Client Resources

Online Help

Help Categories

Categories

On this page

  1. Adding a category
  2. Editing categories
  3. Adding a subcategory
  4. Deleting categories
  5. Changing the order of categories
  6. Setting global options for a category
  7. Set global options for all categories in My Shop

FAQs

  1. Can I add category information (files and images) into a csv?

 

Adding a category (eCommerce packages only)

Categories are the main groups into which the products of your shop are organised. It is best to keep your category structure as simple as possible to make navigation easy for your visitors.  You can edit a category that has been created at any time by clicking on the category name.

    1. Go to My Shop . Click the New Category button.
    2. Enter information into the General tab as follows:
  • Category Name: Enter a name for the category. This name must be unique and not used for any other category or subcategory in your shop.
  • Category Link: By default what you type into the 'Category Name' field will appear automatically as your Category Link (URL). You can override this by entering a URL that briefly describes your category. Like your 'Category Name', the URL must be unique and not used for any other category or sub category in your shop. Use a hyphen '-' to separate words; you must not use spaces when creating a URL.
  • META Title: Often referred to as the "Page Title", this title typically appears as the bold-type URL that search engines serve within their results pages (SERPs). Write a title that will attract a reader's attention, e.g. if you sell Apples in Sydney, a good page title may read, "Sydney's Freshest Apples Delivered to Your Door". It is recommended that you keep the character count to approximately 65 characters, including spaces. Place the most important keywords relevant to your category towards the front of the title. Read more about keywords in the What are keywords? article.
  • Description: Enter in a short description of the category. This will appear on your website above the products featured within that category.
  • Category Image: Upload an image to use as a banner for this category. Click on the Browse button to browse through the files on your PC. Select the image you want to load and click the Open button. The name will appear in the field. Click the Upload button to copy the image to your website server. When the name of the image appears in the category images folder, select the image and click the Select Image button. The image will be applied to every page of that particular category. That applies to all products in the category.
  • File Attachment: Upload a document (for example, a Word or PDF brochure) by using the same method described for uploading a category image above.
    1. Click the SEO tab. This tab features elements that enable you to optimise your products for search engines such as Google, Yahoo! and Bing. Although this information is treated differently by each search engine, it is good practice to complete each field.
  • META Keywords: Enter up to 30 keywords and/or short phrases specific to the new category that you are creating. Read more about keywords in the What are keywords? article.
  • META Description: This text typically displays beneath your META/Page Title within a search engine's SERP (see above 'META Title'). Keep the description short and precise and specific to the shop category. Aim for a maximum character count of approx. 166. Read more about META descriptions in the What is the description? article.
  • To finish, click the 'Save New Category' button to create your new shop category.
    1. Click the Options tab. You can create options that will be applied to every product in the category (unless specifically turned off at product level).  For categories that do not require options, see step 5.
  • Ignore any global options that may apply to this category: Place a tick in this box to prevent any other global option changes from affecting this category.
  • Option Group Name: Enter the name of the option that will appear on the site i.e., Size
  • Option Description: Enter text to this section to appear on the site under the option name i.e., please select a size.
  • Option Variances: Enter choices that may or may not alter the base price of the product as follows:
  • Option name: Enter the name of the variance i.e., Small .
  • Cost: The effect that this variant has on the base price of the product. The variance can be either an addition to (+) or a subtraction (-) from the base value.
  • Amount: Enter the amount by which the base price will be adjusted i.e., 5.00.
  • Variance type: There are two types of variation, set amount and percentage. Select either of these from the drop-down box to change the price by that type.
  • Option ID: A reference number for your own use.
  1. Click the Save New Category button.  The new category is saved.

Top of page


 

Editing categories (eCommerce packages only)

Tip:

Impress your visitors by ensuring that category descriptions and images are always current.  This makes business quick and easy for visitors and you.

Once a category or subcategory has been created, you can update any of its details at any time.

  1. Go to My Shop > Click the Edit button next to a category or subcategory.
  2. From the Modify Category menu, select Edit this category . Click the Continue button.
  3. Make your alterations to any of the details in the General, Keywords and Description, or Options tab.
  4. Click Save Category .

For an explanation of all the category fields, please see the article Adding a category .

 

Top of page


 

Adding a subcategory ( eCommerce packages only)

Tip:

Don't forget to click the Save Category button when you have entered all of the category details.

Subcategories are created when categories are divided into smaller, more specific groups. This can aid visitors navigation by allowing them to navigate directly to a product, rather than scrolling or clicking through a large number of products that do not meet their needs. You can have up to five (5) levels of subcategories.  Subcategories can be edited at any time.

  1. Go to My Shop > Click the Edit button next to the category you want to add the subcategory to.
  2. From the Modify Category menu, select Add a New Subcategory to this level . Click the Continue button.
  3. Add Category Details: Type the Name , Description and upload an image (optional).
  4. Add Keywords & Description: Type in keywords and description text.
  5. Create Options (optional): Add options that will be applied to every product and subcategory in the subcategory.
  6. Click the Save Category button.

For an explanation of all the category fields, please see the related article Adding a category .

 

Top of page


 

Deleting categories (eCommerce packages only)

Tip:

You can not undo a delete action.  Make sure that you want to delete the category before you click Continue.

You can create a back-up of your shop but it will only save product details (not category details).

Once a category or subcategory has been created, you can delete it at any time. You must move or delete all products out of the category to delete the category.

  1. Go to My Shop > Click the Edit button next to the category or subcategory you wish to delete.
  2. From the Modify Category menu, select Delete this category . Click the Continue button.

 

Top of page


 

Changing the order of categories (eCommerce packages only)

Tip:

For stores that are continually expanding, leave gaps between numbers so that you can easily insert new categories without re-ordering all categories.

For example, make your order numbers 10, 20, 30, 40, 50. 

This means that you can easily place another category between number 10 and number 20 by giving it a number of 15.

You can update the display order of your categories and subcategories at any time. You do this by moving categories and subcategories up and down the menu structure.

  1. Go to My Shop > Click the Edit button next to a category.
  2. From the Modify Category menu, select Change order of categories . Click the Continue button.
  3. Enter a number into the Order field next to each category. The category with the lowest number will appear first. For example, one (1) appears before ten (10).
  4. Click Save Changes .

 

 

Top of page


 

Setting global options for a category (eCommerce packages only)

Tip:

Work efficiently by adding global options for categories which contain products with similar colour or size options. 

You can exempt individual products and sub-categories from global options.

Once a category has been created, you can add price-altering options that will affect every product or subcategory within the category. The advantage of this is that you don't need to edit each product individually.

  1. Go to My Shop > Click the Edit button next to a category or subcategory.
  2. From the Modify Category menu, select Set global options for this category . Click the Continue button.
  3. Enter details for the global options in the Options tab.
  4. Click Save Category .

For an explanation of all the Option fields, please see the related article Adding a category .

Top of page


 

Set global options for all categories in My Shop (eCommerce packages only)

Tip:

Work efficiently by using the global options.

While you are able to set individual options for all products, there are often times when one group of options needs to be applied to every product in your shop.

Rather than editing each product individually, you are able to set global options that can be applied across your whole inventory.

  1. Go to My Shop .
  2. Click the Global category options button.
  3. Enter in the relevant option details.  For an explanation of all the Option fields, please see the related article Adding a category .
  4. Click the Save Changes button.  The options will appear for all products in your store unless you have created an exemption at a product record.

Top of page


Can I add category information (files and images) into a CSV?

The CSV contains details for every product in your store. It does not contain extra information about categories such as category description, images, files, keywords and description.


For free technical support, please contact support@sitesuite.com.au or call (02) 8904 7500