The Product Listing Page (or category landing page) in an eCommerce is the page that displays a list of products from a specific category or subcategory. For example, if you're shopping for a new pair of athletic shoes in an online shoe store, the product listing page for "men's athletic shoes" would show you all the athletic shoes for men that the store has available. On a product listing page, you'll typically see a grid layout of product images, brief descriptions, and prices for each of them. PLPs are some of the most essential pages in an online store. 

Sounds fair. But did you know that poor product listing page designs can hinder the growth of small to medium-sized eCommerce businesses? A well-designed and optimized product listing page is crucial as it provides shoppers with a clear and organized view of available products, along with the tools to filter and sort them based on their specific needs.  

In this article, we will discuss all you need to know about product listing pages (PLPs) and some of the best practices to make your product listing page 

Importance of Product Listing Pages (PLPs) in eCommerce

Product listing pages are the main landing page for customers when they first visit your online store, making it an important first impression of your brand. A poorly designed Product Listing Page (PLP) that has low-quality product images, inadequate descriptions, and confusing navigation can significantly impede user engagement and ultimately drive visitors away from the website. A well-designed Product Listing Page (PLP) can do more than just improve the user experience and navigation of a website. In fact, it can actively engage customers and lead to a higher rate of sales conversions. Some of the ways that a product listing page can positively impact an eCommerce store:

Promote product discovery

Optimizing your Product Listing Page (PLP) by providing comprehensive product information and enabling customizable filtering options can make a significant impact on your customer's shopping experience. With quicker identification of products based on specific preferences, you can enhance customer satisfaction and strengthen their loyalty towards your brand. Remember, a well-designed PLP is crucial for not only attracting customers but also keeping them coming back for more!       

Improved conversion rate

A well-designed Product Listing Page (PLP) can make a huge impact on your conversion rates. By streamlining the buying process with intuitive filtering and sorting options, and prominent calls-to-action, you can make it easier for customers to make a purchase. With reduced friction, your PLP can help to encourage and guide customers towards checkout, boosting your conversion rates.

Better data insights

A PLP can provide valuable data insights into customer behavior and preferences. Retailers can use this data to optimize the design and layout of the PLP, as well as make informed product selection and inventory management decisions. This helps retailers maximize their PLP and offer an enhanced shopping experience for their customers.
Therefore, it is important to have a product listing page with all the essential components which we are discussing in the next section.

Key components of PLP

To create effective product listing pages, it is important to know some of the key elements of a PLP in an online store. These elements help visitors have an easy and smooth shopping experience.

Category name

It is important to have a clear and visible category name to help visitors find relevant products and easily navigate through the site.

Facets/Filters

Providing facets/filters allows visitors to refine their searches based on various attributes like price, color, brand, etc. This will help customers find what they are looking for easily.

Product Description

The product description should provide more information about the product, including its features, benefits, and specifications. A good product description can help customers understand the product better and make a more informed purchasing decision.

Breadcrumbs

These are a navigation aid that helps users understand where they are in the website's hierarchy and how to return to previous pages. In a product listing page (PLP), breadcrumbs are a series of clickable links that show the user the path they have taken to arrive at the current page. For example, they are typically present on the top of the page, and can look something like this- Home > Men’s Shoes > Athletic shoes. 

Product Images

Clear and high-quality product images can help grab the customer's attention and encourage them to explore further. They provide visual cues that help customers quickly understand the products being offered. Images also help break up the text on a category landing page and make the page more visually appealing. 

Call-to-actions

Clear and prominent call-to-action buttons, such as "add to cart" or "buy now," can help encourage customers to make a purchase. These buttons should be easy to find and prominent on the PLP.

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With an understanding of the importance and key components of a product listing page, the next step is to implement them effectively to get positive results. Therefore, in the following section, we discuss the best practices for a PLP layout and design.

Best practices for PLP layout and design

Creating fast-loading pages

Fast-loading pages are crucial in a product listing page as they can significantly impact customer engagement, retention, and conversion rates. According to a study, 53% of mobile site visitors will abandon a page that takes longer than three seconds to load. This means that a slow-loading PLP can result in a significant loss of potential customers.

Including high-quality dynamic images

Use high-quality and dynamic images that show the product from different angles and give an authentic view of the product. For instance, product images with bright lighting can help highlight the product's features and make it more visually appealing. On the other hand, dim or uneven lighting can make the product look dull and unappealing.

Prominent search bar

Make sure the search bar is prominently displayed and easy to find. This can help users who have a specific product in mind quickly find what they're looking for.

Clear and consistent categorization

Use clear and intuitive categories to help users find products quickly and easily. Using too many categories or subcategories can overwhelm and confuse users.

Concise product descriptions

Using clear and concise product descriptions helps to highlight the key features and benefits of the product. Avoid using jargon or overly technical language that may confuse users.

Clear pricing information

Pricing is often one of the primary factors that customers consider when making a purchase decision. Being competitive while pricing can help businesses stand out from the competition and attract customers. Similarly, dynamic pricing strategies, such as limited-time offers or personalized pricing, can also be effective in driving customer engagement on a PLP.

Adding relevant and consistent CTAs

Consistent CTAs throughout the PLP can help establish a sense of familiarity and continuity for customers. For instance, offering a ‘quick add’ or ‘add to cart’ as CTA should be consistent throughout the website which would give visitors a clear direction to customers on what action they should take next.

Summary

In summary, a product listing page (PLP) is a critical component of any e-commerce website, as it serves as a gateway to product discovery and sales. To ensure a successful product listing page PLP, it is important to include essential components such as high-quality images, clear pricing information, and relevant calls-to-action (CTAs). Additionally, Online stores should aim at creating a user-friendly and visually appealing layout, optimize page speed and loading times, and include relevant components like CTAs, concise product descriptions, and clear categorization. By implementing these best practices and continuously testing and refining the PLP design, businesses can enhance the customer experience, increase engagement, and ultimately drive sales and revenue.

At Tagalys, we facilitate and enhance eCommerce through online visual merchandising and provide your customers with a seamless shopping experience. To learn more about our merchandising solutions and features, get in touch with us now.

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