WooCommerce: How to Display Product Title Above the Short Description (SEO-Friendly Guide)

Introduction:

WooCommerce, the leading e-commerce platform for WordPress, offers a flexible framework for creating online stores. However, sometimes the default layout doesn’t perfectly align with your desired aesthetic or SEO strategy. One common customization request is moving the product title above the short description on the single product page. This placement can improve user experience by immediately grabbing the visitor’s attention and clearly highlighting the product name. This article will guide you through several methods to achieve this, ensuring your changes are both effective and SEO-friendly. By placing the title prominently, you can improve click-through rates and overall engagement.

Main Part:

Why Move the Product Title?

• Improved User Experience: The product title is the most important piece of information on the page. Placing it at the top ensures visitors see it first.
• Enhanced SEO: Search engines prioritize the product title in indexing. A clear and prominent title reinforces the page’s topic.
• Visually Appealing: A well-structured page with a clear hierarchy can significantly improve the overall look and feel of your store.
• Brand Consistency: Aligning the title placement with your overall branding can create a cohesive customer experience.

Methods to Move the Product Title

There are several approaches to achieve this customization, ranging from using a simple code snippet to modifying your theme’s template files. We’ll explore two main methods:

1. Using a Code Snippet (Recommended for Simplicity):

This is the easiest method and is suitable for most users. You’ll add a small piece of code to your theme’s `functions.php` file or, ideally, a custom plugin. Avoid directly editing your theme’s `functions.php` file for direct edits risk being overwritten by theme updates. A child theme or custom plugin is the best practice.

Here’s the code snippet:

 remove_action( 'woocommerce_single_product_summary', 'woocommerce_template_single_title', 5 ); add_action( 'woocommerce_before_single_product_summary', 'woocommerce_template_single_title', 5 ); 

Explanation:

• `remove_action(‘woocommerce_single_product_summary’, ‘woocommerce_template_single_title’, 5);`: This line removes the default action that displays the product title within the `woocommerce_single_product_summary` hook at priority 5.
• `add_action(‘woocommerce_before_single_product_summary’, ‘woocommerce_template_single_title’, 5);`: This line adds the `woocommerce_template_single_title` function back, but now it’s attached to the `woocommerce_before_single_product_summary` hook, which is located *before* the short description. The priority 5 ensures the title remains at the very top.

How to Add the Code:

• Child Theme (Recommended): Create a child theme and add the code to its `functions.php` file.
• Custom Plugin: Create a simple plugin and add the code to the plugin’s main file. This is the safest method as it won’t be affected by theme updates.

Important: Always back up your website before making any code changes!

2. Modifying Template Files (Advanced):

This method involves directly editing WooCommerce template files. This is a more advanced approach and should only be undertaken if you’re comfortable with PHP and WooCommerce templating. This can allow for more extensive customization but also introduces more risks.

Steps:

1. Locate the `single-product/product-summary.php` file: This file is responsible for rendering the content within the product summary section. It’s located in `wp-content/plugins/woocommerce/templates/single-product/product-summary.php`.

2. Copy the File to Your Theme/Child Theme: Create a `woocommerce` folder in your theme or child theme (if it doesn’t already exist). Then create a `single-product` subfolder within `woocommerce`. Copy `product-summary.php` into this folder. This ensures your changes won’t be overwritten during WooCommerce updates.

3. Edit the Copied File: Open the copied file in your theme/child theme folder.

4. Move the Title Code: Find the line that renders the product title (usually `woocommerce_template_single_title()`). Cut this line and paste it *before* the code that renders the short description (which is typically wrapped within the `

` tags).
5. Save the File: Save the changes to `product-summary.php`.
Example Snippet from within `product-summary.php`:
 /** 
Hook: woocommerce_before_single_product_summary.
 
* @hooked woocommerce_show_product_sale_flash - 10
 
@hooked woocommerce_show_product_images - 20
 */ do_action( 'woocommerce_before_single_product_summary' ); ?> 
Explore this article on How To Add A Message To Woocommerce Shop entry-summary”>
<?php
/
* ADD TITLE HERE BY MOVING THE BELOW CODE UP
*
* @hooked woocommerce_template_single_title – 5
*/
do_action( ‘woocommerce_single_product_summary’ );
?>
Moving the output of `’woocommerce_template_single_title’` above the `div.summary` tag will achieve the desired effect, but that is the `woocommerce_before_single_product_summary` action mentioned earlier.
Caution: Directly modifying template files can be risky. Always create a backup first and be careful when making changes. Test thoroughly!
Ensuring SEO Friendliness
Regardless of the method you choose, ensure the following for optimal SEO:
• Use a Clear and Descriptive Product Title: The product title should accurately reflect the product and include relevant keywords.
• Optimize the Short Description: The short description should be concise, engaging, and include relevant keywords. It serves as a meta description in some cases, so make it count.
• Use Heading Tags Appropriately: The product title should be wrapped in an `
  
  

  ` tag. Use `

  `, `

  `, etc., for subheadings within the product description.

• Mobile-Friendly Design: Ensure your website and product pages are responsive and look great on all devices.