WooCommerce: How to Customize Your Shop Pages for Sales Success (Beginner-Friendly!)
So, you’ve set up your WooCommerce store, congratulations! But maybe your shop pages look a little… generic? Don’t worry! This guide will walk you through how to change your WooCommerce shop pages, even if you’re a complete beginner. We’ll cover everything from the basics to some slightly more advanced (but still easy!) techniques to make your store truly shine.
Think of your shop page as the front window of your physical store. Would you leave it looking bland and uninviting? Absolutely not! Customizing your shop pages improves the user experience, brand identity, and ultimately, boosts sales.
Understanding the WooCommerce Shop Page
Before we dive into making changes, let’s understand what we’re working with. The WooCommerce shop page is, by default, a page displaying all your products. It pulls product information (name, price, image) from your product listings and presents them in a grid or list. Usually, it’s located at `/shop` on your website.
Why customize it? The default shop page, while functional, is often basic. Customizing it allows you to:
- Improve Visual Appeal: Match your brand’s aesthetic.
- Enhance User Navigation: Make it easier for customers to find what they’re looking for.
- Increase Conversion Rates: Present your products in the best possible light.
- Highlight Promotions: Feature specific products or sales.
- Product Catalog Layout: Change the number Learn more about How To Start Woocommerce Wizard of columns, spacing between products, and the overall grid style.
- Product Sorting: Customize the default sorting options (e.g., price low to high, popularity).
- Product Image Sizes: Adjust the size of product images displayed on the shop page.
- Quick View: Enable or disable a quick view feature that allows users to preview products without leaving the shop page.
- Available Filters: Filter by price, category, attributes (e.g., color, size), and more.
- Filter Appearance: Choose how the filters are displayed (checkboxes, dropdowns, sliders).
- Placement: Determine where the filters appear on your shop page (e.g., sidebar, top of the page).
- `archive-product.php`: The main shop page template.
- `content-product.php`: The template for displaying a single product on the shop page.
- `/wp-content/themes/your-theme/woocommerce/archive-product.php`
Method 1: Leveraging Theme Customization Options (The Easiest Way)
Many modern WordPress themes come with built-in WooCommerce customization options. This is by far the easiest way for beginners to start.
Example: Let’s say you’re using the popular Astra theme.
1. Navigate to Appearance > Customize in your WordPress dashboard.
2. Look for a “WooCommerce” section. Within this section, you’ll often find options for:
Reasoning: Themes like Astra, OceanWP, and GeneratePress are built with WooCommerce in mind. They provide a user-friendly interface to adjust many aspects of your shop page without needing to write any code. This is perfect if you’re not comfortable with coding.
Method 2: Using WooCommerce Extensions (Plugins)
If your theme doesn’t offer enough customization options, or you want to add specific features, plugins are your best friend. WooCommerce has a massive ecosystem of extensions.
Example: Let’s look at using a plugin like “WooCommerce Product Filter”
1. Install and Activate a WooCommerce Product Filter Plugin: Search for “WooCommerce Product Filter” in the WordPress plugin repository (Plugins > Add New).
2. Configure the Plugin: Most filter plugins have their own settings panel. You can customize:
Reasoning: Product filters are crucial for stores with a large inventory. They allow customers to quickly narrow down their choices and find what they’re looking for, reducing bounce rates and increasing conversions.
Method 3: Editing the WooCommerce Template Files (More Advanced, but Powerful)
This method involves directly modifying the WooCommerce template files. It offers the most flexibility but requires some coding knowledge (HTML, CSS, and PHP). Proceed with caution and always back up your website before making changes!
How it works:
1. Understand Template Overriding: WooCommerce uses a template system. You *don’t* edit the core WooCommerce files directly. Instead, you copy the relevant template file from the WooCommerce plugin directory to your theme’s directory, maintaining the same folder structure. WooCommerce will then use your custom template instead of the default one.
2. Locate the Relevant Template File: Shop page templates are typically located in `/wp-content/plugins/woocommerce/templates/`. Common files include:
3. Create the Correct Folder Structure in Your Theme: Inside your theme’s folder, create a folder named `woocommerce`. Then, copy the desired template file(s) into that folder. For example:
4. Edit the Template File: Now you can safely edit the template file in your theme.
Example: Let’s say you want to add a custom message above the product grid on your shop page. Open `archive-product.php` in your theme’s `woocommerce` folder and add the following code snippet:
<?php /**
defined( ‘ABSPATH’ ) || exit;
get_header( ‘shop’ );
/
* Hook: woocommerce_before_main_content.
