How to Create a Blog on Shopify

In this simple step-by-step guide, you'll discover how to add a blog on Shopify using the specialized blogging solution DropInBlog. By the end of the guide, you'll have everything ready to create your first Shopify blog post.

Shopify doesn't need much introduction. This highly innovative e-commerce platform is one of the most popular choices for entrepreneurs going online. With an ecosystem of 8,000+ integrations and a ridiculously easy way to set up a stylish online store, it's no wonder its market share is among the largest in the e-commerce arena.

Blogging has proven again and again to be among the most effective ways of building rapport with your audience. Entrepreneurs just like you have been using their blogs as a primary medium for answering people's questions, dilemmas, and pain points since before the explosion of social media. So, having a blog on Shopify means simply adopting a tried-and-true approach to a successful online business.

DropInBlog - Shopify Blog App

As you would expect, Shopify already has a built-in blogging feature. You can find it on your dashboard under Online Store. When you create your first blog post, it shows in the News rubric by default.

So then, why are we talking about adding a blog to Shopify?

Well, for the simple reason that the built-in blogging option is rudimentary and underwhelming. It allows you to add a featured image and tags, set a visibility date, and do similar basic operations. And that's about it.

But that's OK. Since Shopify is not a specialized blogging solution, it's only natural for the e-commerce platform to offer just basic blogging functionality.

The good news is that the default blog functionality isn't the only way to blog on Shopify. Instead, knowing that people may need more than that, the platform allows you to integrate a full-fledged third-party blogging app, such as DropInBlog – one of the best blog apps for Shopify.

DropInBlog includes an SEO Analyzer that lets you optimize your content for better search engine rankings. You can also customize aspects of your blog design in line with your preferences. Then, there's the option to enable Facebook commenting and much more.

But enough talking. Let's move on to doing. Let's integrate DropInBlog with Shopify so you can see and test DropInBlog for yourself.

How to Integrate DropInBlog With Your Shopify Site

Integrating DropInBlog with Shopify is a breeze thanks to DropInBlog being part of the Shopify App Store.

Once you log in to your Shopify dashboard, click Apps. Type DropInBlog in the search bar and click Enter.

That will redirect you to the Shopify App Store. There, you might see two clickable instances of DropInBlog: an ad and a regular one. Whichever you click, it'll lead you to the DropInBlog app.

Next, click the big Install button.

That will take you back to your Shopify admin dashboard. Now click Install app, and DropInBlog will be installed in no time.

Upon installation, DropInBlog will automatically create an account for you using the same email address you used to set up your Shopify account.

You may see a dialog box offering to take you on a short tour explaining the key features of your newly created blog, along with some tips on using your blog on Shopify. You can follow the tour or close it to proceed directly with the following integration step.

In the middle of your screen, you'll see a prompt informing you that you need to complete the DropInBlog installation. Click activating the DropInBlog app extension.

Now, click the toggle switch button on the left and then Save.

To see what your blog looks like, head back to your DropInBlog account. Click Settings in the navigation bar and copy your blog URL.

Paste the URL in a new tab and rejoice at your new Shopify blog!

How to Add a Blog Page Link to Your Shopify Store Menu

Another important step, which is also recommended for SEO purposes, is to add a link to your blog page in the navigational menu.

Head back to your Shopify dashboard. Click Online Store and Navigation in the left sidebar. Now, click Main menu.

Then, click Add menu item. Under Name, write something suitable for your blog, such as "Blog." In the Search or paste a link field, paste the blog URL you used earlier to check what your blog looked like.

If you need to copy the link again, return to your DropInBlog account and click Settings again. To return to your DropInBlog account, repeat the same process from before: Click Apps and type DropInBlog.

After you paste the blog URL:

1. Click on it to ensure it's selected.
2. Click the Add button; you'll see Blog among the Menu items.
3. Click the Save menu button at the bottom right or the Save button near the top right corner to save the changes you've made.

Hover over Online Store and click the eye icon to view your online store after the most recent changes. You'll see the new Blog button in the navigation bar of your Shopify store.

How to Add Recent Posts to Your Home (Or Any Other) Page

To gain more visibility for your blog on Shopify, you may want to add a section to the homepage of your site showcasing your recent blog posts.

From within your Shopify admin dashboard, click Online Store and Themes. You'll see your current theme; click the Customize button.

As you could've guessed, this option allows you to edit your online store pages and style them the way you want.

Customize leads you automatically to the Home page. But you can play around with any other page you want. Scroll down and up the page to choose the best place to add your Recent Posts widget.

