Market localization: Create localized page variants

Overview

Market localization is a powerful feature that allows you to create localized versions of your pages and sections for different markets on your Shopify store. Instead of maintaining separate pages for each market, you can manage one base page and create market-specific variants that display different content, styling, and layouts to customers in different regions.

This feature is essential for global merchants who want to deliver personalized experiences based on their customers' market location while maintaining a single source of truth for page management.

How to Access Market Content

For Pages

1. Open PageFly Editor — Navigate to the page you want to localize

2. Locate the Market Selector — In the editor header toolbar, look for the Market dropdown button

   • If no markets are set up, it displays a Store icon with "Default Market" label

   • If you're editing a market variant, it shows the market name and country flag

3. Click the Market Selector — A popover menu opens displaying all available markets and existing variants

4. Select Your Target Market — Choose a market from the list to view or create a variant

For Sections

1. Open the Section Editor — Edit a reusable section

2. Look for the Market Selector — Same button location as page editing (header toolbar)

3. Manage section variants — Create and edit section-specific variants just like pages

Understanding the Market Selector

The Button Display

The Market Selector button changes based on what you're currently editing:

State	Icon	Label	Meaning
Base Page/Section	Store icon	"Default Market"	Editing the base version for all markets
Market Variant	Country flag or globe	Market name (e.g., "Canada")	Editing a variant for a specific market
Loading	Globe icon	"Loading..."	Fetching variants from the server

The Market Popover Menu

When you click the Market Selector, a popover menu appears showing:

• Base (Default Market) — Always listed at the top with a store icon

• Additional Markets — All other markets from your Shopify store

• Status Badges — Similar to an individual page/section status, each market shows its variant status, synced both on the top bar and popover selector. Also you can Save/Publish/Unpublish them separately.

  

Creating a Market Variant

Step 1: Open the Market Selector

1. Click the Market Selector button in the editor header

2. The popover menu displays all available markets

Step 2: Select the Market

1. For markets with existing variants — Click the market name to switch to that variant

2. For markets without variants — Click the market to create a new variant

Step 3: Confirm the Variant Creation

When creating a new variant, a confirmation dialog appears:

1. Review the market name and region count

2. Click Create to proceed

3. A loading overlay appears while the variant is being created

4. The editor automatically switches to the new variant once ready

Note: When you create a variant, PageFly automatically clones the current base page content. You can then customize it for that specific market by editing the content, layout, styling, and functionality.

Editing a Market Variant

Once you're editing a variant (indicated by the market name in the Market Selector), you can customize it exactly like a normal page:

• Edit content — Change text, images, products, and sections

• Modify styling — Adjust colors, fonts, spacing, and responsive layouts

• Add/remove elements — Insert new elements or delete existing ones specific to this market

• Customize settings — Configure unique behaviors for this market variant

Saving Your Changes

When you make changes to a variant:

1. Auto-save is active — Changes are automatically saved to draft (indicated by the outline ring around the Market Selector)

2. Manual save — Click the Save button in the top-right to save explicitly

3. Status indicator — The badge next to the market name updates to show "Unsaved Changes" while you're editing

Important: Remember to save your changes before switching to another market or closing the editor.

Publishing Market Variants

Publishing a Single Variant

1. While editing the variant, click the Save button

2. A save/publish dialog appears

3. Choose your action:

   • Save as Draft — Saves changes without publishing

   • Publish — Makes the variant live to customers in that market

Publishing the Base Page

1. Click the Market Selector and choose Default Market

2. Make your edits to the base page

3. Click Save

4. Choose Publish to make changes live to all markets without specific variants

Tip: Always ensure your base page is published before publishing market variants. Variants are overlays on top of the base, so an unpublished base affects all markets.