*
* @hooked woocommerce_output_content_wrapper_start – 10 (outputs opening tags for the content)
* @hooked woocommerce_breadcrumb – 20
* @hooked WC_Structured_Data::generate_product_data() – 30
*/
do_action( ‘woocommerce_before_main_content’ );
?>
Welcome to our fantastic shop! Check out our latest products below.
<?php
if ( woocommerce_product_loop() ) {
/
* Hook: woocommerce_before_shop_loop.
*
* @hooked woocommerce_output_all_notices – 10
* @hooked woocommerce_result_count – 20
* @hooked woocommerce_catalog_ordering – 30
*/
do_action( ‘woocommerce_before_shop_loop’ );
woocommerce_product_loop_start();
if ( wc_get_loop_prop( ‘total’ ) ) {
while ( have_posts() ) {
the_post();
/
* Hook: woocommerce_shop_loop.
*/
do_action( ‘woocommerce_shop_loop’ );
wc_get_template_part( ‘content’, ‘product’ );
}
}
woocommerce_product_loop_end();
/
* Hook: woocommerce_after_shop_loop.
*
* @hooked woocommerce_pagination – 10
*/
do_action( ‘woocommerce_after_shop_loop’ );
} else {
/
* Hook: woocommerce_no_products_found.
*
* @hooked wc_no_products_found – 10
*/
do_action( ‘woocommerce_no_products_found’ );
}
/
* Hook: woocommerce_after_main_content.
*
* @hooked woocommerce_output_content_wrapper_end – 10 (outputs closing tags for the content)
*/
do_action( ‘woocommerce_after_main_content’ );
get_sidebar( ‘shop’ );
get_footer( ‘shop’ );
Reasoning: Overriding templates allows for deep customization. For example, you could change the order in which product information is displayed, add custom badges or labels, or even completely redesign the product grid. However, always test your changes thoroughly and be prepared to revert if something goes wrong. Using a child theme is also highly recommended to prevent your changes from being overwritten during theme updates.
Method 4: Using a Page Builder (For Visual Control)
Page builders like Elementor, Beaver Builder, and Divi offer a visual, drag-and-drop interface for building pages, including your WooCommerce shop pages.
Example: Using Elementor Pro (which includes WooCommerce integration)
1. Install and Activate Elementor Pro: Ensure you have Elementor Pro installed and activated.
2. Create a New Template (Elementor > Templates > Add New): Choose “Theme Builder” and then select “Product Archive” as the template type.
3. Design Your Shop Page: Elementor provides a visual interface to add elements like:
- Products Widget: Displays your WooCommerce products in a grid or list. You can customize the number of columns, product ordering, and more.
- Product Filters: Add interactive filters to help customers find products.
- Hero Sections: Create visually appealing banners to highlight promotions or new arrivals.
- Text & Images: Add custom text and images to create a unique shop page layout.
Reasoning: Page builders give you complete visual control over your shop page without needing to write code. This is a great option if you want a custom design but aren’t comfortable with coding. However, be aware that page builders can sometimes add extra code, potentially affecting page speed. Optimize your images and avoid unnecessary elements to mitigate this.
Best Practices for Customizing Your Shop Pages:
- Mobile Responsiveness: Ensure your changes look great on all devices (desktops, tablets, and smartphones).
- Page Speed Optimization: Keep your page load times fast. Use optimized images, minify CSS and JavaScript, and consider using a caching plugin.
- Brand Consistency: Maintain a consistent look and feel throughout your website.
- User Experience (UX) Focus: Make it easy for customers to browse and find what they’re looking for.
- A/B Testing: Experiment with different designs and layouts to see what performs best.
Conclusion:
Customizing your WooCommerce shop pages is a crucial step in creating a successful online store. Start with the easiest methods (theme customization options and plugins) and gradually explore more advanced techniques as your skills develop. By focusing on user experience, brand consistency, and page speed, you can create shop pages that attract customers and drive sales! Good luck!