You'll notice a plus icon when you hover over parts of the page. If you move your mouse cursor close enough to this icon, you'll see an Add section button. Click this button where you want to add your recent posts.

Next, click Apps and DropInBlog Recent Posts. As you can see, when you integrate it with Shopify, DropInBlog creates a whole new functionality that lets you add your most recent blog posts to your Shopify store.

In about a second, you'll see your recent posts appearing in the page section you chose. You'll also notice some customization options on the left. You can change the title (if you don't like the default "Recent Posts"), choose the number of posts your visitors see when they land on the page, and edit the display layout.

In addition, you'll have the option to select which category of posts shows in Recent Posts. For instance, if you have a Product Announcements category, you can filter out the rest of your blog posts and show only those related to your product announcements here.

Whether you keep the default values or make changes, remember to click the Save button at the top right corner.

After saving the changes, return to your Shopify dashboard and view your online store to see the recent posts displayed on your Home page or the page you chose.

How to Add an Author to Your Shopify Blog

From your Shopify dashboard, click Apps. Type DropInBlog or click the name if you see it immediately. That will lead you to your DropInBlog account.

When you click Authors in the navigation bar, you'll be able to see all the authors on your blog, edit their profiles, or delete them.

However, since we want to add a new author here, click the Add Author button. DropInBlog will let you add a photo, bio, title, slug, and similar information. After you enter all the information you deem helpful, click Save Author, and you're done.

How to Add Blog Categories on Shopify

DropInBlog allows you to create multiple categories for your Shopify store blog posts. Blog categories help you organize your posts in meaningful content blocks, making it easier for your visitors to find what they need.

The three default blog categories you can see after integrating DropInBlog with Shopify are the following:

• Announcements
• Features
• Tips

To manage them, head over to your DropInBlog account and click Categories in the navigation bar. You can edit or delete any category you want. By editing, we mean:

• Changing its title, slug, SEO title, SEO description, background image, and heading description
• Hiding it from crawlers and the category menu
• Removing it from the main blog page
• Marking it as private

On the other hand, if you want to keep the default categories and add a new one, it's as easy as clicking the big Add Category button and adding the same type of information from above. Just remember to click Save Category at the end of the process.

Whenever you edit the default categories or create new ones, the changes automatically appear in the blog menu.

How to Optimize Your Blog on Shopify for SEO

A well-structured blog means a lot for SEO, and that's the kind of blog DropInBlog allows you to have on your Shopify store.

Clear navigation, logical structure, and clean, user-friendly interface send good signals to search engines. They show that you:

• Put the user at the heart of your blog, which is precisely the way it should be.
• Know what you're doing, meaning your blog's design is not purely for aesthetics but is meant to provide a top-notch user experience.

In addition to a good blog structure, DropInBlog provides the SEO Analyzer tool to support your efforts in achieving better search engine rankings.

The SEO Analyzer evaluates your content as you write. It shows you how well it fares in SEO terms — you can get an idea of that by looking at the overall SEO score of your post, where 100 is the maximum — and gives you guidelines on how to improve it if necessary.

When we say content, we don't just mean the body of your blog post. Your title, meta description, keywords, and images all affect your post's SEO, so the SEO Analyzer evaluates and gives you tips on them as well.

Read also: How to Add Multiple Blogs to a Shopify Store

Design Customization

With DropInBlog, you have the freedom to tweak several design elements to your liking.

These include adjusting the link color and underline options for better visibility, selecting the primary font and heading font family for a cohesive look, adjusting the image frame settings, and setting the number of posts per row for a neat layout.

DropInBlog offers a preview feature, allowing you to see and fine-tune these customizations in real time, ensuring your blog not only reads well but also looks stunning.

To access Design Customizations in DropInBlog, go to the Code & Layout section, scroll down, and click on Advanced. Here, you can personalize various design elements of your blog.

Shopify Blog Examples

Take a look at some Shopify blogs below and discover the capabilities of DropInBlog for yourself.

Cosatto

Nice 'n Clean Wipes

Upcycle Hawaii

FAQs

Conclusion

Shopify is one of the best e-commerce platforms, and DropInBlog is one of the best blogging solutions. In short, they're perfect for each other. ;)

This guide showed you how easy it is to add DropInBlog to Shopify, adjust everything you need, and optimize your brand-new blog for SEO. But if you need any help, do not hesitate to reach out to us — we'll be delighted to help. In the meantime, you can learn more about Shopify and DropInBlog in our help center.