How to Add Bullet Points in Shopify Product Descriptions

Are you struggling to add bullet points to your Shopify product descriptions? You’re not alone. Many e-commerce store owners face this challenge, especially when using certain themes or extensions. In this guide, we’ll explore various solutions to help you effectively display bullet points in your product descriptions, enhancing readability and improving the overall user experience.

Understanding the Issue

Why Bullet Points Matter

Bullet points are an essential element in product descriptions. They help:

1. Break down complex information
2. Highlight key features
3. Improve scanability for customers

However, sometimes these bullet points don’t appear as expected, leaving your product descriptions looking less organized than intended.

Common Causes

Several factors can contribute to bullet points not displaying correctly:

• Theme limitations
• CSS conflicts
• Incompatible extensions

Solutions for Adding Bullet Points

1. Modifying Theme CSS

The Most Effective Solution

The most reliable way to add bullet points to your product descriptions is by modifying your theme’s CSS. Here’s how:

1. Go to Online Store > Themes > Edit code
2. Locate the theme.scss.liquid file in the Assets folder
3. Add the following code at the bottom of the file:

.smart-tabs-content-block li { 
    list-style: inside; 
}

This code targets the content within smart tabs (commonly used for product descriptions) and ensures that list items display with bullet points.

Alternative CSS Solutions

If the above doesn’t work for your specific theme, try one of these alternatives:

.product-description-area .rte li {
    list-style: disc;
}

or

.tab-content ul li { 
    list-style: inside; 
}

2. Using HTML in Product Descriptions

If modifying CSS doesn’t solve the issue, you can try adding HTML directly to your product descriptions:

<ul>
  <li>Feature 1</li>
  <li>Feature 2</li>
  <li>Feature 3</li>
</ul>

This method works well for individual products but can be time-consuming for large catalogs.

3. Checking Theme Compatibility

Some themes may require specific formatting or settings to display bullet points correctly. Check your theme’s documentation or contact the theme developer for guidance.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Bullets Disappearing After Page Load

If bullet points appear briefly and then disappear, it might be due to JavaScript conflicts. Try disabling any product description extensions or apps temporarily to isolate the issue.

Alignment Problems

Sometimes bullet points may appear but with incorrect alignment. In this case, you might need to adjust the CSS further:

.smart-tabs-content-block li { 
    list-style: inside; 
    margin-left: 20px;
}

Bullet Points in Specific Sections

If you need bullet points only in certain sections of your product description, consider using custom HTML classes:

<ul class="custom-bullets">
  <li>Feature 1</li>
  <li>Feature 2</li>
</ul>

Then add corresponding CSS:

.custom-bullets li {
    list-style: disc;
    margin-left: 20px;
}

Best Practices for Product Descriptions

Combining Bullet Points with Rich Text

While bullet points are great for highlighting key features, don’t rely on them exclusively. Use a mix of bullet points and paragraphs to create engaging product descriptions.

Consistency Across Products

Maintain a consistent style for bullet points across all your products. This creates a cohesive look and feel throughout your store.

Mobile Optimization

Ensure your bullet points display correctly on mobile devices. Test your product pages on various screen sizes and adjust CSS as needed.

Advanced Customization

Custom Bullet Styles

For a unique look, consider using custom bullet styles:

.custom-bullets li {
    list-style: none;
    padding-left: 20px;
    position: relative;
}

.custom-bullets li:before {
    content: "➤";
    position: absolute;
    left: 0;
    color: #your-brand-color;
}

Animated Bullet Points

For a more dynamic presentation, you can even add subtle animations to your bullet points:

@keyframes fadeIn {
    from { opacity: 0; }
    to { opacity: 1; }
}

.animated-bullets li {
    animation: fadeIn 0.5s ease-in-out;
    animation-fill-mode: both;
}

.animated-bullets li:nth-child(1) { animation-delay: 0.1s; }
.animated-bullets li:nth-child(2) { animation-delay: 0.2s; }
.animated-bullets li:nth-child(3) { animation-delay: 0.3s; }

By implementing these solutions and best practices, you can ensure that your Shopify product descriptions feature clear, attractive bullet points that enhance the overall presentation of your products. Remember to always test your changes across different devices and browsers to ensure a consistent experience for all your customers.

For more advanced customization options or if you encounter persistent issues, consider reaching out to a Shopify expert or consulting the official Shopify documentation at https://shopify.dev/themes.