How To Make Buy Now Button In Woocommerce

How to Add a “Buy Now” Button in WooCommerce: A Beginner’s Guide

WooCommerce is a fantastic platform for building an online store. It’s flexible, powerful, and packed with features. But sometimes, you want to simplify the shopping experience for your customers, allowing them to bypass the cart and directly purchase a single item. This is where the “Buy Now” button comes in!

This article will guide you through adding a “Buy Now” button to your WooCommerce store, even if you’re a complete beginner. We’ll cover why it’s useful, the different methods available, and how to implement them step-by-step.

Why Use a “Buy Now” Button?

Imagine this: a customer sees a product they instantly want. They don’t need to browse around; they know exactly what they want. Forcing them to add the product to the cart, then go through the checkout process, adds unnecessary steps. A “Buy Now” button streamlines this process, making it easier and faster for the customer to make a purchase.

Here’s why a “Buy Now” button can be beneficial:

• Increased Conversion Rates: Removing steps in the checkout process often leads to higher conversion rates. Customers are less likely to abandon their purchase if the process is quick and easy.
• Impulse Buys: It encourages impulse purchases. If a customer sees something they like, they’re more likely to buy it immediately if the process is straightforward. Think of those irresistible limited-time offers!
• Improved User Experience: It simplifies the shopping experience, especially for single-product purchases.
• Promote Specific Products: You can use “Buy Now” buttons strategically to highlight and sell specific products, like sale items or new arrivals.

Methods for Adding a “Buy Now” Button in WooCommerce

There are several ways to add a “Buy Now” button to your WooCommerce store. We’ll cover the easiest and most common options, suitable for beginners:

1. Using a WooCommerce Plugin: This is the recommended approach for beginners. Plugins are pre-built solutions that require no coding.

2. Custom Code (for more advanced users): This involves adding PHP code snippets to your theme’s functions.php file or using a custom plugin.

Let’s dive into each method.

Method 1: Using a WooCommerce Plugin (Recommended for Beginners)

This is the easiest way to add a “Buy Now” button. Several plugins are available, both free and paid. We’ll use a popular free option as an example:

Example: “Direct Checkout for WooCommerce” (or similar free alternatives)

1. Install and Activate the Plugin:

• In your WordPress dashboard, go to Plugins > Add New.
• Search for “Direct Checkout for WooCommerce” (or a similar plugin with good reviews and ratings).
• Click Install Now and then Activate.

2. Configure the Plugin:

• After activation, a new menu item or a new setting within WooCommerce settings will appear.
• Navigate to the plugin’s settings page (usually under WooCommerce > Direct Checkout or similar).
• You’ll find options to:
• Enable the “Buy Now” button.
• Customize the button text (e.g., “Buy Now,” “Checkout Now,” “Instant Purchase”).
• Choose where to display the button (e.g., on single product pages, shop pages).
• Configure redirection after clicking the button (usually directly to the checkout page).

3. Test the Functionality:

• Visit a product page on your website. You should now see the “Buy Now” button alongside the “Add to Cart” button (or potentially replacing it, depending on your plugin settings).
• Click the “Buy Now” button and verify that you are redirected to the checkout page with the product already added.

Why use a plugin?

• Easy Installation: No coding is required.
• Customization Options: Many plugins offer options to customize the button’s appearance and functionality.
• Regular Updates: Plugins are typically updated by their developers to ensure compatibility with the latest version of WooCommerce and to fix any bugs.
• Support: Paid plugins often offer dedicated support, which can be helpful if you run into any issues.

Important Considerations When Choosing a Plugin:

• Reviews and Ratings: Choose a plugin with positive reviews and high ratings.
• Active Installations: A large number of active installations indicates that the plugin is widely used and likely well-maintained.
• Last Updated Date: Make sure Discover insights on How To Do Free Shipping Woocommerce the plugin has been updated recently to ensure compatibility with the latest version of WordPress and WooCommerce.
• Features: Choose a plugin that offers the features you need.

Method 2: Custom Code (For More Advanced Users)

This method involves adding PHP code to your theme’s `functions.php` file or using a custom plugin. Be careful when editing your theme’s files. Always create a backup before making any changes. If you’re not comfortable with coding, stick to the plugin method.

Here’s an example of how you can add a “Buy Now” button using code:

 <?php /** 
Add a "Buy Now" button to single product pages in WooCommerce.
 */ add_action( 'woocommerce_after_add_to_cart_button', 'add_buy_now_button' ); 

function add_buy_now_button() {

global $product;

$product_id = $product->get_id();

$buy_now_url = add_query_arg(

array(

‘add-to-cart’ => $product_id,

‘buy_now’ => 1, // Custom parameter to trigger direct checkout

),

wc_get_checkout_url()

);

echo ‘Buy Now‘;

}

/

* Redirect to checkout if ‘buy_now’ parameter is present in URL.

*/

add_action( ‘template_redirect’, ‘redirect_to_checkout_if_buy_now’ );

function redirect_to_checkout_if_buy_now() {

if ( isset( $_GET[‘buy_now’] ) && isset( $_GET[‘add-to-cart’] ) ) {

wc_clear_cart(); //Empty the cart first

WC()->cart->add_to_cart( absint( $_GET[‘add-to-cart’] ) );

wp_safe_redirect( wc_get_checkout_url() );

exit;

}

}

Explanation of the Code:

1. `add_action( ‘woocommerce_after_add_to_cart_button’, ‘add_buy_now_button’ );`: This line hooks into the `woocommerce_after_add_to_cart_button` action, which means our `add_buy_now_button` function will be executed after the “Add to Cart” button.

2. `add_buy_now_button()`: This function generates the HTML for the “Buy Now” button.

• It gets the product ID.
• It constructs a URL that adds the product to the cart and redirects to the checkout page. The key part is adding a custom `buy_now` parameter to the URL.
• It echoes the HTML for the button, including the link and a class for styling (`buy-now-button`).

3. `add_action( ‘template_redirect’, ‘redirect_to_checkout_if_buy_now’ );`: This hooks into `template_redirect` which executes before the template is loaded.

4. `redirect_to_checkout_if_buy_now()`: This function checks if the `buy_now` parameter is present in the URL.

• If it is, it empties the cart (to ensure only the desired product is being purchased), adds the specified product to the cart, and redirects the user to the checkout page using `wp_safe_redirect()`.

How to Use This Code:

1. Access Your Theme’s `functions.php` File:

• In your WordPress dashboard, go to Appearance > Theme Editor.
• Locate the `functions.php` file in the theme files list (usually on the right-hand side).
• Important: Before editing, create a backup of your `functions.php` file! You can copy and paste the code into a text file and save it.

2. Add the Code:

• Paste the code snippet at the *end* of your `functions.php` file. Be careful not to overwrite any existing code.

3. Save the Changes:

• Click the Update File button.

4. Test the Functionality:

• Visit a product page on your website. You should now see the “Buy Now” button.
• Click the “Buy Now” button and verify that you are redirected to the checkout page with the product already added.

Important Considerations When Using Custom Code:

• Backup Your `functions.php` File: Always create a backup before making any changes. A single error in your `functions.php` file can break your entire website.
• Child Theme: If you’re planning on making extensive modifications to your theme, it’s highly recommended to use a child theme. This will prevent your changes from being overwritten when you update your parent theme.
• Code Errors: Double-check your code for any errors before saving. WordPress will usually display an error message if there’s a problem.
• Theme Updates: If you update your theme, your changes to the `functions.php` file may be lost (unless you’re using a child theme).