Shopify navigation redesign services

Evidence a provider should gather

Testing labels before building

Two simple exercises check a proposed structure. In a card sort, people group a set of product names in the way that makes sense to them, revealing natural categories. In a label test, people are asked where they would look for specific products using only the proposed menu labels. Neither requires special software; a spreadsheet or cards on a table will do.

Even a handful of participants can reveal labels that confuse people.

How a navigation engagement runs

1. 01

   Research

   Search terms, analytics, collections and customer language reviewed.

   Output: Findings

2. 02

   Proposed structure

   New groups and labels drafted and tested with people.

   Output: Tested structure

3. 03

   Collections and redirects

   Collections created, merged or renamed; redirects for changed URLs.

   Output: Updated collections

4. 04

   Menu build

   Menus built in the admin and displayed through the theme, phone and desktop.

   Output: Live navigation

Questions to ask a provider

Warning signs

• Menu mock-ups before any research

  Visual design is the last step, not the first.

• No mention of redirects

  Renamed collections will break links and search results.

• A mega menu as the answer to everything

  Large menus hide poor grouping rather than fixing it.

Checking after launch

After the new navigation goes live, watch site search terms and collection visits for a few weeks. If people still search for things the menu should lead them to, a label may need adjusting. Small label changes are quick once the structure is right, so a short review after launch is part of a good engagement rather than an extra.

Footer and secondary menus

Navigation is not only the main menu. Footer menus carry policies, contact details, delivery information and sometimes secondary collections. Customers who scroll to the bottom are often looking for reassurance before buying, so the footer deserves the same clarity as the header. Including it in the engagement avoids a tidy main menu above a cluttered footer.

Agreeing the structure internally

Navigation changes affect buyers, marketing and customer service, and each team may have strong views about where products belong. Sharing the research findings and label test results before finalising the structure moves the discussion from preference to evidence. It also helps everyone understand why a familiar collection name has changed.

We present the proposed structure with the evidence behind each decision, so internal approval is quicker.

What you receive

At the end you should have the final menu structure, a list of collection changes with their redirects, notes on how automated collections are built, and guidance on where new products and new collections should fit. That guidance keeps the menu coherent as the range grows.

Seasonal menu items

Many stores add seasonal items such as gift guides or sale collections to the menu for a few weeks. Planning where these temporary items sit, and how they are removed afterwards, keeps the permanent structure intact. A good provider leaves a short note on how to add and remove them without disturbing the rest of the menu.