What is a Product Listings Page (PLP)?
A Product Listings Page, also referred to as a PLP, is a page that shows a range of products at a category or sub-category level or as a result of a search query.
Each PLP typically consists of:
- The Category Name: This is also used in the website navigation, sign-posting shoppers to the right section of the site.
- A Category Description: This is particularly important if the Category is linked to a key phrase you want your site to rank for organically.
- Filters: Being able to filter results is paramount to help with the overall Customer Experience. This becomes even more important for higher level categories versus sub-categories where results will be broader. Filters typically allow customers to select attributes such as size, colour, price etc.
- Quick Buy: Depending on the product, retailers and brands may offer their shoppers the option to buy the item without the need to go through to the Product Detail Page (PDP).
- Availability: To help shoppers when scanning the page, making stock levels obvious before clicking through to the PDP provides a better Customer Experience.
- Reviews: Product reviews are typically pulled through into the PLP (in addition to being used on PDPs) to help shoppers with the decision making process.
- Save to Wishlist: This is a key component to a PLP, helping the shopper save a number of products whilst they scan through the page before jumping back to their wishlist to view each product in detail.
- Results: Allow shoppers to choose how many products they view per page.
- Sort: Give shoppers the option of how they want to see products e.g. by price high to low, by top rated items, by new items listed etc.
Why is a Product Listings Page so important?
The PLP is the gateway to product discovery and therefore presenting the most relevant products within that category or as a result of a specific search query is vital to help guide shoppers to Product Details Pages (PDPs).
These pages are an important part of internal link building – a factor that heavily influences organic search rankings.
A well designed PLP should:
- Promote product discovery
- Speed up time from product discovery to purchase decision
Product Listing Page Design Examples
We have compiled 3 examples of PLPs with key highlights from each below.
- Very key highlights:
- Comprehensive Filtering: allowing the customer to refine the PLP results based on their criteria
- Popular Sub-categories: Below the hero image are popular sub-categories aligned to seasonal trends and most-visited sections of the site
- Social-Proof: Star-ratings, bestseller badges and trending messages are integrated into the individual products listed
- Hotel Chocolat: key highlights:
- Category Description: helping introduce the page whilst also helping their SEO efforts
- Filtering Options: including availability
- Social Proof: with both ratings and real-time purchasing behavior of their shoppers
3. Revolution Beauty: Key Highlights
- Product Tags: Vegan products are tagged making it easy for the shopper to scan the page for vegan-only products
- Social proof: The colour of the social proof messages has been aligned carefully to the Brand guidelines and combined with relevant icons
- Social Media Trending: In addition to shopping behaviour, Revolution Beauty have also woven in TikTok trending badges
