How to Modify Your WooCommerce Checkout Page in 2017: A Beginner’s Guide
Okay, newbie WooCommerce store owners! Want to tweak that checkout page in your online store to be *just right*? You’ve come to the right place! Modifying your WooCommerce checkout page can significantly improve your conversion rates. Think of it this way: a smoother, easier checkout experience means more happy customers clicking that “Place Order” button. In this guide, we’ll break down the basics for 2017, so you can optimize your store for sales. Even though it’s a bit of a throwback, the foundational concepts and many techniques still hold true today.
Why Modify Your Checkout Page?
Before we dive in, let’s understand *why* you might want to tinker with your checkout. There are several reasons:
- Reduce Abandoned Carts: A cluttered or confusing checkout is a prime reason customers bail. Simplifying the process can drastically reduce cart abandonment.
- Improve User Experience: A well-organized, intuitive checkout is a delight to use. This can lead to higher customer satisfaction and repeat purchases.
- Collect Necessary Information: You might need to gather specific data from your customers, such as a company name for B2B orders or specific sizing information for apparel.
- Increase Conversions: Ultimately, streamlining the checkout process encourages customers to complete their purchase. Think of it like this: removing obstacles on a path leads to a quicker journey.
- Branding: You Read more about How To Process Refund A Purchase Through Woocommerce want the checkout page to match your brand identity. This might involve changing colors, fonts, and adding your logo.
Important Considerations Before You Start
1. Back Up Your Site! This is the most crucial advice. Before making any changes, back up your entire WordPress installation (files and database). If something goes wrong, you can easily restore your site to its previous working state. Plugins like UpdraftPlus are excellent for this. Think of it as having a “save point” in a video game.
2. Use a Child Theme. Never directly modify the files in your main theme! Doing so means your changes will be overwritten when you update the theme. A child theme inherits the styling and functionality of the parent theme but allows you to make modifications without the risk of losing them.
3. Understand Hooks and Filters: WooCommerce uses “hooks” and “filters” extensively. These are like pre-defined spots where you can inject your own code to modify the default behavior of the checkout process. We’ll cover a basic example below, but understanding this concept is key to advanced customization.
4. Start Small: Don’t try to overhaul the entire checkout page in one go. Make small, incremental changes and test them thoroughly to ensure they’re working correctly and not causing any conflicts.
Methods for Modifying the Checkout Page
While plugins are plentiful (and we’ll touch on them), understanding basic code modifications is incredibly valuable and gives you ultimate control.
#### 1. Using Functions.php (in your Child Theme):
This is the most common method for simple customizations. You’ll add PHP code to your child theme’s `functions.php` file.
Example: Removing the “Company Name” Field
Many stores don’t need the “Company Name” field. Here’s how to remove it:
function woo_remove_company_name( $fields ) { unset( $fields['billing']['billing_company'] ); return $fields; } add_filter( 'woocommerce_checkout_fields' , 'woo_remove_company_name' );
Explanation:
- `function woo_remove_company_name( $fields ) { … }`: This defines a function named `woo_remove_company_name` that takes the checkout fields as input.
- `unset( $fields[‘billing’][‘billing_company’] );`: This line removes the ‘billing_company’ field from the ‘billing’ array.
- `return $fields;`: This returns the modified array of fields.
- `add_filter( ‘woocommerce_checkout_fields’ , ‘woo_remove_company_name’ );`: This tells WooCommerce to run our function (`woo_remove_company_name`) whenever the `woocommerce_checkout_fields` filter is called. The filter is a hook WooCommerce uses to let you customize checkout fields.
How to Implement:
1. Open your child theme’s `functions.php` file (usually located Discover insights on How To Get Order Status In Woocommerce in `/wp-content/themes/your-child-theme-name/`). If it doesn’t exist, create it.
2. Add the code snippet above to the `functions.php` file.
3. Save the file.
4. Refresh your checkout page and see the “Company Name” field disappear!
Example: Changing the Label of the “Postcode” Field:
Let’s say you want to change “Postcode” to “Zip Code” (more common in some countries).
function woo_change_postcode_label( $fields ) { $fields['billing']['billing_postcode']['label'] = 'Zip Code'; $fields['shipping']['shipping_postcode']['label'] = 'Zip Code'; return $fields; } add_filter( 'woocommerce_checkout_fields' , 'woo_change_postcode_label' );
Explanation:
- This code targets both billing and shipping postcode fields and changes their labels.
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#### 2. Using Plugins:
Plugins offer a simpler, code-free way to customize your checkout page. Here are some examples (though plugin availability and functionality may have changed since 2017):
- WooCommerce Checkout Field Editor (by ThemeHigh): This plugin allows you to easily add, edit, and remove fields on your checkout page without writing any code.
- Checkout Manager for WooCommerce: Similar to the above, this plugin provides a visual interface for managing your checkout fields.
Important Note: While plugins are easy to use, they can sometimes add extra bloat to your site. Choose plugins carefully and ensure they are well-maintained and compatible with your version of WooCommerce.
#### 3. Custom Templates (Advanced)
For more complex customizations, you can override WooCommerce’s default checkout template. This involves copying the `form-checkout.php` file (located in `woocommerce/templates/checkout/`) to your child theme (`your-child-theme/woocommerce/checkout/form-checkout.php`). Then you can edit the copied file to make your desired changes.
Warning: This method requires a good understanding of HTML and PHP. Make sure you understand what you’re doing before making any changes. Also, note that the exact template structure and location might vary slightly depending on your WooCommerce version.
Common Customization Ideas:
- Reordering Fields: You might want to put the address fields before the name fields for a more logical flow.
- Adding Custom Fields: Gather extra information like preferred contact time, special instructions, or a gift message option.
- Removing Unnecessary Fields: Streamline the checkout by removing fields you don’t need (e.g., phone number if it’s not required).
- Adding Terms and Conditions Checkbox: Learn more about How To Put Trust Seal On Woocommerce Product Page Ensure customers agree to your terms before placing their order.
- Customizing Error Messages: Make error messages more user-friendly and informative.
Testing Your Changes
After making any changes to your checkout page, thoroughly test it! Place a test order to ensure everything is working correctly, including:
- Field validation: Make sure required fields are properly validated.
- Data submission: Verify that all the data entered by the customer is being saved correctly.
- Order processing: Ensure the order is being processed correctly and you are receiving the correct information.
- Mobile responsiveness: Check how the checkout page looks and functions on different devices (desktops, tablets, and smartphones).
Conclusion
Modifying your WooCommerce checkout page is a valuable way to improve the user experience and increase your conversion rates. By understanding the basic methods and following best practices, you can create a checkout process that is optimized for your business and your customers. Remember to back up your site, use a child theme, and test your changes thoroughly. Happy customizing!
