How To Add Continue Shopping Button In Woocommerce

How to Add a “Continue Shopping” Button in WooCommerce: A Beginner’s Guide

So, you’ve got a fantastic WooCommerce store, packed with irresistible products. But there’s a problem: customers add an item to their cart and… then what? They might get lost in the checkout process or forget about browsing further. That’s where a “Continue Shopping” button comes in! It’s a simple yet powerful feature that can significantly improve your customer experience and boost sales.

Think of it like this: imagine walking into your favorite brick-and-mortar store, picking up an item, and then being immediately ushered to the cashier without a chance to look around further. Frustrating, right? A “Continue Shopping” button is like a friendly nudge, reminding customers that there’s more to explore.

This article will guide you through easy ways to add a “Continue Shopping” button to your WooCommerce store, even if you’re a complete beginner.

Why Add a “Continue Shopping” Button?

Before we dive into the “how,” let’s quickly recap why this little button is so important:

Improved User Experience: It makes it easier for customers to browse more products after adding something to their cart.
Increased Sales: Encouraging customers to continue shopping can lead to larger orders and more items in the cart.
Reduced Cart Abandonment: By keeping customers engaged, you reduce the likelihood of them leaving your store without completing their purchase.
Better Navigation: It provides a clear path back to your product catalog.
Professional Look: It adds a polished touch to your store’s design.

Method 1: Using a WooCommerce Plugin (The Easiest Way)

The simplest way to add a “Continue Shopping” button is by using a plugin. There are several free and paid plugins available that can achieve this. We’ll use one of the most popular and straightforward options:

Plugin Example: “Return to Shop”

1. Install the Plugin:

Go to your WordPress dashboard: `wp-admin`
Navigate to `Plugins > Add New`.
Search for “Return to Shop.”
Find a plugin that suits your needs and has good reviews/ratings.
Click “Install Now” and then “Activate.”

2. Configure the Plugin (if necessary): Many “Continue Shopping” plugins work right out of the box. However, some might offer customization options, such as:

Button Text: Change the text from “Return to Shop” to “Continue Shopping” or something else that resonates with your brand.
Button Location: Choose where the button appears on the cart page (e.g., below the cart totals, above the cart items).
Button Style: Customize the button’s color, font, and size to match your store’s design.

Why this method is great for beginners:

No coding required: You don’t need to write a single line of code.
Easy setup: Installing and activating a plugin takes just a few clicks.
Customization options: Many plugins offer flexibility in terms of button text, location, and style.

Method 2: Adding Code to Your Theme’s `functions.php` File (For the More Adventurous)

If you’re comfortable with a bit of coding, you can manually add a “Continue Shopping” button by modifying your theme’s `functions.php` file. Important: Always back up your website before making any changes to your theme files! A mistake in `functions.php` can break your site. Consider using a child theme to avoid losing your changes when your theme updates.

Here’s an example code snippet:

<?php
/**
Add a "Continue Shopping" button to the cart page.
*/
function kia_add_continue_shopping_button() {
$shop_page_url = get_permalink( wc_get_page_id( 'shop' ) );

echo ‘

‘;

echo ‘ ‘;

echo ‘ ‘ . esc_html__( ‘Continue Shopping’, ‘woocommerce’ ) . ”;

echo ‘ ‘;

echo ‘

‘;

}

add_action( ‘woocommerce_cart_actions’, ‘kia_add_continue_shopping_button’ );

Explanation:

`kia_add_continue_shopping_button()`: This is the name of our custom function. You can change “kia” to something unique to your theme.
`get_permalink( wc_get_page_id( ‘shop’ ) )`: This retrieves the URL of your shop page. `wc_get_page_id(‘shop’)` specifically gets the ID of the WooCommerce shop page.
`esc_url()`: This sanitizes the URL to prevent security vulnerabilities.
`esc_html__()`: This escapes the text for translation purposes.
`add_action( ‘woocommerce_cart_actions’, ‘kia_add_continue_shopping_button’ )`: This hooks our function into the `woocommerce_cart_actions` action, which is a common location for adding buttons on the cart page.

Steps:

1. Access `functions.php`: Via FTP or the WordPress theme editor (Appearance > Theme Editor). Be extremely careful when using the theme editor!

2. Paste the Code: Paste the code snippet at the end of your `functions.php` file.

3. Save Changes: Click “Update File.”

Important Considerations:

Child Theme: Always use a child theme when modifying theme files. This prevents your changes from being overwritten when the main theme updates.
Backup: Back up your website before making any code changes.
CSS Styling: You might need to add CSS styles to your theme’s stylesheet to customize the appearance of the button. For example, you can target the `.woocommerce-continue-shopping a.button` class to change its color, size, and font.

Why this method is more advanced:

Requires coding knowledge: You need to understand basic PHP and HTML.
Potential for errors: A mistake in the code can break your website.
Theme-dependent: The code might need adjustments depending on your theme’s structure.

Method 3: Editing WooCommerce Templates (Advanced)

This is the most advanced method and involves directly modifying WooCommerce template files. This is highly discouraged for beginners because it can lead to major problems if done incorrectly. However, it offers the most control over the button’s placement and appearance.

General Idea (Not recommended for beginners):

1. Copy the template: Copy the `cart.php` template file from the `woocommerce/templates/cart/` directory to your theme’s `woocommerce/cart/` directory.

2. Edit the copied template: Add the HTML code for the “Continue Shopping” button in the desired location within the copied `cart.php` file.

3. Style the button: Add CSS styles to your theme’s stylesheet to customize the button’s appearance.

Why this method is not recommended for beginners:

Complex: Requires a deep understanding of WooCommerce templates and PHP.
Overriding templates: Overriding WooCommerce templates can make your store harder to update and maintain.
High risk of errors: Mistakes in the template files can break your website.

Choosing the Right Method

Beginner: Use a plugin (Method 1). It’s the easiest and safest option.
Intermediate: If you’re comfortable with basic PHP and HTML, try adding code to your `functions.php` file (Method 2), but always back up your site first!
Advanced: Only attempt to edit WooCommerce templates (Method 3) if you have extensive experience with WooCommerce development.

Conclusion

Adding a “Continue Shopping” button to your WooCommerce store is a simple yet effective way to improve user experience and boost sales. By providing a clear path back to your product catalog, you encourage customers to explore more items and potentially increase their order value. Choose the method that best suits your skill level and always remember to back up your website before making any changes! Happy selling!