Woocommerce How To Get Rid Of Blog-Sidebar From Shop Page

WooCommerce: How to Banish the Blog Sidebar From Your Shop Page (For Beginners)

So, you’ve built a Discover insights on How To Remove Category On Product Page In Woocommerce beautiful WooCommerce store, filled with products people will adore. But… there’s a blog sidebar lurking on your shop page, distracting your visitors and potentially hurting sales. Don’t worry! You’re not alone, and getting rid of it is easier than you might think.

Think of it this way: you’re walking into a neatly organized shoe store. You’re there to buy shoes! Suddenly, you’re surrounded by pamphlets about local gardening clubs. Confusing, right? That’s what the blog sidebar does on your shop page. It takes the focus away from your products.

This article will guide you through the process of removing the sidebar, boosting your shop’s user experience, and ultimately, increasing conversions. We’ll cover a couple of popular methods, making sure even complete beginners can follow along.

Why Remove the Sidebar on Your Shop Page?

Before we dive into the “how,” let’s solidify the “why”:

• Improved User Experience: A cleaner, less cluttered shop page keeps visitors focused on your products. They’ll find what they’re looking for faster, leading to happier customers.
• Higher Conversion Rates: Fewer distractions mean shoppers are more likely to browse and buy. Removing the sidebar can directly impact your sales.
• Mobile Optimization: Sidebars can look awkward and take up valuable screen space on mobile devices. A sidebar-free shop page provides a more streamlined mobile experience.
• Better Aesthetics: A dedicated shop page with a clear product display often looks more professional and trustworthy.

Method 1: Using Theme Customization (Often the Easiest!)

Many WooCommerce themes offer built-in options to control the layout of your shop page. Let’s see if your theme has this functionality.

1. Access the WordPress Customizer: From your WordPress dashboard, go to Appearance > Customize.

2. Look for Layout or WooCommerce Options: Within the Customizer, browse the different options. You’re looking for something related to “Layout,” “Sidebar,” “WooCommerce,” or “Shop.”

3. Identify the Shop Page Sidebar Setting: This setting might be labeled differently depending on your theme. Look for options like:

• “Shop Page Sidebar”
• “WooCommerce Sidebar”
• “Sidebar Layout”
• “Archive Layout” (Shop pages are often treated as archive pages)

4. Select “No Sidebar” or “Full Width”: Choose the option that removes the sidebar. It might be a dropdown menu, radio button, or checkbox. Select “No Sidebar,” “Full Width,” or something similar.

5. Publish Your Changes: Click the “Publish” button at the top of the Customizer. Check your shop page to see the changes!

Example:

Let’s say you’re using the popular “Astra” theme. You might find the sidebar settings under:

* Appearance > Customize > Layout > Sidebar

* From here, you can specify the sidebar layout for different sections, including the “Shop” or “WooCommerce” archive page.

Reasoning: Theme customization is generally the safest and easiest method. Learn more about How To Customize Shop Page Woocommerce It uses the theme’s built-in functionalities, reducing the risk of compatibility issues or conflicts.

Method 2: Custom CSS (When Theme Options Aren’t Enough)

If your theme doesn’t have a straightforward sidebar option, you can use custom CSS to hide the sidebar element. This is still relatively simple but requires a little bit of detective work.

1. Inspect the Shop Page: Open your shop page in your browser. Right-click on the sidebar area and select “Inspect” (or “Inspect Element”). This will open your browser’s developer tools.

