WooCommerce: How to Show More Products and Boost Your Sales
Introduction:
Are you running a WooCommerce store and feel like your customers aren’t seeing enough of your awesome products? Limiting the number of displayed products per page can inadvertently hinder the browsing experience and negatively impact sales. By default, WooCommerce displays a specific number of products per page, often leading customers to prematurely abandon their search. This article will guide you through several methods to show more products on your WooCommerce shop and category pages, enhancing user engagement and potentially increasing conversions. We’ll cover both code-free options and more advanced code-based solutions to cater to different skill levels. Let’s dive in!
Main Part: Increasing the Number of Displayed Products
There are several ways to control how many products appear on your WooCommerce shop and category pages. We’ll explore the most common and effective techniques.
1. Adjusting Settings Through the WordPress Customizer (No Code Required)
The WordPress Customizer offers a simple, code-free way to modify the number of products displayed.
Steps:
1. Navigate to Appearance > Customize: From your WordPress dashboard, find “Appearance” in the left-hand menu and click “Customize.”
2. Locate WooCommerce > Product Catalog: In the Customizer, look for the “WooCommerce” section, and within that, click on “Product Catalog.”
3. Modify “Products per row” and “Rows per page”: You’ll see options like “Products per row” (how many products are displayed across the page) and “Rows per page” (how many rows of products are shown). Adjust these values to increase the number of products displayed on each page.
4. Publish Changes: Click the “Publish” button at the top to save your changes and make them live on your website.
This method is ideal for beginners and provides a quick and easy way to increase product visibility without touching any code. Remember to preview the changes on different screen sizes to ensure your layout remains visually appealing and user-friendly.
2. Modifying the WordPress Reading Settings
While not directly related to WooCommerce, adjusting the “Blog pages show at most” setting in WordPress can indirectly affect product display if you’re using the default WooCommerce shop page and have configured it as your posts page.
Steps:
1. Go to Settings > Reading: Navigate to “Settings” and then “Reading” from your WordPress dashboard.
2. Adjust “Blog pages show at most”: Change the number in the “Blog pages show at most” field. Increasing this number will show more products on the shop page if it’s configured as your blog page.
3. Save Changes: Click the “Save Changes” button.
This method is less precise than the Customizer, but it’s another option to explore, especially if you’re not using a dedicated shop page template.
3. Using a Custom Theme (Or Child Theme) and Code Snippets
For more control and flexibility, you can use a custom theme or, better yet, a child theme and add code snippets to your `functions.php` file. Always use a child theme when modifying theme files to prevent losing your changes during theme updates.
Example Code Snippet:
<?php /**
- Change number of products that are displayed per page. */ add_filter( 'loop_shop_per_page', 'new_loop_shop_per_page', 20 );
- `add_filter( ‘loop_shop_per_page’, ‘new_loop_shop_per_page’, 20 );`: This line hooks into the `loop_shop_per_page` filter, which controls the number of products displayed in the shop loop.
- `function new_loop_shop_per_page( $cols ) { … }`: This defines a function named `new_loop_shop_per_page` that takes the current number of products per page as input (`$cols`).
- `$cols = 24;`: This line sets the desired number of products per page. Change this value to your preferred number.
- `return $cols;`: This returns the new number of products per page.
- User-friendly interface: Many plugins provide visual interfaces, making it easier to configure product display without coding.
- Advanced features: Some plugins offer features like infinite scrolling, AJAX product loading, and customizable product grids.
- Less risk of errors: Plugins are generally well-tested and supported, reducing the risk of errors compared to custom coding.
- Potential bloat: Some plugins can add unnecessary code and slow down your website.
- Compatibility issues: Plugins may not be compatible with all themes or other plugins.
- Cost: Premium plugins often require a purchase or subscription.
function new_loop_shop_per_page( $cols ) {
// $cols contains the current number of products per page based on the value on WooCommerce settings
// Return the number of products you wanna show per page.
$cols = 24; // Show 24 products per page
return $cols;
}
?>
Explanation:
How to Implement:
1. Create a Child Theme: If you don’t already have one, create a child theme for your existing theme. There are plugins available to simplify this process.
2. Edit `functions.php`: Open your child theme’s `functions.php` file (usually located in `/wp-content/themes/your-child-theme/`) using a code editor.
3. Paste the Code: Paste the code snippet into your `functions.php` file.
4. Save Changes: Save the `functions.php` file.
5. Clear Cache: Clear any caching plugins or server-side caching to ensure the changes take effect.
This method is more powerful and flexible than the Customizer. It allows you to programmatically control the number of products displayed and integrate other customizations.
4. Using a Plugin
Several WooCommerce plugins offer advanced options for controlling product display, including the ability to set different product counts for different categories or product types. Search the WordPress plugin repository for terms like “WooCommerce product display” or “WooCommerce product grid” to find suitable options.
Pros of using a plugin:
Cons of using a plugin:
Remember to choose a reputable plugin with good reviews and regular updates.
Conclusion:
Showing more products on your WooCommerce store is crucial for improving user experience and potentially boosting sales. Whether you opt for the simplicity of the WordPress Customizer, the control of code snippets, or the convenience of a plugin, choosing the right method depends on your technical skills and desired level of customization. Always test your changes thoroughly on different devices and browsers to ensure a seamless shopping experience for your customers. By implementing these strategies, you can help your customers discover more of your amazing products and ultimately drive more revenue for your business. Remember to prioritize user experience and website speed when implementing any changes to ensure optimal performance. Good luck!