WooCommerce: How to Display Category Images in Your Shop for Better SEO and User Experience
Introduction:
In the competitive world of e-commerce, visual appeal is paramount. A visually appealing online store can significantly boost engagement, improve user experience, and ultimately, increase sales. One simple yet effective way to enhance your WooCommerce shop’s visual appeal is by displaying images for your product categories. This not only makes your store more attractive but also helps users navigate quickly and efficiently. This article will guide you through different methods to show images for categories in your WooCommerce shop, focusing on both code-based approaches and using plugins. We’ll also discuss the SEO benefits of this practice and some potential drawbacks to consider.
Why Display Category Images?
- Improved User Experience: Images offer a quick visual cue, allowing shoppers to immediately identify and navigate to their desired category.
- Enhanced Visual Appeal: A well-designed store with relevant category images looks more professional and trustworthy.
- Better Navigation: Visual navigation is often more intuitive than text-based navigation, leading to a smoother shopping experience.
- Potential SEO Benefits: Although indirect, visually appealing and user-friendly sites tend to have lower bounce rates and longer session durations, which can positively influence search engine rankings.
Main Part:
There are several ways to display category images in your WooCommerce shop. We’ll explore both code-based solutions and the use of plugins.
Method 1: Using Custom Code (Theme Customization)
This method involves modifying your theme’s `functions.php` file or creating a custom plugin. Always back up your website before making any code changes. Incorrect code can break your site.
#### 1.1 Adding Category Image Support
First, ensure that category images are enabled. While WooCommerce usually enables this by default, it’s a good practice to check. You might need to add this code if you are using a very old version of WooCommerce or a highly customized theme:
<?php
// Add category image support
add_action( 'admin_init', 'wc_add_category_image' );
function wc_add_category_image() {
add_action( 'product_cat_add_form_fields', 'wc_category_image_add_new_meta_field', 10, 2 );
add_action( 'product_cat_edit_form_fields', 'wc_category_image_edit_meta_field', 10, 2 );
add_action( 'edited_product_cat', 'wc_category_image_save_meta', 10, 2 );
add_action( 'create_product_cat', 'wc_category_image_save_meta', 10, 2 );
}
// Add form fields
function wc_category_image_add_new_meta_field() {
?>
<?php
}
function wc_category_image_edit_meta_field( $term ) {
$t_id = $term->term_id;
$cat_meta = get_option( “taxonomy_$t_id” );
$image = isset( $cat_meta[‘category_image_id’] ) ? wp_get_attachment_url( $cat_meta[‘category_image_id’] ) : ”;
?>
<img src="” width=”60px” height=”60px” />
<input type="text" name="category_image_id" id="category_image_id" value="” class=”short” />
jQuery(document).ready(function($){
var file_frame;
$(‘.upload_image_button’).on(‘click’, function( event ){
event.preventDefault();
// If the media frame already exists, reopen it.
if ( file_frame ) {
file_frame.open();
return;
}
// Create the media frame.
file_frame = wp.media({
title: ‘Select or upload media’,
button: {
text: ‘Use this media’
},
multiple: false // Set to true to allow multiple files to be selected
});
// When an image is selected, run a callback.
file_frame.on( ‘select’, function() {
// We set multiple to false so only get one image.
var attachment = file_frame.state().get(‘selection’).first().toJSON();
$(‘#category_image_id’).val(attachment.url);
$(‘img[src=”‘ + ” + ‘”]’).attr(‘src’, attachment.url);
});
// Finally, open the frame
file_frame.open();
});
$(‘.remove_image_button’).on(‘click’, function( event ){
event.preventDefault();
$(‘#category_image_id’).val(”);
$(‘img[src=”‘ + ” + ‘”]’).attr(‘src’, ”);
});
});
<?php
}
// Save the form field
function wc_category_image_save_meta( $term_id ) {
if ( isset( $_POST[‘category_image_id’] ) ) {
$cat_meta[‘category_image_id’] = esc_attr( $_POST[‘category_image_id’] );
update_option( “taxonomy_$term_id”, $cat_meta );
}
}
?>
Add this code to your `functions.php` or in a custom plugin. This will add image upload fields on your product category pages.
#### 1.2 Displaying the Images on the Shop Page
Next, you’ll need to modify your theme files to display the category images on the shop page or category archive pages. This often involves editing the `archive-product.php` template or related files.
get_queried_object();
$thumbnail_id = get_term_meta( $cat->term_id, 'thumbnail_id', true );
$image = wp_get_attachment_url( $thumbnail_id );
if ( $image ) {
echo '
name . '" />';
}
}
}
add_action( 'woocommerce_before_main_content', 'woocommerce_category_image', 20 );
?>
This code snippet displays the category image at the top of the category archive page. You can customize the `add_action` to place the image in a different location on the page. You can also modify the styling of the image by adding CSS rules.
Method 2: Using a WooCommerce Plugin
Several WooCommerce plugins can simplify the process of displaying category images. These plugins often offer more customization options and require less coding knowledge.
#### Popular Plugins:
- Category Images: This plugin is often named with slight variations like “WooCommerce Category Images,” and offers a straightforward interface for managing and displaying category images. Look for plugins with good reviews and a high number of active installations.
- WooCommerce Category Showcase: Provides advanced options for designing category layouts, including displaying images, descriptions, and product counts.
- Visual Category Selector: Enhances the category selection process in the backend, making it easier to manage category images and descriptions.
To use a plugin:
1. Go to Plugins > Add New in your WordPress dashboard.
2. Search for a suitable plugin.
3. Install and activate the plugin.
4. Follow the plugin’s instructions to upload and display category images.
### SEO Considerations
While category images don’t directly influence SEO rankings, they can contribute to a better user experience, which indirectly impacts SEO.
- Image Optimization: Optimize your category images for web use by compressing them and using descriptive filenames and alt text. The alt text should accurately describe the image and include relevant keywords.
- Page Load Speed: Large, unoptimized images can slow down your site, negatively affecting SEO. Use a plugin like Smush or Imagify to automatically compress and optimize images.
- Mobile Responsiveness: Ensure that your category images and their layout are responsive and look good on all devices. Use your browser’s developer tools to test your site on different screen sizes.
Conclusion:
Displaying category images in your WooCommerce shop is a simple yet powerful way to improve user experience, enhance visual appeal, and potentially boost sales. Whether you choose to implement this feature using custom code or a plugin, remember to optimize your images for web use and ensure a mobile-friendly design. By prioritizing visual appeal and user experience, you can create a more engaging and successful online store.
