How to Change Your WooCommerce Bestseller List to Monthly
Showing your best-selling products is a great way to boost sales and build trust on your WooCommerce store. However, the default WooCommerce bestseller list often displays sales over the entire store’s lifetime. This isn’t always ideal. A monthly bestseller list provides a much more dynamic and relevant view of current customer preferences, highlighting trending products and potentially influencing purchasing decisions. This article will guide you through the process of modifying your WooCommerce setup to display monthly bestsellers instead of all-time bestsellers.
Understanding the Default WooCommerce Bestseller List
By default, WooCommerce calculates bestsellers based on the total number of sales for each product since the store’s inception. This means a product sold heavily months ago will still rank highly, even if it’s no longer selling well. This lack of time sensitivity can misrepresent current market trends and limit the effectiveness of your bestseller display.
Modifying Your WooCommerce Bestseller List to Display Monthly Data
There are several ways to achieve a monthly bestseller list. The best approach depends on your technical skills and comfort level with code. We’ll explore two primary methods: using a plugin and modifying the core code.
#### Method 1: Using a Plugin (Recommended for Non-Coders)
The easiest way to switch to a monthly bestseller list is by using a dedicated WooCommerce plugin. Many plugins offer this functionality, either directly or through customization options. Search the WordPress plugin repository for “WooCommerce bestseller monthly” to find suitable options. These plugins often provide a user-friendly interface to configure the display period (monthly, weekly, etc.) without needing to edit any code.
Advantages of using a plugin:
- Ease of use: Generally straightforward setup and configuration.
- Reduced risk: Less chance of breaking your website’s functionality.
- Regular updates: Plugins often receive updates to maintain compatibility and add new features.
- Cost: Some plugins might require a paid license.
- Dependence: Your bestseller list relies on a third-party plugin.
Disadvantages of using a plugin:
#### Method 2: Modifying the Core Code (For Developers)
This method involves directly modifying WooCommerce’s core code. This approach requires coding experience and carries a higher risk of breaking your website if not done correctly. Always back up your website before making any code changes.
You’ll need to modify the query used to retrieve the bestsellers. This usually involves altering the `WP_Query` arguments within the `woocommerce_product_query` filter. Here’s a basic example of how you might modify the query to restrict the results to the current month:
add_filter( 'woocommerce_product_query', 'show_monthly_bestsellers', 10, 2 );
function show_monthly_bestsellers( $q, $query_type ) {
if ( $query_type == 'best-selling' ) {
$q->set( 'date_query', array(
array(
'year' => date( 'Y' ),
'month' => date( 'm' ),
),
) );
}
return $q;
}
This code adds a `date_query` to the `WP_Query` object, limiting the results to the current year and month. Remember to adapt and test this code thoroughly within your specific theme and WooCommerce version. You may need to adjust the `date_query` parameters further based on your needs. For instance, to show the previous month, you’ll need to adjust the `date` function accordingly.
Advantages of modifying core code:
- Customization: Allows for highly specific adjustments to the bestseller display.
- No plugin dependency: Your feature isn’t reliant on a third-party plugin.
Disadvantages of modifying core code:
- Technical expertise required: Requires strong PHP and WooCommerce knowledge.
- Risk of breaking your site: Incorrect code can damage your website.
- Maintenance challenges: Updates to WooCommerce might break your custom code.
Conclusion
Switching your WooCommerce bestseller list to a monthly view significantly improves the relevance and usefulness of this crucial sales feature. Choosing between using a plugin and modifying the core code depends on your technical abilities and comfort level. While plugins offer an easier, safer method, modifying the code provides maximum customization. Remember to always backup your website before making any code changes and thoroughly test your modifications to ensure they don’t negatively impact your site’s functionality. By displaying current monthly bestsellers, you’ll present your customers with a more dynamic and engaging shopping experience.
