How to Manage Categories and Subcategories in an Online Store

Chaos!!!

That's what you might think of when you land on a some website or online store.

A million categories scattered everywhere with no logical order.

And if you somehow manage to find what you were looking for, it feels more like luck than good organization of categories.

Let us quickly explain how you can make your site as efficient as possible. Well-organized categories not only contribute to a better user experience but also increase sales and customer satisfaction.

👍 Customers need to know what to click on

Imagine you're in a grocery store like Costco, and you're there to buy bread. You probably wouldn't head towards the dairy section, right?

Categories need to make sense, just like store shelves. (Although sometimes we'd appreciate chocolate and chips being closer together. 😊)

Example:
If you're selling clothing, it makes sense to first divide them by gender or primary user groups.

The main users are usually:
▶ Women
▶ Men
▶ Children

Then divide by type of clothing:
▶ Shirts
▶ Pants
▶ Underwear

After that, break down these categories further. For example, Shirts:
▶ Short-sleeve
▶ Long-sleeve
▶ Sleeveless
▶ Sports shirts

👍 Don’t “show off” with technical terms

Customers need to understand what they’ll find in the main categories and subcategories. Avoid overly complex and technical language—words should be understandable to those who are not experts.

Example:
Instead of naming a category "Audio-Visual Equipment," name it simply "TVs and Speakers."

This way, shoppers will immediately know they’ll be browsing TVs and speakers, rather than wondering what all falls under audio-visual equipment.

👍 Too many categories can be overwhelming

Have you ever clicked on a main category like “Books,” only to be bombarded with so many subcategories that it would take you 3 days to sort through?

▶ Books for newborns,
▶ Books for toddlers aged 2-3,
▶ Books for toddlers aged 4-6,
▶ Books for kids aged 6-8,
▶ Books for kids aged 8-11,
▶ Books for teens aged 11-14,
▶ Books for teens aged 14-16 …

You get the point, right?

Keep it simple.

Example 1:
Create a category called “Children’s Books,” then offer customers filters where they can search by:
▶ age of the children,
▶ genre,
▶ price,
▶ bestsellers, or
▶ newly released books …

The main category is “Women’s Footwear.” Subcategories could include:

▶ Sneakers,
▶ Sandals,
▶ High heels,
▶ Low heels,
▶ Ballerinas,
▶ Slippers,
▶ And anything else you have available for sale.

Also, enable filtering by size, color, price…

👍 Test with random people

When setting up categories yourself, everything may seem logical to you, but it often turns out that customers struggle to find certain items.

This is why it’s great to run tests with real users who are browsing your site for the first time. There’s a high chance they’ll notice something you missed.

Example:
If you sell toys, invite some parents and children to test category navigation. Maybe they’re looking for stuffed bears, plastic tractors, or bubbles... Let them tell you what they like and don’t like, and suggest changes (based on their experience).

If the feedback seems relevant, incorporate it. However, you don’t need to cater to every single opinion, as this could lead to even more confusion.

👍 Enhance words with pictures

Sometimes an icon or symbol alongside the text can help speed up understanding of what’s under a certain category. People are very visual creatures.

Example:
If you sell furniture, you could add an icon of a pot or utensils next to the “Kitchen” category, or a pacifier next to the “Children’s Room” category.

👍 Update when new items arrive

Fashion changes, as do products and customer needs. If you notice some items gathering dust at the back of a shelf, it’s time to reorganize the categories and bring them to the front. This applies to new items as well.

Example:
If you sell electronics and new items like smartwatches appear, it makes sense to add new categories so new products don’t bypass you and knock you out of the game.

In short, spend more time designing categories, rather than just focusing on their appearance. Prepare categories that are clear, organized, and easy to understand.

Remember… Less is more.