# How to Add Related Products to Your WooCommerce Products: Boost Sales with Smart Recommendations
Selling online isn’t just about showcasing your products; it’s about guiding customers towards related items they might love. This is where strategically adding related products in WooCommerce comes in. Think of it like a savvy salesperson suggesting complementary items – a “you might also like…” section for your online store. This article will show you how to easily implement this feature, boosting your average order value and overall sales.
Why Show Related Products?
Before diving into the “how,” let’s understand the “why.” Showing related products offers several key benefits:
- Increased Sales: Customers are more likely to add additional items to their cart when presented with relevant suggestions. Imagine someone buying a new camera; suggesting extra batteries, a memory card, or a carrying case is a natural next step.
- Improved Customer Experience: Related products provide a smoother shopping journey, offering helpful suggestions and reducing decision fatigue. It shows you understand their needs.
- Higher Average Order Value (AOV): This is the holy grail of e-commerce. By suggesting related products, you directly impact your AOV by encouraging customers to purchase more per visit.
- Better Website Navigation: Well-placed related products can encourage users to explore more of your catalog, ultimately increasing website engagement.
Methods for Adding Related Products in WooCommerce
There are several ways to add related products to your WooCommerce store, ranging from simple plugins to manual configurations. Let’s explore the most popular options:
1. Using the WooCommerce “Related Products” Feature (Built-in)
WooCommerce offers a built-in feature for this. This is often the easiest method for beginners.
* How it works: When editing a product, you’ll find a section labeled “Related Products“. Here, you can select existing products from your catalog to display as related items.
* Example: If you sell coffee beans, you might add related products like coffee filters, mugs, or sweeteners.
* Pros: Simple, intuitive, and requires no extra plugins.
* Cons: Can be time-consuming for large catalogs. Lacks advanced features like automated recommendations.
2. Utilizing WooCommerce Plugins for Related Products
Numerous plugins offer more advanced features and automation. Here are a couple of popular choices:
* YITH WooCommerce Related Products: This plugin offers various display options and customization features, allowing you to fine-tune the appearance and behavior of related products.
* Product Recommendations for WooCommerce: This plugin uses intelligent algorithms to suggest products based on customer behavior and purchase history. This is particularly helpful for larger stores.
Installing a Plugin: Most plugins can be installed directly through your WooCommerce dashboard. Go to Plugins > Add New, search for your chosen plugin (e.g., “YITH WooCommerce Related Products”), and click “Install Now” followed by “Activate.”
3. Manually Adding Related Products via Code (Advanced)
This is the most technically challenging method and is generally only recommended for developers comfortable with PHP and WooCommerce’s structure. However, it offers maximum control.
You could add a hook to modify the `woocommerce_related_products_args` function, allowing customization of the query to fetch related products based on your logic. This requires a deep understanding of WooCommerce’s functions and how to use hooks effectively.
add_filter( 'woocommerce_related_products_args', 'custom_related_products_args', 10, 1 );
function custom_related_products_args( $args ) {
//Modify the $args array here to customize the related product query
$args['posts_per_page'] = 4; // Show only 4 related products
return $args;
}
This is a basic example; more complex logic could be implemented to filter by category, tag, or other criteria.
Choosing the Right Method
The best method for you depends on your technical skills and the size of your catalog. For beginners with smaller stores, the built-in WooCommerce feature is perfectly adequate. For larger stores or those desiring more advanced features, a plugin is recommended. Only experienced developers should attempt the code-based approach.
Remember, strategically displaying related products is a powerful way to enhance your customer experience and drive sales. Choose the method that best suits your needs and start boosting your WooCommerce store today!
