How to Add Recommended Products in Shopify to Boost Your Sales

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Understanding Product Recommendations
3. How to Add Recommended Products in Shopify
4. Tips and Tricks for Effective Product Recommendations
5. Conclusion

Introduction

Have you ever wondered what truly drives customers to make that final purchase? While product quality and pricing play essential roles, the way we present products can significantly influence consumer behavior. In the world of ecommerce, recommended products can be the secret ingredient that turns casual browsers into loyal customers. In fact, studies have shown that across various industries, product recommendations can account for nearly 30% of sales.

Navigating the Shopify platform provides immense opportunities for merchants to implement effective product recommendations seamlessly. Whether it's upselling, cross-selling, or simply suggesting products that complement others, the methods available to enhance product visibility and improve customer experience are invaluable tools in a merchant's arsenal.

In this blog post, we'll delve into the methods of adding recommended products to your Shopify store. We'll cover everything from understanding different types of recommendations to implementing them without any coding knowledge. By the end, you'll have a thorough grasp of how to effectively use product recommendations to not only boost sales but enhance customer trust—a critical element in ensuring your ecommerce store flourishes.

We’ll begin by exploring the different types of product recommendations available and their benefits. Then, we’ll guide you through practical steps to integrate them into your Shopify store, wrapping up with valuable tips to maximize their effectiveness. So let’s embark on this journey together and transform the way your customers shop by showing them predominantly what they didn't know they needed.

Understanding Product Recommendations

What Are Product Recommendations?

Product recommendations refer to techniques used to suggest products to customers based on their browsing behaviors, previous purchases, or related products. These recommendations create a personalized shopping experience by helping customers discover additional items they are likely to be interested in.

There are several distinct types of product recommendations:

• Related Products: These are items similar to what the customer is currently viewing. For instance, if a customer is interested in a specific pair of shoes, related products might include shoes from the same brand or style.
• Complementary Products: These recommendations suggest items that enhance or complement a main product. For example, if someone is looking at a camera, the store might recommend camera bags, tripods, or additional lenses.
• Frequently Bought Together Products: This type suggests items that are commonly purchased in unison. For instance, when viewing a laptop, customers might see recommendations for a laptop case or wireless mouse.

These recommendations are not just beneficial for driving additional sales; they can significantly improve customer experience by offering a more tailored shopping journey. When customers feel understood and catered to, the result is often increased trust—leading to higher conversion rates and repeat purchases.

The Benefits of Implementing Product Recommendations

At ShipAid, we believe in the power of thoughtful customer engagement. Here are key benefits to incorporating product recommendations in your Shopify store:

1. Increase Average Order Value (AOV): Leveraging recommendations can encourage customers to add more items to their carts, directly increasing AOV. According to various studies, effective product recommendations can lead to a 15-30% increase in AOV.
2. Boost Sales: Simply put, more recommended products lead to more purchase opportunities. By guiding customers toward additional items they might not have sought out, you convert missed opportunities into sales.
3. Enhance Customer Experience: Personalized recommendations streamline the shopping experience, making it easier for customers to find what they need. When shoppers feel cared for, they are more likely to return.
4. Reduce Cart Abandonment: With tailored recommendations, you can capture a customer's attention right before they leave the site. Strategic placements—like pop-ups suggesting complimentary items—can entice them to continue shopping rather than abandon their carts.

How to Add Recommended Products in Shopify

Having established the importance of product recommendations, let’s move on to the practical aspects—how to add them to your Shopify store.

Using Built-in Shopify Features

Shopify themes often come with built-in sections for product recommendations, which can be easily customized based on your store's aesthetic and inventory. Here’s how to utilize these features:

1. Access Your Theme Settings: Begin by logging into your Shopify admin panel. Navigate to Online Store, then to Themes. Choose the theme you want to customize, and click on Customize.
2. Add a Product Recommendations Section: This can often be found within the product page settings. If your theme supports it:
   • Select Products from the drop-down menu at the top.
   • Look for Default product to load the product template.
   • Locate the Product recommendations section. If it’s not there, you can add a new section by clicking + Add section and then choosing Product recommendations.
3. Customize the Section: In the settings panel, you can decide which product information to display, such as images, titles, prices, and short descriptions. Adjust these settings to match your brand voice and visual identity.
4. Save Your Changes: Once you’re satisfied with the setup, make sure to save your changes.

