Creating an organized, user-friendly structure in your Shopify store is essential in 2025. Whether you’re just starting out or scaling a high-traffic eCommerce site, setting up categories and subcategories can make a huge difference in both your customer experience and your search engine rankings.
In Shopify, traditional “categories” and “subcategories” are handled using collections and menus, but the system has been improved significantly with the evolution of Online Store 2.0 and product filtering features.
Why Categories & Subcategories Matter in 2025
With AI-driven search, voice-assisted shopping, and mobile-first design dominating eCommerce in 2025, a clear product structure is more important than ever. Proper categorization:
- Enhances SEO and organic visibility
- Improves site navigation and usability
- Increases conversion rates by helping customers find what they want faster
- Reduces bounce rates and boosts average session time
Whether you sell apparel, electronics, or handmade crafts, organizing your catalog is non-negotiable for growth.
Step-by-Step: How to Add Categories and Subcategories in Shopify
Shopify doesn’t use the terms “category” or “subcategory” directly, but you can easily achieve this structure with collections and navigation menus.
Step 1: Create a Main Collection (Category)
- Open your Shopify admin dashboard.
- Navigate to Products, then click on Collections.
- Select Create Collection.
- Name your collection (for example: Men’s Fashion or Electronics).
- Choose between:
- Automated Collection (based on product tags or other conditions)
- Manual Collection (you’ll manually select products)
- Add an image and fill in the SEO section with keywords and a compelling meta description.
- Save the collection.
Pro Tip: Automated collections are more scalable and time-saving.
Step 2: Create Subcategories as Additional Collections
Create separate collections to represent subcategories. For example, if your main category is Men’s Fashion, your subcategories could be:
- Shirts
- Pants
- Shoes
Each of these is created the same way as in Step 1, and you can assign products based on tags or other logic.
Step 3: Organize the Menu for Easy Navigation
- Go to Online Store, then Navigation.
- Open your Main Menu.
- Add a new menu item for the main category (e.g., Men’s Fashion) and link it to the respective collection.
- Under it, click Add Menu Item to create submenus (e.g., Shirts, Shoes), linking each to its respective collection.
This creates a dropdown menu on your storefront that mimics category/subcategory structure.
Step 4: Use Shopify Filters and Metafields for Smart Navigation
Shopify in 2025 allows advanced filtering using product metafields, which act like dynamic subcategories without needing separate collection pages. For example, customers can filter by:
- Brand
- Size
- Material
- Subtype
To implement:
- Go to Settings, then Custom Data, and add new Product Metafields.
- Assign values (like “Leather” or “Cotton”) per product.
- Enable filters in the Navigation section to show them on collection pages.
This system creates a cleaner experience and helps boost SEO with faceted navigation.
Shopify SEO Tips for Categories in 2025
To ensure your collections and subcollections rank well:
- Use keyword-rich collection titles (e.g., Men’s Slim Fit Shirts)
- Customize meta titles and descriptions for each collection
- Optimize collection images with descriptive ALT text
- Build internal links from homepage and blog posts to collections
- Use schema markup for collections if your theme supports it
Why Choose e-commerzz.com to Set Up Your Shopify Store
At e-commerzz, we specialize in helping businesses build and grow on platforms like Shopify, Amazon, Walmart, eBay, WooCommerce, and more. With over 5 years of experience in the Virtual Assistant field and a proven track record across US, UK, CA, AUS, AE, and other international markets, we bring unmatched knowledge and dedication to every project.
Here’s Why Over 100 Clients Trust e-commerzz:
- ✅ Successfully managed 100+ eCommerce projects
- ✅ Expertly handled over $10 million in PPC spend
- ✅ Known for great client communication and responsiveness
- ✅ Proud of our quality-first and detail-oriented approach
- ✅ Built on honesty, hard work, and trust
- ✅ Offer complete VA and eCommerce solutions, including store setup, product optimization, PPC, and more
We’re not just another agency. We’re your long-term partner in eCommerce success.
Final Thoughts
Setting up categories and subcategories on Shopify is more flexible than ever in 2025. With a bit of planning and the right strategy, you can build a highly navigable, SEO-optimized store that keeps customers engaged and ready to buy.
Need help with store setup, optimization, or ongoing virtual assistance?
Trust e-commerzz to get it done right—efficiently, professionally, and with real results.