# How to Exclude Categories on Your WooCommerce Shop Page
Are you tired of seeing certain Explore this article on How To Create Test Order Woocommerce product categories cluttering your WooCommerce shop page? A clean and organized shop page is crucial for a positive customer experience and improved sales. This article will guide you through several methods to exclude categories from your WooCommerce shop page, enhancing the browsing experience for your customers.
Understanding the Need for Category Exclusion
A cluttered shop page can overwhelm visitors, leading to decreased engagement and higher bounce rates. By strategically excluding irrelevant categories, you can:
- Improve site navigation: Focus on showcasing your most popular or relevant products first.
- Enhance user experience: Present a cleaner, more focused selection, making it easier for customers to find what they’re looking for.
- Increase conversions: A streamlined shop page reduces decision fatigue, potentially leading to higher conversion rates.
- Boost SEO: By focusing on specific, relevant categories, you can improve your site’s SEO performance.
- Product Visibility: This plugin often allows granular control over which products appear on specific pages, including the shop page. You can easily exclude categories using its intuitive interface.
- YITH WooCommerce Catalog: This is another powerful plugin that gives you extensive control over your product display and Explore this article on How To Configure Woocommerce To Collect Local Sales Tax catalog, including the ability to selectively hide categories.
Methods to Exclude Categories from Your WooCommerce Shop Page
There are several ways to achieve this, ranging from simple plugin solutions to custom code modifications. Let’s explore the most effective approaches:
1. Using a WooCommerce Plugin
The simplest method is to utilize a plugin designed to manage product display. Many plugins offer advanced filtering and category exclusion features. Some popular options include:
Remember to always back up your website before installing any plugins.
2. Modifying the `pre_get_posts` hook (Advanced Method)
For more advanced users comfortable with coding, you can use a custom code snippet to exclude categories using the `pre_get_posts` hook. This method requires adding code to your theme’s `functions.php` file or a custom plugin. Proceed with caution, as incorrect code can break your website.
function exclude_categories_from_shop( $query ) { if ( is_shop() && ! is_admin() ) { $excluded_categories = array( 12, 15, 18 ); // Replace with your category IDs $query->set( 'category__not_in', $excluded_categories ); } return $query; } add_action( 'pre_get_posts', 'exclude_categories_from_shop' Explore this article on Woocommerce How To Edit Functions Php );
Remember to replace `12, 15, 18` Check out this post: How To Sink Woocommerce Square To Square Inventory with the actual IDs of the categories you want to exclude. You can find the category IDs in your WordPress admin panel under Products > Categories.
3. Creating Custom Shop Pages (Advanced Method)
A more complex but potentially more flexible solution is to create completely separate shop pages for different categories. This allows for maximum control over product display, but requires more technical knowledge and time investment.
Conclusion
Excluding irrelevant categories from your WooCommerce shop page is a crucial step in optimizing Discover insights on Woocommerce Authorize.Net Aim Gateway How To Update your online store for conversions and user experience. Whether you choose a simple plugin solution or opt for a more hands-on approach using custom code, the methods discussed above offer effective ways to clean up your shop page and improve your sales. Remember to always back up your website before making any code changes, and choose the method that best suits your technical skills and comfort level. Regularly review your shop page and adjust category exclusions as needed to ensure optimal performance.
