WooCommerce: How to Filter Categories for a Better Shop Experience (Even if You’re a Beginner!)
So, you’ve got a WooCommerce store packed with awesome products. Great! But are your customers easily finding what they need? If your product catalog is sprawling, effective category filtering is crucial for a smooth and satisfying shopping experience. Think of it like this: imagine walking into a giant supermarket with no signs – frustrating, right? Filtering helps customers navigate your “supermarket” with ease!
This guide breaks down how to implement category filtering in WooCommerce, even if you’re just starting out. We’ll cover the *why*, the *how*, and give you practical examples.
Why Filter Categories Anyway?
Before we dive into the “how,” let’s solidify the “why.” Category filtering is a game-changer for several reasons:
- Improved User Experience (UX): Nobody wants to scroll endlessly. Filters let customers narrow down their search based on specific categories, making it easier to find exactly what they’re looking for. Think of filtering for “T-shirts” then “Men’s” then “Red”.
- Increased Conversion Rates: Happy customers are buying customers. By quickly connecting them with relevant products, you reduce frustration and increase the likelihood of a purchase.
- Better Product Discovery: Filters can highlight niche categories or specific product types that customers might not have otherwise noticed. This leads to more sales and a more well-rounded store experience.
- Mobile-Friendliness: On smaller screens, navigation is even more critical. Well-implemented filters are especially Check out this post: How To View Woocommerce Analytics important for mobile users.
- Title: Give your filter a descriptive title, like “Shop by Category.”
- Display as dropdown: Choose if you want categories displayed as a list or a dropdown menu. Dropdowns are great for saving space, especially on mobile.
- Show product counts: Displaying the number of products in each category can help users understand the size of your selection and encourage exploration.
- Hierarchical: If you have subcategories, this will display them nested under their parent categories. This is essential for organized navigation.
- Hide empty categories: Enable this to only show categories that actually contain products. No one wants to click on an empty category!
- WooCommerce Product Filter: A robust and feature-rich plugin offering a wide range of filtering options, including price ranges, attributes (color, size, etc.), tags, and more. It’s a premium plugin but well worth the investment if you need advanced functionality.
- YITH WooCommerce Ajax Product Filter: A free (with premium options) plugin that provides AJAX filtering, meaning results update instantly without a full page reload. This makes for a much smoother and faster user experience.
- Filter Everything – WooCommerce Product Filter: This plugin offers a powerful and flexible filtering system. It allows you to create custom filter sets and display them in various locations on your website.
The Simplest Way: WooCommerce’s Built-In Widget
The easiest way to get started with category filtering is using the WooCommerce Product Category widget. This is a built-in feature, so you don’t need to install any extra plugins (at least to start!).
Here’s how to use it:
1. Go to Appearance > Widgets in your WordPress dashboard.
2. Look for the “WooCommerce Product Categories” widget.
3. Drag and drop it into a sidebar or widget area of your choosing (usually the “Shop Sidebar”).
4. Configure the widget options:
5. Save your widget settings.
That’s it! Visit your shop page and you should see your category filter in the sidebar.
Example: Imagine you sell clothing. Using this widget you can quickly add category filters for “Men’s Shirts”, “Women’s Dresses”, “Kids’ Shoes” and so on.
Advanced Filtering: Plugins to the Rescue
While the built-in widget is a great starting point, it’s somewhat limited. For more advanced filtering options, you’ll need to turn to plugins. Here are a few popular choices:
Choosing the Right Plugin: Consider your specific needs. Do you just need basic category filtering, or do you require more advanced options like price ranges and attribute filtering? A free plugin might suffice for simple requirements, but a premium plugin is generally needed for complex stores. Look for reviews and try out the demo (if available) before committing.
Custom Code (For the More Adventurous!)
If you’re comfortable with PHP, you can also create custom category filters using code. This offers the ultimate flexibility but requires more technical expertise.
Here’s a basic example of how to create a custom filter:
<?php /**
if ( ! empty( $categories ) && ! is_wp_error( $categories ) ) {
echo ‘
echo ‘
Filter by Category
‘;
echo ‘
- ‘;
- ‘ . esc_html( $category->name ) . ‘
foreach ( $categories as $category ) {
$term_link = get_term_link( $category );
echo ‘
‘;
}
echo ‘
‘;
echo ‘
‘;
}
}
add_action( ‘woocommerce_before_shop_loop’, ‘custom_woocommerce_category_filter’, 10 );
?>
Explanation:
1. `get_terms()`: This function retrieves all product categories. We’re specifying the `product_cat` taxonomy and telling it to `hide_empty` categories.
2. Looping Through Categories: We loop through each category and create a link to its archive page.
3. `woocommerce_before_shop_loop`: This action hook tells WordPress to display the filter *before* the product loop on the shop page.
Important:
- Place this code in your theme’s `functions.php` file or in a custom plugin. Never directly edit your core theme files.
- Remember to add CSS styling to your filter to make it visually appealing and user-friendly. The `custom-category-filter` class provides a hook for Explore this article on How To Remove Woocommerce Extensions styling.
- This is a very basic example. You’ll likely need to customize it further to meet your specific requirements.
Best Practices for Effective Category Filtering
Regardless of the method you choose, keep these best practices in mind:
- Keep it Simple: Avoid overwhelming users with too many filter options. Prioritize the most relevant filters for your products.
- Use Clear and Concise Labels: Make sure the filter labels are easy to understand. Avoid jargon or technical terms.
- Test on Mobile: Ensure your filters are responsive and work well on smaller screens. A poor mobile experience Read more about How To Manage Inventory In Woocommerce will hurt your sales.
- Monitor and Adjust: Track how users interact with your filters. Are certain filters being used more than others? Use this data to refine your filter setup and improve the user experience.
Example: If you’re selling electronics, don’t just have “Category” as a filter, make it like this: “Type: Smartphones, Laptops, TVs…”
Conclusion
Implementing effective category filtering is a vital step in optimizing your WooCommerce store. By guiding customers to the products they want, you’ll enhance their shopping experience, increase conversion rates, and boost your overall sales. Start with the built-in widget, explore plugins as your needs grow, and always prioritize a user-friendly design! Good luck!
