How to Build Custom Shopify Sections for More Flexible Store Design?

These sections are customizable components that make up the structure of a page on your online store. Each section can contain a unique set of content, such as images, text, and videos. By using sections, you can easily add, remove, and rearrange content on your store’s pages without having to touch any code.

Shopify has a set of pre-designed sections that you can use out of the box, but they may not always fit your needs or design preferences. That’s where custom sections come in.

Building custom sections can help you create a unique and memorable shopping experience for your customers. With custom sections, you can design pages that are tailored to your brand’s style and message, and that can help differentiate your store from your competitors. 

Custom sections also offer more flexibility in terms of design and layout. You can create sections with specific functionality, like custom forms or interactive features, that can help enhance your customer’s experience. Companies that provide Shopify Development services can help you make the best use of custom sections and drive conversions

Step 1: Plan Your Design

Before you start building custom sections for your e-commerce store, you need to have a clear plan for how you want it to look and function. Think about the user experience you want to create and the content you want to showcase. Sketch out rough designs for each page of your store and determine what sections you will need to create to achieve your desired layout and functionality.

Step 2: Set Up Your Development Environment

To build custom Shopify sections, you must use the theme development tools. These tools allow you to create and modify templates, sections, and assets in your online store’s theme.

To get started, you will need to create a new theme or modify an existing one. Shopify has a range of free and paid themes that you can use as a starting point, or you can create a theme from scratch. Once you have your theme set up, you can begin creating custom sections.

Step 3: Create Your Custom Section

To create a custom section, you will need to create a new .liquid file in your theme’s “sections” directory. This file will contain the HTML, CSS, and JavaScript needed to create your custom section.

Shopify has a range of section types that you can use as a starting point for your custom section, such as image, text, and video sections. You can also create custom section types that fit your specific needs.

When creating your custom section, make sure to follow the best practices for section development. This includes using semantic HTML, organizing your CSS and JavaScript files, and optimizing your code for performance.

Step 4: Add Your Custom Section to Your Store

Once you have created your custom section, you can add it to your ecommerce store’s pages using theme editor. The theme editor allows you to customize your store’s pages by adding, removing, and rearranging sections.

To add your custom section to a page, select the section from the list of available sections in the theme editor and drag it to the desired location on the page. You can then customize the section’s settings, such as its content and layout, to fit your needs.

Step 5: Test and Refine Your Custom Sections

After adding your custom sections to your store, it’s important to test and refine them to ensure they are functioning as intended and providing a positive user experience. Test your custom sections on different devices and screen sizes to make sure they are responsive and look good on all devices.

You can also gather feedback from your customers to see how they are interacting with your custom sections and whether there are any areas that need improvement. Use this feedback to refine your sections and make them even better.

Here are some best practices to keep in mind when building custom Shopify sections:

Keep it Simple

Don’t overload your custom sections with too much content or functionality. Keeping your sections simple and focused on a specific purpose can help ensure that they are effective and easy for customers to use.

Use Semantic HTML

Use semantic HTML tags to make your code more readable and accessible. This can also help improve your website’s search engine optimization (SEO) and overall accessibility. 

Follow Shopify’s Guidelines

Follow Shopify’s guidelines for section development to ensure your custom sections are optimized for performance and compatibility. These guidelines cover everything from how to structure your code to optimizing images and other media.

Test on Different Devices

Test your custom sections on different devices and screen sizes to ensure they are responsive and look good on all devices. This can help provide a positive user experience for your customers, regardless of how they access your website.

Gather Feedback

Gather feedback from your customers to see how they are interacting with your custom sections and whether there are any areas that need improvement. You can use it to refine your sections, fix any issues, and improve the overall user experience.

Use Descriptive and Accessible Names

When naming your custom sections, it’s important to use descriptive names that clearly convey their purpose. This can make it easier for other developers to understand your code and can also help with accessibility by making it easier for screen readers to identify and describe the content.

Use CSS and JavaScript Responsibly

While CSS and JavaScript can help add functionality and interactivity to your custom sections, it’s important to use them responsibly. Too much CSS or JavaScript can slow down your website and make it difficult for customers to use. Keep your code clean and organized, and avoid using unnecessary libraries or plugins.

Custom sections are a powerful tool for creating a unique and memorable shopping experience for your customers. By following these steps and best practices, you can build custom Shopify sections that are tailored to your brand’s style and message, and that can help differentiate your online store from your competitors.

Remember to keep your custom sections simple and focused on a specific purpose, use semantic HTML to make your code more readable and accessible, and test on different devices to ensure they are responsive and look good on all devices.