WooCommerce: How to Change a Button Link to an External Product
Introduction
WooCommerce is a powerful and flexible e-commerce platform that allows you to sell practically anything. While it excels at selling products hosted directly on your website, sometimes you need to link to products hosted elsewhere. This could be an affiliate product on another store, a service offered by a partner, or even a downloadable resource hosted on a third-party platform. By default, WooCommerce buttons are designed to add items to the cart, but thankfully, you can customize them to link to external URLs. This article provides a comprehensive guide on how to change a WooCommerce button link to an external product, enhancing your store’s functionality and expanding your sales opportunities.
Implementing the Change: Different Methods
There are several ways to change a WooCommerce button link to point to an external product. We’ll explore a few options, each with its own advantages and disadvantages.
#### 1. Using WooCommerce’s Built-in “External/Affiliate Product” Type
This is the easiest and recommended method for linking to external products. WooCommerce provides a built-in product type specifically for this purpose.
- Steps:
- Product URL: Enter the URL you want the button to link to.
- Button text: Customize the button text (e.g., “Buy Now”, “Visit Website”, “Learn More”).
- Example Code (modifying the “Add to Cart” button for specific product IDs):
1. Navigate to Products > Add New in your WordPress admin.
2. Give your product a title and description, just like any other product.
3. In the Product data metabox, select “External/Affiliate product” from the “Product type” dropdown.
4. New fields will appear:
5. Set a regular price and sale price (if applicable), even if the actual transaction happens elsewhere. These prices are for display purposes.
6. Add a product image and any other relevant information.
7. Publish the product.
This method requires no coding and is the most user-friendly approach.
#### 2. Using a Custom Code Snippet (functions.php or a plugin)
For more advanced customization, you can use a code snippet to modify the button link based on certain conditions. This method gives you greater control but requires some PHP knowledge.
add_filter( 'woocommerce_loop_add_to_cart_link', 'replace_loop_add_to_cart_button', 10, 2 );
function replace_loop_add_to_cart_button( $html, $product ) {
// Specify the product IDs you want to modify
$product_ids = array( 123, 456, 789 ); // Replace with your actual product IDs
if ( in_array( $product->get_id(), $product_ids ) ) {
$product_url = get_post_meta( $product->get_id(), ‘_custom_product_url’, true ); //get custom field value
if ( $product_url ) {
$html = sprintf( ‘%s‘,
esc_url( $product_url ),
esc_attr( $product->get_id() ),
esc_attr( $product->get_sku() ),
$product->is_purchasable() ? ‘add_to_cart_button’ : ”,
esc_attr( $product->get_type() ),
esc_html__( ‘View Product’, ‘woocommerce’ ) //Change Button Text here
);
}
}
return $html;
}
add_filter( ‘woocommerce_product_add_to_cart_text’, ‘woo_custom_product_add_to_cart_text’ ); // Single Product Page
function woo_custom_product_add_to_cart_text() {
global $product;
$product_ids = array( 123, 456, 789 ); // Replace with your actual product IDs
if ( in_array( $product->get_id(), $product_ids ) ) {
$product_url = get_post_meta( $product->get_id(), ‘_custom_product_url’, true ); //get custom field value
if ( $product_url ) {
return __( ‘View Product’, ‘woocommerce’ ); //Change Button Text here
}
}
}
- Explanation:
- This code snippet uses the `woocommerce_loop_add_to_cart_link` filter to modify the “Add to Cart” button in the shop loop (category pages, search results, etc.). It also uses the `woocommerce_product_add_to_cart_text` filter to change the button on the single product page
- It checks if the current product’s ID is in the `$product_ids` array.
- If it is, it replaces the “Add to Cart” button with a link to the URL stored in the product’s custom field `_custom_product_url`.
- You’ll need to add a custom field (using a plugin like Advanced Custom Fields or Check out this post: How To Import Products Into Woocommerce With A Csv File Metabox) to your product to store the external URL.
- Important: Replace `123, 456, 789` with the actual IDs of the products you want to modify. Change the `View Product` to your prefered button text.
- Adding the Code:
- You can add this code to your theme’s `functions.php` file. However, it’s strongly recommended to use a child theme to avoid losing your changes when the theme updates.
- Alternatively, you can use a code snippets plugin (e.g., Code Snippets) to manage your custom code. This is often the safer and more organized approach.
#### 3. Using a Plugin
Several plugins are available that simplify the process of changing button links. These plugins often provide a user-friendly interface for managing external product links and offer additional features.
- Examples:
- “External Product Button”
- “WooCommerce External Products Redirect”
- Considerations:
- Research the plugin’s reviews and ratings before installing.
- Ensure the plugin is compatible with your version of WooCommerce and WordPress.
- Check if the plugin is actively maintained and updated.
Pros and Cons of Each Method
| Method | Pros | Cons |
|———————————————|——————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————-|———————————————————————————————————————————————————|
| Built-in “External/Affiliate Product” Type | – Easiest to use. – No coding required. – Clean and straightforward. | – Limited customization options. – Requires manual entry of URLs for each product. |
| Custom Code Snippet | – Highly customizable. – Can automate the process based on specific conditions. – Allows for complex logic. | – Requires PHP knowledge. – Can be difficult to maintain if not written properly. – Risk of breaking your site if the code contains errors. |
| Plugin | – Often provides a user-friendly interface. – Can offer additional features. – Simplifies the process for non-developers. | – Potential for plugin conflicts. – May add extra overhead to your site. – Relies on the plugin developer for updates and maintenance. |
Conclusion
Changing a WooCommerce button link to an external product is a valuable technique for expanding your store’s capabilities and generating revenue through affiliate marketing or partnerships. Whether you choose the simple built-in method, the flexible code snippet approach, or the convenient plugin option, careful planning and testing are essential. Remember to choose the method that best suits your technical skills and your specific needs. By implementing these changes effectively, you can create a more dynamic and engaging online store for your customers.