Third-Party Apps for Enhanced Flexibility

While built-in options are useful, you may want more advanced features. This is where third-party apps come in. There are several applications available on the Shopify App Store that can help streamline the recommendation process:

1. Wiser: This app leverages artificial intelligence to offer personalized product suggestions based on user behavior. Installation is straightforward, and the recommendations adapt over time as they learn from your customer interactions.
2. Recomatic: This app helps display "frequently bought together" products which can lead to higher conversion rates and increased cart sizes. It automates the recommendation process and requires minimal setup.
3. Frequently Bought Together: This app focuses specifically on enhancing upsell opportunities during the checkout process.

To install an app:

• Go to the Shopify App Store.
• Search for your chosen app.
• Click on Add app, install it, and follow the on-screen instructions to set it up.

Custom Code for Product Recommendations

If you have coding experience or access to a developer, you can also customize your product recommendations beyond the options provided by your theme or third-party apps. Using Shopify’s Liquid template language allows for a tailored approach to recommendations.

1. Edit Theme Code: Go to Online Store > Themes and then click Actions > Edit code on the theme you’re working on.
2. Locate Product Template: Under the Sections folder, find the product-template.liquid file. This is where you can add custom Liquid code to display recommended products based on specific criteria.
3. Implement Logic for Recommendations: You can use Liquid to fetch related or complementary products based on various parameters (such as tags or collections). This will require a solid understanding of Liquid, but the flexibility it offers is immense.
4. Test and Publish Changes: Always preview your site after making edits to ensure everything appears as expected, and then publish changes once you’re satisfied.

Tips and Tricks for Effective Product Recommendations

After successfully adding product recommendations, using them effectively can further optimize their impact on your sales and customer experience. Here are a few strategies:

Position Matters

Where you place your product recommendations can significantly influence their visibility and effectiveness. Common placements include:

• Below the main product details: This allows customers to see options while they weigh their purchasing decision.
• In the checkout process: Adding related product recommendations here can lead to impulse buys.
• Exit-intent pop-ups: Catch customers as they leave your site with suggestions that might pique their interest.

Personalize Your Recommendations

Tailoring product suggestions based on user behavior enhances their effectiveness. Use tools that provide insights into customer preferences, previous purchases, or frequently viewed items to personalize recommendations.

Monitor and Optimize

Be sure to keep an eye on the performance statistics after implementing product recommendations. Most third-party applications provide analytics on conversion rates from recommendations, which can inform future adjustments. Are certain products consistently recommended but seldom purchased? Use this data to refine your strategy and ensure you're showcasing the right products to the right customers.

A/B Testing

Consider running A/B tests with different sets of product recommendations to determine what resonates with your audience. This could involve presenting different complementary items or changing the layout of your recommendations section.

Conclusion

Utilizing product recommendations in your Shopify store is not just a matter of increasing sales; it’s about cultivating trust, enhancing the shopping experience, and driving customer loyalty. As we’ve explored, you have a multitude of methodologies at your disposal—from built-in Shopify functionalities and third-party apps to custom coding solutions.

Together, by optimizing how we present our products, we can increase average order values, boost overall sales, and provide a personalized shopping experience that resonates with our customers.

FAQ Section

1. Can I customize product recommendations based on customer behavior?

Yes! Many apps, like Wiser and Recomatic, use AI to analyze customer behavior and create personalized recommendations. Additionally, you can manually set up complementary products to further enhance personalization.

2. How do I monitor the success of my product recommendations?

You can track the performance of product recommendations through Shopify Analytics or the analytics provided by third-party apps. Look for metrics such as conversion rates from recommended products to adjust strategies as needed.

3. Can product recommendations increase cart abandonment rates?

When implemented strategically, product recommendations can actually help reduce cart abandonment rates. By suggesting complementary items at key moments, customers may be swayed to add more products to their cart, making it less likely they abandon their purchase.

4. Do I need coding experience to add recommended products to Shopify?

No, you don’t need coding experience to implement product recommendations. Shopify offers built-in solutions and third-party apps that provide simple, user-friendly interfaces for setting recommendations.

By integrating these recommendations, not only will you optimize your offerings, but you will foster a shopping environment that keeps customers coming back for more. Explore our demo at ShipAid Demo to see how we can support your efforts in protecting and optimizing your shipping processes!