How To Add Woocommerce Sidebar Divi

# How to Add a WooCommerce Sidebar in Divi: A Beginner’s Guide

So, you’ve built a beautiful WooCommerce store using the Divi theme, but something’s missing… a sidebar! Sidebars are incredibly useful for boosting engagement and conversions. They allow you to display important information, like product categories, bestsellers, recent posts, or even targeted advertisements – all without cluttering your main product area. This guide will walk you through adding a sidebar to your WooCommerce pages in Divi, step-by-step.

Why Use a WooCommerce Sidebar?

Before diving into the technicalities, let’s understand *why* sidebars are beneficial for your WooCommerce store. Think of it like a physical store – you wouldn’t just throw all your products on the floor, would you? A well-organized store encourages browsing and increases the chances of customers finding (and buying!) more than they initially intended.

Here’s how a sidebar helps achieve that online:

• Improved Navigation: Provide easy access to product categories, helping customers find what they need quickly.
• Increased Sales: Showcase bestsellers or special offers, subtly influencing purchase decisions.
• Enhanced Engagement: Feature relevant blog posts or testimonials to build trust and credibility.
• Targeted Marketing: Display targeted ads or promotional banners to boost conversions.

Method 1: Using Divi’s Built-in Sidebar Options (Easiest)

Divi offers a straightforward way to add sidebars without any code. This method is perfect for beginners.

Step 1: Activate the WooCommerce Module

Ensure you’ve installed and activated both the WooCommerce plugin and the Divi Theme. This might seem obvious, but it’s crucial!

Step 2: Create a New Page or Edit an Existing One

Navigate to your Divi pages and either create a new page for your shop or edit an existing WooCommerce product archive page (e.g., shop page).

Step 3: Choose the Correct Layout

Within the Divi Builder, select a page layout that includes a sidebar. Divi offers various pre-built layouts. If you don’t see a suitable one, you can easily create a custom layout with a sidebar.

Step 4: Add Your Widgets

Now, it’s time to populate your sidebar with useful widgets. In the Divi Builder, locate your sidebar area and use the Divi Builder’s widget options to add widgets like:

• Product Categories: Displays your product categories in a visually appealing way.
• Recent Products: Showcases your newest products to entice customers.
• Best Selling Products: Highlights your popular items.
• Search Bar: Enables customers to easily find specific products.
• Tag Cloud: Provides another way for customers to navigate your product catalog.

Step 5: Save and Publish

Once you’ve added your desired widgets and customized their appearance, save and publish your page. Now, your WooCommerce pages should proudly display your newly created sidebar!

Method 2: Using a Child Theme and Custom Code (For Advanced Users)

This method provides more control but requires a basic understanding of PHP and child themes. It’s crucial to use a child theme to avoid losing your customizations when Divi updates.

Step 1: Create a Child Theme

Create a child theme for your Divi theme. This ensures your customizations are safe from updates. Numerous tutorials are available online to guide you through this process.

Step 2: Add a Sidebar to Your Theme

You’ll need to add a sidebar to your child theme’s `functions.php` file. This involves registering a sidebar and then displaying it in your template files. This requires a bit of coding knowledge, so we’ll provide a basic example:

// Register the sidebar
function my_woocommerce_sidebar() {
register_sidebar( array(
'name'          => 'WooCommerce Sidebar',
'id'            => 'woocommerce-sidebar',
'before_widget' => '
',
'after_widget'  => '
',
'before_title'  => '
',
'after_title'   => '
',
) );
}
add_action( 'widgets_init', 'my_woocommerce_sidebar' );

// Display the sidebar on WooCommerce pages (this will need to be adjusted based on your theme)

function add_woocommerce_sidebar() {

if ( is_woocommerce() ) {

get_sidebar( ‘woocommerce-sidebar’ );

}

}

add_action( ‘woocommerce_sidebar’, ‘add_woocommerce_sidebar’ );

Remember to replace placeholders like `woocommerce-sidebar` with your desired names. Consult your Divi theme documentation for more specifics on where to place the code correctly.

Step 3: Add Widgets to the Sidebar

Now you can add widgets to this newly created sidebar in your WordPress dashboard (Appearance > Widgets).

Conclusion

Adding a sidebar to your WooCommerce store using Divi is a simple yet powerful way to improve the user experience and ultimately boost your sales. Whether you opt for the easy, built-in method or take the more advanced route of using custom code, remember to choose the method that best suits your technical skills and comfort level. Good luck, and happy selling!