2. Identify the Sidebar’s CSS Class or ID: In the developer tools, look for the HTML code that contains the sidebar. Pay attention to `class` and `id` attributes. Common examples are:

• `sidebar`
• `widget-area`
• `secondary`
• `right-sidebar`

3. Add Custom CSS: Go to Appearance > Customize > Additional CSS in your WordPress dashboard.

4. Write the CSS to Hide the Sidebar: Use the following CSS to hide the sidebar, replacing `YOUR_SIDEBAR_CLASS_OR_ID` with the actual class or ID you found in step 2:

/* Hide the sidebar on the shop page */

.woocommerce .YOUR_SIDEBAR_CLASS_OR_ID {

display: none !important;

}

/* Adjust the main content width to fill the space */

.woocommerce .YOUR_MAIN_CONTENT_CLASS_OR_ID {

width: 100% !important;

}

Example:

Let’s say you inspect your shop page and find the sidebar has the class `widget-area`. Your CSS would look like this:

/* Hide the sidebar on the shop page */

.woocommerce .widget-area {

display: none !important;

}

/* Adjust the main content width to fill the space */

.woocommerce #content { /* Common ID for the main content area */

width: 100% !important;

}

Important Notes:

• The `.woocommerce` selector ensures this CSS only affects the WooCommerce shop page, not other pages on your site.
• `display: none !important;` is a strong way to completely hide the element. The `!important` is crucial because it overrides any existing styles that might be preventing the sidebar from being hidden.
• You likely need to adjust the width of the main content area to fill the space where the sidebar used to be. Find the CSS class or ID for your main content (usually something like `content`, `main-content`, or `container`) and set its width to `100%`. Use the browser’s developer tools to experiment and find the correct class/ID.

5. Publish Your Changes: Click the “Publish” button at the top of the Customizer.

Reasoning: Custom CSS provides fine-grained control when theme options fall short. It targets specific elements on your page and allows you to modify their appearance. Understanding basic CSS is a valuable skill for any website owner.

Method 3: Page Template (More Advanced, Less Common)

Some themes might use a specific page template for the shop page. If so, you can modify the template file directly to remove the sidebar. This method is generally not recommended for beginners unless you are comfortable with code and have a child theme set up.

1. Create a Child Theme: Crucially Important! Never edit your parent theme directly. Changes will be lost when you update the theme. Create a child theme instead. Instructions for creating a child theme are readily available online.

2. Locate the Shop Page Template File: This file’s location depends on your theme. Look for files like `archive-product.php`, `woocommerce.php`, or `page-shop.php` within your theme’s directory. Often, you’ll find them within a `woocommerce` subdirectory.

3. Copy the Template File to Your Child Theme: Copy the file you found in step 2 to the *same directory structure* within your child theme.

4. Edit the Template File: Open the copied file in your child theme with a text editor or code editor. Look for the code that includes the sidebar, usually something like:

5. Remove or Comment Out the Code: Delete the line containing `get_sidebar();` or comment it out by adding `//` before it:

6. Save the File and Upload: Save the modified file and upload it to your child theme’s directory.

Example:

If your shop page uses `archive-product.php` and contains the `get_sidebar()` function, simply comment it out in the child theme’s copy of the file.

Reasoning: This method gives you the most control over the layout but also carries the most risk if not done correctly. It requires understanding PHP and WordPress template structure. Always back up your website before making changes to theme files.

Testing and Troubleshooting

• Clear Your Cache: After making changes, clear your browser and WordPress cache to ensure you’re seeing the updated version of your shop page.
• Use Browser Developer Tools: The developer tools are your best friend for troubleshooting CSS issues. Use them to inspect the page and see which styles are being applied.
• Revert Changes: If something goes wrong, don’t panic! Simply revert the changes you made in the Customizer or restore the original template file.
• Consult Your Theme Documentation: Your theme developer likely has documentation that explains how to customize the theme’s layout.

Conclusion

Removing the blog sidebar from your WooCommerce shop page is a simple but impactful change that can significantly improve the user experience and boost your sales. Start with the theme customization options (Method 1) as it’s the easiest. If that doesn’t work, try the custom CSS approach (Method 2). Avoid Method 3 (template editing) unless you’re comfortable with code.

By following these steps, you’ll create a cleaner, more focused shop page that helps your customers find exactly what they’re looking for. Happy selling!