How to Add Product Filter in Shopify: A Step-by-Step Guide to Enhance Your Store

Table of Contents

1. What Are Product Filters?
2. Why Product Filters Matter for Your E-commerce Store
3. Types of Product Filters Available on Shopify
4. Step-by-Step Guide on Adding Product Filters on Shopify
5. Best Practices for Using Product Filters
6. Conclusion
7. FAQ Section

When online shoppers ignore products they can't easily find, e-commerce merchants face the daunting challenge of lost sales. In fact, studies reveal that nearly 60% of consumers leave a website if they can’t locate the desired items after a short search. Imagine if enhancing your store's navigation could not only keep potential buyers engaged but also convert them into loyal customers. That’s where product filters come into play.

At ShipAid, we understand that providing a seamless shopping experience is integral to customer satisfaction and, ultimately, business growth. Today, we aim to guide you through the essential steps of how to add product filter in Shopify, ensuring your customers can efficiently navigate through your offerings and discover what they need without unnecessary hassle.

In this blog post, we will cover the following:

1. What Are Product Filters?
2. Why Product Filters Matter for Your E-commerce Store
3. Types of Product Filters Available on Shopify
4. Step-by-Step Guide on Adding Product Filters on Shopify
   • Adding Filters on Desktop
   • Adding Filters on Mobile
5. Best Practices for Using Product Filters
6. Conclusion
7. FAQ Section

Let's get started!

What Are Product Filters?

Product filters are critical merchandising tools that allow customers to narrow down a large selection of products based on specific criteria—such as size, color, type, or price. When a shopper visits your Shopify store, they might encounter hundreds or thousands of products. Without product filters, finding the right product can feel overwhelming.

By offering product filters, you enable potential buyers to quickly refine search results to suit their preferences. When they can easily locate specific items, their likelihood of making a purchase significantly increases, resulting in higher conversion rates for your store.

Why Product Filters Matter for Your E-commerce Store

The importance of product filters extends beyond just enhancing customer experience. Here’s an overview of their key benefits:

• Enhanced User Experience: Shoppers appreciate the ease of navigation. Providing filters allows customers to interact with your products and helps them feel in control of their shopping journey.
• Increased Revenue: When customers can quickly access what they’re looking for, they're more likely to complete their purchases. Studies show that easier navigation can significantly boost your overall sales.
• Improved Product Visibility: Effective filtering can bring attention to specific products, particularly those that are new, on sale, or otherwise critical to your sales strategy.
• Lower Bounce Rates: If customers can't find what they want within your first few clicks, they may abandon your store. Filters help keep shoppers engaged, thus reducing bounce rates.

Types of Product Filters Available on Shopify

Shopify offers two primary categories of product filters to help streamline your customer’s shopping experience.

1. Basic Filters: These include standard options like product type, vendor, and price. Basic filters are suitable for any store and allow for quick and simple narrowing of product options. Users can easily add up to five basic filters per collection.
2. Advanced Filters: These filters depend on your specific product offerings, often requiring additional information through Shopify’s metafields. For instance, for clothing stores, you might want to implement size and color filters, increasing the total count to up to 20 custom filters, catering to varying customer preferences.

As we progress, we’ll delve into how to implement these filters effectively in your Shopify store.

Step-by-Step Guide on Adding Product Filters on Shopify

Adding product filters to your Shopify store is a straightforward process that can greatly enhance customer interactions. Below, we walk you through how to add filters on both desktop and mobile versions of Shopify.

Adding Filters on Desktop

1. Access Your Shopify Admin: Log into your Shopify admin panel.
2. Navigate to Online Store: Click on 'Online Store' in the left sidebar.
3. Select Navigation: In the dropdown menu, find and click on 'Navigation'.
4. Locate Collection and Search Filters: Here, you’ll see a section titled 'Collection and Search Filters'.
5. Add Filters: Click on the 'Add filters' button. A list of available filters will appear.
6. Select Your Filters: Choose the filters that best fit your product catalog—this could include options like price, vendor, or product type.
7. Save Your Changes: After selecting the desired filters, click 'Done' and then ensure you save your changes to update the navigation.

