How to Customize Your WooCommerce Product URLs for Better SEO and User Experience
WooCommerce is a powerful platform for selling online, but its default product URLs can sometimes be, well, less than ideal. They can be long, contain unnecessary categories, or just not be very SEO-friendly. Don’t worry! You’re not stuck with them. This guide will walk you through how to modify your WooCommerce product URLs to make them more appealing to both search engines and your customers. We’ll break it down in a way that’s easy to understand, even if you’re a complete beginner.
Why Customize WooCommerce Product URLs?
Think of your product URL as a mini-advertisement for your product. It’s one of the first things search engines and potential customers see. A well-crafted URL can significantly impact:
- SEO (Search Engine Optimization): Search engines use URLs to understand what a page is about. A URL containing relevant keywords can improve your product’s ranking in search results. For example, instead of `yourstore.com/product/3456789`, a better URL would be `yourstore.com/product/red-running-shoes`.
- User Experience (UX): Clean and descriptive URLs are easier for users to remember and share. Imagine trying to share `yourstore.com/product/3456789` with a friend! A clear URL helps users understand what they’re clicking on.
- Branding: Consistent and branded URLs reinforce your brand identity. They demonstrate attention to detail and professionalism.
- “Post name” will result in URLs like `yourstore.com/product-name`. This is a clean and SEO-friendly option.
- “Custom Structure” allows you to define a more complex URL structure. You can use tags like `%postname%`, `%category%`, `%author%`, etc. *However, be cautious with this option, as incorrect configurations can break your site.*
- To remove `/product-category/` from the Read more about How Long Does It Take To Set Up Woocommerce URL, you can use a plugin like “Yoast SEO” (discussed later) or use a custom code snippet (advanced). Be extremely careful when modifying the category base directly, as it can impact existing links. It’s generally recommended to use a plugin for this.
- Before (Default): `yourstore.com/product/blue-cotton-t-shirt`
- After (Using “Post name”): `yourstore.com/blue-cotton-t-shirt`
The Default WooCommerce Product URL Structure
By default, WooCommerce product URLs typically follow this structure:
`yourstore.com/product/product-name`
This is a good starting point, but often, you’ll want more control. Perhaps you want to remove the `/product/` base or include your product category.
Methods to Modify Your WooCommerce Product URLs
Here are the most common and effective methods for customizing your product URLs:
#### 1. Changing the Permalink Settings in WordPress
This is the easiest and most common method, and it’s typically sufficient for most users. It involves modifying your WordPress permalink structure.
Steps:
1. Log in to your WordPress admin dashboard.
2. Go to Settings -> Permalinks.
You’ll see various options, including “Plain,” “Day and name,” “Month and name,” “Numeric,” “Post name,” and “Custom Structure.”
3. Select “Post name” (recommended) or “Custom Structure” if you need more advanced configuration.
4. Optional (for Category inclusion): If you want to include the product category in the URL, you’ll need Learn more about How Do Add Tracking Information To Woocommerce to address the category base. By default, WordPress uses `/category/`. For products, WooCommerce often uses `/product-category/`.
5. Scroll down and click “Save Changes.”
Example:
Let’s say you’re selling “Blue Cotton T-Shirt”.
#### 2. Using the Yoast SEO Plugin
The Yoast SEO plugin offers advanced control over your permalinks, including the ability to remove the `/product/` base from your URLs.
Steps:
1. Install and activate the Yoast SEO plugin.
2. Go to SEO -> Search Appearance in your WordPress admin dashboard.
3. Click on the “Taxonomies” tab.
4. Find the “Product category URLs” option.
5. Select “Remove” to remove the `/product-category/` base from your product category URLs.
6. Save Changes.
Reasoning:
Yoast SEO simplifies the process of removing the `/product-category/` base, preventing potential conflicts and ensuring proper redirects. It’s a safer and more user-friendly approach than manually modifying the .htaccess file or using custom code. This is a good approach if you don’t have coding experience.
#### 3. Using Custom Code (Advanced)
For highly specific URL modifications, you can use custom code in your theme’s `functions.php` file or a custom plugin. *This requires some PHP knowledge, and incorrect code can break your site.* Always back up your website before making any code changes!
Example: Removing the `/product/` base (Not recommended for beginners – use Yoast SEO instead):
post_type && 'publish' === $post->post_status ) { $post_link = str_replace( '/' . $post->post_type . '/', '/', $post_link ); } return $post_link; } add_filter( 'post_type_link', 'custom_remove_product_slug', 10, 2 );
function custom_remove_product_rewrite_rules( $rules ) {
$new_rules = array();
$new_rules[‘product/(.+)/?$’] = ‘index.php?product=$matches[1]’;
return $new_rules + $rules;
}
add_filter( ‘rewrite_rules_array’, ‘custom_remove_product_rewrite_rules’ );
function custom_flush_rewrite_rules() {
flush_rewrite_rules();
}
add_action( ‘after_switch_theme’, ‘custom_flush_rewrite_rules’ );
?>
Explanation:
- The `custom_remove_product_slug` function removes the `/product/` base from the URL.
- The `custom_remove_product_rewrite_rules` function updates the rewrite rules to handle the new URL structure.
- The `custom_flush_rewrite_rules` function flushes the rewrite rules when the theme is activated. Important: You might also need to manually flush the rewrite rules by visiting Settings -> Permalinks and clicking “Save Changes” after adding this code.
Important Considerations When Using Custom Code:
- Backups: Always back up your entire website before making any code changes.
- Child Theme: Never edit your parent theme’s `functions.php` file directly. Use a child theme to prevent your changes from being overwritten during theme updates.
- Testing: Thoroughly test your changes after implementation to ensure everything is working correctly.
- Performance: Avoid using overly complex or inefficient code, as it can negatively impact your website’s performance.
- Conflicts: Custom code can sometimes conflict with other plugins or themes. Be prepared to troubleshoot any issues that arise.
#### 4. Using Plugins Specifically Designed for Permalink Customization
Besides Yoast SEO, other plugins offer specialized features for customizing WooCommerce permalinks. Some popular options include:
- Custom Permalinks: Allows you to set unique permalinks for individual products, categories, and pages.
- Permalink Manager Lite: Offers a user-friendly interface for managing all of your website’s permalinks.
These plugins can provide a more visual and intuitive way to manage your URLs, especially if you need to make adjustments to individual products or categories.
Best Practices for WooCommerce Product URLs
- Use Keywords: Include relevant keywords in your product URLs to improve SEO.
- Keep it Short: Shorter URLs are easier to read, remember, and share.
- Use Hyphens: Use hyphens (-) to separate words in your URLs for better readability (e.g., `red-running-shoes`).
- Avoid Special Characters: Stick to lowercase Explore this article on How To Access Woocommerce Database letters, numbers, and hyphens. Avoid using special characters or uppercase letters.
- Be Consistent: Maintain a consistent URL structure across your website.
- Test Thoroughly: After making any changes, thoroughly test your website to ensure all links are working correctly.
- 301 Redirects: If you change existing URLs, implement 301 redirects from the old URLs to the new URLs. This tells search engines that the content has moved and preserves your SEO ranking. You can use a plugin like “Redirection” for this.
Conclusion
Customizing your WooCommerce product URLs is a simple but effective way to improve your website’s SEO, user experience, and branding. By following the methods outlined in this guide, you can create clean, descriptive, and SEO-friendly URLs that help your products stand out from the competition. Whether you choose to modify the permalink settings, use a plugin like Yoast SEO, or implement custom code (with caution!), remember to prioritize user experience and SEO best practices. Happy selling!
