Astra Theme WooCommerce: Customize Your Product Display Like a Pro (Even if You’re a Beginner!)
WooCommerce is a powerful platform for selling online, and the Astra theme is known for its speed, flexibility, and ease of use. But sometimes, the default product display just doesn’t cut it. You might want to showcase your products differently to boost sales and create a more compelling shopping experience. This guide will walk you through how to change your WooCommerce product display using the Astra theme, even if you’re completely new to the game.
Think of it like this: your product page is your storefront. You wouldn’t want a cluttered, uninviting storefront, would you? Let’s make it shine!
Why Customize Your WooCommerce Product Display?
Before we dive into the “how,” let’s understand the “why.” A well-designed product display can:
- Increase Conversions: A clear and visually appealing page encourages visitors to add items to their cart. Think about walking into a well-organized store versus a messy one. Which one are you more likely to buy from?
- Improve User Experience: Easy navigation and clear product information make it easier for customers to find what they need. A happy customer Explore this article on How To Easily Sort Woocommerce Products is a buying customer.
- Reinforce Your Brand: A consistent design across your website, including product pages, builds brand recognition and trust.
- Highlight Key Features: You can showcase the most important aspects of your products to entice buyers. Got a product with a unique selling point? Make it visible!
- WordPress installed: This is the foundation of your online store.
- Astra theme activated: Go to Appearance > Themes and activate Astra. If you don’t have it, install and activate it. Astra is a free theme with a paid Pro version that offers even more customization options.
- WooCommerce plugin installed and configured: WooCommerce is what turns your WordPress site into an e-commerce powerhouse. Go to Plugins > Add New and search for WooCommerce. Install and activate it, then follow the setup wizard.
- Access the Customizer: Go to Appearance > Customize in your WordPress dashboard.
- Navigate to WooCommerce: In the Customizer menu, find and click on “WooCommerce.”
- Explore the Options: Within the WooCommerce section, you’ll find several sub-sections:
- Product Catalog: Controls how products are displayed on your shop page and category pages. You can adjust the number of products per row, the product grid style, and more.
- Single Product: This is where you’ll find options to customize the individual product page layout. You can rearrange elements, change the product image size, enable or disable related products, and more.
- Cart: Customizes the appearance of the shopping cart page.
- Checkout: Customizes the appearance of the checkout page.
- Activate the WooCommerce Module: In your WordPress dashboard, go to Astra > Astra Options. Make sure the “WooCommerce” module is activated.
- Access the Options: The options are found under Appearance > Customize > WooCommerce.
- Customize Product Page Layouts: Choose from pre-designed layouts or create your own using a drag-and-drop interface.
- Enable Distraction Free Checkout: Removes unnecessary elements from the checkout page to reduce cart abandonment.
- Add Sticky Add to Cart Buttons: Keeps the “Add to Cart” button visible as users scroll down the page, increasing conversions.
- Showcase Product Variations: Display product variations (e.g., colors, sizes) in an attractive and user-friendly way.
- Implement Quick View: Allows users to view product details in a popup without leaving the shop page.
- Install and Activate a Page Builder: Go to Plugins > Add New and search for your preferred page builder. Install and activate it.
- Edit Your Product Page: Go to Products > All Products and click “Edit” on the product you want to customize.
- Edit with Your Page Builder: Look for a button that says “Edit with [Your Page Builder Name]” and click it.
- Design Your Page: Use the page builder’s drag-and-drop interface to create a completely custom product page layout. You can add text, images, videos, buttons, and more. Most page builders have dedicated WooCommerce widgets that you can use to display product information.
- Access the Custom CSS Editor: Go to Appearance > Customize > Additional CSS.
- Add Your CSS: Write your CSS code to modify the appearance of specific elements on your product pages. Use your browser’s developer tools to inspect the elements and identify the correct CSS selectors.
- Use High-Quality Images: Invest in professional product photography. Clear, well-lit images are essential.
- Write Compelling Product Descriptions: Focus on the benefits of your product, not just the features. Tell a story and connect with your audience.
- Optimize for Mobile: Ensure your product pages look great on all devices. Mobile commerce is huge!
- Use Social Proof: Display customer reviews and testimonials to build trust.
- A/B Test Your Changes: Experiment with different layouts and designs to see what works best for your audience.
Getting Started: Astra and WooCommerce
First, ensure you have:
Methods for Changing Your Product Display with Astra
Astra provides several ways to customize your product display. We’ll cover a few of the most common and effective methods:
1. Using the WooCommerce Customizer (Astra’s Built-in Options)
Astra integrates beautifully with the WooCommerce Customizer, giving you direct control over various aspects of your product pages. This is often the easiest place to start.
Example: Let’s say you want to change the number of products displayed per row on your shop page.
1. Go to Appearance > Customize > WooCommerce > Product Catalog.
2. Find the “Columns” setting.
3. Adjust the number to your desired value (e.g., 3 for three products per row).
4. Click “Publish” to save your changes.
2. Using Astra Pro’s WooCommerce Modules (For More Advanced Customization)
If you have Astra Pro, you unlock even more powerful customization options. Astra Pro has dedicated modules for WooCommerce that provide granular control over your product display.
With Astra Pro’s WooCommerce module, you can:
Example: Let’s say you want to add a sticky “Add to Cart” button.
1. Make sure the WooCommerce module is activated in Astra Options.
2. Go to Appearance > Customize > WooCommerce > Single Product.
3. Enable the “Sticky Add To Cart” option.
4. Customize the button’s appearance (color, text) if desired.
5. Click “Publish” to save your changes.
3. Using Page Builders (For Ultimate Design Freedom)
For the ultimate control over your product page design, you can use a page builder like Elementor, Beaver Builder, or Brizy. Astra is fully compatible with these page builders.
Example: Creating a custom product page with Elementor:
1. Install and activate Elementor.
2. Edit a product.
3. Click “Edit with Elementor.”
4. Drag and drop Elementor widgets onto the page to create your desired layout. Use the “WooCommerce Product Title,” “WooCommerce Product Images,” “WooCommerce Product Price,” and “WooCommerce Add to Cart” widgets to display the product information.
5. Style the widgets to match your brand.
6. Click “Publish” to save your changes.
4. Custom CSS (For Fine-Tuning)
If you’re comfortable with CSS, you can use custom CSS to fine-tune the appearance of your product pages.
Example: Changing the color of the “Add to Cart” button:
.woocommerce #content input.button,
.woocommerce #respond input#submit,
.woocommerce a.button,
.woocommerce button.button,
.woocommerce input.button.alt {
background-color: #007bff !important; /* Change to your desired color */
color: #fff !important; /* Change to your desired text color */
}
Important: Use `!important` sparingly. It can override other styles and make it harder to manage your CSS in the long run.
Tips for Creating Effective Product Displays
Conclusion
Customizing your WooCommerce product display with Astra is a powerful way to improve user experience, increase conversions, and reinforce your brand. Whether you use the built-in Customizer options, Astra Pro’s WooCommerce modules, a page builder, or custom CSS, you have the tools you need to create a stunning online storefront. Don’t be afraid to experiment and find what works best for your products and your audience. Good luck and happy selling!
