Table of Contents
- Introduction
- What Is a Product Filter?
- Does Your Theme Support Product Filtering?
- Standard and Custom Filter Types
- Setting Up Your Filters
- Enhancing the Customer Experience
- Leveraging Apps for Advanced Filtering
- Conclusion
Introduction
Imagine walking into a store brimming with products, yet everything is meticulously organized, enabling you to find what you need swiftly. That's the power of filters in an online store. With eCommerce growing exponentially, ensuring your customers can navigate your Shopify store effortlessly is paramount. Filters not only enhance user experience by making searches more precise but also boost sales by showcasing the most relevant products to your customers. In this blog post, we'll guide you through adding filters to your Shopify store, a simple yet impactful step toward optimizing your online storefront.
The essence of this post is to empower you with the knowledge to implement filters in your Shopify store, covering everything from the basics of product filtering to advanced customizations. Whether you're a seasoned store owner or just starting, understanding how to leverage filters can significantly enhance your store's usability and appeal.
What Is a Product Filter?
Product filters are essential tools for eCommerce success, serving as navigational aids that allow customers to refine their product searches based on specific criteria like size, color, price, or brand. For instance, someone seeking a red dress within a specific price range can quickly filter the search results to display only the relevant items, drastically simplifying the shopping process.
Does Your Theme Support Product Filtering?
First and foremost, verify whether your Shopify theme supports product filtering. Storefront filters are available for any Online Store 2.0 theme. Navigate to Online Store > Navigation in your Shopify admin to check your theme's compatibility. If not supported, don't worry. The Shopify Search & Discovery app comes to the rescue, enabling filter creation that, while may not be displayed as seamlessly, still aids in refining product searches.
Standard and Custom Filter Types
Shopify enables the use of up to 25 filters, with standard filters available to all stores covering product availability, price, vendor, product type, and tags. However, the realm of custom filters beckons for those seeking to tailor the shopping experience further. Using product options, metafields, or metaobjects, you can create filters that resonate with your specific catalog, like a unique "Age" filter for children's toys.
Adding a Custom Filter with Metafields or Metaobjects
- Metafields must have a definition to be utilized as a filter. They can represent value types such as 'single_line_text_field', 'number_integer', or 'number_decimal'.
- To Add or Edit filters, navigate to the appropriate section in your Shopify admin, where you can also manage filter order and rename them to improve customer experience.
- For Grouping Filter Values, Shopify lets you combine similar values under a single filter, enhancing clarity.
Setting Up Your Filters
On the desktop:
- Navigate to your Shopify admin area.
- Select ‘Online Store’ and then ‘Navigation’.
- Locate the ‘Collection and search filters’ section and hit the ‘Add filters’ button.
- Choose from the list of available filters, select as many as applicable, then click 'Done' and save to update.
Mobile setup follows a parallel process, ensuring you can manage your store on-the-go efficiently.
Enhancing the Customer Experience
Adding filters is a start, but optimizing them to match your inventory and customer preferences is an ongoing process. Consider compelling visual filters for attributes like color patterns or leverage apps for automated filtering solutions. Tools like the Shopify Bulk Editor facilitate quick updates, making it easier to maintain and refine your filtering strategy over time.
Leveraging Apps for Advanced Filtering
While Shopify offers robust filtering capabilities, leveraging third-party apps can elevate your store's filtering to new heights. Apps like Product Filter & Search by Boost Commerce and Smart Search & Product Filter by CloudSearch offer advanced features for a more dynamic and tailored shopping experience.
Conclusion
Implementing and optimizing product filters in your Shopify store can significantly impact your customers' shopping experience and your bottom line. From enhancing product discoverability to streamlining the purchasing process, filters are indispensable for any successful eCommerce operation. As you refine your filtering strategy, keep your customers' needs at the forefront, and don't hesitate to leverage additional tools and apps to ensure your Shopify store stands out in the vast sea of online retail.
FAQ Section
Q: Can I add more than 25 filters to my Shopify store? A: Shopify allows up to 25 filters. To go beyond this limit, you might consider using third-party apps that offer advanced filtering capabilities.
Q: Do product filters affect my store's loading speed? A: Properly configured filters should not significantly impact loading speeds. However, excessive use of custom filters and large product catalogs may require optimization to maintain performance.
Q: How can I tell if a filter is improving my store's sales? A: Monitor your analytics to see how users interact with filters. An increase in filtered searches and engagement with filtered products can indicate filters are positively impacting sales.
Q: Can I customize the appearance of filters in my store? A: Yes, themes and apps often provide settings for visual customization. For deeper customization, you may need to edit your theme's code or consult with a Shopify expert.
Q: What's the best strategy for naming filter options? A: Keep names clear, concise, and directly relevant to your customers. Avoid jargon, and consider using terms that your customers are likely to understand and use during their search.
