How to Display Blog Categories or Filter by Tags on Homepage (Dawn Theme)

Looking at your Dawn theme blog and wondering where all those carefully crafted tags disappeared to? You’re not alone. While Dawn is fantastic for many things, it doesn’t show blog tags or provide filtering options out of the box – leaving your valuable content harder to discover and your visitors scrolling endlessly through pages.

The good news? There are several proven ways to add category filtering to your Dawn theme blog, ranging from simple no-code solutions to more robust custom implementations. Let’s dive into exactly how to make your blog content more discoverable and keep visitors engaged.

How to Do It

Method 1: Quick URL-Based Category Links (No Coding Required)

The fastest way to add blog filtering is by creating manual category links using Dawn’s existing URL structure.

1. Navigate to your blog page in the theme editor (Online Store > Themes > Customize)
2. Add a “Collapsible Content” section above your blog posts area
3. Create category links using this exact URL format: https://your-store.myshopify.com/blogs/[your-blog-handle]/tagged/[tag-name]
4. Label each category clearly (e.g., “Product Updates,” “How-To Guides,” “Company News”)
5. Test each link to ensure proper filtering

This method works immediately and requires zero coding knowledge. Your visitors can now click category links to filter blog posts by specific tags.

Method 2: Custom Liquid Code Implementation (Technical Solution)

For a more professional appearance with dynamic tag generation, you’ll need to edit your theme code.

1. Access your theme code (Online Store > Themes > Actions > Edit Code)
2. Open the main-blog.liquid file (found under Sections)
3. Add this code right after the blog title but before the articles loop:

{% if blog.all_tags.size > 0 %}
  <div class="blog-filter-tags" style="margin: 2rem 0; text-align: center;">
    <h3 style="margin-bottom: 1rem;">Filter by Category:</h3>
    <div class="tag-buttons" style="display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; gap: 0.5rem; justify-content: center;">
      <a href="{{ blog.url }}" 
         class="filter-tag {% unless current_tags %}active{% endunless %}"
         style="padding: 0.5rem 1rem; border: 1px solid #ddd; text-decoration: none; border-radius: 4px;">
        All Posts
      </a>
      {% for tag in blog.all_tags %}
        <a href="{{ blog.url }}/tagged/{{ tag | handle }}" 
           class="filter-tag {% if current_tags contains tag %}active{% endif %}"
           style="padding: 0.5rem 1rem; border: 1px solid #ddd; text-decoration: none; border-radius: 4px;">
          {{ tag }}
        </a>
      {% endfor %}
    </div>
  </div>
{% endif %}

4. Add CSS styling by inserting this in your theme’s CSS file or at the top of main-blog.liquid:

<style>
.filter-tag:hover {
  background-color: #f5f5f5;
}
.filter-tag.active {
  background-color: #333;
  color: white;
}
</style>

This creates professional-looking filter buttons that automatically display all your blog tags.

Method 3: App-Based Solution

For the most features with minimal effort, “Blog Articles Filter & Search PRO” provides dropdown filtering, search functionality, and featured articles starting at $4.99/month.

1. Install the app from the Shopify App Store
2. Follow the setup designed specifically for Dawn theme
3. Customize filter appearance through the app settings
4. Enable additional features like search and featured posts

Conclusion

Adding blog category filtering to your Dawn theme doesn’t have to be complicated. Whether you choose the quick URL-based method, implement custom Liquid code, or use a dedicated app, your visitors will thank you for making your content more discoverable.

Your next steps:

1. Choose the method that matches your technical comfort level and budget
2. Test thoroughly across different devices before going live
3. Monitor engagement to see how filtering impacts your blog’s performance
4. Consider adding search functionality if you have extensive blog content

A better blog organization leads to higher engagement and longer site visits – exactly what you need to turn casual readers into loyal customers.