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Category Hub Pages in Shopify: The Missing Layer Between Collections and Products

Hub pages are the parent category layer Shopify often lacks. They clarify intent, connect collections into a hierarchy, and create a stable URL that can rank and convert.

Jan 05, 2026 • 9 min • Breadcrumbs & Categories Team • Last updated: Jan 05, 2026
Internal Linking Content Architecture Shopify SEO
Definition: A hub page is a curated parent category page that introduces the topic, links to key subcollections, and answers common intent, so both shoppers and search engines understand what the category is about.

What you will learn

Why hub pages matter in Shopify

In many Shopify stores, collections are the only category layer. But collections often behave like filters or product lists, not informational category pages. A hub page gives you a stable parent URL that can rank for broader category intent, while your collections handle browsing.

What hub pages solve

  • Unclear hierarchy: shoppers cannot see how collections relate to each other
  • No parent category page: there is nothing stable to rank for the main topic
  • Weak internal linking: deep collections and products become harder to discover

How hub pages improve crawl depth

  • They link down: hub page to child collections and product clusters
  • They link sideways: hub page to related categories to reduce orphan pages
  • They create one URL to rank: a stable parent page independent of filters
Practical rule: If an important collection or product is more than 3 clicks from the homepage, a hub page can usually shorten the path.

What to include on a high performing hub page

  1. Intent first intro: 2 to 4 lines that explain who the category is for and what shoppers will find
  2. Core collection links: the few collections that represent the majority of demand
  3. Child collections: smaller clusters that help shoppers narrow down quickly
  4. Mini glossary or definitions: short explanations that help buyers and help GEO
  5. FAQ block: 4 to 6 questions that match real search intent
  6. Internal links: related guides, comparisons, and buying tips
  7. Stable breadcrumbs: hub page as the parent in the breadcrumb trail

Hub pages work best when breadcrumbs reinforce the same hierarchy. If breadcrumbs change based on entry point, your internal link signals become noisy. Use a deterministic hierarchy so the breadcrumb path stays consistent across product pages and collection pages.

What stable breadcrumbs should do

  • Point to the hub page as the parent category
  • Use a single preferred path for SEO, even when products belong to multiple collections
  • Match the visible breadcrumbs with JSON-LD BreadcrumbList

Simple hub page template

You can copy this structure into a Shopify page and build links to your collections:

  1. H1: Category name and promise
  2. Intro: what the category is, who it is for, and how to choose
  3. Shop by subcategory: links to key collections
  4. Top picks: a small featured collection or best sellers module
  5. FAQ: short answers to common questions
  6. Related guides: internal links to educational content

FAQ

Are hub pages better than collections?

They do different jobs. Collections are for browsing products. Hub pages are for explaining intent, building hierarchy, and linking to collections in a stable way.

Do hub pages help GEO and AI answers?

Yes, when you include short definitions and FAQs. Clear, structured answers make it easier for AI assistants to cite and summarize your category correctly.

Where should hub pages live in the URL structure?

Use a stable URL, usually under pages or blogs, then link to it from menus and breadcrumbs. The key is consistency and internal linking, not the exact Shopify content type.

Summary

Hub pages act as the middle layer between navigation and product discovery. They improve crawl depth, clarify intent, and strengthen internal linking, especially for large catalogs with nested categories. When paired with stable breadcrumbs, they become a clean architecture that both shoppers and search engines understand.

Recommended reading

Try it on your store

Install Breadcrumbs & Categories to map your category hierarchy and render stable breadcrumbs that reinforce hub pages, collections, and product navigation.

Next step: Create one hub page for your highest value category, link to 5 to 10 key collections, add a short FAQ, then ensure breadcrumbs use that hub page as the parent.