# How to Add a “Sold Out” Tag to Your WooCommerce Products
Are you tired of customers clicking on products that are no longer available? A clear “Sold Out” tag is crucial for maintaining a positive customer experience and avoiding frustration. This article will guide you through several methods to effectively add a sold-out tag to your WooCommerce products, from simple plugin solutions to custom code modifications.
Understanding the Importance of a Sold Out Tag
A visible and prominent “Sold Out” tag provides several key benefits:
- Improved User Experience: Customers immediately understand product availability, saving them time and preventing disappointment.
- Reduced Bounce Rate: A clear indication of unavailability keeps customers engaged on your site, encouraging them to browse other products.
- Increased Sales: By directing customers towards available items, you can increase your conversion rate.
- Maintains Credibility: Accurate product information builds trust and strengthens your brand reputation.
- Search for Plugins: In your WooCommerce dashboard, navigate to Plugins > Add New. Search for terms like “WooCommerce inventory,” “out-of-stock notification,” or “product availability.”
- Install and Activate: Choose a plugin that suits your needs and install it. Follow the plugin’s instructions for setup and configuration. Many offer customisable “Sold Out” tag options, allowing you to adjust the text, color, and positioning.
Methods to Add a WooCommerce Sold Out Tag
There are several ways to achieve this; we’ll cover the easiest and most effective methods.
Method 1: Using a WooCommerce Plugin
The simplest approach is using a plugin specifically designed for managing inventory and out-of-stock messages. Many free and premium plugins offer this functionality, often with added features like back-in-stock notifications.
Method 2: Customizing WooCommerce’s Default Out-of-Stock Message
While WooCommerce has a default out-of-stock message, you might want to customize its appearance or add a more prominent “Sold Out” tag. This requires some code modification, but it offers a high degree of control.
You can achieve this by using a child theme to avoid losing your changes during updates. Add the following code snippet to your child theme’s `functions.php` file:
add_filter( 'woocommerce_get_availability', 'custom_woocommerce_sold_out_tag', 10, 2 );
function custom_woocommerce_sold_out_tag( $availability, $product ) {
if ( ! $product->is_in_stock() ) {
$availability['availability'] = __( 'Sold Out', 'your-text-domain' ); // Change 'Sold Out' to your desired text
}
return $availability;
}
Remember to replace `’your-text-domain’` with your theme’s text domain. This code simply changes the text displayed when a product is out of stock. For more extensive customization, you might need to modify your theme’s template files.
Method 3: Using CSS for Styling (In Conjunction with Method 2)
Once you’ve changed the text using the code in Method 2, you can further refine the appearance using CSS. Add the following CSS to your child theme’s `style.css` file or a custom CSS plugin:
.woocommerce span.stock.out-of-stock {
background-color: #ff0000; /* Change background color */
color: #ffffff; /* Change text color */
padding: 5px 10px; /* Add padding */
border-radius: 5px; /* Add rounded corners */
}
This code targets the default out-of-stock message and styles it. Adjust the values to match your theme’s design.
Conclusion
Adding a clear “Sold Out” tag in WooCommerce is essential for a smooth customer experience and improved sales. Whether you choose the simplicity of a plugin or the customization of code, ensuring your customers know the availability of your products is crucial for a successful online store. Remember to always back up your files before making any code changes. Choose the method that best fits your technical skills and desired level of customization.
