How to Display Product Categories in WooCommerce: A Beginner’s Guide
WooCommerce, the leading e-commerce platform for WordPress, allows you to easily organize your products into categories. This not only makes your store more navigable for customers but also improves your SEO (Search Engine Optimization). A well-organized store helps search engines understand what you sell, increasing your chances of appearing in relevant search results. This guide will walk you through various ways to display your product categories, from simple widgets to more advanced custom code solutions, all while keeping it newbie-friendly.
Think of it like a supermarket: would you rather wander aimlessly looking for pasta sauce, or head straight to the “Italian Foods” aisle? Categories do the Read more about How To Add Variation On Woocommerce same thing for your online store.
Why Displaying Product Categories is Crucial
Before we dive into *how*, let’s quickly recap *why* this is important:
- Improved User Experience: Customers can easily find what they’re looking for, leading to a better shopping experience and increased sales.
- Enhanced Navigation: Clear categories make your website easier to navigate.
- Better SEO: Search engines favor well-structured websites. Categories help them understand your product offerings.
- Increased Sales: Easier navigation leads to more product views and ultimately, more purchases.
- Professional Look: A well-organized store looks more professional and trustworthy.
- Title: Give your widget a title, such as “Shop by Category” or “Browse Our Products.”
- Display as dropdown: Choose whether to display the categories as a list or a dropdown menu. A dropdown is useful for stores with many categories.
- Show product counts: Display the number of products in each category. This helps customers understand the size of each category.
- Show category hierarchy: Show subcategories indented under their parent categories. This is important if you have a deep category structure.
- Only show top-level categories: Limit the display to only the main (parent) categories, hiding the subcategories.
- Order by: Choose how to order the categories (name, slug, count, etc.).
- Display categories before products on the shop page.
- Choose how many categories to display per row.
- Customize the category image sizes.
- Choose whether to display the number of products in each category.
- `number`: The number of categories to display. Example: `[product_categories number=”5″]`
- `columns`: The number of columns to display the categories in. Example: `[product_categories columns=”3″]`
- `orderby`: The order in which to display the categories (name, slug, term_id, count). Example: `[product_categories orderby=”name”]`
- `order`: Ascending (‘ASC’) or Descending (‘DESC’). Example: `[product_categories order=”DESC”]`
- `hide_empty`: Hide categories with no products (1 for yes, 0 for no). Example: `[product_categories hide_empty=”1″]`
- `parent`: Only display categories that are children of a specific category ID. Example: `[product_categories parent=”15″]`
Method 1: Using the WooCommerce Product Categories Widget (Easiest)
This is the simplest and most common method for displaying product categories.
1. Navigate to Appearance > Widgets: In your WordPress dashboard, go to “Appearance” and then click on “Widgets.”
2. Find the “WooCommerce Product Categories” Widget: Scroll through the available widgets until you find “WooCommerce Product Categories.”
3. Drag and Drop (or Select): Drag the widget to the desired sidebar (e.g., “Sidebar,” “Shop Sidebar”) or select the sidebar from the dropdown menu and click “Add Widget.”
4. Configure the Widget: Once the widget Learn more about Woocommerce How To Add A Handling Fee is in the sidebar, you can configure it:
5. Save: Click the “Save” button to save your widget settings.
Now, visit your shop page. You should see your product categories displayed in the sidebar.
Real-life example: Imagine a clothing store. They might have categories like “Men’s Clothing,” “Women’s Clothing,” “Kids’ Clothing,” and then subcategories within each, like “T-shirts,” “Jeans,” “Dresses,” etc. The widget allows them to display this hierarchy clearly.
Method 2: Displaying Categories Learn more about How To Connect Shopify With Woocommerce In WordPress on Your Shop Page (Using Customization Options)
Some themes offer built-in options to display product categories directly on your shop page.
1. Check Your Theme’s Customization Options: Go to “Appearance” > “Customize” in your WordPress dashboard.
2. Look for WooCommerce Settings: Within the Customizer, look for a section related to WooCommerce or Shop settings. The specific location depends on your theme.
3. Explore Category Display Options: Many themes provide options to:
Reasoning: Some themes, especially those designed specifically for e-commerce, provide these options for a more integrated category display.
Real-life example: A theme focused on selling furniture might automatically display large, visually appealing category images at the top of the shop page, making it easy for customers to browse different furniture types.
Method 3: Using Shortcodes (Intermediate)
WooCommerce provides shortcodes to display product categories. This method is useful for placing categories within specific pages or posts.
1. The `[product_categories]` Shortcode: This is the main shortcode for displaying categories.
2. Adding the Shortcode: Edit the page or post where you want to display the categories. Add a “Shortcode” block (in the Gutenberg editor) or simply paste the shortcode into the content area.
3. Customizing the Shortcode: The `[product_categories]` shortcode has several attributes you can use to customize its output:
Example: To display 4 categories in 2 columns, ordered by name, you would use the following shortcode:
`[product_categories number=”4″ columns=”2″ orderby=”name”]`
Reasoning: Shortcodes offer more flexibility in where and how you display your categories.
Real-life example: A craft store might use a shortcode to display a selection of their most popular categories on their homepage, directing customers to specific product areas.
Method 4: Custom Code (Advanced)
For more advanced customization, you can use custom code in your theme’s `functions.php` file or a custom plugin. Caution: This method requires some PHP knowledge.
'product_cat', 'orderby' => 'name', 'show_count' => 1, // 1 for yes, 0 for no 'pad_counts' => 1, // 1 for yes, 0 for no 'hierarchical' => 1, // 1 for yes, 0 for no 'title_li' => '', 'hide_empty' => 1 // 1 for yes, 0 for no );
echo ‘
- ‘;
wp_list_categories( $args );
echo ‘
‘;
}
// Example usage: Add this function to your theme’s template file (e.g., sidebar.php or a custom page template)
//
?>
Explanation:
- `wp_list_categories()`: This WordPress function is used to display categories.
- `$args` array: This array configures how the categories are displayed (order, count, hierarchy, etc.).
Reasoning: Custom code provides the ultimate control over the display of product categories.
Real-life example: A store selling highly specialized equipment might use custom code to display categories in a unique and visually appealing way, perfectly matching their brand and product focus. This could involve custom icons, layout adjustments, or integration with other website elements.
Choosing the Right Method
- Beginner: Use the WooCommerce Product Categories Widget. It’s the easiest and most straightforward.
- Intermediate: Explore your theme’s customization options or use shortcodes for more control over placement.
- Advanced: Use custom code Explore this article on How To Set Up A New Woocommerce Store for maximum flexibility and customization.
Conclusion
Displaying product categories effectively is crucial for a successful WooCommerce store. By using the methods outlined in this guide, you can improve user experience, boost SEO, and ultimately drive more sales. Remember to choose the method that best suits your technical skills and the specific needs of your store. Experiment with different approaches to find the perfect way to showcase your product categories!
