How to Display Your WooCommerce Booking Calendar Independently for Better User Experience
Introduction:
WooCommerce Booking is a powerful plugin that allows you to transform your WordPress website into a full-fledged booking system. However, sometimes you might want to showcase your booking calendar separately from the product page. This is particularly useful for creating a dedicated landing page for scheduling appointments, events, or rentals, providing a cleaner and more focused user experience. Instead of making users navigate through product descriptions and other details, they can directly see the availability and book their desired slot. This article will guide you through the various methods to display your WooCommerce booking calendar independently, offering flexibility and control over your website’s layout.
Why Display the Booking Calendar Separately?
There are several benefits to isolating your WooCommerce booking calendar:
- Improved Conversion Rates: A dedicated booking page can reduce distractions and streamline the booking Check out this post: How To Install A Extension From Woocommerce Store process, leading to higher conversion rates.
- Enhanced User Experience: Provides a clearer and more intuitive interface for customers who primarily want to check availability and book.
- Better Marketing Opportunities: Allows you to link directly to the booking calendar from marketing campaigns, email newsletters, or social media posts.
- Customizable Layout: Gives you full control over the design and layout of the booking Explore this article on How To Add Tracking To Woocommerce Purchase Confirmation Page page, allowing you to tailor it to your brand.
- Mobile Optimization: Create a specifically optimized booking page for mobile devices, ensuring a seamless experience Read more about How To Check Woocommerce Shipping Costs Without An Order for all users.
- Find the Product ID: First, you need to find the ID of the bookable product you want to display the calendar for. Go to Products > All Products in your WordPress admin. Hover over the product, and you’ll see the product ID in the URL (e.g., `post=123`).
- Use the Shortcode: Create a new page in WordPress (or edit an existing one). Insert the following shortcode into the page content, replacing `XXX` with the actual product ID:
Main Part: Methods to Show the WooCommerce Booking Calendar Independently
There are several ways to achieve this, depending on your coding skills and desired level of customization. Here are a few popular methods:
1. Using Shortcodes (Easiest Method)
WooCommerce Booking offers a built-in shortcode that can display the booking calendar for a specific bookable product. This is the simplest and most common way to achieve this.
[wc_bookings_availability product_id="XXX"]
- Publish the Page: Publish the page, and you’ll see the booking calendar displayed independently.
2. Using a Custom Template (More Control)
For greater control over the layout and design, you can create a custom page template specifically for displaying the booking calendar. This method requires some PHP knowledge.
- Create a New Template File: Create a new PHP file in your theme’s folder (or a child theme folder). For example, you could name it `booking-calendar.php`.
- Add Template Header: Add the standard WordPress template header:
<?php /**
get_header();
?>
- Retrieve and Display the Booking Form: Use the `wc_get_template` function to retrieve and display the booking form. You’ll need the product ID again.
<?php /**
get_header();
?>
<?php
// Replace ‘XXX’ with your actual product ID
$product_id = XXX;
// Ensure the product exists and is a bookable product
$product = wc_get_product( $product_id );
if ( $product && $product->is_type( ‘booking’ ) ) {
wc_get_template( ‘single-product/add-to-cart/booking-form.php’, array( ‘product’ => $product ) );
} else {
echo ‘
Product not found or is not a bookable product.
‘;
}
?>
<?php
get_sidebar();
get_footer();
?>
Explanation:
- `get_header();`, `get_sidebar();`, and `get_footer();` include the standard WordPress header, sidebar, and footer.
- `$product_id = XXX;` defines the product ID. Replace `XXX` with the actual ID.
- `$product = wc_get_product( $product_id );` retrieves the product object.
- The `if` statement checks if the product exists and is a bookable product.
- `wc_get_template( ‘single-product/add-to-cart/booking-form.php’, array( ‘product’ => $product ) );` retrieves the booking form template from the WooCommerce plugin.
- An error message is displayed if the product is not found or is not a booking product.
- Assign the Template to a Page: Create a new page in WordPress. In the “Page Attributes” box (usually on the right-hand side of the editor), select “Booking Calendar” (or whatever you named your template file) from the “Template” dropdown.
- Publish the Page: Publish the page, and you’ll see the booking calendar displayed using your custom template.
3. Using a Plugin (Less Coding)
Several plugins are available that provide more advanced booking calendar display options and customization features without requiring extensive coding. These plugins often offer features such as:
- Customizable Calendar Styles: Change the colors, fonts, and overall look and feel of the calendar.
- Availability Filtering: Allow users to filter availability based on specific criteria.
- Integration with other plugins: Seamlessly integrate with other plugins like page builders.
Search the WordPress plugin repository for terms like “WooCommerce booking calendar” or “WooCommerce appointment calendar” to find suitable options. Before installing any plugin, check its reviews, ratings, and compatibility with your version of WordPress and WooCommerce.
Conslusion: Choosing the Right Method
Each method has its advantages and disadvantages:
- Shortcodes: Easiest for quick implementation but offers limited customization.
- Custom Templates: Provides the most control over layout and design but requires PHP knowledge.
- Plugins: Offers a balance between ease of use and customization but may require a paid subscription.
The best method for you depends on your technical skills, desired level of customization, and budget. If you just need a simple way to display the calendar, the shortcode method is perfect. If you want to create a highly customized booking experience, consider using a custom template. And if you want more advanced features without writing code, explore the available plugins.
Remember to test your chosen method thoroughly to ensure that the booking calendar is displayed correctly and that the booking process works smoothly for your customers. By isolating your WooCommerce booking calendar, you can provide a better user experience, improve conversion rates, and streamline your booking process.
