Introduction

In the competitive world of ecommerce, enhancing user experience is not just a preference but a necessity. Imagine walking into a store where every product is neatly labeled, visually categorized, and effortlessly navigable. This is precisely what option icons can achieve for your online store. By leveraging these visual indicators, you can significantly improve the navigation and overall shopping experience for your users.

This blog post aims to delve into the concept of option icons, how to implement them, and their vast benefits. By the end of this post, you'll be equipped with the knowledge to seamlessly integrate option icons into your ecommerce platform, thereby elevating your store's user experience and potentially boosting sales.

So, what are option icons and how can they transform your ecommerce site? Read on to find out.

What Are Option Icons?

Option icons are visual representations used to signify different product options, such as size, color, or material. They serve as a more intuitive alternative to traditional text-only dropdown menus. On platforms like Bluepark, these icons can be displayed in several formats, including text button-style icons, color swatches, or image swatches.

Advantages of Option Icons

Exploring the benefits:

Enhanced User Experience: Option icons make it easier for customers to understand and select different product variations quickly.
Visual Appeal: They add an aesthetic value to product listings, making them more engaging.
Efficient Navigation: Shoppers can navigate through product options more smoothly, reducing the time and effort required to find what they want.

How to Use Option Icons

Implementing option icons involves a few straightforward steps, particularly on Bluepark’s ecommerce platform.

Setting Up Options

Before you can use option icons, you need to create options and variants for your products. This is crucial as it serves as the foundation for displaying these visual indicators.

Creating Options and Variants: If you haven’t set these up yet, refer to Bluepark's guide on creating options and variants.
Default Settings: New options created from the Product Editor are set as Select fields (drop-downs) by default.
Switching to Option Icons: To change these to Option Icons, access the Product Editor's Options tab, click on the Option Name, or navigate to Products > Options from the main menu. Here, you can select the field type to Option Icons with Select Field or Option Icons Only.
Saving Changes: Once you've made your changes, click Save and review a product to see the updates.

Customizing Option Icons

Option Icons can be customized further to improve clarity and ease of use.

Shortened Names: By default, Option Icons display their full value name. However, you can set shorter names, like 'S' for Small, by adding Short Values within the Option's Values screen in the Product Editor.
Color and Image Swatches: For color swatches, input a HEX code or select a color from the Color Picker. For image swatches, upload images by clicking the blue folder icon next to the Image field. Optimal image size is 100px by 100px, with a file size no larger than 50kb.

Displaying Swatches on Product Lists

Swatches are not limited to product pages; they can also be displayed on category pages and within product blocks underneath relevant products. This feature makes it even easier for visitors to recognize available options without delving into individual product pages.

Category and Product Block Swatches: To display swatches in these areas, navigate to the Option Editor for your Color Option and tick "Show Color Swatch in the Displayed in a List of Products" section.
User Interaction: Once a visitor selects a color swatch and clicks on an image or product title, they'll be taken directly to that variant on the product page.

Compatibility and Additional Features

It’s important to note that these new option icons are compatible only with V2 themes on Bluepark. If your site is still using a V1 theme, you'll need to upgrade to this more advanced interface. The upgrade comes with a host of benefits and advanced customization options.

CSS Customization: Users with proficiency in CSS can further customize the appearance of color and image swatches. Adjustments like changing size and shape can be accomplished in the Additional CSS field within the theme settings.

Conclusion

Incorporating option icons into your ecommerce platform can transform the shopping experience by making it more intuitive and visually appealing. From setting up and customizing option icons to integrating them into product lists and ensuring theme compatibility, this guide has covered everything you need to get started.

Key Takeaways

Enhanced Visual and User Experience: Option icons simplify navigation and selection processes.
Customization Options: Easily configure text, color, and image swatches to match your product options.
Broad Compatibility: While specific to V2 themes, advanced CSS customizations offer further flexibility.

By adopting option icons, you're not only improving the functionality of your platform but also creating a more engaging and user-friendly shopping experience for your customers.

FAQ

What are option icons, and how do they benefit my ecommerce site?

Option icons are visual indicators for product options like size or color. They enhance user experience, add visual appeal, and improve navigation efficiency.

Can I customize the look of option icons?

Yes, you can customize option icons by using shortened names, color swatches, or image swatches. Advanced users can also use CSS for further customization.

Are option icons available on all Bluepark themes?

No, option icons are only compatible with V2 themes on Bluepark. If you are currently using a V1 theme, an upgrade to a V2 theme is required.

How do I display color swatches on category pages and product blocks?

In the Option Editor for your Color Option, tick "Show Color Swatch in the Displayed in a List of Products" section to enable this feature.

What is the recommended size for image swatches?

The ideal size for image swatches is 100px by 100px, with a file size no larger than 50kb to ensure quick loading times and optimal visual performance.

Adopting these strategies can significantly elevate the user experience on your ecommerce platform, making your store more attractive and user-friendly to potential customers.

How to Display Option Icons for Enhanced User Experience in Ecommerce

Table of Contents

Introduction