How to Highlight Important Menu Items (Complete Implementation Guide)
You can highlight important menu items in Shopify by renaming them, styling them with CSS, using Liquid conditions, or installing a menu app. This helps draw attention to high-priority pages like Sale, Best Sellers, or Limited Offers, making navigation clearer and improving the chances of clicks and conversions. In this guide, we’ll walk through the main ways to highlight important menu items in Shopify and when to use each method.
Why Highlighting Menu Items Matters
Highlighting menu items is very important in Shopify. It draws attention to the high-priority pages. Key benefits are as follows:
- Boosts conversions and sales.
- Draws attention to the high-priority pages.
- Reduce bounce rate.
- Highlighting menu items creates a sense of urgency.
Here is another guide on how to create a mega menu in Shopify can help you build a more conversion-focused store structure.
If you also want to improve other high-visibility elements in your store, this guide on how to change the add to cart button color in Shopify can help you create a more consistent conversion-focused design.
Methods for Highlighting Menu Items
There are several methods for highlighting menu items in Shopify. Some of these are as follows.
- Rename Menu Items
- Highlight Menu Items Using CSS
- Highlight Menu Items with Liquid
- Highlight Menu Items Using Apps
Method 1: Rename Menu Items
This is the simplest and easiest method to highlight a menu item in your Shopify Store. Follow these steps to rename menu items.
Step 1: Navigate to Shopify Admin > Content > Menus
Step 2: Open the existing menu.
Step 3: Write clear labels for menu items, such as 🔥 Sale or ✨ New Arrivals instead of Sale or New Arrivals.
Step 4: Save the changes.
Method 2: Highlight Menu Items Using CSS
To highlight menu items using CSS, you need to target the menu items where you want to apply the styles. Follow these steps to highlight menu items using CSS.
Step 1: Navigate to Online Store > Themes > Edit Code.
Step 2: Open base.css or theme.css, depending on the theme.
Step 3: Add the styles at the end of the base.css file. For example, add the following code.
.list-menu--inline li:nth-child(5) .list-menu__item {
background: #383838;
color: #ffffff;
}
Step 4: Save the changes.
Method 3: Highlight Menu Items with Liquid
If you want to add the customizable settings that store owners can use to change the styles, such as colors, fonts, etc., then you can use Liquid to apply conditions. Follow these steps to highlight menu items using the Liquid.
Step 1: Navigate to Online Store > Themes > Edit Code.
Step 2: Open the header.liquid file
Step 3: Locate the menu code, which usually looks like this.
{%- for link in section.settings.menu.links -%}
<li>
<a href="{{ link.url }}">{{ link.title }} </a>
</li>
{%- endfor -%}
Step 4: Add the conditions using liquid. For example, add the following code.
{% for link in linklists.main-menu.links %}
<li>
<a href="{{ link.url }}"
class="{% if link.title contains 'Sale' %}menu--highlight{% endif %}">
{{ link.title }}
</a>
</li>
{% endfor %}
Step 5: Save the changes.
Step 6: Add the following CSS in your base.css file depending on the theme.
.menu--highlight {
background: #d0021b;
color: #fff;
border-radius: 4px;
padding: 6px 10px;
}
Step 7: Save the changes.
Method 4: Highlight Menu Items Using Apps
Looking for a no-code solution, then Shopify apps are the best option. Install the app from the Shopify App Store and configure the app settings. Follow these steps to highlight the menu items using Apps.
Step 1: Navigate to Shopify Admin > Apps.
Step 2: Click the Apps and Sales Channel Settings button.
Step 3: Open the Shopify App Store.
Step 4: Search for the app, such as Qikify Mega Menu & Navigation
Step 5: Install the app.
Step 6: Reconfirm the installation process.
Step 7: Click the Create menu button.
Step 8: Select the Menu template, for example, Simple.
Step 9: Open any menu item and click the Edit button.
Step 10: Select the item layout, such as an Image, Product, etc.
Step 11: Save the changes.
Some popular apps are as follows:
- Globo Mega Menu, Navigation
- Qikify Mega Menu & Navigation
- Meteor Mega Menu & Navigation
- Buddha Mega Menu & Navigation
Want even more flexibility when customizing theme sections and navigation-related features? You may also find this guide on Shopify app blocks to add widgets anywhere useful.
Bottom Line
Highlighting important menu items in Shopify is a simple but effective way to guide shoppers toward your most valuable pages. Whether you use labels, CSS, Liquid, or apps, the right method depends on how much control you want and how customized your store needs to be. Done well, it can improve navigation, increase clicks, and support more conversions without major design changes.
If you want a cleaner, more polished navigation experience without risking theme issues, Ecomx Agency can help with custom Shopify theme development tailored to your store’s design and conversion goals.
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