search widget via the Scripts API. Your catalog is synced to a ParadeDB index for fast autocomplete, search results, filters, and analytics.

Install the app

From BigCommerce App Marketplace

  1. In your BigCommerce admin, go to Apps → Marketplace.
  2. Search for SearchIQ.
  3. Click Install and approve the requested OAuth scopes.
  4. Open the app from Apps → My Apps to complete setup.

On first launch, SearchIQ registers catalog webhooks, starts a full catalog index, and prepares the storefront script. This usually takes a few minutes depending on catalog size.

Tip: Keep the app open until the dashboard shows indexing complete. You can enable the storefront widget once at least one search engine reports Active.

Dashboard & indexing

The Dashboard tab shows your account status, trial days remaining, catalog counts (products, categories, pages), and index health. Use Reindex catalog to run a full sync after bulk catalog changes.

  • Active — Index is ready; storefront search is available.
  • Indexing — A full or incremental sync is in progress.
  • Not indexed — Install or reindex to populate the search index.
  • Error — Check the status message; reinstall the app if the OAuth token expired.

Catalog updates from BigCommerce (product create/update/delete, category changes) are picked up automatically via webhooks. You do not need to reindex for routine catalog edits.

Storefront widgets

SearchIQ injects the storefront experience through BigCommerce’s Content Scripts API. Configure widgets from Search & Navigation in the app sidebar.

Search Popup (instant search)

The Search Popup replaces your theme’s default search with an autocomplete overlay. Configure the template, colors, result fields, and add-to-cart behavior. When enabled, the script is published to your storefront and marked Live in the sidebar.

  1. Open Search Popup in the app.
  2. Choose a widget template and customize appearance.
  3. Click Enable on storefront (or equivalent publish action).
  4. Hard-refresh your storefront (Ctrl+F5) if the widget does not appear immediately — BigCommerce script cache can take up to ~20 seconds.

Search Screen (results page)

The Search Screen controls the full search results layout: grid or list view, sort options, facet filters, and pagination. Pair it with the Search Popup so shoppers land on a rich results page instead of the default /search.php experience.

Search tuning

Improve relevance without code changes from three admin tabs under Search & Navigation:

Synonyms

Map alternate terms to the same intent — e.g. sneakers → trainers. Synonyms apply to autocomplete and full search results.

Stop words

Exclude low-value tokens from indexing and matching (common articles, filler words). Use sparingly; over-aggressive stop words can hide valid matches.

Suggestions dictionary

Curate autocomplete suggestions for branded terms, seasonal campaigns, or category aliases. Suggestions appear before or alongside product matches in the Search Popup.

Preferences

The Preferences tab controls global search behavior: which product fields are searchable, default sort order, typo tolerance, and which content types (products, categories, pages) appear in results. Changes apply on the next query — no storefront redeploy required.

Filters

Under Filters → Filter list, enable facet filters shoppers see on the Search Screen — price, brand, category, custom fields, and variant options. Reorder filters and set display labels to match your catalog taxonomy.

Merchandising

Boost or bury specific products and categories for chosen search queries. Use merchandising rules for campaigns, clearance items, or high-margin products. Rules take effect immediately in autocomplete and results ranking.

Analytics

The Analytics section includes:

  • Overview — Search volume trends and conversion signals.
  • Search — Top queries, zero-result searches, and click-through patterns.
  • Export — Download reports for BI or sharing with your team.
  • Settings — Configure tracking and data retention preferences.

Use zero-result reports to find gaps in synonyms or catalog coverage — they are the fastest way to improve findability.

Plans & billing

Open Plans & Billing to compare tiers by catalog size, upgrade from trial, and manage payment. Search stays active during the 14-day trial. After trial expiry, upgrade to restore storefront search.

Need help choosing a plan? Contact support@searchiq.store.