Adding Filters on Mobile

The process for adding filters on mobile is quite similar to the desktop approach. Here’s how:

1. Open the Shopify App: Log into your Shopify mobile app.
2. Go to Sales Channel Section: Click the 'Sales Channel' section and tap 'Online Store'.
3. Access Navigation: Just like on desktop, go to 'Navigation' and locate 'Collection and Search Filters'.
4. Select and Add Filters: Tap on ‘Add filters’ and select as many as you wish.
5. Confirm Your Changes: Once you’ve chosen the filters, click 'Done' and ensure to save.

How to Use Shopify's Metafields for Advanced Filters

If you want to implement advanced product filters, you will need to utilize Shopify's metafields effectively. Here’s a brief overview of how to do this:

1. Define Your Metafields: In your Shopify admin, go to the 'Settings' section and select 'Metafields'. Create definitions that match your product categories (like size and color).
2. Set Values for Metafields: After defining your metafields, ensure every product has corresponding values assigned.
3. Utilize Custom Filters: Return to the Navigation settings to add these advanced filters based on metafield definitions to your store.

By applying these steps systematically, you can vastly improve the ease with which customers navigate your store.

Best Practices for Using Product Filters

As you implement product filters in your Shopify store, consider the following best practices to maximize their effectiveness:

• Limit the Number of Filters: While Shopify allows multiple filters, too many can overwhelm users. It's best to include only the most relevant filters for your product line.
• Test for Effectiveness: Regularly test your filters to ensure they are intuitive and functional. Analyze customer feedback and adjust filters based on user tendencies.
• Ensure Responsiveness: Make sure that your filters work seamlessly across both desktop and mobile devices to provide a consistent user experience.
• Use Descriptive Labels: Instead of vague labels like "Other," be specific. Use simple, clear terms that explain exactly what the filter controls.
• Consider the Sort Order: Arrange your filters in a logical order that aligns with how customers typically think about narrowing their choices, such as sorting by price range first before size or color.
• Keep It Updated: As you add new products, continually adjust your filters so they remain relevant and effective.

Conclusion

Understanding how to add product filters in Shopify is crucial for enhancing customer experience and boosting sales within your store. As outlined above, the process is both straightforward and effective. By implementing basic and advanced filters wisely, you create an environment where customers can easily navigate your offerings, ultimately leading to higher conversion rates and stronger relationships with your shoppers.

Here at ShipAid, we recognize that customer trust is built on reliable experiences. By providing robust filtering options in your Shopify store, you not only enhance user satisfaction but also empower your e-commerce operations.

Join Us in Elevating Your Online Store's Experience

Are you ready to take your e-commerce platform to the next level? Explore our offerings and how we can assist in your shipping protection needs, along with improving your customer experience. Visit our interactive demo here and discover how ShipAid can transform your navigation experience.

FAQ Section

Do I need coding skills to add product filters in Shopify? No, adding product filters in Shopify does not require coding skills. The process can be completed through the Shopify admin interface.

What if I don't see the option to add filters? Check if your current Shopify theme supports product filtering. Some older themes might not have this functionality, and you may need to switch to a newer theme.

Can I customize how the filters look on my store? Yes, you can customize filters to match your store's branding. This may involve adjusting colors, sizes, and descriptions to ensure they align with your overall shop design.

How do product filters affect SEO? While product filters don’t directly impact SEO, they can improve user experience, leading to lower bounce rates and increased time on site, which can indirectly benefit your Search Engine rankings.

What types of products benefit most from filters? Stores with extensive product lines, such as clothing, electronics, and home goods, benefit most from product filters, as they help users pinpoint what they are looking for among many choices.

As you move forward, remember that maintaining a well-organized, filter-friendly store can significantly enhance the shopping experience, allowing e-commerce businesses like yours to flourish.