How to Add a Table of Contents to Your Shopify Blog Posts

Ever clicked on a blog post and immediately felt overwhelmed by the wall of text? Yeah, me too. It's like walking into a library where all the books are scattered on the floor. That's why a table of contents (TOC) is such a lifesaver. It helps readers quickly navigate through your content, find what they need, and get the heck out of there—or stay longer because they can easily find interesting sections. So, if you're managing a Shopify blog and want to make your posts more reader-friendly, adding a TOC is a smart move.

In this article, we're going to break down everything you need to know about adding a TOC to your Shopify blog posts. We'll cover why you should consider it, how it benefits your SEO, and, most importantly, how to actually set one up on your Shopify store. Grab a coffee, and let's get started!

Why You Need a Table of Contents

First things first, let's talk about why a TOC is not just a fancy add-on but a necessity for your blog. Imagine your blog as a treasure map—without a clear guide, readers might get lost and give up before they find the treasure (which, in this case, is your valuable content).

Here are a few reasons why a TOC is a game changer:

• Improves User Experience: A TOC makes it easier for readers to find the information they’re looking for. It’s like having a GPS for your blog post.
• SEO Benefits: Search engines love organized content. A TOC can help your post rank better by making it easier for search engines to crawl.
• Increased Engagement: When readers can navigate easily, they’re more likely to stay longer, explore more pages, and even share your content.

By now, you might be wondering if adding a TOC is complicated. Spoiler alert: it’s not! With a few clicks and a little tweaking, you can have one up and running in no time. Let’s see how.

Using Shopify Apps for a Table of Contents

For those who love the convenience of apps, Shopify offers various options to add a TOC. These apps are designed to simplify the process, especially if you're not a coding whiz.

Here's a quick rundown of some popular TOC apps you might consider:

• Easy TOC: This app automates the process of creating a TOC for your blog posts. It’s user-friendly and doesn’t require any coding skills.
• Smart TOC: Another great option that provides customization options. You can change the appearance of your TOC to match your site’s theme.
• TOC Builder: Offers more advanced features for those who want deeper control over their TOC settings.

Installing these apps usually involves visiting the Shopify App Store, searching for the app, and clicking "Add App." Once installed, follow the app’s instructions to integrate the TOC with your blog posts. Easy peasy!

Manual Method: Adding a TOC with Liquid Code

Feeling a bit adventurous? You can manually add a TOC to your Shopify blog using Liquid, Shopify’s templating language. This method offers more customization, but it does require a bit of coding knowledge.

Here’s a simple step-by-step guide:

1. Access Your Theme Editor: From your Shopify admin, go to Online Store > Themes > Actions > Edit Code.
2. Find the Blog Template: In the Templates folder, locate blog.liquid.
3. Add TOC Code: Insert the following code snippet where you want the TOC to appear in your blog post:

{% if article.content contains "#" %}
<div class="toc">
<h2>Table of Contents</h2>
{{ article.content | split: "<h2>" | last | strip_newlines }}
</div>
{% endif %}

This code checks for headings within your content and generates a TOC. You can further customize the styling in your theme’s CSS file to match your site’s design.

Customizing Your Table of Contents

Once you have a TOC in place, you'll likely want to tweak it to fit your brand's style and make it visually appealing. After all, nobody wants an ugly TOC ruining their blog's aesthetic.

Here’s how you can customize your TOC:

1. Modify the CSS: Access your theme’s CSS file (usually found under Assets > theme.scss.liquid) and add custom styles for the TOC. You could change fonts, colors, or even add borders.
2. Adjust Heading Levels: If you only want certain headings (like h2 or h3) in your TOC, adjust the Liquid code to filter these levels.
3. Play with Layout: Consider where the TOC will be most useful—at the top, alongside the content, or maybe even floating as the reader scrolls.

Experiment with different styles and placements until you find what works best for your blog’s design and your readers.

SEO Benefits of a Table of Contents

While a TOC is great for user experience, it also offers some perks for your site’s SEO. It’s like hitting two birds with one stone, without actually, you know, hurting any birds.

Here's how a TOC can boost your SEO:

• Enhanced Crawling: A TOC helps search engines understand the structure of your content, making it easier for them to crawl and index your pages.
• Rich Snippets: In some cases, Google may use your TOC to create rich snippets in search results, which can increase your click-through rate.
• Improved Bounce Rates: By helping users find what they’re looking for quickly, a TOC can reduce bounce rates and increase time spent on the page, both of which are positive signals for SEO.

So, not only does a TOC make your content more reader-friendly, but it could also give your site a leg up in search engine rankings. That’s a win-win!

Common Mistakes to Avoid

While adding a TOC seems straightforward, there are a few pitfalls you’ll want to avoid. Let’s talk about some common mistakes that can turn your TOC dreams into a nightmare.

• Overloading with Links: Including too many headings can overwhelm the reader and defeat the purpose of a TOC. Keep it simple and relevant.
• Ignoring Mobile Users: Make sure your TOC is responsive and looks good on mobile devices, as a significant portion of your traffic likely comes from mobile users.
• Forgetting to Update: If you regularly update your blog posts, remember to keep your TOC current. Outdated links can frustrate readers.

By dodging these common mistakes, you’ll ensure your TOC is both a functional and aesthetically pleasing addition to your blog.

Testing Your Table of Contents

Once you've added a TOC, testing is crucial to ensure it works seamlessly across different devices and browsers. After all, you don’t want your readers clicking on a TOC link only to be whisked away to a 404 page.

Here’s a simple checklist for testing your TOC:

• Check on Desktop and Mobile: Ensure your TOC looks good and functions well on both desktop and mobile devices.
• Test All Links: Click on each link within your TOC to make sure they lead to the correct sections of your blog post.
• Verify Browser Compatibility: Test your TOC on multiple browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, etc.) to ensure consistent performance.

By thoroughly testing your TOC, you'll provide a better experience for your readers and avoid potential frustration.

Encouraging Reader Interaction

Now that your TOC is live and kicking, why not use it to encourage more reader interaction? A TOC isn’t just a navigation tool; it can also engage your audience in ways you might not expect.

Here’s how you can make your TOC more interactive:

• Include Jump Links: Apart from linking to different sections of your post, consider adding links to related posts that expand on the topics covered.
• Ask for Feedback: At the end of your post, encourage readers to share their thoughts on whether the TOC helped them navigate your content.
• Encourage Sharing: If readers find your TOC useful, they might be more inclined to share your post with others. Don’t forget to add social sharing buttons!

By actively engaging your readers, you’ll foster a more interactive community around your blog, which is always a plus.

Final Thoughts

Adding a table of contents to your Shopify blog posts can significantly improve user experience and boost your SEO. By organizing your content and making it more accessible, you’re not only helping your readers but also making your blog more appealing to search engines.

If you're looking to take your blog and overall ecommerce strategy to the next level, consider working with Pattern. We help ecommerce brands and SaaS startups grow by driving more traffic from Google and turning that traffic into paying customers. Our approach is unique—unlike most SEO agencies that focus only on rankings, we care about results. We create programmatic landing pages that target hundreds (or even thousands) of search terms, helping your brand get found by people who are ready to buy. Plus, we craft conversion-focused content that doesn't just attract visitors but turns them into paying customers. If you're tired of SEO feeling like a guessing game, let's make it a growth channel that drives sales and lowers your customer acquisition costs.