How to Show Collection Products in Shopify: A Comprehensive Guide

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Understanding Shopify Collections
3. Creating Collections in Shopify
4. Displaying Collections on Your Storefront
5. Advanced Techniques for Showcasing Collections
6. Monitoring and Adjusting Your Collections
7. Conclusion
8. FAQ

Introduction

Did you know that approximately 30% of online shoppers abandon their carts due to complicated navigation and difficulty finding products? As ecommerce professionals, we understand the pivotal role a well-organized product collection plays in enhancing the user experience and driving conversions. This necessity is particularly pronounced on platforms like Shopify, where showcasing collection products effectively can make all the difference in customer engagement and sales performance.

In this blog post, we will delve into the intricacies of how to show collection products in Shopify. We aim to provide you with a step-by-step guide that not only covers the basics of creating collections but also dives into advanced techniques that can optimize your store’s layout and enhance user interaction.

By the end of this article, you will gain a deeper understanding of Shopify's collection features, including manual and automated collections, and learn how to utilize them to streamline your ecommerce operations. We will also explore best practices for integrating these collections into your online store, ensuring they are not just visually appealing but also strategically positioned for maximum impact.

Let’s embark on this journey together as we explore how to transform your Shopify store into a well-organized, efficient, and user-friendly platform that drives sales and fosters customer loyalty.

Understanding Shopify Collections

What Are Collections?

In Shopify, collections are groups of products that share certain characteristics. They help customers easily navigate your store by categorizing products based on specific criteria, such as type, season, or sale status. There are two primary types of collections you can create:

1. Manual Collections: As the name suggests, manual collections require you to select and add each product individually. This type is ideal for curated collections where you want specific items to be featured together.

2. Automated Collections: These collections are dynamically populated based on predefined conditions you set, such as product tags, prices, or inventory levels. Automated collections save time and ensure that your collections are always up-to-date without manual intervention.

Understanding these types of collections is crucial as they form the foundation of how to show collection products in Shopify effectively.

Why Use Collections?

Utilizing collections is essential for several reasons:

• Improved Navigation: Collections simplify the shopping experience by allowing customers to find related products quickly.
• Enhanced Marketing Opportunities: You can create targeted promotions or showcase seasonal collections to increase visibility and sales.
• Better SEO Performance: Well-structured collections can improve your site's SEO by helping search engines understand your product organization.

Creating Collections in Shopify

Step-by-Step Guide to Creating a Manual Collection

1. Access Your Shopify Admin: Log in to your Shopify admin panel.

2. Navigate to Collections: Click on "Products" in the left-hand sidebar, then select "Collections."

3. Create a New Collection: Click on the "Create collection" button.

4. Enter Collection Details:

   • Title: Give your collection a descriptive name.
   • Description: Write a brief description of what this collection includes.
   • Collection Type: Choose "Manual" from the options.

5. Add Products:

   • In the products section, search for the products you want to include or browse your inventory.
   • Select the products and click "Add."

6. Set Sort Order: Specify how you want the products to be displayed (e.g., best-selling, alphabetical).

7. Save Your Collection: Once you’ve added products and configured settings, click "Save."

8. Publishing Options: If you wish to keep the collection private or set a future publish date, configure this in the "Sales channels" section.

9. Linking the Collection: To ensure customers can find your collection, add it to your store’s navigation menus.

Creating an Automated Collection

Automated collections operate under specific conditions. Here’s how to create one:

1. Access Your Shopify Admin: Log in to your Shopify admin panel.

2. Navigate to Collections: Click on "Products" and then "Collections."

3. Create a New Collection: Click on "Create collection."

4. Enter Collection Details:

   • Title: Provide a name for your collection.
   • Description: Briefly describe the collection's purpose.
   • Collection Type: Select "Automated."

5. Set Conditions: Define the conditions that will determine which products are included in this collection. For example, you might set conditions based on product tags or price ranges.

6. Save Your Collection: After configuring the conditions, click "Save."

7. Linking the Collection: Just like with manual collections, ensure this collection is accessible through your store’s navigation.

Best Practices for Organizing Collections

• Consistent Naming Conventions: Use clear and consistent naming for collections to enhance SEO and improve user experience.
• Regular Updates: Regularly review and update your collections to reflect current inventory and sales strategies.
• Utilize Tags: Use product tags effectively as they can help in creating automated collections and improving searchability.

