Product pages... more products vs more 'options'?

[anonuk]

Hey all.
I posted a while back asking shopify vs prestashop and got some really good thoughts so thought I'd give it a go with this question too

Initially, I decided to go with Prestashop but have since changed my mind and started building my site with Shopify. I'm not sure whether this will be permanent but it gives me the ability to get the site up fairly quickly and then I can review it in the new year. So far, I'm quite liking the Shopify 2.0 system although one flaw I've found already is not being able to hide/show specific modules based on desktop vs mobile browser.

Anyway, to the question...
The products I am going to be selling on this website have a fair few variations so let's say its screwdriver bits (it isn't btw)... I could list as the following:

Product with Options
Product Name: Phillips Head Bit
- Options: Size, Material, Pack Qty

More Products
Category (or 'Collection'): Philips Head Bits
Product Name: 3mm Philips Head Bit
- Options: Material, Pack Qty

I wondered what you guys think would convert better. Competitors I have looked at use both but I'm trying to make the site as easy to use as possible.

Thanks in advance

 

[DontAsk]

I prefer a single product with dropdown options to select size, colour, etc., rather than trawling through a long list of individual products.

 

[fisicx]

Agreed. One product with multiple options.

 

[ecommerce84]

I also agree, I like a single product with multiple options.

 

[fisicx]

I'm not sure whether this will be permanent but it gives me the ability to get the site up fairly quickly and then I can review it in the new year.

You may discover you get locked into the shopify system. It's not easy to move from shopify to a new platform and any ranking you had will almost certainly disappear.

 

[intheTRADE]

Single product with the options on the site as a drop down but are you advertising through the likes of Google Shopping, Socials, Rakuten, Fruugo etc? If you are its vitally important that you have the variations as individual SKUs on the product feeds you are using to push them out

 

[antropy]

shopify vs prestashop

Any reason you didn't consider OpenCart?

Paul.

 

[anonuk]

Thanks for the replies and apologies for it taking so long to get back to me.

One of the plugins I want to use pretty much dictated the route I took in the end and that was to have a different product for each size followed by variations for the colour rather than the other way around.

Any reason you didn't consider OpenCart?

Paul.

I was perfectly happy with Prestashop initially. I've built several sites in Prestashop (and Opencart) but in the end, I wanted something where security wasn't going to be a concern. Chances are, when the site grows, I will likely move back to Prestashop but for the moment, I'm quite happy with Shopify.

 

[RussellWhiting]

Hey all.
I posted a while back asking shopify vs prestashop and got some really good thoughts so thought I'd give it a go with this question too

Initially, I decided to go with Prestashop but have since changed my mind and started building my site with Shopify. I'm not sure whether this will be permanent but it gives me the ability to get the site up fairly quickly and then I can review it in the new year. So far, I'm quite liking the Shopify 2.0 system although one flaw I've found already is not being able to hide/show specific modules based on desktop vs mobile browser.

Anyway, to the question...
The products I am going to be selling on this website have a fair few variations so let's say its screwdriver bits (it isn't btw)... I could list as the following:

Product with Options
Product Name: Phillips Head Bit
- Options: Size, Material, Pack Qty

More Products
Category (or 'Collection'): Philips Head Bits
Product Name: 3mm Philips Head Bit
- Options: Material, Pack Qty

I wondered what you guys think would convert better. Competitors I have looked at use both but I'm trying to make the site as easy to use as possible.

Thanks in advance

Hi Anonuk,

First I would say (and it is easy to do with Shopify) A/B test both, then see what your customers prefer

Secondly, when adding products be really sure to cover the following things:
1. Make sure the product has an EAN (otherwise known as a Barcode or GTIN) as without it the product will not get found by Google Shopping.
2. Make sure the products have relevant Google Shopping Categories - on Shopify this is added on the right-hand side of the product in the Shopify backend in Products, but you will also need it in the Google Shopping section (app) within Shopify. If looking at pushing onto Google Shopping via Shopify there is a few good apps, I have used googleshoppingfeed but there are others.
3. Ensure the product title is replicated in the first para of the product description and in the Meta description and Meta title, plus make sure the url makes sense replicating the title but not too long, lots of dashes in a url Google does not like!
4. Re the images, make sure again that the title is replicated in the Alt text and the image description and when you set/upload the images to Shopify make sure their title is in the image url...
5. Make sure your products on Shopify are linked to any relevant marketplaces, such as eBay, Amazon and Onbuy etc., these can all be connected via Shopify.
6. Set-up a Facebook Business page and Instagram, create a simple shop within them - all via Shopify.
7. Site speed is a common issue on Shopify and most relate to the use of Shopify apps - 2 important points; first don't use too many apps as this slows things down, and if you do use them then delete them ensure you delete the code for that app in the backend, second be aware that linking to facebook etc., via Shopify can slow the site and this is because the site makes 'data calls' to the social media at the start of the site build, so use an app that helps load the site elements before those connections, there are a few available..
Points 3 & 4 are SEO related.

Good luck, IMO Shopify is a great platform to work with once you know how to get the best out of it
Russell

 

[RussellWhiting]

Thanks for the replies and apologies for it taking so long to get back to me.

One of the plugins I want to use pretty much dictated the route I took in the end and that was to have a different product for each size followed by variations for the colour rather than the other way around.


I was perfectly happy with Prestashop initially. I've built several sites in Prestashop (and Opencart) but in the end, I wanted something where security wasn't going to be a concern. Chances are, when the site grows, I will likely move back to Prestashop but for the moment, I'm quite happy with Shopify.

If the site grows well, move to Shopify Plus
Russell

 

[RussellWhiting]

You may discover you get locked into the shopify system. It's not easy to move from shopify to a new platform and any ranking you had will almost certainly disappear.

Hi Fisicx,
I've had a few sites move over from Shopify without an issue. One to Plentymarkets and one to Magento, both didn't have any impact on their google ranking - just have to be careful that you keep the structure, links etc., in place..
cheers, Russell