How to Manage and Update Product Listings on WooCommerce: A Step-by-Step Guide

Your online store from Frogg Designs was built using WooCommerce, it’s important to know how to manage and update your product listings. This guide will walk you through the process of adding, editing, or removing products, as well as managing stock levels and adjusting prices. Whether you’re adding new items or updating existing ones, this guide will help you efficiently maintain your WooCommerce store.

Step 1: Log In to Your WordPress Dashboard

1. Go to your website’s login page: Visit www.yourwebsite.co.za/wp-login.
2. Enter your username and password.
3. Click Log In to access your WordPress dashboard.

Step 2: Access the WooCommerce Products Section

1. In the left-hand menu, hover over WooCommerce.
2. Click on Products from the dropdown menu.
   • Here, you’ll see a list of all the products currently in your store.

Step 3: Add a New Product

If you want to add a new product to your WooCommerce store, follow these steps:

1. Click on Add New:

   • At the top of the Products page, click on the Add New button.

2. Enter Product Details:

   • Product Name: Enter the name of the product at the top of the page.
   • Description: In the large text box, enter the detailed product description. This is where you can include key features, benefits, or specifications.

3. Choose the Product Type:

   • Below the description, you’ll see the Product Data section. Here, you can select the type of product:
     • Simple Product: A single product without variations.
     • Variable Product: A product with variations (e.g., sizes, colors).
     • Grouped Product: A collection of related products sold together.
     • External/Affiliate Product: A product that links to another website for purchase.

4. Set the Product Price:

   • In the General tab of the Product Data section, you can set the Regular Price and Sale Price (if applicable).
   • Enter the price of the product in the appropriate fields.

5. Manage Inventory (Stock Levels):

   • Click on the Inventory tab.
   • Check the Manage stock? box to track product inventory.
   • Set the Stock Quantity to the number of units available.
   • You can also set the Stock Status to In Stock or Out of Stock.

6. Add Product Images:

   • Scroll down to the Product Image section on the right-hand side.
   • Click Set Product Image to upload the main image of your product.
   • You can also add additional images by clicking Add Product Gallery Images.

7. Add Product Categories:

   • In the right-hand sidebar, under Product Categories, select the relevant category for your product or create a new category.

8. Publish Your Product:

   • Once you’ve filled in all the necessary details, click the Publish button on the right to make the product live on your store.

Step 4: Edit an Existing Product

If you need to update or edit an existing product, follow these steps:

1. Locate the Product:

   • In the Products section, find the product you want to edit.
   • You can use the search bar to quickly locate it by name or SKU.

2. Click on the Product Name:

   • Clicking the product name will take you to the product editing screen.

3. Edit Product Details:

   • Make the necessary changes to the product name, description, price, or any other information.
   • To adjust the price, go to the General tab under Product Data and update the Regular Price or Sale Price.
   • To modify stock levels, go to the Inventory tab and adjust the Stock Quantity or change the Stock Status.

4. Update Product Images:

   • If you want to change the product image, scroll down to the Product Image section.
   • Click Remove Product Image and upload a new image by clicking Set Product Image.

5. Save Changes:

   • Once you’ve made your changes, click Update on the right to save them. The changes will reflect immediately on your live store.

Step 5: Remove or Delete a Product

If a product is no longer available or you want to remove it from your store:

1. Find the Product:

   • Go to the Products section and locate the product you want to remove.

2. Hover Over the Product:

   • When you hover over the product name, a few action links will appear.

3. Move the Product to Trash:

   • Click on the Trash link to remove the product from your store.
   • The product will be moved to the Trash but can still be restored if needed.

4. Permanently Delete the Product:

   • To permanently delete the product, go to the Trash tab in the Products section and click Delete Permanently on the product you want to remove for good.

Step 6: Manage Stock Levels

WooCommerce allows you to keep track of your product inventory and avoid overselling.

1. Enable Stock Management:

   • For each product, go to the Inventory tab under Product Data.
   • Check the Manage stock? option.
   • Set the Stock Quantity to the current number of items in stock.

2. Low Stock Notifications:

   • You can set up low stock notifications in WooCommerce settings.
   • Go to WooCommerce > Settings > Products > Inventory and set a threshold for Low stock and Out of stock notifications.
   • This ensures you are notified when stock levels are low, allowing you to reorder products.

Step 7: Adjusting Pricing and Sales

To adjust the price of a product or apply a sale:

1. Find the Product:

   • Go to the Products section and select the product you want to edit.

2. Edit the Pricing:

   • In the General tab under Product Data, you’ll find two fields:
     • Regular Price: The standard price of the product.
     • Sale Price: If you want to offer a discount, enter the sale price here.
   • You can also set a Schedule for the sale by clicking on the Schedule link next to the Sale Price field. This allows you to set specific start and end dates for the sale.

3. Update the Product:

   • After making pricing changes, click Update to save them.

Step 8: Bulk Edit Products (Optional)

If you need to make changes to multiple products at once:

1. Select Products:

   • In the Products section, check the box next to each product you want to edit.
   • Alternatively, you can check the box at the top to select all products.

2. Choose Bulk Actions:

   • From the Bulk Actions dropdown, select Edit and click Apply.

3. Make Bulk Changes:

   • You can now update fields like price, stock status, or categories for all selected products at once.

4. Save Changes:

   • After editing, click Update to apply the changes to all selected products.

Step 9: Managing Product Variations (for Variable Products)

If your products come in different sizes, colors, or options, you’ll need to manage product variations.

1. Choose a Variable Product:

   • In the Products section, click on a Variable Product or create a new one by selecting Variable Product in the Product Data section.

2. Add Variations:

   • Go to the Variations tab.
   • Click Add Variation and choose options for each variation (e.g., size, colour).

3. Set Stock and Prices for Each Variation:

   • For each variation, you can set individual stock levels and prices.
   • Scroll down to manage these settings for each option.

4. Save Changes:

   • Click Update to apply the changes to the product.

By following this guide, you’ll be able to effectively manage and update your product listings on your WooCommerce site, ensuring your inventory, pricing, and product details are always up to date. Keeping your online store well-maintained helps provide a better experience for customers and ensures smoother operations for your business.