Switching Between Markets

How Switching Works

1. Click the Market Selector button

2. Select a different market or the base page

3. If you have unsaved changes:

   • A modal dialog appears asking you to Save, Discard, or Cancel

   • Save and Switch — Saves your current variant before switching

   • Discard and Switch — Abandons changes and switches to the new market

   • Cancel — Closes the dialog and keeps editing the current variant

Switching Back to the Base Page

1. Open the Market Selector

2. Click Default Market at the top

3. Follow the unsaved changes prompt if needed

4. You're now editing the base page

Deleting a Market Variant

To Delete a Variant:

1. Open the Market Selector popover

2. Locate the market variant you want to delete

3. Click the delete icon (trash can) next to the market name

4. A confirmation dialog appears

5. Click Delete to confirm (this cannot be undone)

Warning: Deleting a published variant immediately removes it from that market. Customers in that market will see the base page instead. This action cannot be reversed.

What Happens After Deletion

• For Published Variants — The variant is unpublished and removed; the base page is restored for that market

• For Draft Variants — The variant is simply deleted with no impact on live pages

• The Editor — Returns to the base page or another active variant after deletion

Real-World Use Cases

Global Product Variants with Local Messaging

Create a product page for your base market, then customize variants for:

• Canada — Add bilingual French/English content

• Australia — Update shipping details and local payment methods

• Germany — Translate to German and adjust pricing currency

Regional Holiday Campaigns

Build a holiday sale page, then create market-specific variants with:

• Localized holiday greetings and imagery

• Region-specific discount messaging

• Local currency and payment options

Multi-Language Content Delivery

Manage a single page structure across markets with language-specific variants:

• English for US/UK/Canada base page

• Spanish variant for Mexico/Spain markets

• Portuguese variant for Brazil market

Compliance and Legal Localization

Ensure compliance with regional requirements by customizing:

• Privacy policy language and links

• Shipping and return policy variations

• Local tax information displays

• Currency and measurement units

Troubleshooting & FAQ

Q: What happens to a variant if I delete the base page?

A: Market variants are tied to their base page. If you delete the page, all variants are deleted as well. Always export your variant content if you need to preserve it.

Q: Can I create a variant without publishing the base page?

A: Yes! You can create and edit variants independently. However, customers will only see the variant content if the base page is published. A draft base page means nothing displays for any market.

Q: How long does it take to create a variant?

A: Variant creation typically takes 1-3 seconds as PageFly clones the base content. You'll see a loading overlay during this time.

Q: Can I edit a variant on my mobile device?

A: Market Content features work best on desktop. Mobile editing support is limited; we recommend using a desktop device for variant creation and editing.

Q: What if my variant shows "Empty Content" warning?

A: This means the variant exists but has no content elements. You can:

1. Add elements — Click in the canvas and add content to this variant

2. Re-clone from base — Delete and recreate the variant to re-clone fresh content

3. Delete the variant — Remove it if it's no longer needed

Q: How do unsaved changes work with auto-save?

A: PageFly automatically saves variant drafts every few seconds. However, "unsaved changes" refers to edits that haven't been explicitly saved or published. Always click Save before publishing to ensure all changes are committed.

Q: Can I have different layouts for different markets?

A: Yes! Variants are fully independent. You can change the entire layout, section order, and content per market. The only constraint is they must be part of the same base page.

Q: What if a market is not showing in the Market Selector?

A: This typically means:

1. The market is not set up in your Shopify store

2. The Shopify API hasn't synced the market list yet (refresh the page)

3. You don't have permissions to edit that market

Check your Shopify Markets settings under Settings > Markets to verify markets are active.

Best Practices

• Start with base content — Create a solid base page before creating variants

• Publish base first — Ensure the base page is published before publishing variants

• Review before publishing — Preview variants in a test environment before going live

• Use consistent naming — Keep market variant names consistent with your Shopify market names

• Save frequently — Don't lose work; save edits regularly, especially for complex variants

• Test across regions — If possible, test variants from different geographic locations to verify they display correctly

• Document variant differences — Keep notes on what content differs between variants for team reference