Woocommerce How To Change Location Of Product Category Description

WooCommerce: How to Change the Location of Your Product Category Description (Boost Your SEO!)

Introduction:

In the world of e-commerce, especially when using WooCommerce, every detail matters. Optimizing your product category pages is crucial for both user experience and SEO. One often overlooked aspect is the placement of your product category description. By default, WooCommerce displays the category description *below* the product listing. However, strategically positioning it *above* the products can significantly improve your page’s impact. This article will guide you through how to change the location of your WooCommerce product category description to maximize its visibility and boost your website’s performance. We’ll explore different methods, weighing the pros and cons of each, so you can choose the best approach for your specific needs.

Understanding the Importance of Category Description Placement

Before diving into the technical aspects, let’s understand why moving your product category description can be beneficial:

• Improved User Experience: Placing the description above the products immediately tells visitors what the category is about. This helps them understand the selection and encourages them to browse.
• Enhanced SEO: Search engines crawl your content from top to bottom. By having your relevant keywords in the category description at the top of the page, you’re signaling to search engines what the page is about, thus improving your SEO ranking.
• Increased Conversion Rates: A well-written and prominently displayed category description can persuade customers to buy, ultimately increasing your conversion rates.

Methods to Change the Category Description Location

There are several ways to achieve this, ranging from simple code snippets to more advanced template modifications. We’ll cover a few of the most common and effective methods.

1. Using a Code Snippet (Recommended for Beginners)

This is the easiest and safest method for most users, as it avoids directly editing your theme files. You can use a plugin like “Code Snippets” or add the code to your theme’s `functions.php` file (child theme recommended!).

Here’s the code snippet:

remove_action( 'woocommerce_archive_description', 'woocommerce_taxonomy_archive_description', 10 );
add_action( 'woocommerce_before_main_content', 'woocommerce_taxonomy_archive_description', 10 );

Explanation:

• `remove_action(‘woocommerce_archive_description’, ‘woocommerce_taxonomy_archive_description’, 10);`: This line removes the default action that displays the category description below the product listing. The `10` specifies the priority of the action.
• `add_action(‘woocommerce_before_main_content’, ‘woocommerce_taxonomy_archive_description’, 10);`: This line adds the same action back, but this time it hooks into the `woocommerce_before_main_content` hook, which is located *before* the product listing.

Steps:

1. Install and activate the “Code Snippets” plugin.

2. Go to Snippets > Add New.

3. Give your snippet a title (e.g., “Move Category Description”).

4. Paste the code snippet into the code editor.

5. Ensure the snippet is set to “Run snippet everywhere”.

6. Save and activate the snippet.

Pros:

• Easy to implement: No direct theme file editing required.
• Safe: Less chance of breaking your site.
• Reversible: Simply deactivate the snippet to revert the changes.

Cons:

• Requires a plugin: Adds a small overhead to your site.
• Limited customization: Only moves the description; it doesn’t allow for styling changes without additional code.

2. Editing Your Theme’s `archive-product.php` File (Advanced)

This method provides more control over the placement and styling of the description, but it also requires a deeper understanding of WordPress theme structure and PHP. Always back up your theme files before making any changes! It’s highly recommended to do this in a child theme to prevent changes from being overwritten by theme updates.

Steps:

1. Create a Child Theme: If you don’t already have one, create a child theme of your active theme.

2. Copy `archive-product.php`: Locate the `archive-product.php` file in your theme’s WooCommerce template folder (usually located in `wp-content/themes/[your-theme]/woocommerce/archive-product.php`). If it doesn’t exist there, copy it from the WooCommerce plugin folder (`wp-content/plugins/woocommerce/templates/archive-product.php`) to your child theme’s WooCommerce folder.

3. Edit the File: Open `archive-product.php` in your child theme.

4. Move the Description Code: Find the following code block:

<?php
/**
Hook: woocommerce_archive_description.
* @hooked woocommerce_taxonomy_archive_description - 10
@hooked woocommerce_product_archive_description - 10
*/
do_action( 'woocommerce_archive_description' );
?>

5. Cut and Paste: Cut this entire code block.

6. Paste Above the Product Loop: Paste the code block *above* the section that displays the products. Look for something similar to:

<?php
if ( woocommerce_product_loop() ) {

woocommerce_before_shop_loop();

woocommerce_product_loop_start();

if ( wc_get_loop_prop( ‘total’ ) ) {

while ( have_posts() ) {

the_post();

/

* Hook: woocommerce_shop_loop.

*/

do_action( ‘woocommerce_shop_loop’ );

wc_get_template_part( ‘content’, ‘product’ );

}

}

woocommerce_product_loop_end();

woocommerce_after_shop_loop();

} else {

/

* Hook: woocommerce_no_products_found.

*

* @hooked wc_no_products_found – 10

*/

do_action( ‘woocommerce_no_products_found’ );

}

?>

Paste the description code block *before* the `if ( woocommerce_product_loop() ) {` line.

7. Save the File: Save the modified `archive-product.php` file in your child theme.

Pros:

• Full Control: You have complete control over the placement and styling.
• No Plugin Required: Reduces the number of plugins on your site.

Cons:

• Requires PHP knowledge: More complex and prone to errors.
• Risk of breaking your site: Incorrect edits can lead to website malfunctions.
• Child Theme Dependency: Changes need to be made within the child theme to avoid being overwritten by theme updates.

3. Using a Dedicated WooCommerce Plugin (If Available)

Some premium WooCommerce plugins may offer a built-in option to change the category description location. Check the documentation of any WooCommerce plugins you already have installed to see if this feature is available.

Pros:

• Potentially Easier: User-friendly interface within the plugin settings.
• Potentially Integrated Styling: May offer styling options for the description.

Cons:

• Plugin Dependency: Relies on a third-party plugin.
• Potential Cost: The plugin may be a paid option.
• Plugin Bloat: Adding more plugins can impact site performance.

Conclusion: Choose the Best Method for Your Skill Level

Changing the location of your WooCommerce product category description is a simple yet effective way to improve user experience and boost your SEO. The best method for you depends on your technical skills and comfort level.

• For beginners: The code snippet method is the easiest and safest option.
• For experienced users: Editing the `archive-product.php` file offers more control and flexibility.
• Consider plugins: If you already have a WooCommerce plugin that offers this functionality, explore that option first.