WooCommerce: Displaying Product Names Under Product Images – A Beginner’s Guide
Want your WooCommerce store to look more professional and make it easier for customers to browse? A simple tweak like displaying product names directly under the product images can make a HUGE difference! This guide will walk you through exactly how to achieve this, even if you’re a complete beginner.
Imagine walking into a real-life store. You see rows and rows of products. Wouldn’t it be frustrating if you had to pick up each item just to figure out what it is? The same principle applies online. By clearly displaying product names under the images, you’re improving the user experience and making your store more user-friendly.
Why Display Product Names Under Images?
Here’s why you should consider this simple modification:
- Improved Clarity: Customers instantly know what they’re looking at without hovering or clicking. This reduces friction and encourages browsing.
- Better Aesthetics: A well-designed layout with clear product names makes your store look cleaner and more professional.
- Enhanced User Experience: Easy navigation and clear product identification lead to a more satisfying shopping experience. Think of it like having clear labels on everything in a physical store.
- Increased Conversions: A smoother shopping experience often translates to more sales. When customers can easily find what they want, they’re more likely to make a purchase.
- `.woocommerce ul.products li.product .woocommerce-loop-product__title`: This CSS selector targets the product title element. Make sure to adjust this selector to match the actual HTML structure of your theme!
- `text-align: center;`: This centers the text (optional).
- `display: block;`: Ensures the title takes up the full width.
- `.woocommerce ul.products li.product a img`: Selects the image element.
- `margin-bottom: 5px;`: Adds a small space below the image, visually separating it from the title. Adjust the `5px` value as needed.
Method 1: Using Theme Customization (Often Simplest!)
Many WooCommerce themes offer built-in options to control how product information is displayed. This is usually the *easiest* and safest method.
1. Access the Theme Customizer: Go to Appearance > Customize in your WordPress admin dashboard.
2. Look for WooCommerce Settings: The location varies depending on your theme, but you’re usually looking for a section labeled “WooCommerce” or “Shop.”
3. Explore Product Catalog Options: Within the WooCommerce settings, find options related to the “Product Catalog,” “Shop Page,” or similar. Look for settings that control the display of product elements like “Title,” “Price,” and “Add to Cart” buttons.
4. Enable Title Display: Some themes will have a simple checkbox to enable or disable the product title. If it’s disabled, enable it.
Example: Your theme might have a setting labeled “Show Product Title on Shop Page.” Simply check the box, and you’re done!
Reasoning: This method leverages the functionality already built into your theme. It’s less prone to conflicts and easier to manage. Themes are designed to be compatible with their own settings!
Method 2: Using CSS (For Fine-Tuning and When Other Methods Fail)
If your theme doesn’t offer a direct option, you can often achieve the desired result using CSS (Cascading Style Sheets). This involves adding a small snippet of code to your theme’s custom CSS.
1. Identify the Product Title Element: Inspect the HTML of your shop page using your browser’s developer tools (right-click on the product title and select “Inspect” or “Inspect Element”). Look for the HTML tag that wraps the product title. It’s often an `
` or `
` tag with a class like `.woocommerce-loop-product__title` or `.product-title`. Identifying the correct class is CRUCIAL!
2. Access the Theme Customizer: Go to Appearance > Customize in your WordPress admin dashboard.
3. Find the “Additional CSS” Section: This section allows you to add custom CSS to your theme without modifying the core theme files.
4. Add the CSS Code: Insert CSS code to ensure the product title is displayed *below* the image. A common approach involves adjusting the `position` and `display` properties of the title’s container.
Example:
.woocommerce ul.products li.product .woocommerce-loop-product__title {
text-align: center; /* Center the text, optional */
display: block; /* Ensure it’s a block-level element */
}
.woocommerce ul.products li.product a img {
margin-bottom: 5px; /* Add spacing between image and title */
}
Explanation:
Reasoning: CSS provides granular control over the appearance of your website. By targeting the specific product title element, you can ensure it’s displayed correctly without affecting other elements on your site.
Method 3: Editing Template Files (Advanced – Use with Caution!)
This method involves directly modifying the template files responsible for rendering the product loop. This is the most complex and potentially risky method, as improper modifications can break your website. Always back up your website before editing template files!
1. Identify the Correct Template File: The file you need to edit is typically located in the `/woocommerce/templates/loop/` directory within your theme or a child theme. Look for files like `content-product.php` or `loop-start.php`.
2. Use a Child Theme: Never modify the core theme files directly! Create a child theme to ensure your changes are not overwritten when you update your theme.
3. Modify the Code: You’ll need to move the code responsible for displaying the product title *after* the code that displays the product image. This usually involves cutting and pasting code within the template file.
Example: (This is a VERY simplified example and may not work for all themes!)
Original Code (Hypothetical):
<li > <a href=""> <?php /**
/
* Hook: woocommerce_before_shop_loop_item_title.
*
* @hooked woocommerce_template_loop_product_thumbnail – 10
*/
do_action( ‘woocommerce_before_shop_loop_item_title’ );
/
* Hook: woocommerce_shop_loop_item_title.
*
* @hooked woocommerce_template_loop_product_title – 10
*/
do_action( ‘woocommerce_shop_loop_item_title’ ); // Product Title Displayed HERE!
/
* Hook: woocommerce_after_shop_loop_item_title.
*
* @hooked woocommerce_template_loop_rating – 5
* @hooked woocommerce_template_loop_price – 10
*/
do_action( ‘woocommerce_after_shop_loop_item_title’ );
/
* Hook: woocommerce_after_shop_loop_item.
*
* @hooked woocommerce_template_loop_product_link_close – 5
* @hooked woocommerce_template_loop_add_to_cart – 10
*/
do_action( ‘woocommerce_after_shop_loop_item’ );
?>
Modified Code:
<li > <a href=""> <?php /**
/
* Hook: woocommerce_before_shop_loop_item_title.
*
* @hooked woocommerce_template_loop_product_thumbnail – 10
*/
do_action( ‘woocommerce_before_shop_loop_item_title’ );
/
* Hook: woocommerce_after_shop_loop_item_title.
*
* @hooked woocommerce_template_loop_rating – 5
* @hooked woocommerce_template_loop_price – 10
*/
do_action( ‘woocommerce_after_shop_loop_item_title’ );
/
* Hook: woocommerce_shop_loop_item_title. MOVED HERE!
*
* @hooked woocommerce_template_loop_product_title – 10
*/
do_action( ‘woocommerce_shop_loop_item_title’ );
/
* Hook: woocommerce_after_shop_loop_item.
*
* @hooked woocommerce_template_loop_product_link_close – 5
* @hooked woocommerce_template_loop_add_to_cart – 10
*/
do_action( ‘woocommerce_after_shop_loop_item’ );
?>
Reasoning: Template file modifications provide the highest level of customization, but also carry the greatest risk. It involves changing the fundamental structure of your WooCommerce shop page. Be extremely careful!
Choosing the Right Method
- Theme Customization: Start here. It’s the easiest and least risky.
- CSS: Use this if your theme doesn’t have built-in options but you’re comfortable with basic CSS.
- Template Files: Only use this if you’re a developer or have experience with PHP and WooCommerce templates.
No matter which method you choose, remember to test your changes thoroughly to ensure everything works as expected! A simple change like displaying product names under the product images can make a big impact on your store’s usability and your bottom line. Good luck!
