How to Fix Woocommerce Related Products Only Showing the Same Products on Reload
As an ecommerce store owner using Woocommerce, you want to provide your customers with a seamless shopping experience. One key aspect of this is ensuring that the related products section on your product pages is dynamic and showcases a varied selection of items. However, some Woocommerce users have reported an issue where the related products section only displays the same products, even after a page reload.
This problem can be frustrating for both store owners and customers, as it can limit product discovery and reduce the chances of additional sales. In this article, we'll delve into the root cause of this issue and provide a reliable solution to fix it.
Understanding the Problem
The Woocommerce related products feature is designed to display a list of products that are related to the one the customer is currently viewing. The algorithm used to determine which products are considered "related" takes into account various factors, such as product categories, tags, and attributes.
However, in some cases, the related products section may only display the same set of products, even when the page is reloaded. This can happen due to a limitation in the default Woocommerce related products functionality.
The root cause of this problem lies in the way Woocommerce retrieves the related products. By default, Woocommerce uses the $product->get_related()
function to fetch a predetermined number of related products, which is typically set to 4. This means that the same set of 4 related products will be displayed on every page load, leading to the repetitive product display.
The Solution: Increasing the Number of Related Products
To fix the issue of Woocommerce related products only showing the same products on reload, you can try increasing the number of related products retrieved by the $product->get_related()
function. This will ensure that a larger pool of related products is available, reducing the chances of the same items being repeatedly displayed.
Here's how you can do it:
- Open your theme's
functions.php
file or create a new plugin.
- Add the following code snippet to the file:
add_filter( 'woocommerce_product_related_posts_query', 'increase_related_products_count', 10, 1 );
function increase_related_products_count( $args ) {
$args['posts_per_page'] = 99; // Increase the number of related products
return $args;
}
In this code snippet, we're using the woocommerce_product_related_posts_query
filter to modify the arguments passed to the $product->get_related()
function. By setting the posts_per_page
parameter to 99
, we're instructing Woocommerce to fetch up to 99 related products, instead of the default 4.
- Save the changes to your
functions.php
file or plugin.
By implementing this solution, you should see an improvement in the related products section on your Woocommerce product pages. Instead of repeatedly displaying the same 4 products, your customers will now be presented with a more diverse selection of related items.
Potential Drawbacks and Considerations
While increasing the number of related products can effectively solve the issue of repetitive product display, there are a few factors to consider:
-
Performance Impact: Fetching a larger number of related products may have a slight impact on the page load time, especially if your product catalog is extensive. Keep an eye on your website's performance and consider optimizing other aspects if necessary.
-
Relevance of Related Products: While a larger pool of related products can improve the variety, it's essential to ensure that the selected items are still highly relevant to the currently viewed product. You may need to experiment with different approaches to product relationships and related product algorithms to strike the right balance.
-
Caching Considerations: If you have caching enabled on your Woocommerce site, the related products section may still display the same items due to the cached results. Make sure to clear the cache or adjust your caching settings accordingly.
-
Customization Opportunities: Depending on your specific requirements, you may want to further customize the related products algorithm to better suit your store's needs. This could involve considering additional factors, such as product popularity, purchase history, or customer preferences.
By keeping these considerations in mind, you can effectively implement the solution and ensure that your Woocommerce related products section provides a dynamic and engaging experience for your customers.
Conclusion
The issue of Woocommerce related products only displaying the same products on reload can be a frustrating problem for ecommerce store owners. By understanding the root cause and implementing the solution of increasing the number of related products fetched, you can ensure that your customers are presented with a varied selection of relevant items every time they visit your product pages.
Remember to monitor the performance impact and continue to refine the related products algorithm to provide the best possible shopping experience for your customers. By addressing this issue, you can boost product discovery, increase cross-selling opportunities, and ultimately drive more sales for your Woocommerce-powered store.
For more insights on optimizing your Woocommerce store and improving user experience, be sure to check out Flowpoint.ai. Flowpoint's advanced analytics and AI-powered recommendations can help you identify and fix technical issues, enhance your website's design and content, and ultimately increase your conversion rates
Get a Free AI Website Audit
Automatically identify UX and content issues affecting your conversion rates with Flowpoint's comprehensive AI-driven website audit.