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How to Create and Publish Homepage Spotlight

Learn how to create, set up, publish, and troubleshoot a Homepage Spotlight widget on Tolstoy’s new platform.

Written by Earl Sarsuelo

Introduction

Homepage Spotlight lets you add a shoppable video/media carousel to your homepage. It helps merchants highlight best-selling products, UGC, AI-generated content, launches, or seasonal campaigns in a more engaging storefront experience.

You can set up and preview the widget in Tolstoy, but publishing and embedding Homepage Spotlight on your live store requires a paid Shoppable Videos plan. If you are on a free plan, Tolstoy will prompt you to upgrade when you try to publish.

How to Set Up

  1. From the Tolstoy new platform, go to Widgets.

  2. Open Templates.
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  3. Select Homepage Spotlight.

  4. Click to Use Template.
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  5. In the widget workspace, the agent will build a standard widget based on the template.

  6. Open the Tolstoy Media panel - click 'Select Media'.
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  7. Choose the media you want to show in the Spotlight:

    • Use filters to find the right videos/images.

    • Tag media with products so shoppers can click through.

    • Pin your strongest content if you want it to appear first.

  8. Click Sync media to save the selected media, filters, sort order, and pins to the widget.
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  9. Preview the widget and make any needed changes.

How to Publish

  1. In the Homepage Spotlight workspace, click Publish.

  2. If prompted, upgrade to a paid plan.

  3. Once published, open the publish dropdown and copy the embed code.
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  4. In Shopify, open the theme editor for your homepage.

  5. Add a Custom Liquid or Tolstoy Builder block where you want the Spotlight to appear.

  6. Paste the embed code into the Widget Code field.
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  7. Click Save in Shopify.

  8. Open your homepage and confirm the Spotlight appears correctly.

For future edits, update the widget in Tolstoy, click Sync media, then click Publish update. You usually do not need to reinstall the Shopify block unless you removed it or want to move the placement.

Best Practices

  • Use short, high-quality videos that show the product clearly.

  • Tag each media asset with the correct product so product cards and clicks work.

  • Pin your best-performing or most important content first.

  • Keep the homepage selection focused. Too many unrelated videos can make the Spotlight feel less intentional.

  • Check the widget on desktop and mobile after publishing.

  • Review performance through widget views, video plays, and product clicks.

Troubleshooting / FAQs

Why is the Publish button asking me to upgrade?
Publishing Homepage Spotlight requires a paid Shoppable Videos plan.

The widget is published, but I do not see it on my homepage.
Make sure the Tolstoy Builder block was added to the homepage, the embed code was pasted into the Widget Code field, and the Shopify theme was saved.

I changed the media, but the live widget did not update.
Click Sync media first, then click Publish update.

Why are product cards missing?
Product cards appear when media assets are tagged with products. Check that each video/image is connected to the correct product.

How do I remove the Spotlight from my store?
Pause the widget from Tolstoy, or remove the Tolstoy Builder block from your Shopify homepage.

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