This Is How to Configure WooCommerce Bookings for Purchasing a Preset Number of Sessions/Hours
Running an online business that offers services or classes can be a challenge when it comes to managing bookings and appointments. One popular solution is to use the WooCommerce Bookings plugin, which allows you to set up a seamless booking system right within your WooCommerce-powered website.
However, configuring WooCommerce Bookings to allow customers to purchase a preset number of sessions or hours is not as straightforward as it may seem. Many store owners struggle to get this set up correctly, leading to issues like customers being able to book individual sessions instead of purchasing a package, or not being able to manage the number of sessions used.
In this article, we'll dive deep into the step-by-step process of configuring WooCommerce Bookings to let customers buy a preset number of sessions or hours. We'll also address some common problems you might encounter and how to resolve them.
Understanding the WooCommerce Bookings Product Type
Before we get started, it's important to understand the different product types available in WooCommerce Bookings. There are three main options:
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Simple Booking Product: This allows customers to book a single session or appointment. This is best suited for one-off services or classes.
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Variable Booking Product: This lets you offer multiple options for the same service, such as different durations, locations, or pricing tiers. Customers can then select the specific option they want to book.
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Package Booking Product: This is the product type you'll want to use if you're selling a preset number of sessions or hours. Customers can purchase a "package" that includes a certain number of bookable units.
For the purpose of this guide, we'll be focusing on setting up a Package Booking Product.
Step 1: Create a New Booking Product
Log in to your WordPress admin dashboard and navigate to Products > Add New. Give your new product a title that represents the package you're selling, such as "10 Session Package" or "30-Hour Coaching Package".
Under the Product Data section, select "Booking" as the Product Type.
Step 2: Configure the Booking Product Settings
Now that you've created your Booking product, it's time to configure the settings. Here's a breakdown of the key settings you'll need to adjust:
Booking Settings
- Require Registration: If you want customers to create an account before booking, enable this option.
- Allow Customers to Cancel Bookings: Decide whether you want to allow customers to cancel their bookings, and if so, how far in advance they can do so.
- Availability Rules: Set the days and times your business is available for bookings.
Pricing and Scheduling
- Duration: Set the duration of each individual booking session (e.g., 1 hour, 90 minutes, etc.).
- Minimum and Maximum Booking Days: Determine the minimum and maximum number of days in advance a customer can book.
- Cost: Set the price for each individual booking session.
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Package Settings
This is where you'll configure the preset number of sessions or hours that customers can purchase.
- Package Type: Select "Persons" if the package is based on the number of people, or "Nights/Days" if it's based on the duration.
- Package Size: Enter the number of sessions or hours included in the package.
- Package Cost: Set the total price for the entire package.
Once you've configured all the settings, click the "Publish" button to make your Booking product live.
Step 3: Test the Booking Product
Before promoting your new Booking product, it's crucial to test it thoroughly to ensure it's working as expected. Here are some things to check:
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Ensure Customers Can Purchase the Full Package: Try adding the Booking product to your cart and completing the checkout process. Verify that the customer is charged the correct package price and not the individual session/hour cost.
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Verify Booking Availability: Book a few sessions or hours and check that the available slots are updated correctly.
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Test Cancellation and Rescheduling: If you've enabled customer cancellations, try canceling a booking and ensure the available slots are updated.
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Check the Customer's Booking History: Log in as the customer and verify that their booking history accurately reflects the purchased package and the number of sessions/hours remaining.
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Inspect the Admin Order and Booking Details: As the site admin, review the order and booking details to ensure everything is being tracked correctly.
By thoroughly testing the Booking product, you can catch and fix any issues before your customers encounter them.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Even with a careful setup, you may still encounter some common problems when configuring WooCommerce Bookings for preset packages. Here are a few common issues and how to resolve them:
Customers Can Book Individual Sessions Instead of the Package
This is a common issue that occurs when the Booking product's "Package Size" setting is not configured correctly. Make sure the "Package Size" value matches the number of sessions or hours included in the package.
Additionally, ensure that the "Persons" or "Nights/Days" setting is configured appropriately for your product type.
Customers Can Book More Sessions/Hours Than the Package Includes
This can happen if the "Package Size" setting is not set correctly or if the "Availability Rules" are not properly configured.
Double-check the "Package Size" value and ensure that the "Availability Rules" are set to accurately reflect the number of sessions or hours available in the package.
Customers Can't See the Booking Package in Their Order History
If customers can't see the Booking package in their order history, it's likely because the "Package Type" setting is not configured correctly.
Make sure the "Package Type" is set to either "Persons" or "Nights/Days" depending on the nature of your product.
The Booking Package Doesn't Reflect the Correct Number of Sessions/Hours
This issue can arise if the "Package Size" setting is not accurate or if the "Cost" setting for individual sessions/hours is incorrect.
Review the "Package Size" and "Cost" settings to ensure they're configured properly. You may also need to adjust the "Package Cost" to reflect the correct total price for the package.
By addressing these common issues, you can ensure that your WooCommerce Booking product is set up correctly and provides a seamless experience for your customers.
Integrating WooCommerce Bookings with Flowpoint.ai
Once you've successfully configured your WooCommerce Booking product, you can take your website's performance to the next level by integrating it with Flowpoint.ai. Flowpoint is a powerful web analytics platform that uses AI to identify and fix technical issues, improve user experience, and boost conversion rates.
By integrating your WooCommerce Bookings setup with Flowpoint, you can:
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Analyze Booking Funnel Performance: Flowpoint's advanced funnel analytics will help you understand how customers are navigating the booking process, identify any drop-off points, and optimize the experience.
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Detect Technical Errors: Flowpoint's AI-powered tools will scan your website and booking system for any technical issues that could be impacting the booking process, such as slow loading times, JavaScript errors, or broken links.
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Generate Personalized Recommendations: Based on the insights gathered, Flowpoint will provide you with tailored recommendations to improve your WooCommerce Bookings setup, enhance the user experience, and ultimately drive more bookings and conversions.
By leveraging the power of Flowpoint.ai, you can take the guesswork out of optimizing your WooCommerce Bookings product and ensure your customers have a seamless, high-converting booking experience.