Sometimes, buying products online can be very straightforward. We browse through the items, view the products we like, then add them to the cart. However, in some online stores like WooCommerce, customers are asked to choose which specific item they would like to purchase. Customers are provided with options regarding their items of choice such as color selection, size, or design before they can finally add them to cart.
These are product variations, and they enable customers to view and conveniently select their desired product. WooCommerce optimizes product variations to allow retailers to expand their product catalog without creating multiple product pages.
Merchants in WooCommerce can create variable products to avoid generating many product listings, so customers can choose over multiple product variants on one page. This provides a more seamless and enjoyable shopping experience.
Adding a WooCommerce variable product to an online retail store helps increase business competitiveness in eCommerce, generate more customers, and augment sales. Thus this article created by our team at wpDataTables will provide the steps on how to add WooCommerce variable products to your store.
What is a WooCommerce Variable Product?
A variable product is a featured product type in WooCommerce that allows merchants to provide a set of variations on particular items. It lets them display and preview multiple color variants, sizes, and other attributes of an item, as well as the corresponding prices in one product listing. This allows customers to create a variation closest to their personal preference, which makes for an immersive and more convenient shopping experience.
For example, a customer can choose among the available shirt colors and sizes before adding the item or the “variation” to the shopping cart and proceeding to checkout. A variable product can be any product or merchandise. Retailers can sell the same shirt in different colors, or the same bag in different designs or materials on one product page. It shows the available options for every product.
Best Practices for Displaying Your Product Variations
If you want to generate sales and attract customers, you have to optimize product variations in your online store. Here are some of the best practices for displaying variable products that you can follow to sell more products online.
The first tip is to make sure that labels for attributes are clear, specific, and simplified. For example, use “navy” instead of “blue” to describe an item color, and “33 inches” instead of “tall” for size measurements. The next tip is to allow customers to have a clear view of each variable product by providing an accurate, detailed, and high-quality image, and make sure they are easy to preview. This offers customers a clear picture of the product because they might be thinking of a very different shade of pink from the actual color of the product.
Enabling customers to add several items to their shopping cart simultaneously will entice them to buy multiple variants in one purchase. Lastly, explain any differences in prices of your variations. After all, customers want to know what they are paying for and get their money’s worth. Explain why the other variation is cheaper by a dollar. Was it because of the materials used, or was it because of its less intricate design? Having such transparency will ultimately help your store earn customer’s trust.
How to Set Up a WooCommerce Variable Product
There are three main steps on adding a variable product, setting the product type, adding the product attribute, then adding the variations.
Set the Product Type
You may begin with creating a new product on your WooCommerce store or edit an existing item. Now go to your main menu panel on the left side. Under ‘WooCommerce’, select ‘Products’. You may click the ‘Add Product’ button or ‘Edit’ on an existing product, either way, it will display the ‘Product Data’ drop-down menu, then select the ‘Variable product’ option.
Add the Product Attributes
Now, you can add the product attributes that will be used for variations. Attributes are properties of a variable product that are completely configurable such as color, size, stock-keeping unit (SKU), and others. It allows you to generate more product variations. You may use custom or global product attributes for your variable product.
Custom Product Attributes
As the term implies, custom product attributes are attributes unique to a specific product. These attributes are created to solely identify a particular product, hence should not be used in other items.
To add custom product attributes, from the ‘Attributes’ section, select the ‘Custom product attribute’ option then click ‘Add’. You may now name the attribute like ‘Size’ or ‘Color’ for example. Then, set the values for that attribute. Separate the values with a vertical pipe character (|). For example, ‘Small’ | ‘Medium’ | ‘Large’. After setting the values, make sure that the ‘Used for variations’ and the ‘Visible on the product page’ checkboxes are enabled or checked. Lastly, save all changes by clicking the ‘Save attributes’ button.
Global product attributes
Unlike custom product attributes, global attributes are generic attributes that apply to several products in your online store. One of the common examples of this attribute is color. Items with identical colors can be classified and filtered out under one color attribute.
