How to Add a Blog to Shopify and Grow Your Audience

Close to 650 million people made a purchase at a Shopify store in 2022, and that number is expected to increase to over 700 million in 2024.

If you’ve recently set up your Shopify store, it’s the perfect opportunity to show off your blog and reach out to a wider audience.

Learning how to add a blog to Shopify can transform your online store into an engaging platform for customers and potential buyers alike.

Lucky for you, we’ve got the perfect guide on how to add a blog to Shopify that covers everything from setting up and managing posts, customizing templates, optimizing page structure and images, updating featured content, ensuring consistency in formatting and style guidelines, and promoting your new blog effectively.

Ready?

Let’s dive in!

Table of Contents:

• Setting Up Your Shopify Blog
• How to Add a Blog to Shopify
• 5 Shopify Blog Management Tips for Success
  1. Optimize Page Structure and Images
  2. Updating Featured Images and Videos
  3. Test Your Blog Across All Devices and Browsers
  4. Managing Blog Posts
  5. Dos and Don’ts of Blogging on Shopify
• FAQs – How to Add a Blog to Shopify
  • How do I add a blog category in Shopify?
  • How do I add a blog image to Shopify?
  • Does Shopify have a blog template?
• Conclusion

Setting Up Your Shopify Blog

To start blogging on Shopify, go to the default blog section called “News.”

Modify this default blog by clicking “Manage blogs” at the top of your screen.

Create additional blogs for various topics by navigating to “Online Store” in your Sales channels section and selecting “Blog Posts.”

Screenshot: Shopify

Managing the Default News Blog

The News blog is automatically created when setting up a new online store on Shopify.

Edit its title, description, or other settings to match your brand’s voice and style.

Creating Additional Blogs

Diversify content by creating multiple blogs that cater to different aspects of your business or audience interests.

Add a new blog through the Shopify admin dashboard, where you can assign unique titles and descriptions for each one.

Now that you’ve set up your Shopify blog, it’s time to add it to your e-commerce store.

How to Add a Blog to Shopify

To add a blog to your Shopify store, follow these steps:

1. Log in to your Shopify admin panel.
2. From the sidebar, click on “Online Store” and then select “Blog Posts.”
3. On the Blog Posts page, click on the “Manage blogs” button.
4. Click on the “Add blog” button.
5. Enter a title for your blog and set a description (optional).
6. Customize the URL and handle for your blog (e.g., “blog” or “news”).
7. Choose a template for your blog from the available options.
8. Click on the “Save” button to create your blog.

Once you have created your blog, you can start adding posts by following these steps:

1. From the Blog Posts page, click on the “Add blog post” button.
2. Enter a title for your blog post. (Use power words!)
3. Write the content of your blog post using the provided text editor. You can format your text and add images, videos, and other media to enhance your post.
4. Set the author, publish date, and tags for your blog post.
5. Configure any other settings or options as desired.
6. Click on the “Save” button to publish your blog post.

You can manage and edit your blog posts from the Blog Posts page in your Shopify admin. You can also personalize the appearance of your blog by navigating to “Online Store” and then selecting “Themes.” 

If you’re looking for additional customization options beyond what’s available in the default themes, consider integrating third-party apps into your Shopify store.

Browse through the Shopify App Store, explore different categories, or use keywords like “blog” or “template” to find relevant applications that suit your needs.

From there, you can access the theme editor and make changes to the layout, colors, fonts, and other design elements specific to your blog.

Remember to regularly update your blog with fresh and valuable content to engage your audience and drive traffic to your Shopify store.

Add Content Straight to Your Shopify Blog with BrandWell

Did you know that BrandWell hooks up directly with Shopify?

That means you can create content quickly and easily in our app, and then publish it straight to your Shopify site without opening another app.

Ready to scale your content production on your Shopify site? Learn more about BrandWell here.

5 Shopify Blog Management Tips for Success

After you figure out how to add a blog to Shopify, you’re going to need to set it up so you’re successful.

Here are some top tips for managing and optimizing your Shopify blog posts.

1. Optimize Page Structure and Images

So you’ve learned how to add a blog to Shopify. Now what?

Boost your Shopify blog’s visibility and accessibility with a well-structured page that includes appropriate headings, short paragraphs, and relevant links.

• Ensure your Shopify blog has a clear hierarchy with the main heading (H1) at the top followed by subheadings (H2-H4) that break down content into digestible sections.
• Use short paragraphs and bullet points or numbered lists when appropriate to make your content easier to read and understand.
• To optimize your visual assets, add descriptive alt text for every image on your blog. This helps search engines understand what the photo is about while improving accessibility for users who rely on assistive technologies like screen readers.
  • To add alt text in Shopify admin, click “Edit” under the image thumbnail and enter a brief description of the image in the “Alt text” field.
  • Remember to be concise yet informative when writing alt-text descriptions.
  • Shopify apps can also help you save time by automatically generating alt texts based on predefined rules or templates.
• Lastly, avoid keyword stuffing! Focus on providing contextually relevant descriptions that accurately represent the image’s content.

