How to Skip the WooCommerce Checkout Cart: A Beginner’s Guide
So, you’re running a WooCommerce store and you’re looking to streamline the purchase process? Great idea! Skipping the cart and sending customers directly to checkout can significantly improve your conversion rates. Why? Because fewer clicks mean less chance for a buyer to change their mind. Think of it like this: you’re in a real-life store for one specific item. Do you need a shopping cart if you’re just grabbing it and heading to the cashier? Probably not! The same principle applies online.
This article will walk you through different methods to skip the WooCommerce cart and get your customers buying faster. We’ll explain why you might want to do this and how to achieve it, even if you’re not a coding expert.
Why Skip the Cart in WooCommerce?
Before we dive into the ‘how’, let’s understand the ‘why’. Here are a few compelling reasons to bypass the shopping cart:
- Reduce Abandoned Carts: The more steps in the checkout process, the higher the chance customers will abandon their purchase. Skipping the cart reduces friction.
- Improve User Experience: For single-product or simple item purchases, the cart often feels like an unnecessary step. A direct route to checkout is more user-friendly.
- Increase Conversions: A faster checkout process can lead to more completed sales. Speed matters in e-commerce!
- Perfect for One-Page Checkouts: If you’re aiming for a clean, one-page checkout experience, bypassing the cart is a must.
Methods to Skip the Cart (Without Becoming a Coding Guru)
While coding solutions are available, we’ll focus on methods that are relatively easy to implement, even if you’re new to WooCommerce.
#### 1. Using a WooCommerce Plugin (Recommended)
The easiest and most recommended method is to use a dedicated WooCommerce plugin. These plugins handle the technical aspects, allowing you to customize the behavior with simple settings.
Example: Direct Checkout for WooCommerce
This is a popular plugin with a free version that provides the core functionality you need.
Steps:
1. Install and Activate the Plugin: In your WordPress dashboard, go to Plugins > Add New and search for “Direct Checkout for WooCommerce”. Install and activate it.
2. Configure the Plugin: Navigate to WooCommerce > Direct Checkout.
3. Enable “Redirect to Checkout Page”: This is the key setting. Enable this option.
4. Customize Other Options (Optional): You can also configure options like removing the cart page entirely.
Reasoning: Plugins abstract the complex code and provide a user-friendly interface. Updates and compatibility with WooCommerce are generally handled by the plugin developer, saving you time and effort.
#### 2. Adding a Snippet to your Theme’s `functions.php` File (Intermediate)
If you’re comfortable with a little bit of code, you can add a snippet to your theme’s `functions.php` file or a code snippets plugin. Important: Always back up your website before making changes to the `functions.php` file.
add_filter( 'woocommerce_add_to_cart_redirect', 'wc_skip_cart_redirect_checkout' );
function wc_skip_cart_redirect_checkout( $url ) {
return wc_get_checkout_url();
}
How to Implement:
1. Access your `functions.php` file: You can find this in Appearance > Theme Editor within your WordPress dashboard. Again, back up your site first! Alternatively, use an FTP client to access the file directly.
2. Add the Code Snippet: Paste the code snippet at the end of the `functions.php` file, before the closing `?>` tag (if it exists). If you don’t have the closing tag, it’s okay to paste it at the end.
3. Save the File: Click “Update File”.
Explanation:
- `add_filter( ‘woocommerce_add_to_cart_redirect’, …)`: This line hooks into the `woocommerce_add_to_cart_redirect` filter, which controls where the user is redirected after adding an item to the cart.
- `wc_skip_cart_redirect_checkout( $url )`: This is the function that gets executed when the filter is triggered.
- `return wc_get_checkout_url();`: This line tells WooCommerce to redirect the user directly to the checkout page (`wc_get_checkout_url()`).
Using a Code Snippets Plugin (Recommended over editing functions.php directly):
Instead of directly editing your `functions.php` file, you can use a code snippets plugin. This isolates the code from your theme and makes it easier to manage and disable snippets. Popular options include “Code Snippets” and “WPCode”. The process is very similar: install the plugin, add a new snippet, paste the code, and activate the snippet.
Reasoning: This method requires a bit more technical knowledge, but it’s a cleaner approach than modifying core WooCommerce files. Using a code snippets plugin further improves maintainability and safety.
#### 3. Modify Add to Cart URL (Advanced, but potentially useful for buttons)
This method is useful if you’re creating custom “Buy Now” buttons. It involves manually crafting the URL to bypass the cart.
Example:
Let’s say your product ID is `123`. Instead of linking to the product page, you’d link to:
`https://yourwebsite.com/checkout/?add-to-cart=123`
Explanation:
- `https://yourwebsite.com/checkout/`: The checkout page URL.
- `?add-to-cart=123`: This parameter tells WooCommerce to add product ID 123 to the cart *and* redirect to the checkout page.
Use Case: Imagine you’re running a promotion and want customers to buy a specific product immediately. You can create a “Buy Now!” button with the modified URL on your landing page.
Reasoning: This is useful for targeted promotions or for creating a one-click purchase experience for specific products. However, be mindful of potential issues if the product has required variations or other complexities.
Important Considerations
- Variable Products: If you’re selling products with variations (e.g., size, color), skipping the cart might require more customization. You might need to use JavaScript or more advanced techniques to ensure the correct variation is added to the cart. Test thoroughly!
- Cart Contents: If a customer already has items in their cart, these methods will *not* clear the cart. The new product will simply be added to the existing cart contents before redirecting to the checkout.
- Testing: Always test your implementation thoroughly! Make sure the correct products are added to the cart and that the checkout process works smoothly. Use different browsers and devices to ensure compatibility.
- Mobile Optimization: A streamlined checkout process is especially important for mobile users. Make sure your checkout page is mobile-friendly.
Conclusion
Skipping the WooCommerce cart can be a powerful way to improve your customers’ experience and boost your sales. By choosing the right method (plugin, code snippet, or URL modification), you can create a faster, more efficient purchase process that benefits both you and your buyers. Remember to test your implementation carefully and consider the specific needs of your products and customers. Good luck!
