Table of Contents
- Introduction
- What are Featured Products?
- Why Should You Display Featured Products?
- How to Select Products for Your Featured Collection
- Best Practices for Featuring Products
- How to Add Featured Products on Shopify
- Conclusion
- FAQ
Introduction
In today’s competitive e-commerce landscape, grabbing the attention of your visitors is more critical than ever. One effective strategy for standing out is featuring products in your Shopify store. Featured products not only attract attention but also drive sales by drawing customers toward items you want to highlight, such as new arrivals, bestsellers, or seasonal specials. But how do you choose which products to feature, and what best practices should you follow?
This blog post provides a comprehensive guide on selecting and showcasing featured products in your Shopify store. By the end of this article, you will have actionable insights to boost your sales and create a more engaging shopping experience for your customers.
What are Featured Products?
Featured products are select items in your online store that are spotlighted to grab the attention of your visitors. These items are given prominent placement on your homepage, category pages, or specialized sections, making them easy for shoppers to find. Highlighting these products helps guide customers toward items you aim to promote, such as new releases, bestsellers, or seasonal goods.
Featured products work similarly to a retail store’s window display, drawing customers in and creating opportunities for higher sales.
Why Should You Display Featured Products?
Displaying featured products on your Shopify store offers several benefits:
- Increased Visibility: Featured products get prime visibility, making it easier for customers to discover key items.
- Boosted Sales: Highlighting popular or high-margin products can drive more sales.
- Improved Customer Experience: By strategically featuring products, you can streamline the shopping experience, helping customers find what they need more quickly.
- Enhanced Marketing Efforts: Featured products can be part of broader marketing campaigns, including email marketing, social media, and paid ads.
How to Select Products for Your Featured Collection
Selecting the right products to feature can significantly influence customer interest and drive more sales. Here are some factors to consider:
1. Popularity and Sales Data
Begin with your best-selling items. Look at your sales data in the Shopify admin panel to determine which products are frequently purchased. Featuring popular items can help new customers discover them, further boosting sales.
For instance, if you notice that a particular type of handbag is selling well, it’s a good idea to feature it prominently on your homepage.
2. Seasonal Relevance
Take the time of year into account when choosing featured products. Products that are seasonally relevant will naturally attract more attention. For example, featuring swimsuits in the summer or coats in the winter can be very effective.
An example could be sporting goods stores featuring skiing equipment in the winter and swimming gear in the summer.
3. Inventory Levels
Ensure you have enough stock of the items you wish to feature. There’s nothing worse than running a promotional campaign for a featured product only to run out of stock. Keep enough inventory to meet the potential increased demand.
4. Profit Margins
Consider the profit margins of your products. Featuring items with higher profit margins can significantly impact your bottom line. If a product is both popular and offers good profit margins, it’s an excellent candidate for your featured collection.
5. Personalization
Personalization can make featured collections even more effective. Use customer data to tailor the collection to individual shoppers. This might include items based on their browsing history, past purchases, or expressed preferences.
For example, Sephora often shows personalized product recommendations to returning customers, enhancing the likelihood of a purchase.
6. Customer Feedback
Utilize customer reviews and feedback to identify products that customers love. Featuring items with positive reviews can build trust and encourage new customers to try them out.
7. Regular Rotation
Keep your featured collection fresh by rotating products regularly. This doesn’t mean changing everything every week; a monthly update can keep your offering interesting and allows you to test which products perform best.
Best Practices for Featuring Products
1. Find the Right Placement
Placement is crucial for the effectiveness of your featured products. Here are some strategic placements:
- Homepage: The homepage is the first thing visitors see. Use high-quality banners and highlight key products to draw customers in.
- Category Pages: Feature popular or new items within specific categories. For instance, a "Summer Collection" category could feature top-selling summer items.
- Product Pages: Display related items to encourage cross-selling. For example, showing a belt on a jeans product page can increase the average order value.
- Popups and Banners: Use popups and banners sparingly to highlight special offers or new products without irritating the customer.
2. Use High-Quality Images
High-quality images are essential in e-commerce as they influence purchasing decisions. Ensure your featured products have multiple, professional images showing them from various angles. This provides a comprehensive view and convinces potential buyers of the product’s quality.
3. Display Prices and Discounts
Always display prices clearly and highlight any discounts prominently. Shoppers are often motivated by savings, so making discounts visible can push them towards a purchase. Another effective strategy is to use a different color or special icons to make the discounts stand out.
4. Offer Bundles
Offering product bundles can increase perceived value and boost sales. For example, pairing complementary items like a laptop with a protective case at a discounted rate can drive more purchases while giving customers a better deal.
5. Leverage Shopify Features and Apps
Use Shopify’s built-in features and apps to enhance your product display:
- Themes: Choose a theme that effectively showcases featured products.
- Drag-and-Drop Editor: Customize your store layout easily to highlight featured collections.
- Apps: Use apps like OptiMonk to feature products dynamically through popups and banners.
How to Add Featured Products on Shopify
Ready to showcase your featured products? Here’s how to do it:
Using Shopify’s Built-in Feature
- Log into Shopify Admin: Navigate to the Shopify admin panel.
- Go to Online Store: Click on “Online Store” and then “Themes.”
- Customize Theme: Click “Customize” to enter the theme editor.
- Add Featured Collection: From the theme editor sidebar, select “Featured Product” or “Featured Collection” and choose the products you wish to feature.
- Save and Publish: Save your changes and publish them. Your featured products will now be prominently displayed on your store.
Using OptiMonk
- Install OptiMonk: Find and install OptiMonk from the Shopify App Store.
- Create Campaign: In the OptiMonk dashboard, create a new campaign—choose between popup or embedded.
- Design Campaign: Customize the template with your branding. Add your featured products either dynamically or manually.
- Target Audience: Set up targeting rules to decide when and where the campaign will appear.
- Launch Campaign: After setting everything up, launch your campaign to make your featured products more visible.
Conclusion
Featuring products in your Shopify store is a powerful strategy to gain visibility, increase sales, and create a more user-friendly shopping experience. By strategically selecting and showcasing products, leveraging high-quality images, and using the right tools and apps, you can maximize the effectiveness of your featured collections.
Ready to start featuring products and boosting your sales? Sign up for a free OptiMonk account and start creating engaging, high-converting product displays today!
FAQ
Q1: How often should I rotate my featured products?
It’s generally a good idea to update your featured products on a monthly basis to keep your storefront fresh and engaging for returning customers.
Q2: Can I feature seasonal products year-round?
Yes, but displayed prominently only during their peak seasons for maximum impact. For instance, keep a winter coat on your website all year, but feature it prominently only in the fall and winter months.
Q3: What should I do if I run out of stock for a featured product?
Monitor your inventory closely. If you anticipate low stock, rotate out the product for another to avoid disappointing customers.
Q4: Are there any Shopify apps you recommend for managing featured products?
OptiMonk is a great app for creating engaging campaigns to highlight featured products dynamically. It offers various templates and customization options to suit your needs.
Q5: How do I personalize featured products for returning customers?
Use customer data such as browsing history and past purchases to curate a personalized collection tailored to their preferences. Tools like Shopify's built-in personalization features and advanced apps can assist with this.
