In this guide, you’ll learn how to create a new product category on your website, including how to configure category details, images, SEO settings, and promotional codes.

Step 1: Navigate to Product Categories

1. In the top navigation menu, click Order Forms.
2. In the left-hand menu under Public Order Forms, click Product Categories.

You will now see a list of your existing product categories.

Available Options on This Page

• Add New Category (green button)
• Sort Active Categories Alphabetically
• Show/Hide Inactive Categories toggle

Note: Inactive product categories are categories that do not contain any active products.

Step 2: Add a New Category

Click the green Add New Category button.

A pop-up modal will appear with several tabs across the top. Each tab contains different configuration options.

⚠️ Important: Category Visibility Requirement

Product categories will only appear on your website if they have at least one active product assigned to them.

If you create a new category but do not assign any active products to it, the category will not display publicly.

Additionally:

• Categories with no active products are considered Inactive Categories.
• You can toggle the visibility of inactive categories within the Product Categories screen using the Show/Hide Inactive Categories switch (for administrative viewing purposes only).
• Even if the category is fully configured (name, image, SEO, etc.), it will not appear on the front end of your website until at least one active product is assigned.

Category Setup Tabs

1. Name Tab

The Name tab is where you define the basic settings for your category.

Category Name

Enter the name of your new category.
Example: Yard Signs

External Link (Optional)

You can link this category to an external website instead of displaying products directly on your site.

This is commonly used for:

• Sage websites
• ASI websites
• Promotional product storefronts

For example, you might:

• Name the category: Promotional Products
• Enter your Sage or ASI site URL
• Choose how the link opens

Link Behavior Options

• Open in Same Tab/Window
• Open in New Tab/Window

2. Info Tab

The Info tab includes a text editor where you can add formatted introductory text for the category.

This content will appear:

• On the Product Category Page (if multiple products exist in the category)
• On the Product Order Form (if only one product exists in the category)

Use this section to:

• Describe the products
• Highlight features or benefits
• Add formatting such as bold text, lists, and links

3. Image Tab

In the Image tab, you can upload a category image.

This image will display:

• On the Product Category Page (if multiple products exist)
• On the Product Page (if only one product exists)

Choose a high-quality image that visually represents the category.

4. SEO Options Tab

The SEO Options tab allows you to optimize your category for search engines.

URL Slug

You can use the standard URL structure, which places categories under:

/printing/category-name

Or customize the slug as needed.

Browser Window Title

Dropdown options include:

• Standard Title
  Uses the default title set in your website settings.
• Custom Window Title
  Allows you to create a unique browser title for this category.

SEO Description

Add a keyword-rich description to help search engines properly categorize and rank this page.

Image Alt Text

Enter descriptive alt text for your category image to:

• Improve accessibility
• Improve SEO rankings

5. Promotional Codes Tab

The Promotional Codes tab allows you to enable or disable promo codes at the category level.

If you have promotional codes set up for specific products or categories, they will appear here.

For example:

• If you’re running a promotion for Yard Signs, you can activate the applicable promo code within this tab.

You can toggle promotional codes:

• Active
• Inactive

This allows you to apply discounts specifically to this category without affecting other products.

Final Step: Save Your Category

After completing all necessary tabs:

• Review your settings
• Click Save

Your new product category will now be available on your website.

Summary

To create a new product category:

1. Go to Order Forms → Product Categories
2. Click Add New Category
3. Complete the following tabs:
   • Name
   • Info
   • Image
   • SEO Options
   • Promotional Codes
4. Save your changes

Your category will now display based on:

• The number of products assigned to it
• Whether it links externally
• Its active/inactive status

Additional Information

Manage Form Button

After saving your category, you will see a Manage Form button within the category settings.

When clicked, this button takes you directly to the Public Order Forms page and automatically displays all products assigned to that specific category.

From this screen, you can:

• View all public order forms within the category
• Quickly toggle products on or off
• Edit individual products
• Confirm which products are currently assigned to the category

This provides a fast and efficient way to manage which products belong to a category without manually searching through your entire product list.