Displaying Collections on Your Storefront

Adding Collections to Navigation Menus

To ensure that your collections are easily accessible, you can add links to them within your store's navigation:

1. Access Online Store Navigation: From the Shopify admin, go to "Online Store" and select "Navigation."

2. Choose a Menu: Decide where you want to add the collection link (e.g., Main menu, Footer menu).

3. Add Link: Click "Add menu item," enter the name for the link, and select the collection from the link options.

4. Save Changes: Click "Save menu."

Displaying Collections on the Homepage

To showcase your collections prominently, consider displaying them on your homepage:

1. Go to Online Store Themes: Navigate to "Online Store" and then "Themes."

2. Customize Theme: Click on "Customize" next to your current theme.

3. Select Sections: Depending on your theme, you may have various options to add sections. Look for "Featured collections" or similar options.

4. Choose Collections: Select the collections you want to display on the homepage.

5. Save Changes: Make sure to save your changes.

Customizing Collection Pages

To further enhance the presentation of your collections, you can customize the collection pages:

1. Access Theme Customization: Click on "Online Store," then "Themes," and select "Customize."

2. Navigate to Collection Page: Choose a collection page from the dropdown menu.

3. Edit Layout and Design: Modify the layout, add images, or change the display settings to match your brand.

4. Save Changes: Don’t forget to save your modifications.

Advanced Techniques for Showcasing Collections

Using Liquid Code to Display Collections

For Shopify users comfortable with coding, you can enhance your collections' visibility using Liquid, Shopify's templating language. This technique allows for significant customization, including displaying product collections on product pages or creating unique layouts.

1. Access Theme Code: From the Shopify admin, go to "Online Store," then "Themes." Click "Actions" for your current theme and select "Edit code."

2. Locate the Relevant Template: Depending on where you want to display collections, find the appropriate template file (e.g., product.liquid, collection.liquid).

3. Insert Liquid Code: Use Liquid syntax to display collections. For example:

{% for collection in product.collections %}
  <a href="{{ collection.url }}">{{ collection.title }}</a>
{% endfor %}

4. Save Changes: After inserting your code, save the changes and preview your storefront.

Utilizing Third-Party Apps

If you’re looking for additional functionality, consider using third-party apps available on the Shopify App Store. Apps can help:

• Automate collection management
• Enhance product filtering options
• Provide advanced analytics on collection performance

Monitoring and Adjusting Your Collections

Analyzing Performance

To ensure your collections are effective, regularly analyze their performance:

• Traffic Reports: Use Shopify’s built-in analytics tools to monitor traffic to your collection pages.
• Sales Data: Track which collections are generating the most sales and adjust your strategies accordingly.

Continuous Improvement

• Customer Feedback: Solicit feedback from customers about their shopping experience and make necessary adjustments to collections.
• A/B Testing: Test different layouts, product arrangements, or promotional strategies to determine what works best for your audience.

Conclusion

Successfully showcasing collection products in Shopify involves understanding the tools available, implementing best practices, and continuously optimizing your approach. By creating both manual and automated collections, enhancing visibility on your storefront, and utilizing advanced techniques, we can significantly improve the shopping experience for our customers.

At PowerCommerce, we believe that leveraging innovative technology and strategic insights can empower ecommerce brands to thrive in a competitive landscape. Our PowerCommerce eStore Suite is designed to help you take your Shopify store to the next level, offering features that streamline operations and drive conversion.

If you’re ready to transform your ecommerce experience, we invite you to explore the PowerCommerce eStore Suite and see how we can support your journey toward sustainable growth.

FAQ

1. Can I create collections on the Shopify Starter plan? No, the Shopify Starter plan does not support collection features. To utilize collections, you need to upgrade to a higher plan such as Basic Shopify or above.

2. How many products can I add to a collection? There is no strict limit on the number of products you can add to a collection; however, managing a large number of products can complicate organization and customer navigation.

3. Can products belong to multiple collections? Yes, a product can belong to multiple collections, which allows for greater flexibility in product organization and customer navigation.

4. How do I change the order of products within a collection? While editing a collection, you can set the sort order of products or manually drag and drop them into your preferred arrangement.

5. What if my products are not showing in the collection? Ensure that the products are set to "Active" and that they meet the conditions specified in your collection settings. If issues persist, check the product visibility settings and consider clearing your browser cache.