How to Display Option Icons for Better User Experience in Ecommerce

Table of Contents

  1. Introduction
  2. What Are Option Icons?
  3. Why Use Option Icons?
  4. How to Implement Option Icons
  5. Customizing Option Icon Styles
  6. Benefits of Displaying Option Icons on Category Pages
  7. Things to Keep in Mind
  8. Conclusion
  9. FAQs

Introduction

Imagine shopping for a t-shirt online and having to click through multiple dropdown menus just to find the right size and color. Frustrating, right? In today’s fast-paced digital world, user experience is paramount, and every detail counts. One often overlooked yet essential aspect of ecommerce design is how product options are displayed. This is where option icons come into play. But what exactly are option icons, and how can they enhance your ecommerce platform?

In this blog post, we'll delve deep into the concept of option icons, explore the different types available, and guide you on how to implement them effectively. By the end of this article, you'll have a comprehensive understanding of how to display option icons to improve user experience and potentially increase sales.

What Are Option Icons?

Option icons are visual symbols that represent different product variations such as size, color, or style. They transform what would typically be text-based dropdown menus into more intuitive and interactive visual elements. For instance, instead of selecting "Red" from a dropdown menu, a customer would simply click on a red swatch.

Types of Option Icons

On ecommerce platforms like Bluepark, option icons can be displayed in several ways, including:

  • Text button icons: Buttons that display text values such as "S" for Small, "M" for Medium, and "L" for Large.
  • Color swatches: Small, colored circles or squares representing different color options.
  • Image swatches: Thumbnail images that represent particular styles or patterns.

Why Use Option Icons?

Incorporating option icons into your ecommerce website offers several benefits:

Enhanced User Experience

Visual cues are processed more quickly by the human brain compared to text. This means users can make selections faster, leading to a smoother shopping experience. This can translate to higher customer satisfaction and potentially increased sales.

Improved Accessibility

For users with disabilities or those who are not fluent in the language of the website, option icons provide a universal way to understand product options.

Aesthetically Pleasing

Visual icons add a layer of sophistication and professionalism to your product pages, making your site more engaging and attractive.

How to Implement Option Icons

Setting up option icons on your Bluepark ecommerce platform is straightforward:

Step 1: Set Up Your Options

Firstly, ensure that your product options and variations are set up. If not, refer to Bluepark’s guide on creating options and variants.

Step 2: Change Field Type

By default, new options in the Product Editor are displayed as dropdown fields. To switch to option icons:

  1. Go to the Product Editor.
  2. Click on the Option Name in the Options tab or navigate to Products > Options in the main menu.
  3. From here, change the field type to either "Option icons with select field" or "Option icons only."
  4. Click "Save" and review the changes on your product page.

Step 3: Customize Option Icons

Text Button Icons

For text button icons, you can abbreviate values. For instance, instead of displaying "Small", "Medium", and "Large", you can use "S", "M", and "L" for a cleaner look. This can be configured within the Option's Values screen in the Product Editor.

Color Swatches

To add color swatches:

  1. Go to the Option Editor and click the Edit icon to access the Values screen.
  2. Enter a HEX code or use the Color Picker to select a color for each value.

Image Swatches

To add image swatches:

  1. In the Product Editor's Options tab, click the blue folder icon next to the Image field.
  2. Upload images that are small in both dimensions (100px by 100px is optimal) and file size (no larger than 50kb).

Step 4: Display Swatches on Category and Product Pages

To show swatches on category pages and within product blocks:

  1. Navigate to the Option Editor for your color option.
  2. Tick "Show Colour Swatch in the Displayed in a List of Products" section.

Customizing Option Icon Styles

The appearance of color and image swatches depends on your theme. If you have CSS knowledge, you can further customize these styles by targeting icons using the Additional CSS field in your theme editor.

Benefits of Displaying Option Icons on Category Pages

Displaying option icons on category pages has several advantages:

  • Immediate Visual Feedback: Customers can see available options without clicking through to each product page.
  • Quick Selections: Customers can quickly navigate to the variant they prefer by clicking on the swatch.
  • Increased Engagement: Highlighting product variations makes your category pages more interactive and appealing.

Things to Keep in Mind

  • Theme Compatibility: Ensure your website theme supports V2 features, as option icons only work with V2 themes on Bluepark. Upgrading your theme might be necessary.
  • Consistent Icon Quality: Use high-quality images and colors that are consistent across your site to maintain a professional look.
  • Mobile Optimization: Make sure that the option icons are mobile-friendly and do not compromise the user experience on smaller screens.

Conclusion

Implementing option icons on your ecommerce platform is a game-changer in enhancing user experience, accessibility, and overall aesthetics. By moving from text-based dropdown menus to visual icons, you're not only simplifying the purchasing process for your customers but also making your website more engaging and user-friendly.

Whether it's text button icons, color swatches, or image swatches, each type has its advantages and can be tailored to fit your brand’s needs. Remember to ensure your theme supports these features, and don't hesitate to customize using CSS for a unique touch.

Incorporating option icons is a small but significant step towards optimizing your ecommerce store. Start exploring these options today and see the difference it makes in your customer experience and conversion rates.

FAQs

1. What are option icons?

Option icons are visual indicators that represent different product options like size, color, and style, making the selection process more intuitive for users.

2. How do I set up option icons on Bluepark?

First, create your product options and variants. Then, in the Product Editor, change the field type to "Option icons" and customize as needed using text, color, or images.

3. Why should I use color swatches?

Color swatches provide a quick visual reference, making it easier for customers to choose their desired product variation, enhancing the overall shopping experience.

4. Can I display option icons on category pages?

Yes, you can display option icons on category pages by navigating to the Option Editor and enabling the "Show Colour Swatch" option.

5. Do I need a specific theme to use option icons on Bluepark?

Yes, option icons work with V2 themes on Bluepark. If you’re using a V1 theme, you will need to upgrade to a V2 theme to use this feature.

By following these guidelines and implementing option icons, you can create a more user-friendly and engaging ecommerce experience for your customers.