How To Change The Lorem Epsilon In Woocommerce Emails

# How to Change the “Lorem Epsilon” Placeholder in WooCommerce Emails

Are you tired of seeing that annoying “Lorem ipsum” or “Lorem epsilon” placeholder text in your WooCommerce emails? It screams “unfinished” to your customers and makes your brand look unprofessional. This guide will show you how to easily customize those emails and replace those placeholders with actual, engaging content. No coding wizardry required!

Understanding the Problem: Why are those placeholders there?

WooCommerce uses placeholder text like “Lorem ipsum” or variations like “Lorem epsilon” as a visual representation of where email content *should* go. Think of it as a temporary stand-in. During theme or plugin development, these placeholders help developers see where email elements will appear. However, these placeholders should *always* be replaced with your actual marketing copy before you go live.

Imagine sending a customer a welcome email that says, “Thank you for your order! Lorem epsilon.” It’s not exactly a warm and welcoming message, is it? That’s why replacing these placeholders is crucial for a professional brand image.

Methods to Change WooCommerce Email Placeholders

There are several ways to tackle this, ranging from simple edits to slightly more involved customization depending on your WooCommerce setup and comfort level.

Method 1: Directly Editing Email Templates (Easiest, But Risky)

This method is the quickest but carries a risk. If you update WooCommerce or your theme, your changes might be overwritten. Always back up your files before making any direct edits.

• Locate the email template: This usually involves finding the email template file within your theme’s directory. The file name often indicates the type of email (e.g., `customer-order-received.php`, `new-order.php`). The location varies depending on your theme. It might be in `wp-content/themes/your-theme-name/woocommerce/emails/`.
• Open the file with a text editor: Use a plain text editor like Notepad++ (Windows), Sublime Text, or Atom. Avoid using Microsoft Word, as it can add unwanted formatting.
• Find and replace the placeholder: Search for “Lorem ipsum” or “Lorem epsilon” and replace them with your desired text. Remember to preserve any existing HTML tags to maintain the email’s structure.
• Save and upload: Save the changes to the file and upload it back to your server, replacing the original file.

Example:

Let’s say you find this in `customer-order-received.php`:

Thank you for your order! Lorem epsilon.

You’d change it to:

Thank you for your order!  We're thrilled you chose us. Your order is being processed and you'll receive another email with tracking information soon.

Reasoning: This is straightforward, but updating your theme or WooCommerce could erase your changes. It’s best suited for simple, one-off adjustments.

Method 2: Using a WooCommerce Email Plugin (Recommended)

This is a far safer and more manageable approach. Many plugins are specifically designed to customize WooCommerce emails without directly editing core files. These plugins allow for easier management and often offer a visual editor, making it simpler to customize your emails without touching any code.

• Install and activate a WooCommerce email plugin: Search for “WooCommerce Email Customizer” or similar in your WordPress plugin directory. Several free and premium options are available.
• Customize the emails: The plugin’s interface will guide you through changing the text, adding images, and adjusting the overall email design. This offers greater control and minimizes the risk of losing your changes during updates.

Reasoning: This is the recommended approach as it avoids direct file edits and allows for easier management and updates.

Method 3: Using a Child Theme (Most Robust, Requires Technical Skill)

Creating a child theme is the most robust method but requires a higher level of technical understanding. It ensures that your customizations won’t be lost when updating your parent theme.

• Create a child theme: This involves copying your theme’s files into a new folder named after your child theme. The process involves adding a specific `style.css` file with specific header information. (Look up detailed tutorials online if you’re unfamiliar with creating child themes).
• Copy and edit the email templates within the child theme: This allows you to make changes without affecting the original theme files.

Reasoning: This is the most secure long-term solution but is more complex and requires coding knowledge.

Choosing the Right Method

• For a quick, one-time fix, Method 1 is the simplest, but remember to back up your files!
• For easier management and updates, Method 2 (using a plugin) is the recommended approach.
• For advanced users who want a robust and secure solution, Method 3 (creating a child theme) is the best option.