How To Add Custom Attribute In Woocommerce

How to Add Custom Attributes in WooCommerce: A Beginner’s Guide

WooCommerce is a powerful platform for selling online, but sometimes you need to go beyond the standard options. That’s where custom attributes come in. They allow you to add specific details about your products that aren’t covered by the default WooCommerce setup. This not only helps customers find exactly what they’re looking for but also boosts your SEO by providing more relevant keywords. Let’s dive into how to add them!

Why Use Custom Attributes in WooCommerce?

Imagine you’re selling t-shirts. WooCommerce already has options for color and size. But what if you also want to specify the type of fabric (e.g., organic cotton, polyester blend) or the print technique (e.g., screen printed, direct-to-garment)? That’s where custom attributes shine.

Here’s why you should consider using them:

• Enhanced Product Information: Provide customers with all the details they need to make informed purchasing decisions.
• Improved Filtering: Let customers easily filter products based on these specific attributes. For example, someone might want to see only “organic cotton” t-shirts.
• Better SEO: Including specific attributes in your product descriptions and metadata can help your products rank higher in search engine results. Think about someone searching for “screen printed organic cotton t-shirt” – your product has a better chance of appearing!
• Product Variations: Attributes are crucial for creating product variations. You can offer a t-shirt in different sizes and colors, and these are driven by attributes.

Adding Global Attributes (For Use Across Multiple Products)

Global attributes are ideal when you want to use the same attributes across multiple products. Think of “Fabric Type” or “Material.” Here’s how to set them up:

1. Navigate to Products > Attributes: In your WordPress dashboard, go to the “Products” section and click on “Attributes.”

2. Create a New Attribute:

• In the “Add new attribute” section, enter the name of your attribute (e.g., “Fabric Type”).
• The “Slug” will be automatically generated. You can customize it if you want, but it’s usually best to leave it as is.
• Enable archives? This is useful if you want a dedicated page for each attribute term. For example a page listing all products with the attribute “Organic Cotton.”
• Select the “Default sort order” to determine how terms are ordered.
• Click “Add attribute.”

3. Configure Terms: Now, you need to define the specific values (terms) for your attribute. Click the “Configure terms” link next to the attribute you just created.

4. Add Terms:

• Enter the name of the term (e.g., “Organic Cotton”).
• The “Slug” will be automatically generated.
• Enter a description (optional).
• Click “Add new Fabric Type.”
• Repeat for each term you want to add (e.g., “Polyester Blend,” “Linen”).

Example:

Let’s say you’re selling coffee beans. You might create a “Roast Level” attribute with the following terms:

• Light Roast
• Medium Roast
• Dark Roast

Adding Custom Attributes Directly to a Product (For Unique Attributes)

Sometimes, an attribute is specific to a single product. In those cases, you can add a custom attribute directly to the product page:

1. Edit the Product: Go to “Products” and select the product you want to edit.

2. Go to the “Product data” section: Scroll down to the “Product data” meta box.

3. Click on the “Attributes” tab: Select the “Attributes” tab on the left.

4. Add a New Attribute:

• From the “Custom product attribute” dropdown, choose “Custom product attribute” and click “Add.”
• Give the attribute a name (e.g., “Artist” for a piece of art).
• Enter the value(s) for the attribute in the “Value(s)” field, separating them with a “|” (pipe) symbol. For example, “John Doe | Jane Smith”.
• Important: Check the “Visible on the product page” box to display the attribute on the product page.
• If you intend to use this attribute for variations, check the “Used for variations” box.

5. Save Changes: Click “Save attributes” and then “Update” the product.

Example:

You’re selling a handmade ceramic mug. You might add a custom attribute called “Glaze Type” with the value “Celadon.”

Using Attributes for Product Variations

Attributes are the backbone of product variations. If you’re selling a t-shirt in different sizes and colors, you’ll need to use attributes to set up these variations.

1. Create Global Attributes (Size and Color): Follow the steps above to create global attributes for “Size” and “Color” with appropriate terms (e.g., “Small,” “Medium,” “Large” for Size, and “Red,” “Blue,” “Green” for Color).

2. Edit the Product: Go to “Products” and select the variable product you want to edit.

3. Set Product Type to “Variable product”: In the “Product data” section, change the “Product type” to “Variable product.”

4. Go to the “Attributes” tab: Select the “Attributes” tab on the left.

5. Add Attributes:

• From the “Custom product attribute” dropdown, select the “Size” attribute you created and click “Add.”
• Select all the terms that apply to this product.
• Check both “Visible on the product page” and “Used for variations.”
• Repeat for the “Color” attribute.

6. Go to the “Variations” tab: Select the “Variations” tab.

7. Create Variations:

• From the “Add variation” dropdown, select “Create variations from all attributes” and click “Go.”
• WooCommerce will automatically create all possible combinations of your attributes (e.g., “Small Red,” “Small Blue,” “Medium Red,” etc.).

8. Configure Variations: Click on each variation to configure its specific details:

• Set the price for each variation.
• Add a specific image for each variation (optional).
• Manage stock levels for each variation.

9. Save Changes: Click “Save changes” and then “Update” the product.

Best Practices for Using Custom Attributes

• Be Specific: Use clear and descriptive attribute names and terms.
• Consistency is Key: Use the same attributes and terms across all relevant products. This helps with filtering and SEO.
• Don’t Overdo It: Only add attributes that are truly relevant to your product and helpful to your customers. Too many attributes can be overwhelming.
• Use the Right Type: Decide whether a global or product-specific attribute is more appropriate.

Conclusion

Adding custom attributes in WooCommerce is a powerful way to enhance your product listings, improve the customer experience, and boost your SEO. By following these steps and best practices, you can effectively use custom attributes to showcase the unique features of your products and drive more sales. Remember to always think from the customer’s perspective – what information would they find most helpful? By focusing on providing valuable and accurate product details, you’ll be well on your way to success with WooCommerce.