WooCommerce: How to Add Products to Website Dropdown Menus (Easy Guide for Beginners)
Want to make your WooCommerce store even easier to navigate? A great way to do that is by adding your product categories directly to your website’s main dropdown menus. This allows customers to quickly find what they’re looking for, leading to a better shopping experience and potentially increased sales.
Think of it like this: imagine you’re selling clothes. Instead of a customer having to click on a generic “Shop” link and then navigate through multiple pages, they can simply hover over “Shop” in the main menu and see a dropdown with options like “T-Shirts”, “Jeans”, and “Dresses”. Instant access!
This guide will walk you through the process, step-by-step, in an easy-to-understand way. No coding expertise required (although we will touch on code briefly for a more advanced option).
Why Add WooCommerce Categories to Your Menu?
Before we dive in, let’s quickly recap why this is a good idea:
- Improved User Experience: Customers can find what they need faster.
- Increased Engagement: Prominent categories encourage exploration.
- Better SEO (Potentially): Clear navigation can help search engines understand your site structure.
- If you *don’t* see “Product categories,” click the “Screen Options” tab at the top-right of the screen. Make sure the “Product categories” checkbox is ticked. This reveals the hidden panel.
- Select individual categories: Check the boxes next to the categories you want to add to your menu.
- Add all categories: You’ll usually find an option to “Select All.” Be mindful of how many categories you have, as too many can clutter your menu.
- Important: The *position* of the category is key. If it’s indented underneath another menu item, it becomes part of that item’s dropdown.
Method 1: Using the WordPress Menu Editor (The Easiest Way)
This is the most straightforward method and perfect for beginners.
1. Log in to your WordPress Dashboard. This is usually at `yourwebsite.com/wp-admin`.
2. Navigate to Appearance > Menus.
You should see the WordPress menu editor.
3. Select the Menu You Want to Edit. If you have multiple menus (like a header menu and a footer menu), choose the one you want to modify. Commonly, this will be your “Primary Menu” or “Main Menu.” Use the dropdown at the top of the page to select the menu and click “Select.”
4. Find the “Product categories” Panel. On the left-hand side of the screen, you should see several panels, including “Pages,” “Posts,” “Custom Links,” and importantly, “Product categories.”
5. Add Categories to Your Menu. Click the “Product categories” panel to expand it. You’ll see a list of your WooCommerce product categories. You can:
Once you’ve made your selections, click the “Add to Menu” button.
6. Organize Your Menu Items. The selected categories will now appear in the menu structure on the right. You can drag and drop them to rearrange their order. Drag them *under* an existing menu item (like “Shop” or “Products”) to create a dropdown menu.
7. Save Your Menu. Don’t forget to click the “Save Menu” button to save your changes.
8. View Your Website. Visit your website to see your new dropdown menu in action!
Method 2: Using Custom Links (For Specific Needs or Linking to Subcategories)
Sometimes you might want to link to a specific subcategory page or create a custom label for a category. This method uses “Custom Links.”
1. Follow steps 1-3 from Method 1. (Log in, navigate to Appearance > Menus, select the menu)
2. Use the Product Category URL: Find the URL of the category you want to add. You can usually find this by navigating to Products > Categories in your WordPress admin, hovering over the category, and copying the link address. Alternatively, you can visit the category page on your website and copy the URL from the address bar.
3. Add a Custom Link: In the “Custom Links” panel, paste the category URL into the “URL” field. Enter the text you want to display in the menu (e.g., “Premium Jeans”) in the “Link Text” field.
4. Add to Menu: Click the “Add to Menu” button.
5. Organize and Save: Drag and drop the custom link to the appropriate position in your menu, just like in Method 1. Save your menu.
Example:
Let’s say you have a category called “Running Shoes” which is a subcategory under “Shoes.” The URL might be something like `yourwebsite.com/product-category/shoes/running-shoes/`. You would use this URL in the “URL” field of the Custom Link panel and enter “Running Shoes” as the link text.
Method 3: Advanced – Customizing the Menu with Code (For Developers)
This method is for users comfortable with editing theme files and requires some PHP knowledge. Always back up your website before making any code changes.
1. Identify Your Theme’s Menu Function: Most themes have a function that displays the menu. This is often in `header.php` or a related file. You’ll need to find the function that uses `wp_nav_menu()`.
'primary', // Or the name of your menu location 'menu_id' => 'primary-menu', ) ); ?>
2. Use a `wp_nav_menu_args` Filter: You can modify the menu arguments using a filter. Add this code to your theme’s `functions.php` file (or a custom plugin):
function add_product_categories_to_menu( $args ) { // Only modify the 'primary' menu (change if needed) if ( $args['theme_location'] == 'primary' ) {
// Get product categories
$categories = get_terms( ‘product_cat’, array(
‘hide_empty’ => true, // Only show categories with products
‘parent’ => 0, // Only get top-level categories
));
// Create a new menu item
$menu_items = ”;
foreach ( $categories as $category ) {
$menu_items .= ‘
‘;
}
// Add the categories to Explore this article on How To Implement Woocommerce In WordPress the menu (You might need to adjust the position of the
- based on your theme’s structure)
- `get_terms(‘product_cat’)` retrieves the product categories.
- The code iterates through each category and creates an `
- ` element with a link to the category page.
- `$args[‘items_wrap’]` modifies the way the menu items are wrapped. This is the most likely area you’ll need to adjust based on your theme’s HTML structure. Your theme might use `
` elements instead of `
- ` and `
- ` elements. Inspect the HTML of your menu to see how it’s structured and adjust the code accordingly.
3. Adjust the Code for Subcategories (Optional): If you want to display subcategories, remove or modify the `’parent’ => 0` line in the `get_terms()` arguments. You’ll also need to adjust the HTML to create a nested structure for the subcategories.
Important Considerations for the Code Method:
- Theme Compatibility: This code might need adjustments to work perfectly with your specific theme. Be prepared to troubleshoot.
- CSS Styling: You’ll likely need to add CSS to style the new category links in your menu to match your theme’s design.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
- “Product categories” Panel Missing: Make sure the “Product categories” checkbox is ticked in the “Screen Options” tab in the menu editor.
- Categories Not Appearing: Ensure your categories have products assigned to them. Check the “hide empty” option when retrieving the categories.
- Dropdown Menu Not Working: Double-check that you’ve properly dragged and dropped the categories *under* a parent menu item to create the dropdown.
- Code Method Not Working: Double-check your code for syntax errors. Inspect your website’s HTML to see how the menu is structured and adjust the `$args[‘items_wrap’]` line accordingly. Also, ensure that the ‘theme_location’ matches your theme’s menu location.
Conclusion
Adding WooCommerce product categories to your website’s dropdown menus is a simple yet effective way to improve navigation and enhance the user experience. Choose the method that best suits your comfort level and technical expertise. By making it easier for customers to find what they’re looking for, you’ll be well on your way to boosting sales and building a loyal customer base. Good luck!
$args[‘items_wrap’] = ‘
- %3$s’ . $menu_items . ‘
‘;
}
return $args;
}
add_filter( ‘wp_nav_menu_args’, ‘add_product_categories_to_menu’ );
Explanation:
