WooCommerce: How to Change the Shop Page (A Beginner’s Guide)
So, you’ve set up your WooCommerce store, you’re ready to sell, but that shop page… it’s just not quite *right*. Maybe you want a different layout, different products displayed, or even an entirely different page acting as your shop. Don’t worry, you’ve come to the right place! This guide will walk you through the common ways to customize your WooCommerce shop page, even if you’re a complete newbie. We’ll focus on the easy and practical methods, skipping the super technical stuff for now.
Why Customize Your Shop Page?
Think of your shop page as the window display of a physical store. You want it to be enticing, easy to navigate, and reflective of your brand. A default WooCommerce shop page is functional, but it might not capture the unique vibe you’re going for.
For example:
* Imagine selling handmade jewelry. A cluttered shop page with everything mixed together might scare customers away. You’d probably want to showcase your best pieces with larger images and clear categories.
* Picture selling digital courses. You’d likely want a shop page that emphasizes course descriptions, benefits, and perhaps even includes student testimonials.
Customizing your shop page helps you:
* Improve the user experience: Making it easier for customers to find what they need.
* Boost conversions: Showcasing your best products and making the buying process smoother.
* Reinforce your brand: Creating a visually appealing and consistent look and feel.
Method 1: The Built-in Customizer (Easiest!)
WooCommerce offers some basic customization options directly within the WordPress Customizer. This is the simplest way to make quick changes without touching any code.
1. Go to Appearance > Customize in your WordPress dashboard. This will launch the WordPress Customizer.
2. Look for a section related to WooCommerce. It might be called “WooCommerce” or something similar.
3. Explore the options. Common options include:
* Product Catalog: This is where you’ll often find settings to control the number of products displayed per page, the number of columns, and the default sorting order.
* Product Images: Control the size and aspect ratio of product images on the shop page.
* Real-world example: In the “Product Catalog” section, you could set “Products per row” to 3 to create a more balanced look if your products are visually strong.
4. Make your changes and click “Publish” to save them.
Pros:
* Easy to use: No coding knowledge required.
* Live preview: You can see your changes in real-time.
Cons:
* Limited options: The customization is basic and may not be enough for more complex changes.
Method 2: Using WooCommerce Product Categories
Product categories are your best friends when it comes to organizing your shop page and directing customers.
1. Create Categories: Go to Products > Categories in your WordPress dashboard. Add all the categories you need.
* Real-world example: If you sell clothing, you could have categories like “T-shirts,” “Jeans,” “Dresses,” and “Jackets.”
2. Assign Products to Categories: When you’re adding or editing a product, make sure to assign it to the appropriate category. Look for the “Product Categories” box on the right side of the product edit screen.
3. Display Categories on the Shop Page: Instead of just showing products, you can display your product categories on the shop page. Go to Appearance > Customize > WooCommerce > Product Catalog again. Look for an option like “Shop Page Display” or “Category Display.” You can often choose to display categories, products, or both.
* Reasoning: Displaying categories allows customers to quickly narrow down their search, which is especially helpful if you have a large inventory.
Pros:
* Improved navigation: Makes it easier for customers to find specific products.
* Better organization: Keeps your shop page clean and tidy.
Cons:
* Requires careful category planning: You need to think about how your customers will browse your products.
Method 3: Shortcodes (A Little More Advanced, but Still Easy)
Shortcodes are special codes that you can insert into pages or posts to add dynamic content. WooCommerce provides several shortcodes that you can use to customize your shop page.
1. Create or Edit a Page: Go to Pages > Add New or edit an existing page.
2. Add the WooCommerce Shortcode: Use the following shortcode to display products on your page:
* `[products]` : Displays all your products (not very useful for a fully custom shop page, but good for testing).
* `[products category=”your-category-slug”]` : Displays products from a specific category. Replace “your-category-slug” with the actual slug of your category.
* `[products limit=”12″ columns=”4″]` : Displays a limited number of products (12 in this case) in a specified number of columns (4).
* `[product_page id=”product-id”]`: Displays single product
3. Example: To display the latest 8 products in 4 columns from the “T-shirts” category on a page called “New Arrivals,” you’d use this shortcode:
`[products category=”t-shirts” limit=”8″ columns=”4″ orderby=”date” order=”DESC”]`
4. Publish Your Page: Make sure to publish the page and then set it as your “Shop page” in WooCommerce settings (WooCommerce > Settings > Products > Display).
5. Set the Custom Shop page. Go to WooCommerce > Settings > Products > Display and set the “Shop page” to your new custom page.
Finding Category Slugs:
Go to Products > Categories. Hover over a category. You’ll see the slug in the URL that appears in the bottom left corner of your browser window (it’s the part after `taxonomy=product_cat&tag_ID=&post_type=product&wp_http_referer=%2Fwp-admin%2Fedit-tags.php&slug=`). Or, click “Edit” on the category and find the “Slug” field.
Pros:
* More control: You can choose which products to display and how to display them.
* Flexibility: You can combine shortcodes with other content on your page.
Cons:
* Requires a basic understanding of shortcodes.
* Can become complex with multiple shortcodes.
Method 4: Theme Builders (The Most Powerful Option)
If you want complete control over your shop page design, consider using a theme builder like Elementor, Divi, or Beaver Builder. These plugins provide a drag-and-drop interface that allows you to design your pages visually, without writing any code.
1. Install and activate a theme builder plugin.
2. Create or edit your shop page with the theme builder. Most theme builders have specific WooCommerce modules or widgets that you can use to display products, categories, and other shop elements.
3. Customize the layout, styles, and content of your shop page to your liking.
4. Set the custom Shop page. Go to WooCommerce > Settings > Products > Display and set the “Shop page” to your new custom page.
Pros:
* Complete control over design: You can create a truly unique shop page.
* Visual interface: Easy to use and see your changes in real-time.
* Powerful features: Many theme builders offer advanced features like A/B testing and dynamic content.
Cons:
* Can be overwhelming for beginners.
* Requires learning a new interface.
* Can be resource-intensive, potentially slowing down your site.
Important Considerations:
* Mobile Responsiveness: Make sure your shop page looks good on all devices (desktops, tablets, and phones). Most themes and theme builders offer responsive design options. Test on different devices!
* Page Speed: A slow shop page can frustrate customers and hurt your search engine rankings. Optimize your images and use a caching plugin to improve page speed.
* Testing: After making changes, test your shop page thoroughly to ensure that everything is working correctly. Check links, buttons, and the checkout process.
* Backups: Before making any major changes to your website, it’s always a good idea to create a backup of your files and database.
Conclusion
Customizing your WooCommerce shop page is essential for creating a successful online store. Start with the built-in customizer or product categories for simple changes. If you need more control, explore shortcodes or a theme builder. Remember to focus on creating a user-friendly, visually appealing experience that reflects your brand and encourages sales. Good luck, and happy selling!
