Unleash the Power of Price Filtering: Add the WooCommerce Price Filter Widget to ANY Page!
Are you tired of the standard shop page being the *only* place your customers can filter products by price in WooCommerce? Do you dream of letting visitors refine their search based on budget on specific landing pages, sale pages, or even blog posts? You’re in luck! This guide will walk you through exactly how to add the WooCommerce Price Filter widget to any page on your site, making it easier for your customers to find *exactly* what they’re looking for, and ultimately, boost your sales!
Imagine this scenario: You’re running a promotion for “Summer Gardening Essentials.” You’ve created a beautiful landing page showcasing everything from shovels to seeds. Wouldn’t it be powerful to let customers filter those products *directly on that page* based on their budget? Instead of making them wade through a bunch of items outside their price range, they can zero in on the perfect gardening tools within their budget. That’s the power we’re about to unlock!
Why Use the Price Filter Widget Anywhere?
The default WooCommerce setup limits the price filter (and other product filtering options) to your shop page or category archives. This can be restrictive. Here’s why extending its reach is beneficial:
- Improved User Experience: Customers can quickly find products within their budget, reducing frustration and bounce rates.
- Targeted Filtering: Offer price filtering on specific landing pages, sale pages, or even within blog posts featuring related products.
- Increased Conversions: By making it easier for users to find what they want, you increase the likelihood of a purchase.
- SEO Benefits: Pages with custom filtering options can be optimized for specific keywords related to price ranges, improving search engine visibility. For example, you might target terms like “budget-friendly gardening tools” or “best gifts under $50.”
- Plugin Compatibility: Ensure the chosen plugin is compatible with your WooCommerce version and theme. Read reviews!
- Styling: The appearance of the filter might not perfectly match your theme. You might need to use custom CSS to style it. We’ll cover styling later.
- Functionality: Some plugins offer more advanced filtering options beyond just price.
Method 1: Using a Shortcode (The Easiest Option)
The simplest way to add the price filter widget to any page is by leveraging a shortcode plugin. While WooCommerce doesn’t provide a built-in shortcode for the price filter, many free plugins fill this gap. One popular option is the “WooCommerce Product Check out this post: Woocommerce How To Get Rid Of Includes Sales Tax Filter” plugin. However, you don’t *need* that specific plugin. Search the WordPress plugin repository for “woocommerce product filter shortcode” and choose one with good reviews and active support.
Here’s how it generally works (using a hypothetical shortcode, adjust based on the plugin you install):
1. Install and Activate a WooCommerce Product Filter Shortcode Plugin: In your WordPress dashboard, go to Plugins > Add New. Search for a suitable plugin and install/activate it.
2. Locate the Shortcode: The plugin’s documentation will provide the specific shortcode for the price filter. It might look something like `[woocommerce_price_filter]`.
3. Add the Shortcode to Your Page: Edit the page or post where you want the filter to appear. In the WordPress editor, add a “Shortcode” block (Gutenberg editor) or insert the shortcode directly into the content area (Classic editor).
4. Test Your Page: Visit the page to see the price filter in action.
Important Considerations when using Shortcodes:
Method 2: Using PHP Code in Your Theme (For the More Adventurous)
This method involves adding code directly to your theme’s files (or preferably, a child theme!). This is a more technical approach, but it offers greater control over the filter’s placement and customization.
Disclaimer: Modifying theme files can break your site if done incorrectly. Always back up your website before making changes. Use a child theme to protect your customizations during theme updates.
1. Create a Child Theme (Highly Recommended): If you don’t already have one, create a child theme. This prevents your changes from being overwritten when the main theme is updated.
2. Locate the Template File: Determine which template file you want to modify. For example, if you want the price filter on a specific page, you might edit `page.php`.
3. Add the Code: Add the following PHP code to the template file where you want the filter to appear:
Explanation:
- `class_exists( ‘WC_Widget_Price_Filter’ )`: This checks if the WooCommerce price filter widget class exists. This prevents errors if WooCommerce is not active or the widget is somehow disabled.
- `the_widget( ‘WC_Widget_Price_Filter’ )`: This function renders the price filter widget.
4. Test Your Page: Visit the page to see the price filter in action.
Example:
Let’s say you want to add the price filter widget to a custom page template called `page-gardening.php`. You would open `page-gardening.php` in your child theme and add the PHP code where you want the filter to appear. Perhaps inside the `
Styling Your Price Filter
Regardless of which method you use, you might want to customize the appearance of the price filter to better match your theme’s design. Here’s how you can do that:
1. Inspect Element: Use your browser’s developer tools (right-click on the filter and select “Inspect” or “Inspect Element”) to identify the CSS classes and IDs used to style the filter.
2. Add Custom CSS: Add custom CSS rules to your child theme’s `style.css` file or using the WordPress Customizer (Appearance > Customize > Additional CSS).
Example CSS:
Let’s say you want to change the background color of the price filter widget and the color of the price range labels. You might add CSS like this:
.widget_price_filter {
background-color: #f9f9f9;
padding: 10px;
border: 1px solid #ddd;
}
.widget_price_filter .price_slider_amount span {
color: #007bff; /* Blue color for the labels */
}
Important Styling Tips:
- Specificity: Use specific CSS selectors to target the elements you want to style without affecting other parts of your site.
- Responsiveness: Ensure your styling is responsive and looks good on all devices.
- Test Thoroughly: Test your styling on different browsers and devices to ensure consistency.
Conclusion
Adding the WooCommerce price filter widget to any page empowers your customers, improves their shopping experience, and ultimately, boosts your sales. Whether you choose the simplicity of a shortcode plugin or the flexibility of PHP code, you can now create a more user-friendly and conversion-optimized online store. Remember to back up your website, use a child theme, and test thoroughly. Happy filtering!