Example of an optimized Shopify blog from PRESS

2. Updating Featured Images and Videos

Featured images and videos on your Shopify blog are key to grabbing attention and keeping people coming back for more.

Including videos in your blog content is also an effective way to maintain reader engagement.

To change or remove a featured image, go to the specific blog post in your Shopify admin, click “Update”, and replace or delete the image.

You can publish videos immediately or schedule their release according to your content calendar.

Remember: Consistently updating featured images/videos ultimately contributes positively towards your Shopify store’s success.

Example of a Shopify blog from Retro Supply Co

3. Test Your Blog Across All Devices and Browsers

Remember that not all devices and browsers display content identically.

After customizing your blog template, make sure it looks great across various devices and browsers.

Use tools like BrowserStack or CrossBrowserTesting to test your blog’s appearance on different platforms, ensuring a seamless user experience for all visitors.

4. Managing Blog Posts

Once your Shopify blog gets rolling, you’ll want to put a plan in place to manage your blog posts, including moderating comments and reviewing old content periodically.

Moderate comments effectively by selecting an appropriate option based on your desired level of control over user-generated content, and remember that engaging with your audience through comments can foster a sense of community and encourage further interaction on your Shopify blog.

Schedule Regular Content Audits

Review your blog posts periodically to ensure accuracy, relevance, and up-to-date information, especially for evergreen content.

1. Determine the frequency of audits based on industry changes or new product releases, with quarterly audits as a starting point.
2. Analyze each published piece for outdated facts or broken links.
3. Evaluate whether older posts align with current brand messaging and tone.
4. Identify opportunities to optimize content for SEO, such as adding keywords or improving meta descriptions.

5. Dos and Don’ts of Blogging on Shopify

Dos:

• Add value: Provide useful and relevant information to your readers. Share insights, tips, tutorials, or industry trends that can genuinely help them. This will establish you as an authority in your niche and encourage readers to return for more.
• Have clear goals: Define your blogging goals, whether it’s to increase brand awareness, drive traffic, or generate leads. Align your content strategy with these goals to achieve them effectively.
• Plan your content: Develop a content strategy and create an editorial calendar to ensure a consistent flow of blog posts. This will help you stay organized and provide a variety of content to your readers.
• Build your brand: Use your blog to showcase your brand’s personality, values, and expertise. Consistently convey your brand’s tone and voice in your blog posts to build a strong brand identity.
• Engage with your readers: Respond to comments and encourage discussions. Engaging with your readers helps build a sense of community and fosters loyalty.
• Be consistent: Stick to a regular publishing schedule to keep your audience engaged. Consistency helps establish trust with your readers and encourages them to return for more content.
• Promote social sharing: Include social sharing buttons on your blog posts to make it easy for readers to share your content across various social media platforms. This can help expand your reach and attract new readers.

Don’ts:

• Don’t write an over-hyped sales pitch: Avoid turning your blog posts into blatant sales pitches. While it’s fine to mention your products or services when relevant, focus on providing valuable content rather than pushing sales excessively.
• Don’t publish product photos only: While visuals are essential, relying solely on product photos can make your blog feel too promotional. Balance product visuals with informative text and other engaging elements to create a well-rounded blog post.
• Don’t look random and disorganized: Ensure that your blog has a clean and organized layout. Use headings, subheadings, bullet points, and paragraphs to structure your content in a reader-friendly manner. This makes it easier for visitors to navigate and digest your blog posts.
• Don’t copy content from other sources: Plagiarism is not only unethical but can also harm your SEO rankings. Always create original content or properly attribute and link to the original source if you quote or refer to someone else’s work.

Remember, effective blogging on Shopify requires a combination of valuable content, consistency, brand-building, and a reader-centric approach. Continuously analyze your blog’s performance, gather feedback from your audience, and adapt your strategy accordingly to achieve optimal results.

FAQs – How to Add a Blog to Shopify

How do I add a blog category in Shopify?

Easy peasy – just add relevant tags to your blog posts while creating or editing them, and they’ll appear as clickable filters on your store’s main blog page.

How do I add a blog image to Shopify?

While editing your post, click the “Insert Image” button and upload an image from your computer or choose one from Shopify’s file manager. Don’t forget to add alt text for accessibility and SEO purposes.

Does Shopify have a blog template?

Yes, Shopify has built-in templates specifically designed for blogs within its themes, and there are also third-party blog templates available in the Shopify Theme Store that can be customized to match your store’s branding and style.

Conclusion

Adding a blog to your Shopify store can bring a multitude of benefits to your online business. It serves as a powerful tool to engage with your audience, build brand credibility, and drive traffic to your store. 

By providing valuable content, you can establish yourself as an authority in your niche and develop a loyal following. 

A blog also allows you to showcase your products or services in a more informative and personalized way, fostering deeper connections with potential customers.

And with optimized blog posts, you can improve your search engine rankings and increase organic visibility. 

So, embrace the power of blogging on Shopify, and unlock new opportunities to expand your reach, nurture customer relationships, and ultimately, boost your business success.