Can't create any category pages when in online site editor

[redpandatrading]

Hi all, I hope someone can help please?

I currently use Square POS in my bricks and mortar shop. I am building an online Square site to replace an existing Wordpress one (the Wordpress site isn't synced to Square inventory at all) and I will transfer the domain from this to the Square site when it is built. 

My problem is that I can't seem to show any category pages when I'm in the online site editor. I have the relevant products and categories set to Visible in my item/category library. However when I'm in the Site Editor - Home - + Button - Dropdown (shows Section, Page, Item, Category) category is greyed out and also has an arrow next to it. 

I already have another Square website which isn't linked to a POS and it was straightforward to add category pages then add these to the navigation bar and so on.

Why can't I do it here?? I've been tearing my hair out with this one! Any help would be very much appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

Wendy

[Twiggy]

Don’t quote me on this but I’m sure Categories for more than site isn’t possible.  I seem to have come across this some time ago.  I think as a work around you’d need a different log in account and then set up the site there.

The only other way would be to set up 2 locations BUT BEFORE YOU DO THAT BEAR IN MIND YOU CAN”T DELETE A LOCATION! These would then link to the same Inventory if that’s’ what you wanted.  Some of the functionality is not possible if you wanted 2 sites on the same log in if both are free sites. 

Locations can make it quite difficult if you are linked to google maps (if your Square is linked with google maps or appointments - live ordering calendar) as to verify a business on google maps in 2024 means you have to upload a live video and the criteria is quite challenging)

[redpandatrading]

Hi Twiggy,

Thanks for your reply. 

I am already linked to a location on Google Maps via my existing Wordpress site so no problem there. My plan has been to set up my new Square site, upgrade to the paid version, transfer my domain from the Wordpress site and then publish it.

I have some experience of building a Square site as I have one for my other online shop apricotmoon.co

The main difference has been that I could easily create category pages in the builder for Apricot Moon as it isn't linked to a POS. It's just a stand alone website. The one I'm building for Red Panda Eco (Wordpress website is at redpandaeco.com) needs to have the same location as my bricks and mortar shop which is what shows on Google Maps.

I thought it would be really simple to connect what I sell in my shop to a Square online shop and that the categories would just transfer across as I built the website. I do want the inventory to connect to both in order to save me time with not manually updating stock levels. This is what I have to do at the moment between my Wordpress site and my shop inventory and it's a real pain!

If I have to have one or the other at a different location on Square in order for this to work, it would make more sense to change the location for the POS? 

Thanks so much for your help.

[Twiggy]

OK 

right. Categories in your POS do not cross over to Online, Online do not cross over to POS Or they don’t for me.  I set up my site in 2015 so I’m not sure how it works properly for categories etc now .

Our online Categories are Christmas, Valentines etc.  twigflowers.online if you want to check I’m still playing around but all I know with web is - if it ain’t broke don’t fix it… 

Your apricot moon looks great - I know categories online and POS / retail  is a big thing for 2024 (have you looked at the Retail APP for square? We love retail - the main difference is if you use retail you can’t send a payment link - give it a look they bothe work with your account )

All I can say is don’t play around too much with google maps - if you link your square site with google on square site (this is more appointments) I have 2 square sites / one appointments and one retail - it gets a little confusing/ frustrating - especially with Mother’s Day this weekend.

One of the Square team might pick up on this and give you some insight as i posted @Breffni replied too - all I know is that if you duplicate your site and want to tweak it or check out a different look - the functionality of site 2 is limited to a free package.  I’ll probably delete the link to my site tomorrow so I don’t get spam… Have a good Mother’s Day trading. 

[redpandatrading]

Hi, your website looks really great. 

I haven't looked at the Retail app yet but will do. I'm trying out @Breffni way of adding the categories to a page at the moment and will see if that works!

[Twiggy]

Thanks - TOP TIP scroll to the bottom and write the SEO title and SEO description . If you’re unsure what to write (your site looks like you do) got to Gemini or chat GPT and get th eAI to write a description and title and paste it in the SEO.  Sometimes it can be a bit temperamental if you go to another tab get the AI description and then go back to square.  Also new items are unavailable - Save, Save and Save, (I’m sure you can import a CSV file for inventory and items). GOOD LUCK 😎

[Breffni]

Hey @redpandatrading, I'd be happy to help! 

Do you have two sites in one account or two separate accounts? 

To confirm, you have your categories set up, but you want to add these categories as pages in the header of your site? 

It sounds like you need to create pages rather than categories and then add the categories to the page. 

In the site editor, select +Add > Page and choose the type of page you’d like to add to your site. You'll then be able to add a category section with your selected categories. 

Let me know if you can test this out.

[redpandatrading]

Hi @Breffni 

Thanks for your reply.

I have two separate accounts, one for Apricot Moon and the other is the original account from when I started to use the POS. That is the one that I'm building the Red Panda site on.

My categories are set up on the POS and I want to replicate these on the website.

I've now added each category as an individual page (thanks!). So I now add each item onto the relevant page as a text + image? Do you think it's a good idea to upgrade my site now so I have more access to custom layouts before I get started? If I do that then I could transfer my domain later once the website is ready to go I guess. I have quite a lot of products!

[redpandatrading]

Hi again,

My mistake, I can see that I can add an Item to any page rather than as a Section.

I am adding subcategories to make dropdowns now on the menu. Do you know if this can link to my inventory in my POS?

Thanks

[redpandatrading]

Ok I'm stumped as to how to make subcategories (dropdowns) under my new navigation links. I can't can I as I can't classify them as actual categories? Sorry for all the questions!

[Twiggy]

Ok you need to create a page say “Totes” and use mega navigation - the shop all area does all the hard work eg price high to low - on sale - etc etc etc. the navigation remember on mobile devices these sub categories can obscure buttons and photographs can be a bit of a nightmare so it’s good to create in mobile - or check mobile often as all the categories will be under the burger menu and again check imagery as what looks great on an ipad or desktop can look terrible on mobile. 

[redpandatrading]

So I will definitely need to upgrade the site at this point then so I can create a mega menu. Good point about dropdowns not looking very good on certain platforms. 

[Twiggy]

I’d personally just make it as simple as possible for the time being - you can create all the sub categories etc back office/ site wise and add later. The search function when enabled on your site is brilliant.  Check out retail …