You must have realized by now that creating a new theme with PrestaShop is fun. Editing the theme becomes a simple chore as PrestaShop uses a CSS-based layout.
Adding some interesting stuff into your website will make it more attractive and meaningful for site users to return.
This chapter explores tips and tricks on how to make it easier to develop themes. It also explains ways to use some additional interactivity through the use of third party modules and JavaScript, which can add zest to your new online store.
Firstly, we will look into adding interactive elements within various sections such as the center column blocks (editorial and featured blocks), modifying the navigation element (like moving the manufacturer block link to the top menu bar), and spreading the categories from the categories blocks at the top menu buttons.
Most of these actions will require the use of some third party modules, which you can download easily from the various links we mention here. However, in case the links change in the future, we have also appended the files that you can re-compile and load to your site, if required.
A static looking site can be quite boring, especially if you are running a website trying to sell stuff online. It is much more difficult to create a buzz when compared to the brick-and-mortar shop, where visitors see other users browsing the shop and buying in a busy store with loud punchy music; which can increase their adrenalin and encourage them to to buy more.
How can an online store be made more interactive and dynamic, so that it gets more conversion from visitors to purchasers?
Adding the right interactivity can add visual interest and attract users. There are a number of ways that you can add to your new site to make it visually pleasing and suit the theme you are creating.
Now look at the following section (where the home page logo is displayed by default) and consider what you want to replace it with.
We could choose to add some video perhaps or a slideshow of some top products or
just a flash swf file.