How to Display Star Ratings on WooCommerce Products (Even Without Reviews!)
Want to make your WooCommerce products look more appealing and trustworthy, even before you’ve racked up a ton of customer reviews? You’ve probably seen those enticing star ratings next to products on other sites and wondered, “How can I get those on my store too?” The good news is, you absolutely can! This article will show you how to display star ratings on your WooCommerce products *without* relying solely on customer reviews. This is particularly useful for new products, or those with a limited number of reviews.
Think of it like this: You’re browsing Amazon for a new pair of headphones. You see two listings that look similar. One has a 4.5-star rating with a visible number of ratings, while the other has no stars at all. Which one are you more likely to click on? The one with the star rating, right? It instantly creates a perception of quality and reliability.
This article is for WooCommerce newbies, so we’ll keep things simple and easy to understand.
Why Show Star Ratings Without Reviews?
Let’s face it, getting those first few reviews can be tough. Here’s why showing *some* rating is useful even when reviews are sparse:
- Increased Click-Through Rate (CTR): Search engines and even your own product listing pages are more likely to attract clicks when your products have visual appeal. Stars grab attention.
- Improved Perceived Value: A product with a visible rating, even if artificially set, subconsciously suggests higher quality than a product with no rating.
- Building Trust (Initially): While genuine reviews are essential for long-term trust, early-stage star ratings can provide a initial level of confidence for potential buyers. However, be responsible and realistic! Don’t give every product a 5-star rating if it’s new and unproven.
Important Note: It’s crucial to be ethical. Don’t mislead your customers. The goal isn’t to trick them into buying something subpar, but to give them a reason to explore new products or products with few reviews. As you gain genuine reviews, gradually transition to using those real ratings. You will be more credible in the long run.
Method 1: Setting a Default Product Rating via Custom Code
This method involves adding a small snippet of code to your theme’s `functions.php` file (or a custom plugin). This code will automatically assign a default star rating to all new products (or existing products that don’t have a rating yet).
Warning: Editing `functions.php` directly can be risky. If you make a mistake, it could break your site. Always back up your site before making any changes! A safer approach is to use a child theme or a code snippets plugin.
1. Access your `functions.php` file: Navigate to Appearance > Theme Editor in your WordPress dashboard. Locate the `functions.php` file for your active theme. If you’re using a child theme, edit the `functions.php` file of the child theme.
2. Add the following code:
function set_default_product_rating( $product_id ) {
$product = wc_get_product( $product_id );
// Check if the product exists and doesn’t have a rating yet
if ( $product && $product->get_average_rating() == 0 ) {
wc_update_product_average_rating( $product_id, 4.5 ); // Set the default rating here (e.g., 4.5)
}
}
add_action( ‘woocommerce_new_product’, ‘set_default_product_rating’ );
Explanation:
- `set_default_product_rating( $product_id )`: This function takes the product ID as an argument.
- `wc_get_product( $product_id )`: This function retrieves the WooCommerce product object.
- `if ( $product && $product->get_average_rating() == 0 )`: This checks if the product exists and currently has no rating.
- `wc_update_product_average_rating( $product_id, 4.5 )`: This is the crucial part! It sets the average product rating to 4.5 (you can change this to whatever rating you want, for example 4.0).
- `add_action( ‘woocommerce_new_product’, ‘set_default_product_rating’ );`: This line tells WordPress to run the `set_default_product_rating` function whenever a new product is created.
3. Save the file.
4. Test: Create a new product in WooCommerce. The new product should now display the default rating you specified.
Important Considerations:
- Existing Products: This code only affects *new* products. To apply the default rating to existing products without reviews, you’ll need to run a database update script (more advanced) or edit each product individually and save it (this will trigger the `woocommerce_new_product` action because on save, woocommerce will create a new ‘record’).
- Choosing the Right Rating: Be realistic! A 4.0 or 4.5-star rating is often more believable than a perfect 5.0. Think about the perceived quality of your product.
- Disable when you get enough reviews: Remove the code or disable the snippet once you have enough legitimate reviews to populate your rating organically.
- Child Theme or Code Snippets Plugin: Use a child theme or a code snippets plugin to avoid losing your changes when your theme updates. “Code Snippets” is a popular and easy-to-use plugin for this purpose.
Method 2: Using a Plugin (Easiest and Recommended for Newbies)
If you’re not comfortable editing code, using a plugin is the way to go. There are several plugins that can help you manage product ratings, even without reviews.
1. Search for a suitable plugin: In your WordPress dashboard, go to Plugins > Add New. Search for plugins like “WooCommerce Product Ratings,” “WooCommerce Star Rating,” or “Product Rating Manager.” Look for plugins with good reviews and recent updates.
2. Install and activate the plugin: Once you find a suitable plugin, install and activate it.
3. Configure the plugin: Each plugin will have its own settings panel. Look for options to:
- Set a default product rating.
- Display star ratings even without reviews.
- Customize the appearance of the star ratings.
While I can’t recommend a *specific* plugin without knowing your exact needs, exploring a few will reveal which one is easiest for you. Usually these types of plugins have great documentation.
Ensuring Display of Ratings
Regardless of the method you choose, ensure that WooCommerce is configured to display ratings:
1. Go to WooCommerce > Settings > Products > Display.
2. Make sure the “Show product ratings on product pages” and “Enable star rating on reviews” options are checked. (If you have this set up and you do not have any reviews, it still will not display stars in the product page).
3. You might also need to check settings in your theme or page builder to ensure ratings are displayed on product listings.
SEO Benefits of Displaying Star Ratings
Showing star ratings isn’t just about aesthetics; it can also boost your search engine optimization (SEO):
- Rich Snippets: Search engines like Google can display star ratings in search results through rich snippets. This makes your product listings more eye-catching and increases click-through rates from search.
- Improved User Experience: A better user experience can lead to lower bounce rates and higher time-on-site, which are positive signals to search engines.
Conclusion
Displaying star ratings on your WooCommerce products, even without customer reviews, is a smart way to enhance their visual appeal and build initial trust. By using either custom code or a plugin, you can easily add star ratings and improve the overall shopping experience for your customers. Just remember to be ethical and transparent, and always strive to gather genuine reviews to truly establish your product’s reputation. Good luck!
