Let’s be honest: not all online shops need WooCommerce.
Maybe you’re running a service-based business or handicraft products. You don’t need to overwhelm your site with bulk plugins. Keep yourself away from millions of settings you’ll never touch.
The rising question: How to add products in WordPress without WooCommerce? Yes, you can do this hassle-free.
If you want a simple, functional product listing option, receive payments, or direct customers to other platforms, there are plenty of methods available to make your work smooth.
In this blog, we’ll reveal the most effective and beginner-friendly methods for adding products in WordPress without using WooCommerce.
How to Add Products in WordPress Using the Ultimate Product Catalog Plugin
If you pick the right tool for your website, you won’t face any difficulty in adding products. One perfect alternative is the Ultimate Product Catalog Plugin. It’s a user-friendly plugin that allows you to display and manage your products effortlessly.
For your better understanding, we’ll guide you through the whole process of adding products using this plugin. However, first, we assume that you have used WordPress as your sole Content Management System (CMS).
Let’s break down the process step by step.
Step 1: Install & Activate the Plugin
To initiate the process, first, you need to install the Ultimate Product Catalog plugin on your WordPress website.
Navigate to the plugins page from your WordPress admin tab. Go to Plugins ➤ Add Plugins.
In the top right search plugin bar, type Ultimate Product Catalog.
After identifying the plugin, click Install Now. After installing, click Activate to make it functional on your site..
Step 2: Explore Plugin Configurations
After activating the Ultimate Product Catalog plugin, you’ll get helpful guidance to add your products efficiently. This user-friendly process is perfect for getting your online store up and running, even if you’re unfamiliar with a product catalogue plugin.
The whole setup of this plugin is divided into 4 simple processes.
1. Categories: Begin by creating categories for the products. This helps you categorize similar products together, such as clothes, toys, and electronics. You can assign any items to the relevant categories.
2. Add Product Catalogue Page: This plugin features an exceptional capability to create a new page on your site and integrate your product catalogue shortcode into it. Your catalogue is ready to go live with no complex setup required.
3. Demonstrate Key Settings: In this section, you can customize some of the plugin’s vital functions. This includes configuring the desired currency symbol, selecting catalog colors, and activating product search to enhance the browsing experience.
4. Add Your First Product: Lastly, you’ll be directed to add your first product option. Here, you can enter the product’s details, including name, description, price, and image. You can then assign the product to a particular category you’ve created first.
Step 3: Add More Products
To add a new product to your WordPress dashboard, move to Product Catalog ➤ Add New Products. This will direct you to the product creation page.
Now, insert the title of the product and description on the editor page. Below, you’ll notice the product details section. Here, you can set the product’s price and sale price.
If you want to direct your users to external links, utilize the “Product Link” field. This is best suited for affiliate products, landing pages, or third-party stores. When the customers click on the link, it’ll redirect them to your inserted URL.
On the right side, you’ll find additional product settings. In the Featured Image section, upload a high-quality image. This will be displayed as the main visual in the product catalogue.
Determine one or more categories to effectively organize your products. You can also implement tags to classify your products further.
When you have filled out all the information about the product, simply click the Publish button located on the top right side. Your product is now live, and you can easily add it to any product catalogue you’ve generated on your website.
Step 4: View & Display Your Product
The product will appear on your dashboard after it has been published. For example, if you added a product named ‘Denim Jacket’, you’ll see it listed in the all products section.
You can perform the Edit or Quick Edit option for the product.
Step 5: Add Products to Catalog
You need to organize your products in the catalogue. You can complete this process simply by selecting the Add New Catalogue option. Insert the catalogue title and description.
Click the add button below. A pop-up will appear. You need to select your desired items for this catalogue. This will allow you to choose individual products or entire product categories.
Selecting a whole category instead of single items has some key benefits. Your catalogue will be automatically listed by category. Each section will have a clear label.
After adding a new product to the category, it will be directly updated in the catalogue. You don’t need to input it manually.
Once you have completed the product selection, you can save the catalogue. After that, you can display the catalogue anywhere on your site using a shortcode.
Step 6: Using Product Catalog Shortcode
You can insert the catalog on a certain page by implementing a shortcode. :
Use the following shortcodes: [product-catalog id=”X”] or [product-catalogue id=”X”]
Here, “X” indicates the number of the catalog. You will find the exact shortcode on the catalog page. First, copy the shortcode and click on the ‘+’ icon. Add the copied shortcode on the block.
Below, you can see the front-end view of the catalog using the shortcode.
Why You Should Look for WooCommerce Alternatives?
Undoubtedly, one of the most popular e-commerce plugins for WordPress is WooCommerce. But it’s not a perfect match for all websites and business models.
There are various reasons why you might consider other options. Let’s explore them
Complexity for Beginners
WooCommerce is packed with various features. So, it’ll be difficult to operate if you’re not a technical expert. Organizing and managing a fully functional online store through WooCommerce requires handling multiple settings, configurations, and add-ons.
These complications create a barrier for small business owners and beginners as they desire
Uncomplicated ways to add products to the WordPress site.
Rising Cost
At first, it seems like WooCommerce is a free solution. However, when you start adding extensions, payment gateways, and premium features, the cost will rise quickly.
Solo entrepreneurs and startups want to operate on a fixed budget. They want to avoid these extra expenses.
Speed Issues
WooCommerce is resource-intensive. Without proper hosting optimization and configuration, you may get slower load times. This directly affects the user experience and increases the bounce rate. Ultimately, your SEO performance will not be fruitful.
If you want to focus on simplicity and speed, choosing lighter alternatives could be a wise approach.
Custom Use Cases
Every business has some specific needs. WooCommerce may not fulfill the specific features. It may demand comprehensive customization to meet the requirements.
Some alternatives can provide built-in functionality that aligns perfectly with certain business needs.
Maintenance
Operating WooCommerce means you need to keep up with regular updates. This can vary for the extensions, plugins, themes, and WordPress itself.
Ongoing attention is crucial to ensure everything is compatible and secure. But not all site owners have the time or expertise to follow up on these. If you prefer the “set-it-and-forget-it” option, WooCommerce is not the ideal choice.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What’s the difference between WordPress and WooCommerce
WordPress is a Content Management System (CMS). WooCommerce is an e-commerce plugin that works seamlessly with WordPress.
Can I Sell Products on WordPress Without WooCommerce?
Yes, you can use different useful plugins to sell products on your WordPress Site. For that. You don’t need to use WooCommerce.
What are the cons of WooCommerce?
WooCommerce has rising costs, scalability limitations, and it needs a time investment. Also, it has self-hosting requirements.
Final Thoughts
WooCommerce is helpful. But it’s not the only method to create a stunning and functional product display in WordPress. Sometimes, you may need to use a lightweight and simple process.
There are plenty of alternatives available. And the best part? You don’t need any developer or complicated setup to organise your WordPress site.
So, if you have a small store, offering services, or want a clean product listing site, you can avoid WooCommerce.
Start with a lightweight plugin and keep on going!
Good Read: Ecommerce Marketing Strategies
