How to Add Product Recommendations to Shopify

Adding product recommendations to your Shopify store is one of the most effective ways to increase your average order value (AOV) and provide a better shopping experience for your customers. While we've previously covered the strategic side of things in our previous guide on smart recommendations, this article is a practical "how-to" guide. We'll show you the different methods you can use to implement recommendations on your store, from simple native options to powerful, automated app solutions like EcomStar.

Shopify's Native Product Recommendations

Many Shopify themes come with a built-in "Related Products" section on the product page. This feature often works by showing products from the same collection or with similar tags. While this is a good starting point, the recommendations are often generic and not personalized. Shopify's native feature is a decent baseline, but it lacks the dynamic, data-driven intelligence needed to truly convert.

3 Ways to Add Recommendations to Your Store

Method 1: Manual "Related Products"

The simplest way to add recommendations is by manually selecting related products for each item. This method is incredibly time-consuming and doesn't scale well, especially if you have a large inventory. It's best reserved for very small stores with a limited catalog, as it lacks the power to adapt to customer behavior.

Method 2: Using Shopify's App Store

For most store owners, a dedicated app is the most powerful and efficient solution. Apps offer a wide range of features that go far beyond what's possible with a native theme. They use sophisticated algorithms to analyze customer behavior and purchase history, generating personalized recommendations on the product page, in the cart, and even after a purchase is made.

Method 3: Custom Code for Advanced Recommendations

If you have the development resources, you can add custom code to your theme to build a truly unique recommendation engine. This provides the most control and customization but requires advanced technical skills and ongoing maintenance. For most merchants, the complexity and cost make this an impractical option compared to a powerful, ready-to-use app.

How EcomStar Simplifies Adding Recommendations

EcomStar is designed to be the all-in-one solution for adding high-converting product recommendations to your store. We take the complexity out of Method 3 and offer a far more powerful and intelligent solution than Method 2. With EcomStar, you can:

• Activate AI-Powered Recommendations: Our app uses smart algorithms to automatically generate relevant recommendations, so you don't have to manually select a single product.

• Customize Placement: Easily place recommendation widgets on your product pages, cart, and post-purchase funnels for maximum visibility.

• Create Cross-Sells & Bundles: Build compelling "Frequently Bought Together" sections and product bundles with a simple, intuitive interface.

Our app provides a seamless and powerful way to add smart product recommendations that are proven to increase sales and AOV, all without needing to write a single line of code.

Final Thoughts

Adding product recommendations is a critical step for any store looking to boost its revenue. While Shopify offers a basic native option, the true power lies in using an app that can provide smart, data-driven suggestions. By choosing the right tool, you can automate this process and turn a simple widget into a powerful sales engine.

Ready to add high-converting recommendations to your store? Check out Shopify's documentation to learn more.