Mastering Sub Pages in Shopify: A Comprehensive Guide to Building a Better eCommerce Structure.

Table of Contents

1. Key Highlights:
2. Introduction
3. Why Sub Pages Matter for Your Shopify Store
4. Use Shopify Navigation to Structure Sub Pages
5. Create Manual Sub Pages With Custom URLs
6. Use a Page Builder App
7. Customize Your Shopify Theme Files
8. Best Practices for Sub Pages and SEO
9. Tools and Apps That Help With Sub Page Structure
10. Common Mistakes to Avoid
11. Final Thoughts

Key Highlights:

• Shopify does not offer traditional parent-child page hierarchies but allows the creation of visual sub pages through navigation menus, custom pages, and page builder apps.
• Implementing sub pages can enhance user experience, improve site structure, and contribute positively to SEO.
• Tools like page builders and advanced SEO apps can facilitate the development of a cohesive and organized online store.

Introduction

Creating an optimal eCommerce store on Shopify necessitates a thoughtful approach to navigation and content organization. While the platform does not support traditional parent-child page structures natively, there are effective methods to create the visual illusion of sub pages. By leveraging Shopify's navigation menus, custom pages, and third-party applications, store owners can craft a logical hierarchy that enhances user experience and bolsters search engine optimization (SEO). This guide delves deep into understanding the significance of sub pages and various strategies to implement them effectively within Shopify.

Why Sub Pages Matter for Your Shopify Store

Sub pages, often referred to as child pages or nested pages, are integral to effective website structure. They reside under a parent page in the site’s hierarchy, aiding navigation and content organization. Consider a scenario where the main page is titled "Collections," with sub pages categorized as “Men’s Clothing,” “Women’s Clothing,” or “Sale Items.”

Despite Shopify's limitations regarding nested URLs, a well-thought-out site organization can yield significant advantages:

Benefits of Sub Pages:

• Improved User Experience: Facilitates easy access to products, thus enhancing customer satisfaction.
• Better Site Structure: Organizes content logically, particularly beneficial for extensive catalogs.
• Stronger SEO Signals: A cohesive internal linking strategy can enhance site crawlability and search ranking potential.
• Increased Time on Site: Streamlined navigation encourages users to explore more pages, boosting engagement metrics.

Use Shopify Navigation to Structure Sub Pages

One of the simplest ways to create the appearance of sub pages is by utilizing Shopify’s Menus and Navigation feature. While this method does not alter URLs, it serves to visually organize your store, making it user-friendly.

How to Create Sub Pages Using Navigation:

1. Access your Shopify Admin Panel.
2. Navigate to Online Store > Navigation.
3. Select your Main Menu.
4. Click “Add Menu Item” to establish a parent item (e.g., "Shop").
5. Add other menu items (e.g., “Men's”, “Women's”, “Sale”) as sub items.
6. Use the drag-and-drop feature to categorize them under the parent item.

This method creates a visual hierarchy without changing the underlying URL structure, useful for small to medium-sized stores seeking simplicity.

Pros:

• Quick and user-friendly setup.
• No coding is required, making it accessible for store owners without technical expertise.
• Compatible with most Shopify themes.

Cons:

• URLs remain flat and do not reflect hierarchical nesting.
• Limited SEO benefits stemming from URL structures.

Create Manual Sub Pages With Custom URLs

For those seeking enhanced control over their page structure and SEO, manually creating sub pages with custom URLs can be the ideal solution. This approach allows for improved SEO strategy and more substantial content control.

Steps:

1. Go to Online Store > Pages in the Shopify dashboard.
2. Create a parent page (e.g., “Shop All” or “Collections”).
3. Develop additional pages or collections for each category (e.g., “Men’s Clothing,” “Women’s Clothing”).
4. Utilize internal links to connect the parent page to the child pages.
5. Optionally, adopt breadcrumbs and structured linking to guide both users and search engines effectively.

Sample URL Structure:

• /collections
• /collections/mens-clothing
• /collections/womens-clothing

Though these pages are flat within Shopify's backend, they provide a semblance of nesting for the user.

Pros:

• Enhanced SEO control through customizable elements like title tags and metadata.
• Ability to enrich content across individual pages.
• Effective for developing landing pages or SEO silos.

