How to Add Wishlist Button in Shopify

Introduction
Why Should You Add a Wishlist Button?
Methods to Add Wishlist Button in Shopify
Conclusion
FAQ

Introduction

Ever visited an e-commerce store and wished you could bookmark certain products for later? You’re not alone. Wishlist buttons are a favorite feature among online shoppers, providing a seamless way to save items they love but aren’t ready to purchase just yet. If you're using Shopify, you might wonder how to add this invaluable feature to your store to enhance user experience. This blog post guides you step-by-step on how to add a wishlist button to your Shopify store, ensuring your customers can save their favorite items for future purchases.

By the end of this article, you’ll know how to implement a wishlist feature in Shopify through a variety of methods, whether you're using a free theme, coding it yourself, or installing a specialized app. Let's dive in!

Why Should You Add a Wishlist Button?

Adding a wishlist button to your Shopify store isn't just about convenience; it offers several key benefits:

Increase Sales: Shoppers often return to their wishlists to purchase saved items, leading to repeat sales.
Reduce Cart Abandonment: Users can save items instead of abandoning their cart, reducing bounce rates.
Collect Customer Preferences: Get insights into what your customers are interested in, helping in stock and marketing decisions.
Enhance User Experience: Providing a wishlist option makes your store more user-friendly and keeps customers engaged.

Methods to Add Wishlist Button in Shopify

Using Shopify Apps

One of the easiest and most efficient ways to add a wishlist feature to your Shopify store is by using apps from the Shopify App Store. Here’s a look at some of the top wishlist apps available:

1. Wishlist Plus

Wishlist Plus is a highly popular choice among Shopify users. It allows shoppers to create wishlists without logging in, offers social sharing options, and integrates with most email marketing services for remarketing.

Pros:

No need for users to log in.
Social sharing options are available.
Excellent integration with email marketing.

Cons:

Higher pricing tiers might be costly for new stores.

2. Advanced Wishlist

This app supports basic wishlist functionality with some additional features like public sharing of wishlists. It is compatible with all Shopify themes.

Pros:

Supports public sharing.
Compatible with all Shopify themes.

Cons:

Limited free plan.
Lacks advanced features such as email reminders.

3. Wishlist Hero

Wishlist Hero offers a blend of aesthetic and functional features. It supports guest wishlists and integrates well with your shopping cart, ensuring a seamless user experience.

Pros:

Easy to set up and use.
Supports guest wishlists.

Cons:

Limited features in the free version.

Custom Coding Your Wishlist

For those who are more tech-savvy and prefer a tailored solution, adding a wishlist feature through custom coding is a viable option. Here’s a simple guide to get you started:

Step-by-Step Guide

Create a Wishlist Template:
- Go to your Shopify Admin Panel and navigate to Online Store > Themes.
- Click Actions > Edit Code.
- Under Templates, click Add a new template and choose page type.
- Name it wishlist and click Create Template.
Add Wishlist Button Code:
- In your product-template.liquid file, add a button where you want the wishlist button to appear.
- Example:
```
<button class="btn-wishlist" data-product-id="{{ product.id }}">Add to Wishlist</button>
```

Customize Wishlist Feature:

Use JavaScript to handle the logic for adding products to the wishlist. This script will save product IDs to the local storage of the user's browser.
Example:

document.querySelector('.btn-wishlist').addEventListener('click', function() {
    let productId = this.getAttribute('data-product-id');
    let wishlist = JSON.parse(localStorage.getItem('wishlist')) || [];
    if(!wishlist.includes(productId)) {
        wishlist.push(productId);
        localStorage.setItem('wishlist', JSON.stringify(wishlist));
        alert('Added to wishlist!');
    }
});

Display Wishlist Products:

Navigate to your newly created wishlist.liquid file and fetch products using the stored IDs.
Example:

{% for product_id in request.session['wishlist'] %}
    {% assign product = all_products[product_id] %}
    <!-- Display the product details here -->
{% endfor %}

Alternative Without App

If you prefer not to use an app and have minimal coding skills, there’s still a workaround. Follow these simplified steps to create a custom wishlist page:

Create a New Page: Navigate to Online Store > Pages > Add Page. Name it Wishlist.
Add Custom Code: In the content section of the page, add the HTML and JavaScript to store wishlist items in the browser's local storage.
Link Wishlist Button: Link the wishlist button on each product page to add the product to the local storage and then redirect to the wishlist page for users to view their saved items.

Conclusion

Adding a wishlist button to your Shopify store can significantly enhance user experience and drive more sales. Whether you choose to integrate a Shopify app, use custom coding, or leverage a simplified approach for free themes, the outcome will be a more engaging shopping experience for your customers.

FAQ

1. What is the simplest way to add a wishlist feature in Shopify?

Using a Shopify app like Wishlist Plus or Wishlist Hero is the simplest and most efficient way to add wishlist functionality.

2. Can I add a wishlist feature without using an app?

Yes, you can add a wishlist feature through custom coding by creating a new wishlist template and adding custom JavaScript to manage the wishlist logic.

3. Are there free solutions for adding a wishlist?

While most comprehensive wishlist functionalities come with a paid plan, you can use limited features provided by free versions of wishlist apps or develop a basic wishlist using custom code.

Adding a wishlist button to your Shopify store doesn't have to be daunting. Whether you go for an app or a custom coding approach, the benefits will be evident in the enhanced shopping experience you deliver to your customers. Happy selling!