How To Display Woocommerce Categories On Any Page

How to Display WooCommerce Categories on Any Page: A Comprehensive Guide

Introduction:

Do you want to enhance your WooCommerce store’s navigation and user experience? One effective way to do so is by strategically displaying your product categories on various pages beyond the default shop page. This helps customers quickly find what they’re looking for, Check out this post: How To Set Up Woocommerce For Agency Web Design Services boosting engagement and potentially increasing sales. This article will guide you through how to display WooCommerce categories on any page using different methods, from simple code snippets to plugins. We’ll cover the benefits, the steps involved, and even some potential drawbacks to consider.

Main Part:

Why Display WooCommerce Categories on Other Pages?

Before we dive into the “how,” let’s understand the “why.” Displaying WooCommerce categories on pages other than your main shop page offers several advantages:

• Improved Navigation: Makes it easier for users to browse your products, leading to a smoother shopping experience.
• Increased Visibility: Highlights specific product categories, drawing attention to potential bestsellers or new arrivals.
• Enhanced SEO: Interlinking category pages with relevant content can improve your website’s search engine ranking.
• Customized User Experience: Tailor category displays to specific page content, creating a more relevant and engaging experience for your visitors.

Methods to Display WooCommerce Categories

There are several ways to display your WooCommerce categories on any page. Let’s explore the most common and effective methods:

1. Using the WooCommerce Shortcode:

This is the simplest method and requires no coding knowledge. WooCommerce provides a built-in shortcode that you can insert into any page or post.

• The Shortcode: `[product_categories]`
• How to Use It: Simply paste this shortcode into the content area of the page or post where you want the categories to appear. You can access the content area by editing the desired page or post in your WordPress dashboard.
• Customization Options: The shortcode allows for several attributes to customize the display:
• `number`: Specifies the number of categories to display. (e.g., `[product_categories number=”5″]`)
• `columns`: Sets the number of columns for the category grid. (e.g., `[product_categories columns=”3″]`)
• `orderby`: Determines the order in which the categories are displayed (e.g., `name`, `slug`, `term_id`, `count`). (e.g., `[product_categories orderby=”name”]`)
• `order`: Specifies the sorting order (e.g., `ASC` for ascending, `DESC` for descending). (e.g., `[product_categories order=”DESC”]`)
• `hide_empty`: Hides categories with no products if set to `1`. (e.g., `[product_categories hide_empty=”1″]`)
• `parent`: Displays only child categories of a specific parent category ID. (e.g., `[product_categories parent=”15″]`)

For example, to display 6 categories in 2 columns, ordered by name in ascending order, you would use: `[product_categories number=”6″ columns=”2″ orderby=”name” order=”ASC”]`

2. Using a WooCommerce Widget:

WooCommerce offers a built-in “Product Categories” widget. This widget allows you to display a list of your categories in a sidebar or other widget area.

• How to Use It:
• Go to Appearance > Widgets in your WordPress dashboard.
• Find the “Product Categories” widget.
• Drag and drop the widget into the desired widget area (e.g., Sidebar, Footer).
• Configure the widget options, such as:
• Title: The title for the widget.
• Display as dropdown: Displays the categories in a dropdown menu.
• Show product counts: Displays the number of products in each category.
• Hierarchical: Shows categories in a hierarchical structure (parent and child categories).
• Show only top level categories: If checked, it shows only the top-level categories.
• Click “Save.”

3. Using Code (for Advanced Users):

If you’re comfortable with PHP and WordPress theming, you can use code to display WooCommerce categories. This offers the most flexibility and control over the appearance and functionality.

• The Code Snippet:

 'product_cat', 'orderby' => 'name', 'show_count' => 0, // 1 for yes, 0 for no 'pad_counts' => 0, // 1 for yes, 0 for no 'hierarchical' => 1, // 1 for yes, 0 for no 'title_li' => '', 'hide_empty' => 1 // 1 for yes, 0 for no ); 

echo ‘

‘;

wp_list_categories( $args );

echo ‘

‘;

?>

• How to Use It:
• Edit your theme’s `functions.php` file or use a code snippets plugin. Important: Always back up your `functions.php` file before making changes.
• Add the code snippet above to the `functions.php` file.
• Place the following code where you want the categories to appear in your theme’s template files (e.g., `page.php`, `single.php`):
• Create `template-parts/woocommerce-categories.php` and put the PHP code snippet above in it.
• Customization: You can customize the `$args` array to control the display of the categories, similar to the shortcode attributes. You can also add CSS to style the `.product-categories` class.

4. Using a WooCommerce Category Plugin:

Several plugins are available that offer more advanced features and customization options for displaying WooCommerce categories. Some popular options include:

• Category Order and Taxonomy Terms Order: Allows you to reorder categories using drag and drop.
• WooCommerce Category Showcase: Creates visually appealing category grids with images and descriptions.
• WooCommerce Category Accordion: Displays categories in an accordion format for better organization.
• How to Use It:
• Install and activate your chosen plugin.
• Follow the plugin’s documentation to configure the settings and display the categories where you want them. Each plugin will have its own unique settings and methods for displaying categories.

Considerations and Potential Drawbacks

While displaying WooCommerce categories on other pages is generally beneficial, consider these potential drawbacks:

• Page Load Speed: Displaying a large number of categories with images can impact page load speed. Optimize images and consider using caching plugins.
• Design Consistency: Ensure the category display integrates seamlessly with your website’s overall design. Use CSS to style the categories appropriately.
• Mobile Responsiveness: Make sure the category display is responsive and looks good on all devices. Test your website on different screen sizes.
• Plugin Compatibility: Ensure that any plugins you use are compatible with your theme and other plugins. Test thoroughly before going live.

Conclusion:

Displaying WooCommerce categories strategically on your website can significantly improve navigation and user experience. By using the methods outlined in this article – shortcodes, widgets, code snippets, or plugins – you can easily display WooCommerce categories on any page, making it easier for customers to find the products they’re looking for. Remember to consider the potential drawbacks and optimize your implementation for performance, design consistency, and mobile responsiveness. Experiment with different methods to find the one that best suits your needs and technical expertise. Good luck and happy selling!