Conquer Sizing Chaos: A Beginner’s Guide to WooCommerce Size Guides
Selling clothes, shoes, jewelry, or anything with sizes online can be tricky. Customers can’t physically try on your products, leading to uncertainty, incorrect orders, returns, and ultimately, unhappy customers. That’s where a size guide comes to the rescue! This article will walk you through how to set up a fantastic and user-friendly size guide in your WooCommerce store. We’ll keep it simple and practical, even if you’re a complete beginner.
Why Are WooCommerce Size Guides So Important?
Think about it from your customer’s perspective. Imagine wanting to buy a shirt online. You’re not sure if a “Medium” will actually fit you correctly. Without a size guide, you’re left guessing. You might:
- Order the wrong size (leading to returns and hassle).
- Abandon your cart altogether (lost sale!).
- Become frustrated with the online shopping experience.
- Go to the product you want to add the size guide to (*Products > All Products*).
- Edit the product.
- In the product description, add the image by clicking “Add Media” and selecting the image from your media library.
- You can also add a short piece of text above or below the image like, “Click to enlarge size guide“, which is great for mobile viewing.
- Extremely simple to implement.
- No Discover insights on How To Setup Custom Category Pages In Woocommerce technical skills required.
- Not very interactive.
- Can be difficult to update if your size information changes.
- May not be mobile-friendly if the image is too wide.
- Go to *Products > Attributes*.
- Add a new attribute named “Size” (or “Shoe Size” or whatever is appropriate).
- Click “Configure terms” and add all the available sizes (S, M, L, XL, etc., or 6, 7, 8, 9, etc.).
- Edit the product.
- In the “Product data” meta box, select “Variable product” from the dropdown.
- Go to the “Attributes” tab.
- Select “Size” from the “Custom product attribute” dropdown and click “Add”.
- Check the “Used for variations” box.
- Select the sizes you want to offer for this product.
- Go to the “Variations” tab.
- Select “Create variations from all attributes” from the dropdown and click “Go”.
- Click “OK” to confirm. This will create a variation for each available size.
- Integrates directly with WooCommerce’s product variations.
- Provides a structured way to display sizes.
- Requires more steps than the simple image approach.
- Relies on a separate size guide page that needs to be manually created and updated.
- WooCommerce Size Guide: A dedicated plugin specifically designed for creating size charts.
- YITH WooCommerce Size Charts: Another popular option with similar features and customization options.
- Product Size Chart For WooCommerce By VillaTheme: Free and Paid options to create and mange size guide in your woocommerce website.
- Give the chart a name.
- Choose a template (table, image, popup, etc.).
- Add rows and columns for sizes and measurements.
- Customize the appearance (colors, fonts, etc.).
A well-crafted size guide solves these problems. It provides accurate measurements and clear instructions, empowering customers to make informed decisions and purchase with confidence. It’s not just about convenience; it’s about building trust and reducing return rates.
Different Approaches to Adding a Size Guide in WooCommerce
There are a few ways to tackle this, ranging from simple to more advanced. We’ll cover some common and effective methods:
1. Using a Simple Image: This is the quickest and easiest solution, especially if you only need a basic size chart.
2. Creating a Custom Product Attribute: This allows you to define sizes directly on your product page, linking to a more detailed size guide.
3. Using a WooCommerce Size Guide Plugin: Plugins offer the most comprehensive and flexible solution with features like customizable templates, size chart popups, and conditional logic.
Let’s dive into each of these options.
1. The Simple Image Approach: Quick and Easy
This method involves creating a size chart as an image (e.g., a JPEG or PNG) and then embedding it on your product page.
Steps:
1. Create Your Size Chart Image: Use design software like Canva or Adobe Photoshop to create a visually appealing size chart. Ensure it’s clear, easy to read, and includes relevant measurements (inches/centimeters). Consider different charts for different product types (e.g., one for shirts, one for pants).
Example: A simple table showing sizes (S, M, L, XL) and corresponding bust, waist, and hip measurements.
2. Upload the Image to Your WordPress Media Library: Go to *WordPress Dashboard > Media > Add New* and upload your size chart image.
3. Insert the Image onto Your Product Page:
Pros:
Cons:
2. Leveraging Custom Product Attributes and Variations
This method is great if you need to display sizes as product variations, but also want to link to a more detailed size guide.
Steps:
1. Create a “Size” Attribute:
2. Add the Attribute to Your Product:
3. Generate Variations:
4. Add a Size Guide Link: Here’s where you get creative. You can add a link to a separate size guide page (you’ll need to create this page with your size chart) within the product description or below the variations selection. Use HTML for this:
Need help choosing the right size? View our Size Guide
Example: Imagine selling shoes. You create sizes 6, 7, 8, and 9 as attributes. You can then create variations for each size. Under the variations selection, you can include a link to your dedicated shoe size guide page.
Pros:
Cons:
3. Using a WooCommerce Size Guide Plugin: The Powerhouse Solution
Plugins offer the most powerful and flexible way to create and manage size guides in WooCommerce. They often come with pre-designed templates, customizable features, and the ability to display size charts as popups or tabs. Some popular options include:
General Steps (using WooCommerce Size Guide as an example):
1. Install and Activate the Plugin: Go to *Plugins > Add New* in your WordPress dashboard, search for “WooCommerce Size Guide,” install and activate it.
2. Configure Plugin Settings: Go to the plugin’s settings page (usually under *WooCommerce* or a new “Size Guide” menu item).
3. Create a New Size Chart: Most plugins will have a user-friendly interface for creating size charts. You can typically:
4. Assign the Size Chart to Products: The plugin should offer a way to assign the newly created size chart to specific products or product categories. This is often done within the product editing screen.
// Example (Conceptual): How a plugin might allow assignment of a size guide to a product. $product_id = 123; // The ID of the product. $size_guide_id = 456; // The ID of the size guide.
update_post_meta( $product_id, ‘_size_guide_id’, $size_guide_id ); // Store the size guide ID as post meta.
Pros:
- Highly customizable and flexible.
- Pre-designed templates save time and effort.
- Often includes features like size chart popups and conditional logic (e.g., different size charts for different product types).
Cons:
- Requires installing and configuring a plugin.
- Some plugins may be premium (paid).
Best Practices for Creating Effective Size Guides:
- Be Accurate: Double-check your measurements and ensure they are consistent.
- Be Clear and Concise: Use simple language and avoid jargon.
- Provide Multiple Measurement Units: Include both inches and centimeters.
- Use Visual Aids: Illustrations or diagrams can help customers understand how to take measurements.
- Consider Your Target Audience: Tailor your size guide to the specific needs of your customers (e.g., provide specific instructions for measuring children if you sell children’s clothing).
- Test on Mobile: Ensure your size guide is easily viewable on mobile devices.
- Gather Feedback: Ask customers if the size guide is helpful and make improvements based on their feedback.
- Keep it Updated: Regularly review your size guide and update it as needed.
Conclusion: Happy Customers, Fewer Returns!
Implementing a well-designed size guide in your WooCommerce store is a simple yet powerful way to improve the customer experience, reduce returns, and increase sales. Choose the method that best suits your needs and budget, and follow the best practices outlined in this article. Your customers (and your bottom line) will thank you for it! Remember, accuracy and clarity are key to building trust and confidence in your online store. Good luck!