To add global attributes, you must create them first. You may also do this before setting the product type. To do so, go to the ‘Products’ section on the WooCommerce admin or main menu panel, then select ‘Attributes’. Under the ‘Add new attribute’, insert the name of the product attribute in the ‘Name’ field like ‘Color’ or ‘Size’ for example, then save it by clicking the ‘Add attribute’ button. The table on the right side will now display the new attribute.
You can also add the attribute terms, which are the specific values of the attributes such as blue, red, small, medium, and so on. To add the attribute terms, under the ‘Terms’ column on the table, click the ‘Configure terms’ link of your new attribute, then add as many terms as you need.
After creating global attributes, you may now proceed to the product that you wish to edit. Under the ‘Attributes’ section, you may select an option from the drop-down menu and click ‘Add’. Choose ‘Select all’ under the ‘Value(s)’ field to include all attributes listed. Make sure that the ‘Used for variations’ and the ‘Visible on the product page’ checkboxes are enabled or checked, then finally click the ‘Save attributes’ button.
Adding WooCommerce Variations to Your Product
There are many ways to add variations to your product. You may create single or multiple variations, or create them in bulk, but first, you must make sure that your product variations have a price and are ‘In stock’, to avoid displaying unavailable items to your customers. Next, you need to define the variations for your variable product.
Creating a single variation
You can create a single broad variation that covers all combinations of the product attributes. This method is a good option if you do not need to track the item stock per variation, modify the price and the image according to the selected variation, or if the products have generic SKU codes. To do so, you must edit your variable product.
Under the ‘Product Data’ section, click the ‘Variations’ tab. Select the ‘Add variation’ option from the drop-down menu and click the ‘Go’ button. After creating the variation, on the drop-down menu under ‘Variations’, you may leave the option as is on ‘Any…’, then expand the variation details by clicking the row. Now make sure that the variations have their ‘Regular Price’ and are set to ‘In Stock’. Lastly, click the ‘Save changes’ button.
This variation will now be displayed as the product option on the product page.
Manually create multiple variations
If a variation requires different settings, for example, the stock settings, then you may choose to create multiple variations. The steps are the same with creating a single variation however, rather than leaving the option as ‘Any…’, you have to select the attributes for every variation.
Creating variations in bulk
You may decide to use a bulk process to create variations for all combinations of product attributes. Go to the variable product you wish to edit. Click the ‘Variations’ tab under the ‘Product Data’ section, then select the ‘Add variation’ option. Click ‘Create variations from all attributes’ and proceed with ‘Go’.
This will generate a maximum of 50 variations at once. You may run the process again until it stops creating variations. If you find it tedious to set the prices for every variation, WooCommerce offers a practical solution. Click the ‘Add variation’ option from the drop-down menu, then select ‘Set regular prices’. Insert the price, and click ‘OK’.
Set Default Variation
You can also set a default variation for the customers. To do so, under the ‘Default Form Values’, set a default variation for every attribute, then save any changes.
Adding Variation Data
When adding variations, WooCommerce offers the WooCommerce Show Single Variations plugin where retailers can display and configure variations individually. It provides more control and flexibility when searching and browsing through the product catalog. It features different checkboxes and fields which require retailers to provide variation data. The ‘Enabled’ checkbox enables or disables a particular variation; the ‘Show in Catalog’ checkbox allows merchants to decide which variation they wish to appear on the shop page. It also has the ‘Downloadable’ checkbox for downloadable variation and the ‘Virtual’ checkbox for non-physical products which automatically removes the shipping settings.
If the ‘Downloadable’ checkbox is selected, it displays three options. The ‘Downloadable Files’ which lets you upload the file or files for customers to download. The ‘Download Limit’, which lets you set how many times the file can be downloaded, you may also leave it blank to set the limit to unlimited. The ‘Download Expiry’ sets the number of days before a download expires after purchase.
The ‘Regular Price’ field requires retailers to enter the regular price for the variation, and the discounted price when the variation is on sale on the ‘Sale Price’ field. It also has drop-down menus such as ‘Tax Status’ which has three options by default, ‘Taxable’, ‘Shipping only’, and ‘None’; and ‘Tax Class’. These let you identify the tax class for every variation, ideal for variations with different tax bands.
