This article will take you through the theory behind designing a good category structure. It will provide clear guidelines that will help you improve the user-friendliness of your online store and make it easier to find products. We will cover different levels of categories, naming conventions, the use of attributes, and best practices for maintenance.

1. Defining parent vs. child levels

• Choose the appropriate number of levels : The recommendation is usually two levels (main category + subcategory) to ensure clear navigation.
• 10 x 10 rule : Try to keep each level to no more than 10 categories. If you have a lot of categories, use three levels if necessary.
• Consistency or flexibility : In general, a flat structure is ideal, but you can mix and match two- and three-level branches as needed. Remember, a consistent structure makes navigation easier.

2. Naming categories

• Short and descriptive names : Avoid long or complicated names. For example, “Women’s T-shirts” is clearer than “Women’s T-shirt Tops and Tank Tops.”
• Consistent style : Use a capital letter only at the beginning of a word (e.g. “Women's Tee Shirts” rather than “Women's Tee Shirts”).
• Search Engine Optimization (SEO) : Utilize keywords, but still keep names short and understandable.
• Category name vs. attribute :
  • Category : Use for broad product groups (e.g. “Men’s Shoes”, “Women’s Jackets”).
  • Attribute : Use to narrow down more specific features (size, color, material, brand), allowing the customer to filter products across categories efficiently.

3. Usability and order

• Consistent naming structure : Use the same logic at all levels (for example, gender > clothing category).
• Top categories first : Put frequently searched or important categories at the top.
• Multi-categorization : If the same product fits into multiple categories, consider multi-categorization. However, only use it if it genuinely serves customer search behavior.

4. Maintenance tips

• Subcategorizing products : If one category becomes too broad, divide it into subcategories to make it easier for the customer to find the products they want.
• Search term tracking : Use Google Keyword Planner, for example, to study how many searches are being made for certain category names, and if necessary, update the names to get better search results.
• Utilizing a hidden category : If you have a lot of main categories, you can create one “overall category” (so-called hidden category) in the site header to prevent the menu structure from becoming too wide.

Where to edit

You can also create categories that are not displayed to customers. In this case, uncheck Indexing in Google , Display in Google Feed and Display in Navigation . These can be found in the Catalog tab of the dashboard by selecting the desired category and pressing the Edit button.

Summary

A good category structure is based on clear levels, descriptive and consistent names, and functional attributes. It is important for the user to quickly find the products they are looking for, and sensible categorization makes this easier. Monitor the performance of your categories and update the structure as needed.

Keywords (HelpJuice):

• Category structure
• Parent and child categories
• Online store navigation
• Naming categories
• Search engine optimization (SEO)
• Multi-categorization
• Online store maintenance
• Attributes