BRIX Tips
UX tip graphic with the title 'For sites with lots of content, make search clearly prominent and visible.' Two website mockups stacked: the top marked with a red X shows a 'Browse our collection of Webflow templates' page with only a small search icon in the header navigation. The bottom marked with a green checkmark shows the same page with a visible full-width 'Search 300+ templates' input bar below the hero section. BRIX Templates branding at the bottom.

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A search feature nobody can find is a search feature nobody uses

Small search icons get missed. Place a visible search input above the content grid so users with specific queries can reach their target in seconds.

How to make your search bar prominent and visible

When a website has a large content library — templates, articles, products — but hides its search functionality behind a small icon or nested menu, users who know what they want can’t find it quickly. They end up browsing categories they don’t need or leaving the site entirely. A search feature that isn’t easy to find is a search feature that doesn’t get used.

A stronger approach is to make the search bar visible and prominent on content-heavy pages. A full-width search input placed below the hero or at the top of the content section signals that search is a primary way to navigate the site. Users who know their goal can skip the menu entirely and type directly — which is the fastest path for motivated visitors.

Place the search bar where users can see it without clicking anything. Include a placeholder text that hints at what they can search (“Search 300+ templates”) so the affordance is obvious. Size the search input generously — a small icon in the header is easy to miss, but a full-width bar with visible text can’t be overlooked. Pair it with clear content discovery — recent or popular items below the search reinforce the pattern.

  • Show the search bar visibly on pages with lots of content, not just as an icon in the header.
  • Use descriptive placeholder text that tells users what they can search for.
  • Size the search input generously — full-width or prominent width on desktop, prominent on mobile.
  • Place search above or near the content grid so it’s part of the browsing context, not separate.
  • Include a search icon inside the input to reinforce the interactive affordance.

Prominent search functionality can help motivated users reach their goal in one interaction. When search is visible and easy to use, users who know what they want typically skip the menu and go straight to the target — which reduces time on task and increases overall site engagement.

Frequently asked questions

Where should the search bar go on a content-heavy page?

Place it prominently below the hero or at the top of the content section — wherever the user's attention lands when they're ready to browse. Avoid nesting it in the header as a small icon if your audience includes users who arrive with specific queries.

How wide should a search bar be?

Full-width or close to it on desktop, at least 60-70% of the content area. Small search inputs look like afterthoughts; wide ones signal that search is a primary navigation method.

What placeholder text works best?

Descriptive, specific placeholder text like 'Search 300+ templates' tells users both what they can search and what content is available. Generic text like 'Search' misses the opportunity to communicate scope.

Should I keep an icon-only search in the header too?

You can, as a secondary entry point for users on other pages. But the primary search bar — the one on content-heavy pages — should be visible and prominent. Don't rely on the icon alone.