Highlighted Sections in Inner Layout

[johngwms]

I want to display a matrix of selected Sections (containing Title text and an Image) above the fold to make it easier for searchers to find what they are looking for.

The layout will be similar to the New Products or Best Sellers layouts.

Each Section (which may be a prodct type or a specific product) ideally would be selected by setting an Actinic Variable.

Would one of you experienced guys please point me in the right direction to achieve this?

Thanks

John

[leehack]

I suspect your easiest way is to use fragments, you can add a title and an image and use the link tab on each fragment to point it where you want. Setting the product column count to however many you want and using a custom built fragment layout for the display.

There are better technical ways, this will probably be your simplest route though, you will need to create a fragment per section link you want to add though.

Other way is to create a dummy section link layout that links to where you want and just add however many of these at the top of a page that you want, so they lay out just as the other sections, they just look and operate differently.

Cut down product duplicates controlled on the link tab is another way.

NB: these answers are provided using just experience, instinct and guesswork, no split testing has been undertaken to prove their worth.

[johngwms]

Lee, sorry to disappoint you but you are offering an A-B-C Split test here. Which one will I go with? My decision is likely to be based on facts such as the amount of effort I wish to put into the task vs the quality of the end result plus a bit of procratination and laziness!

Seriously, I will consider all options - many thanks.

John

[leehack]

Go with the fragments John, you have all the functionality to do that and it's relatively easy. Your only real headache is product column count as this setting will inherit down the structure, so you will need to reverse the use parent facility in other words.

Add 4 fragments to a section, make sure sub section list layout is set to the bottom (so frags go to the top), add an image and setup the link tab. You can do that in a quick 5 minute test to see if it does as you wish.

[johngwms]

You must be reading my mind.

I have tried it for 4 columns and yes you are right - looks good. I just need to apply some design around the layout now.

Is there simple way of fixing the column width? By default the width seems to be determined by the Title length.

John