How to add products in Shopify: A simple guide for beginners

Adding a product in Shopify is one of the first tasks you’ll perform as you set up a Shopify store. It’s also one of the most important tasks because properly creating a product ensures your customers can order it quickly, and search engines can crawl and rank it easily.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through the process of adding products in Shopify. Make sure you read till the end because I’ll share some tips and tricks for adding products that’ll make your products stand out.

Ready to learn? Let’s get started.

How to add a product in Shopify

Follow these steps to add a product in Shopify.

Step 1: Log in to your Shopify account and create a product

Log in to the Shopify admin and choose Products from the left-hand menu.

On the Products page, select Add product on the top-left.

Step 2: Enter the product name and description

On the new product page, enter the following information:

• Title: Enter a descriptive title for the product.
• Description: Add a description manually or use Shopify Magic (the purple icon in the Description box) to write a compelling product description.

Step 3: Upload high-quality images

In the Media section, select Add files and upload high-quality images, videos, or 3D models of your product. You can also upload them directly from your cloud drive by choosing Add from URL.

Step 4: Set the product pricing

Next, in the Pricing section, enter the product price in the Price field. To maximize conversions, enter a higher value in the Compare-at price field. That way, the existing product price will display as a marked down of the original price.

Here’s how that shows up on the customer-facing side of your store:

Step 5: Set up the product inventory

Shopify allows you to set up product inventory with tracked or untracked quantities. Tracked quantities allow you to sell products based on available inventory. Once all available stock is sold, the product automatically goes out of stock.

Quantity tracking is enabled by default when you add the product. You can enter the available stock in the Quantity field and choose the Continue selling when out of stock option to sell the product even after the assigned inventory is sold.

If you’re selling limited-stock items, I recommend leaving the Continue selling when out of stock option unchecked. That way, you won’t risk overselling products.

If you’re selling products that are always in stock or restocked frequently, you can turn off quantity tracking entirely by unchecking the Track quantity checkbox.

Shopify also allows you to set a product SKU or barcode to track inventory more accurately. To enable that setting, check This product has a SKU or barcode. Next, enter a value for the SKU and/or Barcode.

Step 6: Add shipping details

Shopify lets you sell both physical and digital products.

You can uncheck the This product requires shipping option in the Shipping section to turn off shipping calculation for digital products.

However, if you’re selling a physical product, leave the default option enabled and enter the product weight in the Weight field to ensure Shopify can calculate shipping costs accurately.

If you’re selling internationally, select Add customs information to assign a Country/Region of origin and set the HS (Harmonized System) code for your product.

For example, the product I’m creating is a cotton t-shirt manufactured in China. I’ve set the Country/Region of origin as China and selected the HS code for cotton t-shirts, which is 6109.10.

Use the search functionality to find the correct HS code for your product. The HS code is printed on the customs forms and shipping labels, so choose the right one to avoid issues with international shipping.

Step 7: Add product variations

If you’re selling products in different colors or sizing options, use the Variants section to set up product variations. Here’s how I set up the variations for my t-shirt, available in three colors and three sizes.

Select Add options like size or color and use the Option name dropdown to select the option type, size, color, material, or style. Then, add Option values such as Small, Medium, and Large. Once you’re done, choose Done.

To add a different option, select Add another option and repeat the process described above.

You can also adjust the options display order using the grid icon next to them.

Once all options are ready, you can edit each option individually using the corresponding Edit button in the options display grid or select All and use the small Bulk actions popup to update values.

Step 8: Configure the search engine listing

Shopify helps you visualize how your product will appear in search results in the Search engine listing section.

By default, it uses the title and description we set up earlier as the page title, URL, and meta description. But if you want to customize one or more of those values, you can do that by selecting Edit and updating the Page title, Meta description, and URL handle values.

Step 9: Choose sales channels and markets to publish the product

Scroll up to the Publishing section and verify the assigned Sales channels and Markets for the product. 

To add or remove a sales channel or market, click Manage and configure the locations as necessary.

You can also set the product to be published on a schedule at a later date by clicking on the calendar icon next to the sales channel and selecting the date and time in the popup.

Step 10: Set up the product organization settings

The Product organization section helps you structure and categorize products on your website. You can organize your products in different ways, such as by type, vendor, collection, or tag, to help customers quickly find what they’re looking for.

Here’s how to configure the five options in Product organization:

1. Product category: Select a relevant category for your product. For example, I’ve selected Shirts & Tops for the t-shirt product I’m creating.
2. Product type: Use an existing product type from your store or assign a new one manually by typing it in the text field.
3. Vendor: Enter the brand or manufacturer in this field.
4. Collections: Assign the product to an existing collection. If you don’t have any existing collections, leave this field blank and return to it later.
5. Tags: Assign one or more tags to your product by selecting an existing tag or creating a new one.

Step 11: Publish the product

Once you enter all product information, scroll to the top of the page, make sure the Status is set to Active, and choose Save.

After that, you’ll see a message confirming the product has been added. Check how the product appears on the front end using the Preview option.

Here’s how the product I’ve created looks on the front end of my Shopify store:

Adding products in Shopify: 7 helpful tips

Now that you know how to create a product in Shopify, here are some tips to help you improve the online shopping experience and drive sales:

1. Use clear, descriptive product titles: Your product title should accurately describe your product and what it does. Use simple language and avoid jargon or technical terms your customers may not understand.
2. Write compelling product descriptions: Your product description should highlight the features and benefits of your product. Use language that speaks directly to your target audience and address their pain points. I recommend using Shopify Magic for this.
3. Optimize your product images: Use high-quality images that showcase your product from different angles. Optimize your images for web use by compressing them and ensuring they load quickly.
4. Use product tags to organize your products: Product tags allow you to categorize your products by type, color, material, or any other relevant attribute. This makes it easier for customers to find what they’re looking for on your website.
5. Offer product variations: If your product comes in different sizes, colors, or styles, offer product variations instead of creating a separate product listing for each option. This makes it easier for customers to choose the option they want and keeps your product catalog organized.
6. Set up product bundles: If you have complementary products, consider bundling them and offering them at a discounted price. This can encourage customers to purchase more items and increase your average order value.
7. Use product reviews and ratings: Enable product reviews and ratings to allow customers to share their feedback on your products. This can help build trust with potential customers and provide valuable insights into what your customers like and dislike about your products.

Adding products in Shopify: Next steps

I’ve shown you how to add a product in Shopify and shared some useful tips to optimize your product page. I recommend learning more about other things you can do with Shopify products, such as adding them to collections, duplicating them, and deleting them.

If you have any questions about this guide, feel free to comment below, and I’ll be happy to help you.