How to Turn WooCommerce into a Catalog: A Beginner’s Guide
WooCommerce is a powerful e-commerce platform, but sometimes you don’t need all the bells and whistles of a fully functioning online store. Maybe you’re selling services, showcasing your creations, or building a pre-launch buzz for a product line. In these scenarios, turning WooCommerce into a catalog is a fantastic option. This guide will walk you through how to transform your store into a stunning product showcase, without the pressure of immediate sales.
Why Turn WooCommerce into a Catalog?
Think of a museum. You can admire the exhibits, learn about them, and maybe even get inspired to buy a print in the gift shop later. That’s Explore this article on How To Upload Products In Woocommerce the essence of a catalog website. Here’s why you might want to consider it:
* Showcase Products Without Selling: Perfect for designers, artists, or manufacturers who want to display their work without managing online transactions. Imagine a furniture maker showcasing their bespoke creations online, allowing customers to browse styles and request custom quotes.
* Lead Generation: Use the catalog to gather leads and inquiries. Check out this post: Woocommerce How To Display Product Category Images Instead of a “Buy Now” button, you can have a “Request a Quote” or “Contact Us” button. This is great for businesses offering services like graphic design, consulting, or landscaping.
* Pre-launch Marketing: Build excitement for upcoming products. Showcase your new line with descriptions, images, and videos, but without allowing purchases until launch day. Think of a new gaming console being announced months in advance, generating anticipation.
* Wholesale Businesses: Display your product range to potential wholesale clients without enabling retail sales. You can have a “Register for Wholesale Account” button instead.
* Simplified Maintenance: Without the complexities of order processing, payment gateways, and shipping, managing your website becomes simpler and more streamlined.
Step-by-Step Guide to Turning WooCommerce into a Catalog
Here’s how to convert your WooCommerce store into a product catalog:
1. Removing the Add to Cart Button
This is the most crucial step. We need to prevent users from actually purchasing anything directly through the website.
* Using Custom Code (Recommended): This method is more robust and doesn’t rely on plugins that might become outdated.
Open your theme’s `functions.php` file (or create a child theme to avoid losing changes during theme updates). Add the following PHP code:
add_filter( 'woocommerce_is_purchasable', '__return_false'); remove_action( 'woocommerce_after_shop_loop_item', 'woocommerce_template_loop_add_to_cart', 10 ); remove_action( 'woocommerce_single_product_summary', 'woocommerce_template_single_add_to_cart', 30 );
Explanation:
* `add_filter( ‘woocommerce_is_purchasable’, ‘__return_false’);`: This filter globally disables the “purchasable” status of all products, effectively preventing them from being added to the cart.
* `remove_action( ‘woocommerce_after_shop_loop_item’, ‘woocommerce_template_loop_add_to_cart’, 10 );`: This removes the “Add to Cart” button from the shop archive pages (where multiple products are displayed).
* `remove_action( ‘woocommerce_single_product_summary’, ‘woocommerce_template_single_add_to_cart’, 30 );`: This removes the “Add to Cart” button from the single product pages.
Caution: Editing the `functions.php` file can break your website if done incorrectly. Always back up your website before making changes and consider using a code snippet plugin if you’re not comfortable directly editing files.
* Using a Plugin: If you’re not comfortable with code, several plugins can achieve the same result. Search for plugins like “WooCommerce Catalog Mode,” “YITH WooCommerce Catalog Mode,” or “Product Enquiry for WooCommerce” in the WordPress plugin repository. Install and activate the plugin, then configure its settings to remove the “Add to Cart” button.
2. Removing the Cart and Checkout Pages (Optional)
Since you’re not selling anything, you can remove the cart and checkout pages from your website navigation and sitemap to avoid confusion.
* Navigation Menu: Go to Appearance -> Menus and Learn more about How To Collect Taxes On Woocommerce For Other Staets remove the “Cart” and “Checkout” pages from your navigation menu.
* Redirection (Advanced): If someone accidentally lands on the Cart or Checkout page, you can redirect them to your homepage or another relevant page using a plugin like “Redirection” or custom code. The Explore this article on How To Transfer Domain Names From Shopify To Woocommerce Redirection plugin allows you to easily set up 301 redirects for specific URLs.
3. Replacing “Add to Cart” with a “Request a Quote” or “Contact Us” Button
This is where you encourage interaction and lead generation.
* Using Custom Code: Edit your `functions.php` file (or use a child theme). Here’s an example of how to replace the “Add to Cart” button with a “Request a Quote” button that links to a contact form:
function replace_add_to_cart_button() { global $product; $link = get_permalink( get_option('woocommerce_shop_page_id') ); // Link to the shop page by default. Can be altered to link to a contact form echo 'Request a Quote'; }
remove_action( ‘woocommerce_after_shop_loop_item’, ‘woocommerce_template_loop_add_to_cart’, 10 );
add_action( ‘woocommerce_after_shop_loop_item’, ‘replace_add_to_cart_button’, 10 );
remove_action( ‘woocommerce_single_product_summary’, ‘woocommerce_template_single_add_to_cart’, 30 );
add_action( ‘woocommerce_single_product_summary’, ‘replace_add_to_cart_button’, 30 );
Explanation:
* `replace_add_to_cart_button()`: This function generates the HTML for the “Request a Quote” button. Crucially, modify the `$link` variable to point to your contact form or preferred method of inquiry.
* `remove_action(…)` and `add_action(…)`: These lines remove the original “Add to Cart” button and replace it with our custom button on both the shop archive and single product pages.
* Using a Plugin: Many “WooCommerce Catalog Mode” plugins offer options to customize the button text and URL.
4. Hiding Prices (Optional)
If you prefer not to display prices, you can hide them using custom code or a plugin.
* Using Custom Code:
add_filter( 'woocommerce_get_price_html', '__return_empty_string' );
This code snippet will hide the price from all product displays.
* Using CSS:
.woocommerce .price {
display: none !important;
}
Add this CSS to your theme’s stylesheet or custom CSS section.
5. Enhancing Your Catalog with Engaging Content
Now that you’ve transformed WooCommerce into a catalog, focus on creating compelling content.
* High-Quality Images and Videos: Showcase your products with professional visuals. Think crisp, clear images and engaging videos that highlight their features and benefits.
* Detailed Product Descriptions: Provide informative and persuasive descriptions that answer potential customer questions. Focus on the benefits, not just the features.
* Customer Testimonials: Add social proof by featuring testimonials from satisfied customers (if applicable).
* Clear Call-to-Actions: Make it easy for visitors to contact you for more information or to request a quote. Prominently display your contact information.
* SEO Optimization: Optimize your product pages with relevant keywords to improve your search engine rankings.
Real-Life Examples:
* Furniture Maker: Uses WooCommerce catalog mode to showcase their custom furniture designs. Each product page features high-resolution images, detailed descriptions of materials and construction, and a “Request a Custom Quote” button linked to a contact form.
* Graphic Designer: Displays their portfolio of design work. Each project page includes client testimonials and a “Contact Me for a Project” button.
* Software Company (Pre-Launch): Uses WooCommerce catalog mode to build excitement for their upcoming software release. Each product page includes screenshots, feature lists, and a “Sign Up for Updates” form.
Conclusion
Turning WooCommerce into a catalog is a simple but powerful way to showcase your products or services without the complexities of an online store. By following these steps, you can create an engaging and informative website that generates leads and builds excitement for your brand. Remember to always back up your website before making changes, and if you’re not comfortable with code, utilize plugins for a simpler approach. Good luck!
