How To Add Woocommerce Shopping Cart To Sidebar Widget

Add a WooCommerce Shopping Cart to Your Sidebar Widget: A Beginner’s Guide

Want to boost conversions on your WooCommerce store? Adding your shopping cart to your sidebar is a simple yet effective way to improve the user experience and encourage purchases. This article will guide you through the process, even if you’re new to WordPress and WooCommerce.

Think about it: a customer browses your products, adds something to their cart, and then has to hunt around for it. Frustrating, right? By placing the cart directly in the sidebar, you make it immediately accessible, prompting quicker checkouts.

Why Use a Sidebar Widget for Your Shopping Cart?

Using a sidebar widget offers several advantages:

• Improved User Experience: Customers can easily monitor their cart contents without navigating away from their browsing.
• Increased Conversions: Easy access to the cart reduces cart abandonment.
• Enhanced Visibility: The cart is constantly visible, serving as a gentle reminder of items added.

Methods for Adding the WooCommerce Shopping Cart to Your Sidebar

There are two primary methods to achieve this: using a plugin or using a custom snippet of code. We’ll explore both:

#### Method 1: Using a Plugin (Easiest Method)

The simplest way is usually to use a dedicated plugin. Many free and premium plugins offer this functionality. Search the WordPress plugin directory for “WooCommerce sidebar cart” and you’ll find several options.

Here’s why this method is preferred for beginners:

• No coding required: You simply install and activate the plugin; configuration is usually straightforward.
• Less chance of errors: Plugins are tested and generally reliable.
• Easy updates: Keeping your plugins updated is crucial for security and compatibility.

Example: A popular plugin (although the availability and specific names of plugins change constantly, so you need to search the WordPress plugin repository) might be called something like “WooCommerce Sidebar Cart Widget”. Install it, activate it, and the shopping cart widget should appear in your sidebar widget area, ready to be dragged and dropped into place.

#### Method 2: Using a Custom Code Snippet (For More Advanced Users)

This method requires some familiarity with PHP and WordPress functions. If you’re not comfortable with code, stick with the plugin method.

This method is generally not recommended for beginners due to the risk of breaking your website if the code is not implemented correctly.

Here’s a sample code snippet you can try (Always back up your website before adding any custom code):

 <?php /** 
Add WooCommerce mini cart widget.
 */ add_action( 'widgets_init', 'add_woocommerce_cart_widget' ); 

function add_woocommerce_cart_widget() {

register_widget( ‘WooCommerce_Widget_Cart’ );

}

Explanation:

• `add_action( ‘widgets_init’, ‘add_woocommerce_cart_widget’ );`: This line hooks into the `widgets_init` action, ensuring the code executes when widgets are initialized.
• `register_widget( ‘WooCommerce_Widget_Cart’ );`: This line registers the WooCommerce cart widget.

Where to add the code:

You need to add this code to your theme’s `functions.php` file or a custom plugin. Again, back Explore this article on How To Edit Woocommerce Login Page up your website first! Incorrectly placing this code could cause problems with your website. If you’re not comfortable with this, use a plugin.

Conclusion

Adding a WooCommerce shopping cart to your sidebar is a smart move to enhance your online store’s user experience and conversion rates. Using a plugin is the recommended approach for beginners, providing a simple and safe way to implement this valuable feature. For those comfortable with coding, a custom snippet offers more control, but carries more risk. Remember to always prioritize website backups before making any code changes.