Visual Search lets users find products using images instead of text. It's a powerful tool used by a small but high-intent group of users — who often spend more than other site visitors. To support these valuable users, it’s important to make Visual Search easy to find, especially at moments of product discovery.
These placement guidelines help maximize engagement with Visual Search by surfacing it at the right moments — across both desktop and mobile.
Discovery-driven placement
Inside the search bar
Placing the Visual Search entry point inside the search bar is essential. Users already turn to the search bar when looking for something, so it’s the perfect time to show that they can search with images too.
Note that even a small gap between the search bar and the camera icon can have a big impact. If the camera icon appears outside the input field, users may not realize they can search using an image
On the product listing page (PLP)
The product listing page is another important discovery touchpoint. If users haven’t yet found what they’re looking for, it's a great time to suggest trying an image search: Replace a product slot with a Visual Search entry point — offering help exactly when it’s needed.
On the product details page (PDP)
When a user is viewing a specific item, they’ve already shown strong interest. This is a great opportunity to suggest visually similar products. Add a “Find similar” button directly on the product image to let users explore related items with just one tap.
Use badges
Many users stick to familiar patterns — typing in the search bar or browsing categories. To encourage them to try Visual Search, make it stand out. Bold, eye-catching badges draw attention and make the search feature feel new, exciting, and worth trying.