Cons:

• Requires more initial setup and management.
• Necessitates a consistent internal linking methodology.

Use a Page Builder App

For businesses requiring design flexibility or looking to create custom landing pages, page builder apps present an effective solution. These apps allow users to design intricate layouts that simulate sub page structures without the need for coding.

Top Shopify Page Builder Apps:

How to Use a Page Builder to Create Sub Pages:

1. Install a page builder app available in the Shopify app store.
2. Design your primary parent page (e.g., “Shop by Category”).
3. Utilize the app’s templates to craft sub pages (e.g., “Accessories,” “Shoes,” “New Arrivals”).
4. Integrate links to sub pages within the parent page, utilizing buttons or images for easier navigation.
5. Ensure these pages are added to your navigation for seamless access.

Pros:

• Offers complete design customization.
• Generates user-friendly, mobile-optimized layouts.
• Enables rapid visual changes without developer assistance.

Cons:

• Expenses may accumulate depending on the app selected and its functionalities.
• The inclusion of third-party code could potentially impact site speed.

Customize Your Shopify Theme Files

For merchants with coding capabilities or those needing advanced functionalities, customizing Shopify theme files offers extensive control over site structure. This approach permits the creation of unique templates and dynamic breadcrumb navigation.

What You Can Do With Theme Customization:

• Implement breadcrumb navigations to establish site hierarchy.
• Engage in dynamic display of related sub pages or collections.
• Create tailored templates for both parent and child pages.
• Integrate custom sections using Liquid, Shopify’s templating language.

Basic Steps:

1. Navigate to Online Store > Themes > Actions > Edit Code.
2. Back up your theme by duplicating it.
3. Modify theme.liquid, page.liquid, or craft custom templates.
4. Utilize conditional statements to adjust content display based on parent-child relationships.
5. Modify your navigation and link structure accordingly.

While this method permits maximum flexibility, it requires careful implementation, particularly on active stores.

Pros:

• Unrestricted design freedom and control.
• Potential for enhanced SEO if appropriately executed.

Cons:

• Requires a solid understanding of coding (HTML, CSS, Liquid).
• The risk of potentially breaking your site with incorrect edits.
• Longer setup and implementation process.

Best Practices for Sub Pages and SEO

Regardless of the specific method used to create sub pages, adherence to best practices can significantly bolster both user experience and SEO performance.

SEO Best Practices:

• Utilize Internal Linking: Establish links from parent to child pages and vice versa to enhance navigation and relevance.
• Incorporate Breadcrumb Navigation: This aids user navigation and signals hierarchy to search engines, improving crawl efficiency.
• Maintain Simple, Keyword-Focused URLs: Use concise and descriptive URLs, such as /collections/mens-running-shoes, to improve searchability.
• Implement Structured Data Markup: Essential for product and collection pages, this aids search engine understanding.
• Optimize Each Page Individually: Ensure each page features unique meta titles, descriptions, and H1 tags.
• Avoid Duplicate Content: Consistently unique content across similar templates can prevent SEO penalties.

Tools and Apps That Help With Sub Page Structure

The rich ecosystem of Shopify apps provides numerous tools to streamline the process of structuring sub pages.

Useful Apps:

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Creating sub pages can vastly improve your Shopify store; however, pitfalls can diminish their efficacy and even harm user experience.

Top Pitfalls:

• No Internal Links: Failing to connect related pages can hinder user navigation and SEO benefits.
• Duplicate Content: Ensuring all sub pages have unique content is vital to avoiding SEO penalties.
• Confusing Navigation Menus: Clarity and simplicity in navigation are key to enhancing user experience.
• Broken or Orphaned Pages: Every page should have a clear purpose and pathway from other pages.
• Pages with Minimal Content: All pages should be rich with relevant information to provide value to users.

Final Thoughts

While Shopify’s capabilities regarding sub page structures may differ from traditional content management systems, there are numerous effective strategies to create organized, user-friendly online stores. By utilizing menus, creating custom pages, engaging page builder apps, or customizing theme files, business owners can enhance their store's navigation and optimize it for search engines.

Starting with the basics of navigation is advisable for novice users, while more advanced merchants may consider employing app tools or custom coding as their platform grows. Regardless of the chosen method, a keen focus on user experience and SEO will ensure that customers can easily find what they're looking for, boosting both engagement and sales.