Enhance Your Shopify Store with Custom Fields

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. What are Custom Fields?
3. Benefits of Using Custom Fields
4. Examples of Custom Fields
5. Accessing Meta Fields in Shopify
6. Adding Custom Fields to Products
7. Upgrading to Online Store 2.0
8. Exploring Free Themes in Online Store 2.0
9. Customizing the Product Page
10. Adding Collapsible Tabs and Dynamic Data

Introduction

In this article, we will explore the new update in Shopify that allows you to add custom fields to your products. Custom fields, also known as meta fields, provide a way to customize the functionality and appearance of your Shopify store by saving specialized information that isn't typically captured by the Shopify admin. We will discuss the benefits of using custom fields, provide examples of how they can be utilized, and guide you on how to access and add custom fields to your products.

What are Custom Fields?

Custom fields, or meta fields, enable you to save specialized information in your Shopify store that goes beyond the standard product details captured by the Shopify admin. These fields can be used for internal tracking or to display specialized information on your online store in various ways. For example, a candle seller might want to display the burn time for candles on their product pages, while a grocery store may want to display expiration dates for canned goods.

Benefits of Using Custom Fields

There are several benefits to utilizing custom fields in your Shopify store. Firstly, they allow you to provide additional information to your customers that can enhance their shopping experience and help them make informed purchasing decisions. Custom fields also enable you to organize and track specific data related to your products, making it easier to manage and analyze your inventory. Additionally, by customizing the appearance and functionality of your store using custom fields, you can create a unique and tailored shopping experience for your customers.

Examples of Custom Fields

To better understand how custom fields can be used in a Shopify store, let's consider a few examples. Imagine you are a candle seller, and you want to display the burn time for each candle on the product pages. By adding a custom field for "burn time", you can easily input and showcase this information for every candle product. Similarly, if you run a grocery store, you might want to display the product expiration dates for canned goods. With custom fields, you can add a field specifically for "expiration date" and populate it for each relevant product.

Accessing Meta Fields in Shopify

To access and manage meta fields in Shopify, you need to navigate to the "Settings" section of your store's admin dashboard. In the settings, you will find a newly introduced option called "Metafields" which allows you to add and customize meta fields for different areas of your store. Currently, you can add extra meta fields for products and variants, but more options will be available in the future for collections, customers, and orders.

Adding Custom Fields to Products

To add custom fields to your Shopify products, go to the "Products" section in the "Metafields" option within the settings. From here, you can create a new meta field definition by providing a name for the field and choosing the content type. The content type determines the format of the data that can be entered in the custom field. For example, you can choose "general text" for a field that accepts any text input or select options like color, date and time, file, measurements, number, rating, reference, and more. Save the meta field definition, and it will be available for use in your product pages.

Upgrading to Online Store 2.0

Before adding custom fields to your products, it is important to ensure that your store is using the Online Store 2.0 theme. Online Store 2.0 themes are specifically designed to support the new meta fields feature and provide additional functionality. If your store is using an older theme, you will need to upgrade to a compatible version or consider choosing a new 2.0 theme. Upgrading your theme will unlock the full potential of custom fields and allow you to create a customized shopping experience for your customers.

Exploring Free Themes in Online Store 2.0

In the Online Store 2.0 theme library, you can find both free and paid themes that are compatible with the new meta fields feature. It is recommended to explore the available themes and choose one that suits your store's design and requirements. The free theme called "Dawn" is an excellent option to get started with and offers a range of customization options, including support for meta fields.

Customizing the Product Page

Once you have selected and installed an Online Store 2.0 theme, you can start customizing the product page to include the custom fields. Within the theme editor, navigate to the product page section and choose the default page layout. From here, you can add blocks and customize the content within them. For example, you can add a collapsible tab and specify the heading, such as "Model Info", and link it to the product's meta field for model information. This allows you to display dynamic data on a per-product basis, providing relevant information to your customers.

Adding Collapsible Tabs and Dynamic Data

To add a collapsible tab for displaying custom information, select the appropriate block type in the theme editor. For example, if you want to display model information, choose the collapsible tab block and set the heading as "Model Info". You can link the content of the tab to the specific meta field that contains the model information. By using dynamic data insertion, the content of the tab will automatically populate with the relevant information from the linked meta field. This allows you to create organized and informative product pages that enhance the customer's browsing experience.

In conclusion, custom fields or meta fields provide a powerful way to add specialized information to your Shopify store. By accessing and utilizing these custom fields, you can enhance your product pages and provide an engaging shopping experience for your customers. Whether it's displaying burn time for candles or highlighting product expiration dates, custom fields enable you to showcase unique details that can influence purchasing decisions. Upgrade to Online Store 2.0, explore compatible themes, and customize your product pages to leverage the full potential of custom fields in Shopify.

Highlights

• Custom fields, or meta fields, enable you to save specialized information in your Shopify store that goes beyond the standard product details captured by the Shopify admin.
• Benefits of using custom fields include providing additional information to customers, tracking specific data, and creating a unique shopping experience.
• Examples of custom fields include displaying burn time for candles and product expiration dates.
• Access and manage meta fields in Shopify through the "Metafields" option in the settings.
• Add custom fields to products by creating meta field definitions and choosing the appropriate content type.
• Upgrade to Online Store 2.0 to unlock the full potential of custom fields and access additional features.
• Explore free themes in the Online Store 2.0 theme library to find a compatible theme for your store.
• Customize the product page by adding collapsible tabs and linking them to relevant meta fields for dynamic data display.

FAQs

Q: How can custom fields enhance the shopping experience for customers? A: Custom fields provide additional information that can help customers make informed purchasing decisions. By displaying specific details like burn time or expiration dates, customers can have a better understanding of the product's features.

Q: Can I add multiple custom fields to a single product? A: Yes, you can add multiple custom fields to a product. Each custom field can be tailored to display different types of information, allowing you to provide a comprehensive description of your products.

Q: Do I need to use Online Store 2.0 themes to add custom fields? A: Yes, Online Store 2.0 themes are specifically designed to support the new meta fields feature. Upgrading to an Online Store 2.0 theme is necessary to fully utilize custom fields in your Shopify store.

Q: Can I customize the appearance of the custom fields on my product pages? A: Yes, you can customize the appearance of the custom fields by using the theme editor. You can choose the layout, style, and position of the custom fields to match your store's design.

Q: Are there any limitations to the content types that can be used in custom fields? A: Shopify offers a wide range of content types that can be used in custom fields, including text, numbers, dates, files, and more. However, be mindful of the specific content type requirements to ensure accurate data entry.