Conducting 6 user interviews revealed that YouVersion’s Bible app users were spending over 15 minutes searching for notes older than three months, sometimes with no with success. Users valued the ability to reflect on past learnings, yet the existing experience made this difficult.

To capitalise on the opportunity, I developed a search tool feature, enabling notes to be discovered 75x faster and supporting a more fluid, reflective user experience.

While Bible app users loved using the app with 500,000,000 active users, they faced several challenges when encountering the notes section of their app:

Large accumulation of notes overwhelms search experience for 6/6 users

Users are creating more than 40 notes weekly on average, and with that kind of volume, it’s easy for the search experience to feel overloaded and frustrating.

Low task completion rates for finding notes older than three weeks

When trying to access notes from over three weeks ago, many users find it so challenging that task completions drop significantly, pointing to a need for an easier retrieval process.

Users turn to alternatives like Apple notes or their notebooks due to friction

With note retrieval proving difficult, 60% of users opt for alternatives like Apple Notes, trading the intended convenience of the Bible app for simpler access elsewhere.

Users need a faster, more intuitive way to find past notes

It’s clear users are looking for a simpler, faster way to find past notes, highlighting the need for a feature that makes discovery intuitive and hassle free.

The ease of the tool allows users to type any word, and the app will display all results related to their search. This quickly reduces the time taken to find notes, which could previously take over 15 minutes but can now be achieved in 12 seconds.

Users particularly loved how they were able to pinpoint their notes within seconds, testifying that this contributes to their experience and enhances YouVersion’s reputation as they continue to develop their app.

As time spent on the Bible app increases, users pile in an accumulation of notes which males it more difficult to find their past reflection. Much like apps with lots of information, Bible app users are able to refine their notes with the filter by date, testament and Bible book to ensure they find the exact note that they are in search for.

Bible app users had a disconnect with their past notes which sometimes causes them to turn to alternatives such as their apple notes, google docs or pen & paper. With the new feature, users can quickly reconnect with their notes, in turn increasing user retention on the Bible app by at least 20%.

To explore how users responded to the search tool, I conducted usability testing with over 14 participants. This was my first time running usability tests in my design career, so it felt great to dive in and gain hands-on experience! I gathered feedback through one-on-one interviews and social platforms. Users shared that the new feature added real value, boosting conversion rates and encouraging more frequent app usage.

Hauwa Y - Bible app user

"Woah this is really helpful, I'm able to find all the notes that I have made in the past without having to look for them myself. The search tool does it all. Love it."

Victoria O - Bible app user

"The YouVersion search tool is such so useful and creative!"

Rachel I - Bible app user

"The feature would make me use the app a lot more... I feel valued"