Check the Result On Front-End
After all these steps, your WooCommerce variable products are finally ready. You may review and check the results on the front-end, and modify any errors or information.
FAQs about WooCommerce variable products
1. What is a variable product in WooCommerce?
In WooCommerce, a variable product is a type of product that enables consumers to choose various product variations on the product page, such as size, color, or material. Customers will have more options because each version can have its own pricing, stock level, image, and other qualities.
2. How do I add variations to a variable product in WooCommerce?
Go to the product editing page and choose “Variable product” as the product type to add variations to a variable product in WooCommerce. Finally, select the “Attributes” tab to add the attributes, such as size or color, that will define the variations. Lastly, add each variation and then specify its attributes, price, and stock level under the “Variations” tab.
3. Can I set different prices for each variation in a WooCommerce variable product?
In a WooCommerce variable product, you may set various prices for each version. You can provide different pricing for each variation when creating or changing it. This enables you to provide your consumers with various pricing alternatives based on the product variety they choose.
4. How do I manage stock for variations in a WooCommerce variable product?
You can establish individual stock levels for each variant in a WooCommerce variable product to manage stock for those variations. This enables you to monitor the stock levels for each variant and stop customers from ordering versions that are out of stock. As a backup option in the event that a particular variation’s stock level is not defined, you can alternatively specify a global stock level for the product.
5. Can I add custom attributes to variations in a WooCommerce variable product?
In a WooCommerce variable product, variations can indeed have custom attributes added to them. Simply check the box next to “Used for variations” when creating or updating an attribute to make it a variation option. This enables you to produce distinctive versions based on the special qualities of your product.
6. How do I display variations in a dropdown or radio button format on the product page?
Go to the “Attributes” tab of the product editing page and choose “Dropdown” or “Radio” as the attribute type to display variants on the product page as dropdown or radio buttons. The characteristic will then become a variation option when you choose “Used for variations.” The product page will then show the variations in the chosen format.
7. Can I set different shipping classes for each variation in a WooCommerce variable product?
In a WooCommerce variable product, you can configure various shipping classes for each variation. You can choose a different shipping class for each variation when creating or modifying it. In accordance with the product variation you have chosen, you can then offer various delivery alternatives.
8. How do I add images for each variation in a WooCommerce variable product?
Go to the “Variations” tab of the product editing page and choose the variation you want to add a picture for. This will add images for each variation in a WooCommerce variable product. After that, add a picture for the variation by clicking the “Add variation image” button. You can now give customers a visual picture of every product variant.
9. How do I add SKU numbers for each variation in a WooCommerce variable product?
Go to the “Variations” tab of the product editing page and choose the variation you wish to create an SKU number. This will add SKU numbers to each variation in a WooCommerce variable product. Next, fill out the “SKU” form with the SKU number. This enables you to monitor inventory levels and order information for every product variant.
10. How do I set default variations for a WooCommerce variable product?
Go to the “Variations” tab of the product editing page and choose the variation you wish to designate as the default to configure default variations for a WooCommerce variable product. Then select that variant and select the “Default to YES” checkbox.
To make it simpler for clients to choose, you may establish default variations for any attribute, such as size or color. When a consumer enters the product page, the default variation is already pre-selected, but they can still select another variation if they so desire.
Ending thoughts on adding WooCommerce variable products
WooCommerce offers innovative features and flexibility that allow retailers to create simple or more advanced product listings for basic merchandise and items with many variations. This article has provided fundamental information about WooCommerce variable products and how to add them to your online store.
Setting up WooCommerce variable products is fairly easy. Just follow the outlined steps and soon you’ll be able to optimize product variations and generate the sales you’ve been aiming for. Maximize this solution to your business needs and ultimately stay on top of eCommerce markets.
If you enjoyed reading this article on WooCommerce variable product, you should check out this one about how to set WooCommerce related products.
We also wrote about a few related subjects like WooCommerce grouped product, how to set up WooCommerce test mode, WooCommerce redirect after checkout, WooCommerce appointments plugins, WooCommerce product variations, how to export export WooCommerce orders, how to change the WooCommerce number of products per page, WooCommerce hide category from shop page and the best WooCommerce extra product options.
