Whether you’re selling handmade crafts, digital downloads, subscription products, or anything in between, WooCommerce provides the tools you need to create a standout store. For many beginners, though, setting up WooCommerce products can feel a bit overwhelming. To help you out, we’re going to explore the two easiest methods to add products to WooCommerce stores in 2024. Let’s dive in and start boosting your sales with these simple steps.
How to Add Products in WooCommerce | 2 Methods
Adding new products in WooCommerce store is simple—simply follow these two easy methods.
- Adding Products to WooCommerce Store Manually
- Importing Products to WooCommerce using a CSV File
Let’s begin with the first manual method:
Method # 1: Adding Products to WooCommerce Manually
Adding a new product to WooCommerce is easier than you think. With just a few clicks and simple steps, you’ll have your products listed, optimized, and ready to sell in no time.
Let’s get started:
Step 1: Add a New Product
First things first, log in to your WordPress Admin Panel and ensure that the WooCommerce plugin is installed. Then, go to your WordPress Dashboard, click on Products, and select “Add New” to start adding your products.
Path: WordPress Dashboard > Products > Add New.
This will open a new page where you can start filling out your product’s details.
Step 2: Enter the Product Title and Description
In the next step, we’ll give the listed product a name and description.
Enter your product name in the title section and ensure the permalink matches it. Write a short but engaging description that highlights the key features, benefits, and reasons why customers should buy it.
Step 3: Choose the Product Type
WooCommerce lets you choose from several product types, which you can find in a dropdown menu next to the Product Data section. Here’s a quick rundown of the core product types:
- Simple Product: The default type for straightforward products (e.g., a one-size-fits-all hat).
- Grouped Product: Combines simple products (e.g., a pack of five t-shirts).
- External/Affiliate Product: Links to an external store for dropshipping or affiliate sales.
- Variable Product: Products with variations like colors, sizes, etc. (e.g., a t-shirt available in “Small,” “Medium,” and “Large”).
Additionally, there are two extra options to customize these types:
Virtual: For digital products that don’t require shipping.
Downloadable: For products that include a downloadable file (e.g., an eBook).
For this guide, we’ll go with a “Simple Product,” but the steps are similar for other product types.
Step 4: Configure the Product Data Tabs
This is where the real customization happens! The product data section has several tabs that let you set different aspects of your product. Let’s go through them:
- General Tab
In the General tab, you can set up the basic pricing information for your product:
- Regular Price: Enter the standard price of your product here.
- Sale Price: If you’re running a promotion, enter the discounted price in this field. You can also schedule when the sale should start and end.
To add this data, simply enter the price values in the corresponding fields.
- Inventory Tab
In this section, you can adjust your product’s stock level and update its SKU (Stock Keeping Unit) ID:
- SKU: A unique identifier for your product.
- Stock Status: Choose whether the product is “In stock,” “Out of stock,” or “On backorder.”
- Manage Stock: Check this box if you want WooCommerce to track stock levels for this product.
- Stock Quantity: Enter the number of items you have available.
- Allow Backorders: Decide if you want to allow backorders for products that are out of stock.
- Sold Individually: Check this option if you want to limit purchases to one item per order.
- Shipping Tab
In the Shipping tab, you can add important details about your product’s size and weight, which are crucial for calculating shipping costs.
- Weight: Enter the product’s weight in kilograms, pounds, or your preferred unit.
- Dimensions: Fill in the product’s length, width, and height to help determine shipping fees.
- Shipping Class: If you use different shipping rates for various product types, select the appropriate shipping class here.
To add this data, simply input your product’s weight and dimensions and choose the right shipping class, if necessary.
- Linked Products Tab
The Linked Products tab lets you connect related products to boost sales. Here’s how:
- Upsells: Suggest premium or more expensive alternatives.
- Cross-sells: Offer complementary items for additional purchases.
How to Add Data: Use the search function to find and WooCommerce add products for upselling or cross-selling.
- Attributes Tab
The Attributes tab defines product features like color or size. This helps customers make informed choices:
- Custom Attributes: Create unique attributes like “Color” or “Material.”
- Global Attributes: Select common attributes from your global list.
How to Add Data: Click “Add” to create a new attribute. Enter the name and values. Check the box to display it on the product page and for variations.
- Advanced Tab
The Advanced tab allows you to set up additional product options:
- Purchase Note: Send a post-purchase message to customers.
- Menu Order: Arrange the product in your store’s sequence.
- Enable Reviews: Allow customers to leave reviews.
How to Add Data: Fill in notes or adjust the product order. Enable reviews for customer feedback.
- Get More Options Tab
The Get More Options tab helps you discover new features and extensions:
How to Use: This tab doesn’t require data input. Explore plugins and extensions to enhance product pages, such as advanced pricing or subscription features.
These tabs offer tools to customize and optimize your product listings. To complete the process, simply fill in the details for each tab.
Step 5: Add Product Images
Upload high-quality images to attract customers. Good visuals can significantly boost your sales. To add images:
- Product > Add Media
- Product > Add Product Gallery Images (lower right corner)
Step 6: Assign a Category and Publish
Before publishing, make sure to choose a category for your product. You can select an existing category from the sidebar or create a new one if needed.
In the Product Tags field, start typing the tags you want to add. If the tags already exist, simply type them and hit Enter or Add to save them.
Path: Product Tags field > Type tags > Enter/Add.
Once everything is set, click the Publish button to make your product live on your WooCommerce store.
And there you have it! Your product is ready for your customers to see (and buy).
Method # 2: Importing Products Using a CSV File
Prepare Your CSV File: Start by creating a CSV file that includes essential product details like name, description, price, SKU, and stock status. Make sure your file follows WooCommerce’s CSV format.
Go to Product Importer: Head to Products > Import in your WordPress admin dashboard. Upload your prepared CSV file, then match the columns in your CSV with WooCommerce’s product fields. Double-check that all required fields are mapped correctly.
Finally, click “Run Importer” to upload your products in bulk.
Conclusion
In 2024, adding products to the WooCommerce store is straightforward and doesn’t have to be complicated. Whether you’re adding products manually, uploading them with a CSV file, or using a suitable woocommerce plugins, each method has its benefits. Following these simple steps on how to add products to WooCommerce will make the process easy for you.
Manual entry works well for small stores or when you need detailed customization of a WooCommerce shop page or product, while CSV imports and plugins are time-savers for larger inventories. Choose the method that best fits your needs to make managing your WooCommerce store as efficient as possible.
FAQs:
Q1. Can I add multiple products at once in WooCommerce?
Ans. Yes, you can add multiple products by importing them manually. Simply navigate to WP Admin Panel > Products > Import. Prepare and upload the CSV file, and you can also choose to update existing products.
Q2. What’s the easiest way to WooCommerce add products for beginners?
Ans. Adding products manually through the WooCommerce dashboard is the simplest method for beginners.
Q3. Can I add product variations?
Ans. Yes, product variations can be added manually, via CSV, or with a plugin.
Q4. What are some useful plugins for enhancing product listings in WooCommerce?
Ans. Plugins like WooCommerce Product Add-Ons, Composite Products Builder, and other woocommerce can enhance product listing by letting you customize additional features.
Q5. What are the benefits of importing multiple products using a CSV file?
Ans. It is ideal for adding a large number of products at once. Additionally, it saves time compared to manual entry.
Q6. How is the manual method advantageous over other methods for beginners?
Ans. Manually adding products to the WooCommerce store is ideal for beginners as they can add products individually with detailed customization. It also offers full control over product details and settings.
