Shopify solution guide
BL External Links Button
Some Shopify product pages need to send a visitor somewhere other than the store’s normal cart. That can mean an Amazon listing, a retailer, a distributor, a partner site, an affiliate destination or another external purchase path. The important part is making the destination clear before the visitor clicks.
When external product buttons help
| Use case | Clear customer label |
|---|---|
| Marketplace purchase | Buy on Amazon, Buy on eBay or View on marketplace. |
| Retailer or distributor | Find a retailer or Buy from a distributor. |
| Affiliate destination | Buy from partner; include any required disclosure. |
| Product-specific route | Choose a label that explains the next destination. |
Design the handoff, not just the button
Use a precise label, place the button where a customer can understand it and avoid implying that the normal Shopify cart will handle an off-site purchase. If a product can be bought through several destinations, use separate labels rather than a generic “Buy now” button.
Set up across product templates
On Online Store 2.0 themes, add the BL External Links app block to the relevant product template in the theme customizer. If some products use another template, check that template too. A button that appears on one product but not another is often a product configuration or template-placement issue - not an app failure.
Working with older themes and large catalogues
Legacy or non–Online Store 2.0 themes may not expose app blocks in the same way. If an app block errors or is unavailable, contact Backlip support with the store URL, theme name and version, product-template name, and a screenshot. Do not force unfamiliar code into a live theme. For a catalogue with many destinations, start from an export, preserve the CSV structure, update values carefully and import only after checking a small sample.
What this does not do
An external-link button directs a visitor to the URL configured for that product. It does not place that off-site purchase in the normal Shopify cart or replace clear affiliate, retailer, pricing or policy disclosures where they apply.
FAQ
Can every product have a different destination?
Yes. Product-specific links are useful when different products point to different retailers, marketplaces or partners.
Can I add more than one external button?
Yes, when multiple destinations are genuinely useful. Make each label distinct so the customer knows where it goes.
Can the button match my theme?
The app supports customisation, while an exact match depends on the theme and should be tested on mobile and desktop.
Explore BL External Links Button for Shopify or install from the Shopify App Store.
Need a step-by-step setup guide? Read How to Add External Purchase Buttons to Shopify Product Pages.
Verified Shopify workflow
Choose the external-link setup that matches the catalogue
Use a fixed link button when one shared external destination belongs on every relevant product. Use a per-product link button when each product needs its own marketplace, retailer, distributor or affiliate destination. Keep the label specific - such as “Buy on Amazon” or “Find a retailer” - so the shopper understands that the next step is off-site.
One shared route
Configure a fixed label and URL in the Shopify theme editor. This is suited to a retailer locator, partner page or another destination that is truly the same across the products using that template.
Product-specific routes
Add the Per-product link button app block to a compatible product template, then save a matching label and URL for each product. Add more mapped blocks only when distinct destinations genuinely help the shopper.
Set up and manage the workflow safely
- On compatible themes, add and position the app block from the Shopify product-template editor. Test one real product before rolling out to the catalogue.
- Keep Shopify Add to Cart and Buy Now visible while testing. Only use a conditional hide setting after the external button is correctly visible and the off-site handoff is intentional.
- Use the app’s Bulk Link Editor for an app-managed product table, or use the Native Product-admin shortcut from a single product, selected products, or the product index to open Shopify’s classic bulk editor. The shortcut is an editing-access route; it does not place a storefront button.
- For CSV work, start from the app export and test a small sample. Blank cells only remove existing link data when the delete-empty-cells option is deliberately enabled.
Older or heavily customized themes may not expose a compatible app-block location. If the block is unavailable or the product-page controls do not behave as intended, contact Backlip support with the store URL, theme name/version, product-template name, desired placement and a screenshot. Do not paste unfamiliar code into a live theme.