How to Hide Products in Shopify: A Comprehensive Guide for E-commerce Success

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Understanding the Need to Hide Products
3. Methods to Hide Products in Shopify
4. Best Practices for Hiding Products
5. Conclusion

Introduction

Did you know that over 70% of consumers prefer shopping from brands that offer exclusive products? This statistic underscores the importance of creating a tailored shopping experience for your customers. As Shopify merchants, we constantly seek innovative ways to optimize our online stores, whether to build anticipation for upcoming launches, offer exclusive pre-orders, or manage inventory more effectively. One strategic method to achieve this is by learning how to hide products in Shopify.

Hiding products can serve various purposes, from maintaining a clean storefront to creating exclusivity for specific customer segments. For instance, if you're preparing to launch a new collection but want to provide early access to loyal customers, hiding products from the general view can be a game-changer.

In this blog post, we will explore the ins and outs of hiding products in Shopify, providing you with actionable strategies, code snippets, and best practices. We’ll also discuss how Tevello can empower you to create engaging online courses and communities, seamlessly integrating these features into your Shopify store.

Are you ready to take your Shopify store to the next level? Let’s dive in!

Understanding the Need to Hide Products

Hiding products may be necessary for several reasons:

1. Exclusive Pre-orders: If you plan to launch a new collection while allowing subscribers to pre-order, hiding these products from the general public can create a sense of exclusivity and urgency.
2. Seasonal Collections: When transitioning between collections, you may want to hide seasonal items that are no longer available while preparing for new stock.
3. Inventory Management: If certain items are temporarily out of stock or being discontinued, hiding them can help streamline your store and reduce customer confusion.
4. Testing and Feedback: Occasionally, we may want to gather feedback on new products without making them fully available. Hiding them until they are refined can be a smart strategy.

In the following sections, we will explore various methods to hide products in Shopify effectively, ensuring that your store remains visually appealing and organized.

Methods to Hide Products in Shopify

1. Hiding Products via the Shopify Admin

The simplest way to hide products is through the Shopify Admin interface. Here’s how:

1. Navigate to Products: Log in to your Shopify Admin and go to the “Products” section.
2. Select Your Product: Click on the product you wish to hide.
3. Manage Sales Channels: In the “Product availability” section, click on “Manage sales channels.”
4. Uncheck the Online Store: Deselect the “Online Store” checkbox. This action will hide the product from your store's front end.
5. Save Changes: Click “Done” and then “Save” to confirm your changes.

This method is straightforward and effective for individual products. However, if you want to hide multiple products simultaneously, there are more advanced methods available.

2. Creating a Hidden Collection

If you want to manage hidden products more systematically, creating a dedicated hidden collection can be beneficial. Here’s how:

1. Create a New Collection: Go to “Products” and then “Collections.” Click “Create collection.”
2. Name Your Collection: Give your collection a name, such as “Hidden Products” or “Exclusive Pre-Orders.”
3. Set Visibility: In the “Visibility” section, uncheck the “Online Store” option, ensuring that it remains hidden from public view.
4. Add Products: Add the products you want to include in this collection.
5. Share the Link: You can share the link to this hidden collection with select customers, allowing them access while keeping it off the main site.

This method is particularly useful for managing groups of products rather than individual ones, and it helps maintain a clean interface for your customers.

3. Using Tags to Hide Products

Tags can be an effective way to manage visibility without altering product settings frequently. By tagging products you want to hide, you can use Liquid code to exclude them from specific collections or pages.

1. Tag Your Products: Go to the product edit page and add a tag such as “hidden.”
2. Modify Theme Code: You will need to edit your theme code to ensure that products with the “hidden” tag do not appear in your collection or search results. Here’s a sample Liquid code snippet you can use:

   {% for product in collections['your-collection-handle'].products %}
       {% unless product.tags contains 'hidden' %}
           <!-- Your code to display the product -->
           <div>{{ product.title }}</div>
       {% endunless %}
   {% endfor %}
   

This code will loop through the products in a specified collection and only display those that do not contain the “hidden” tag.

4. Hiding Products from Search Results

To ensure that certain products do not appear in search results, you can modify the search template in your theme. This requires editing the Liquid code again:

1. Navigate to Search Template: In your Shopify Admin, go to “Online Store” > “Themes” > “Actions” > “Edit code.” Look for the search template file, usually named search.liquid.
2. Add Exclusion Logic: Use a similar logic to exclude products with the “hidden” tag from search results:

   {% for product in search.results %}
       {% unless product.tags contains 'hidden' %}
           <!-- Your code to display the product -->
           <div>{{ product.title }}</div>
       {% endunless %}
   {% endfor %}
   

This will help maintain your store's integrity by ensuring that only visible products are searchable.

5. Utilizing Apps for Advanced Control

If you're looking for more advanced options to manage visibility, consider using Shopify apps designed for hiding products. These apps offer features like:

• Role-based visibility: Show or hide products based on customer roles or tags.
• Scheduled visibility: Automatically hide products based on specific dates or times.
• Custom rules: Create complex rules to manage product visibility easily.

At Tevello, we believe in empowering Shopify merchants with robust tools to enhance their online business. Our app integrates seamlessly into your Shopify store, allowing you to manage not only courses and digital products but also your product visibility effortlessly. Start your 14-day free trial of Tevello today to explore our all-in-one solution!

Best Practices for Hiding Products

Now that we have explored various methods to hide products, let's discuss best practices to ensure that your hiding strategy is effective and does not negatively impact your store's performance.

1. Regularly Review Hidden Products

It’s crucial to keep track of which products you’ve hidden and why. Create a list or spreadsheet to maintain transparency in your inventory management. Regular reviews will prevent confusion and ensure you can easily make products visible again when needed.

2. Communicate with Customers

If you are hiding products temporarily, consider communicating with your customers about when they can expect to see them again. Sending out newsletters or updates can help maintain their interest and engagement.

3. Utilize Analytics

Keep an eye on your store analytics to determine if hiding products affects customer behavior. For instance, if you notice a drop in traffic or engagement, it may be necessary to reassess your strategy.

4. Backup Your Theme

Before making any changes to your Liquid code, always ensure you have a backup of your theme. This precaution helps you avoid any mishaps that could disrupt your store’s functionality.

Conclusion

Hiding products in Shopify is a powerful strategy that allows us to create tailored shopping experiences, manage inventory effectively, and enhance customer engagement. By utilizing the methods outlined in this guide, we can seamlessly integrate hidden products into our overall e-commerce strategy.

As we navigate the competitive landscape of online retail, it’s crucial to leverage every tool at our disposal. With Tevello, we can not only manage product visibility but also build vibrant online communities and offer enriching courses directly within our Shopify stores.

Are you ready to take control of your online store? Start your free trial with Tevello today and discover how our all-in-one solution can empower your business.

FAQ

Q1: Can I hide multiple products at once in Shopify? Yes, you can create a hidden collection or use tags to manage multiple products simultaneously.

Q2: Will hiding products affect my SEO? Hiding products does not directly affect SEO, but ensure that products that should remain discoverable are not tagged as hidden.

Q3: Can I show hidden products to specific customers? Yes, you can create specific collections for selected customers and share the link privately.

Q4: How do I ensure that hidden products do not appear in search results? Modify your theme's search template to exclude products tagged as hidden.

Q5: Is it possible to schedule when a product becomes visible again? Yes, certain Shopify apps allow for scheduled visibility based on your specified rules and timelines.

Feel free to explore our detailed guides and resources as we continue to support your journey to e-commerce success!