How to Guide

November 18, 2025 | Sinith Markalande |

https://training.wdsgallery.com/topic-category/woocommerce/introduction-to-woocommerce

https://training.wdsgallery.com/topic-category/woocommerce/products-store-management

Types of Products You Sell

In WooCommerce, products are flexible — here are the most common types, so customers know what to expect:

  • Simple Products — Basic items (physical goods or services) that don’t have variations. WooCommerce
  • Variable Products — Items with options (e.g., size, color). Each variation can have its own price, stock, and SKU.
  • Grouped Products — A set of related simple products sold together (but customers can choose which items in the group to add to the cart). WooCommerce
  • Virtual Products — Products that don’t require shipping (e.g., a service). WooCommerce
  • Downloadable Products — Digital goods like ebooks, PDFs, or software. After purchase, customers receive a download link. WooCommerce
  • External/Affiliate Products — Products listed in your store but sold on another site. When customers click “Buy,” they’re redirected to the external site. WooCommerce

2. How Products Are Organized

To help customers find what they’re looking for, products are organized through:

  • Categories — Think of these as broad buckets (e.g. “Apparel,” “Electronics”). They make browsing easier.
  • Tags — Like keywords for specific details (e.g., “running,” “waterproof”). They help with search and filtering.
  • Attributes — Characteristics of products (e.g., “Size,” “Color”) that can be used to create product variations.

3. How to Browse & Use Products

Here’s a customer’s step-by-step guide to using your store:

  1. Browse or Search
    • Use the main Shop or Catalog page to browse by category or tag.
    • Or use the search bar to type in what you’re looking for (e.g., “blue jacket” or “USB charger”).
  2. Use Filters (If Available)
    • Use filters on category/archive pages to narrow your results by price, attribute (like color), or product type.
  3. View a Product
    • Click a product title or image to open its product detail page.
    • On this page you’ll see:
      • Product name
      • Full description and key features
      • Price
      • If it’s a variable product, you may see drop-downs for size, color, etc.
      • Product images (and maybe a gallery)
      • “Add to Cart” button
  4. Check Stock & Availability
    • Products that are out of stock should be clearly labeled (depending on how the store is configured).
    • If you select a variation (e.g., “Red, XL”), it should tell you whether that variation is available.
  5. Add to Cart
    • Select your desired options (if any), then click “Add to Cart.”
    • You can continue shopping or go view your cart.
  6. Review Cart
    • Go to the Cart page to review what you’ve selected.
    • You can adjust quantities or remove items.
    • You may be shown estimated shipping or tax (if the store is set up that way).
  7. Checkout
    • When you’re ready, click Checkout.
    • Provide your shipping details (if it’s a physical product) or billing information.
    • Select a payment method and complete your purchase.
  8. Download (If Applicable)
    • For downloadable products, after placing your order, you’ll be given a link to download the file(s), or you’ll find them in your account area.

4. Managing Your Customer Account

  • When you make a purchase, you can (depending on store settings) create an account.
  • Via your account, you can:
    • View past orders
    • Access downloadable files (for digital products)
    • Update your address and other details

5. Why Product Types Matter to You as a Customer

  • Knowing the product type helps set expectations:
    • Variable products: selecting the right variation is important → different colors or sizes might cost more or have different availability.
    • Downloadables: you don’t need shipping — you’ll get a file.
    • External products: you might be redirected to another site to buy.

6. How the Store Manages Its Products (Customer Transparency)

While customers don’t need to manage the store, it may help them to understand a few things behind the scenes (this can build trust):

  • Inventory: The store keeps track of how many items are in stock; when something sells out, it may no longer be purchasable.
  • Variations: When a store offers different sizes/colors, they’re carefully tracked (each variation can have its own inventory).
  • Product Updates: Prices, availability, and attributes can change over time — the store may update items as needed.
  • Sales & Discounts: Sometimes the store runs promotions (sale prices), and customers will see special pricing during those times.

7. Tips for Customers

Contact Support: If something is out of stock or you’re unsure about a product variant, reach out — most stores want to help.

Use Clear Search Terms: Try using filters or categories instead of generic terms — makes finding things faster.

Double Check Options: If there are sizes or styles, make sure you pick the correct variation before adding to cart.

Save for Later: Use the cart or wishlist (if available) to come back to products later.

Create an Account: That way, you can track orders, re-download files, and manage your information.

Table of Contents
    Add a header to begin generating the table of contents