Why It’s Important to Set a Default Category for Your Products
If you’ve ever encountered issues with incorrect breadcrumb trails and URLs on your PrestaShop product pages, the problem might be related to improperly set default categories. It’s common for beginners to overlook this crucial setting in the “Associated Categories” block when filling out product information. As a result, breadcrumbs might link back to the homepage, and the URL could be incorrect.
The Problem: Incorrect Breadcrumbs and URLs
Every product in an online store needs to belong to at least one category. When adding a product, the system allows you to select multiple associated categories, so the product can appear in several sections of your site. However, it’s essential not to forget to set a default category. This category determines how the breadcrumb navigation tree is built.
If the default category isn’t set, PrestaShop automatically links the product to the site’s main category. This leads to incorrect breadcrumb trails and incorrectly formed URLs. Ultimately, this can negatively impact both user experience and SEO.
Why Does It Matter?
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User Navigation: Breadcrumbs help users understand where they are on your site and how they got there. If the breadcrumb path is incorrect, it can cause confusion and make navigation difficult.
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Correct URL: A properly set URL not only enhances user experience but also helps search engines index pages better. An incorrect URL can reduce the visibility of your product in search results.
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SEO: Breadcrumbs and URLs affect your site’s SEO. Correct site structure representation helps search engine bots understand page hierarchy, improving search ranking.
How to Fix It?
To avoid this issue, always ensure that the default category is correctly set. This is especially important when adding a product to multiple categories at once. Choose the category that best represents the product and assign it as the default category.
Conclusion
Setting the correct default category is a small but important step in creating a product in PrestaShop that will help you avoid many problems in the future. By following these simple recommendations, you ensure correct breadcrumb trails, accurate URLs, and improved SEO for your online store.
Have you ever encountered this problem? Share your experience in the comments!
