# How to Display WooCommerce Product Categories: A Beginner’s Guide
So you’ve got a thriving WooCommerce store, but your product categories are hiding in plain sight? Don’t worry, you’re not alone! Many new WooCommerce users struggle to effectively display their categories. This guide will show you how to showcase them prominently, improving user experience and boosting sales. We’ll cover various methods, from simple widget placement to custom code solutions.
Why Displaying Categories is Crucial for Your WooCommerce Store
Think of your product categories as the signposts in your online store. They guide customers to the products they want, making navigation easier and your website more user-friendly. Poor category display leads to:
- Frustrated customers: Customers can’t find what they need, leading to higher bounce rates and lost sales.
- Lower conversion rates: A confusing website hinders the purchasing process.
- Missed opportunities: Hidden categories mean you’re not showcasing your full product range effectively.
- Go to Appearance > Widgets in your WordPress dashboard.
- Drag the “WooCommerce Product Categories” widget to a sidebar or other widget area.
- You can customize the title and the number of categories displayed.
- Simply create a new category in your WooCommerce product settings.
- WooCommerce will automatically generate a page for that category, accessible via a link.
- You can customize these category pages further by using themes’s built-in options or page builders like Elementor or Beaver Builder.
- Custom category layouts: Some themes let you design how your categories are presented (e.g., grids, lists).
- Featured category sections: Highlight specific categories on your homepage or other key pages.
- Category filtering: Allow customers to filter products by categories directly on product listings.
In short: Effective category display is crucial for a successful WooCommerce store.
Simple Methods to Display WooCommerce Categories:
Let’s start with the easiest ways to get your categories visible. These methods require minimal technical knowledge.
1. Using the WooCommerce Categories Widget:
This is the simplest approach. Imagine you’re organizing a physical store – you’d place signs directing shoppers to different sections. The WooCommerce Categories widget does the same thing online.
This method is perfect for a quick and easy solution, especially for stores with a limited number of categories.
2. Using the Product Category Pages:
WooCommerce automatically generates pages for each category. These pages display all products belonging to that specific category.
This is an excellent way to ensure that each product category receives its own dedicated page.
More Advanced Methods for Custom Category Displays:
For more control over how your categories appear, you might need to delve into some code. Remember to always back up your website before making code changes!
3. Using a WooCommerce Theme’s Features:
Many WooCommerce themes come with built-in features to display categories in specific ways. Check your theme’s documentation for options like:
This is a good option if you’re happy with your current theme and want to leverage its built-in features.
4. Customizing the WooCommerce Template Files (Advanced):
This method requires some PHP coding knowledge. If you’re comfortable with it, you can modify WooCommerce’s template files to create completely custom category displays.
For example, to display categories as a grid on your homepage, you might need to modify the `homepage.php` file (or the equivalent file in your theme). This is extremely theme-dependent and should only be done by experienced developers. There isn’t a single universal solution.
Example (Illustrative – Requires Adjustment for Your Theme):
true ) );
if ( ! empty( $product_categories ) ) {
echo '';
foreach ( $product_categories as $category ) {
echo '';
echo 'term_id, 'product_cat' ) . '">' . $category->name . '';
echo '';
}
echo '';
}
?>
This code snippet is a basic example and will need adaptation to your theme’s structure and CSS for proper styling. Always consult your theme’s documentation before making changes.
Conclusion:
Displaying your WooCommerce product categories effectively is a crucial step in improving your online store’s user experience and sales. Start with the simple widget methods, and as your store grows and your needs become more sophisticated, consider more advanced techniques like theme customization or custom code. Remember to always back up your website before making any code changes.
