How many products should you have in an online store?

The number of products in an online store depends on the stage of the business and available resources. For a new online store, 10-50 high-quality products are often an optimal starting point, while established stores can benefit from a wider selection. The right number of products balances customer experience, manageability, and discoverability.

What is the optimal product quantity for a new online store?

For a new online store, 10-50 products is usually the best starting point. This quantity allows for the creation of a diverse selection without making product management overly complex. A small product quantity allows you to focus on the quality and optimization of each product.

Quality always trumps quantity in the early stages of e-commerce. Every product needs a carefully written description, high-quality images, and the right pricing. With fewer products, you can spend more time perfecting each product presentation and improving the customer experience.

Manageability is another key factor. With a smaller product range, inventory management, order processing, and customer service remain more manageable. This helps avoid errors and ensures a smooth customer experience from the very first orders.

How does product quantity affect online store discoverability and SEO?

The number of products significantly impacts a webshop's search engine visibility. More products mean more pages , which can rank in search results for various keywords. Each product page is a potential entry point to your webshop.

Long-tail keywords benefit from a wide product selection. Offering specialized or specific products allows you to reach customers searching for those exact items. For example, "blue merino wool cardigan" is much more specific than "cardigan".

The category structure naturally improves as the product range grows. In a Shopify online store, you can create logical categories and subcategories that make navigation easier for both customers and search engines. A well-organized product catalog improves internal site linking and technical SEO.

When is it a good idea to expand the product range of an online store?

Expanding the product range is advisable when current products are selling steadily and operational processes are running smoothly. Another sign that expansion is warranted is when customers actively request other products or alternatives.

Analyzing sales data reveals the right time to expand. When you notice that certain product categories are performing particularly well, or that customers frequently buy specific product combinations, you can add complementary products to those categories.

Resource availability is crucial. Before expanding, ensure you have sufficient time and money to acquire, photograph, and market new products. Inventory management becomes more complex as product volume increases, so you also need efficient systems to support growth.

How to efficiently manage a large product selection in online retail?

Managing a large product catalog requires automation and systematic processes . A Product Information Management (PIM) system helps maintain consistent product information and efficiently update data across multiple channels simultaneously.

Careful categorization is worthwhile. Create a clear hierarchy from main categories to subcategories and use consistent tags and attributes. This will make it easier for customers to find products and for you to manage your products.

An inventory management system integrated with your Shopify online store automates order processing and inventory updates. Set up alerts for products running low on stock and use sales reports to identify slow-moving items.

Customer experience remains high-quality when using efficient search functions and filters. Shopify apps offer advanced search solutions that help customers quickly find the products they want from a large selection.