How to Add a Product to WooCommerce: A Beginner’s Guide
So, you’ve set up your WooCommerce store – congratulations! Now comes the exciting part: adding products and starting to sell. Don’t worry if you’re new to this, it’s much easier than you might think. This guide will walk you through the process of adding your first product to WooCommerce, step-by-step, with real-life examples and helpful tips.
Think of it like stocking the shelves of your physical store. You need to get those products out there for customers to see and buy!
Logging into Your WordPress Dashboard
First things first, you need to access your WordPress dashboard. This is the control center for your entire website, including your WooCommerce store.
- Go to your website’s URL and add `/wp-admin` to the end (e.g., `www.yourwebsite.com/wp-admin`).
- Enter your username and password.
- Product Name: This is the first thing customers will see, so make it clear and descriptive. For example, instead of just “T-shirt,” use “Men’s Blue Cotton T-shirt
- Size Large.” Using relevant keywords here is crucial for SEO.
- Product Description: This is your chance to sell the product! Write a detailed and engaging description that highlights its features, benefits, and uses. For example: “Our premium blue cotton t-shirt is made from 100% breathable cotton for all-day comfort. It’s pre-shrunk to prevent shrinkage and features a classic crew neck design. Perfect for casual wear or layering under a jacket.” Focus on what the product *does* for the customer.
- Product Data: This is where you’ll define the product type, pricing, inventory, shipping, and more. Let’s break it down further:
- Product Type:
- Simple product: A single, standalone product with no variations (e.g., a single book, a coffee mug).
- Grouped product: A collection of related products (e.g., a set of gardening tools).
- External/Affiliate product: A product sold on another website (e.g., linking to an Amazon product).
- Variable product: A product with variations (e.g., a t-shirt that comes in different sizes and colors). We’ll cover variable products in more detail later.
- General Tab:
- Regular Price: The original price of the product.
- Sale Price: The discounted price of the product (if applicable). Adding a sale price can significantly boost conversions!
- Tax Status: Whether the product is taxable or not.
- Tax Class: The specific tax rate to apply to the product.
- Inventory Tab:
- SKU (Stock Keeping Unit): A unique identifier for your product. This is optional but highly recommended for tracking your inventory.
- Manage Stock? Enable this to track the quantity of the product in stock.
- Stock Quantity: The number of units you have available.
- Allow Backorders? Whether to allow customers to purchase the product even if it’s out of stock.
- Low Stock Threshold: The point at which you’ll receive an email notification that the product is running low.
- Shipping Tab:
- Weight (kg): The weight of the product.
- Dimensions (cm): The length, width, and height of the product.
- Shipping Class: A way to group products for shipping purposes (e.g., “fragile,” “bulky”).
- Linked Products Tab:
- Upsells: Products you recommend to customers who are already viewing the current product (e.g., “You might also like…”).
- Cross-sells: Products you recommend to customers when they’re in the shopping cart (e.g., “Customers who bought this also bought…”). Upselling and cross-selling are great ways to increase your average order value.
- Attributes Tab: This is used for defining product attributes like color, size, material, etc. This is particularly important for variable products.
- Advanced Tab:
- Purchase Note: A note that’s sent to the customer after they purchase the product.
- Enable Reviews: Whether to allow customers to leave reviews on the product.
- Product Short Description: This is a brief summary of the product that appears near the product image. Use it to highlight the key benefits and features. This is often the first thing customers read, so make it count!
- Product Image: The main image for your product. Click the “Set product image” link to upload an image from your computer or select one from your media library.
- Product Gallery: Additional images that show the product from different angles or in different contexts. Click the “Add product gallery images” link to add more images.
- Product Categories: Choose the appropriate category for your product (e.g., “T-shirts,” “Books,” “Home Decor”). You can create new categories if needed.
- Product Tags: Add relevant tags that describe the product (e.g., “cotton,” “blue,” “casual”).
- Click the “Publish” button in the top right corner of the screen.
- Product Name: Cozy Knit Blanket
- Grey
- 50×60 inches
- Product Description: Wrap yourself in ultimate comfort with our Cozy Knit Blanket. Made from soft, high-quality acrylic yarn, this blanket is perfect for snuggling up on the couch, adding a touch of warmth to your bed, or taking on a picnic. The chunky knit design adds a stylish and modern touch to any room. Machine washable for easy care.
- Product Type: Simple product
- Regular Price: $79.99
- SKU: BLANKET-GREY-50X60
- Weight: 2 kg
- Categories: Home Decor, Blankets
- Tags: knit blanket, cozy blanket, grey blanket, throw blanket
- Click “Add Custom product attribute”.
- Name: “Color” (for example)
- Values: Enter your colors separated by a pipe symbol `|` (e.g., “Red | Blue | Green”). Make sure to check the “Used for variations” box.
- Repeat for other attributes like “Size”.
- Select “Create variations from all attributes” and click “Go”. This will automatically create variations for each combination of attributes (e.g., Red/Small, Red/Medium, Blue/Small, etc.).
- Click on each variation to expand it.
- Add a specific SKU, price, weight, dimensions, and image for each variation. This is crucial for tracking inventory and ensuring accurate pricing for each combination.
- Use high-quality images: Invest in professional product photography or learn how to take great photos yourself.
- Write compelling descriptions: Focus on the benefits of your product and use persuasive language.
- Optimize for SEO: Use relevant keywords in your product titles, descriptions, and tags. Keyword research is key!
- Keep your inventory up-to-date: Regularly check your stock levels and update your website accordingly.
- Monitor your sales and adjust your strategy: Analyze your sales data to identify your best-selling products and optimize your pricing and marketing efforts.
You should now be looking at your WordPress dashboard!
Navigating to the “Add Product” Page
Now that you’re logged in, let’s find the product creation area.
1. In the left-hand menu, look for the “Products” option.
2. Hover over “Products” and click on “Add New.”
You’re now on the “Add New Product” page – the place where the magic happens!
Filling Out the Product Information
This is where you’ll provide all the details about your product. Think of it as writing a compelling description for your product that will attract customers.
Adding Product Images
Visuals are crucial! High-quality product images are essential for attracting customers and showcasing your product.
Setting Product Categories and Tags
Organizing your products into categories and tags helps customers find what they’re looking for.
Publishing Your Product
Once you’ve filled out all the product information, added images, and set categories and tags, it’s time to publish your product!
Congratulations! Your product is now live on your WooCommerce store.
Example: Adding a “Cozy Knit Blanket”
Let’s walk through an example:
Working with Variable Products (e.g., T-shirts with Sizes and Colors)
Variable products require a few extra steps. Here’s a simplified overview:
1. Set Product Type to “Variable product” in the Product Data section.
2. Go to the “Attributes” tab.
3. Add Attributes:
4. Go to the “Variations” tab.
5. Create Variations:
6. Configure Each Variation:
Tips for Success
Adding products to WooCommerce is a fundamental skill for any online store owner. By following these steps and tips, you’ll be well on your way to building a successful online business. Good luck!