How to Get Related Products in WooCommerce: A Beginner’s Guide
So, you’ve got a fantastic WooCommerce store, filled with amazing products. But are you making the most of it? One powerful, often overlooked feature is related products. Think of it as your friendly, in-store salesperson subtly suggesting, “Hey, you might like this too!”
This article will guide you through how to get related products working effectively in WooCommerce, even if you’re a complete beginner. We’ll skip the complex jargon and focus on practical steps you can implement right now to boost your sales.
What are Related Products and Why Should You Care?
Related products are suggestions displayed on a product page, showcasing similar or complementary items. They’re usually found at the bottom of the page, enticing customers to explore more of your store.
Think of it like this: imagine you’re buying a new phone case. The store might suggest screen protectors, charging cables, or even wireless headphones. These are related products!
Here’s why they’re so important:
- Increased Sales: By showcasing relevant products, you encourage customers to add more items to their cart. More items equal more revenue!
- Improved User Experience: Related products help customers discover items they might not have found otherwise, making their shopping experience more enjoyable.
- Reduced Bounce Rate: If a customer isn’t quite sold on the product they’re viewing, related products can keep them engaged and browsing your store.
- Cross-Selling and Up-Selling: You can strategically suggest higher-priced or complementary products to increase the average order value.
- Shared Categories: Products in the same category are highly likely to be related. For example, if you’re viewing a “Red T-Shirt,” WooCommerce will show other “T-Shirts” in the “Clothing” category.
- Shared Tags: Products with similar tags are also considered related. If the “Red T-Shirt” is tagged with “Cotton” and “Summer,” other products with those tags might appear.
- Reasoning: Well-defined categories are crucial. Make sure your products are accurately categorized.
- Example: Instead of just a general “Electronics” category, break it down into “Smartphones,” “Headphones,” “Smartwatches,” etc.
- Reasoning: Tags provide more granular connections between products. Use them to describe attributes, features, or use cases.
- Example: For a camera, use tags like “4K Video,” “Image Stabilization,” “Waterproof,” and “Beginner-Friendly.”
- Reasoning: This gives you the most control over which products are suggested.
- How-to:
- Go to Products > All Products in your WordPress dashboard.
- Edit the product you want to configure.
- Scroll down to the Product data meta box.
- Click on the Linked Products tab.
- Here, you’ll find two options:
- Upsells: These are products you want to encourage customers to buy *instead* of the current product. Often higher-priced or more feature-rich versions.
- Cross-sells: These are products you want to encourage customers to buy *in addition* to the current product. Often complementary items.
- Start typing the name of the product you want to link, and WooCommerce will suggest matching products. Select the ones you want.
- Update the product.
- Example (Upsell): On a page for a “Basic Laptop,” you might upsell a “Premium Laptop” with more RAM and a faster processor.
- Example (Cross-sell): On a page for a Read more about How To Add Featured Products In Woocommerce “Digital Camera,” you might cross-sell an “Extra Battery,” a “Camera Bag,” or an “SD Card.”
- Reasoning: If you need more advanced control, consider using a plugin. Some plugins offer features like:
- AI-powered recommendations: These plugins analyze customer behavior and suggest more relevant products.
- “Frequently Bought Together” bundles: Suggest products that are commonly purchased together.
- Personalized recommendations: Tailor recommendations based on individual customer browsing history.
- Example: Plugins like “Product Recommendations Quiz” or “Frequently Bought Together” can significantly improve the relevance of your related products.
- Use High-Quality Images: Ensure the images of your related products are visually appealing and showcase the items effectively.
- Write Compelling Descriptions: Highlight the benefits of the related products and explain why Check out this post: Woocommerce How To Limit Sales To North And South America they complement the current item.
- Keep it Relevant: Don’t bombard customers with irrelevant suggestions. Focus on products that genuinely enhance their experience.
- Test and Optimize: Experiment with different product combinations and monitor your sales data to see what works best. A/B testing different related product setups can reveal valuable insights.
- Mobile Optimization: Ensure your related products display correctly and are easy to navigate on mobile devices.
How WooCommerce Chooses Related Products (The Default Method)
Out of the box, WooCommerce automatically selects related products based on two key factors:
This default method is a good starting point, but it can sometimes lead to irrelevant suggestions. For example, a “Red T-Shirt” might be related to a “Blue T-Shirt,” but not necessarily to a “Red Winter Coat” just because they share the “Red” tag.
How to Improve Related Products in WooCommerce: A Step-by-Step Guide
The good news is that you can take control and refine your related product suggestions! Here’s how:
1. Review Your Categories:
2. Leverage Tags Effectively:
3. Manually Link Products (Upsells and Cross-sells):
4. Consider Using a Plugin (for Advanced Features):
Tips for Making Related Products More Effective
Beyond the technical aspects, consider these tips to maximize the impact of your related products:
In Conclusion: Mastering Related Products for WooCommerce Success
Implementing and optimizing related products is a simple yet powerful way to boost sales and improve the customer experience in your WooCommerce store. By understanding how WooCommerce chooses related products and taking steps to refine your suggestions, you can create a more engaging and profitable online shopping environment. So, start experimenting, analyzing, and optimizing – your bottom line will thank you for it!
