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How to Add Breadcrumbs in WooCommerce (Beginner’s Guide)

As a WordPress and WooCommerce expert with over 15 years of experience, I’ve seen firsthand how important breadcrumbs are for improving user experience and search engine optimization (SEO). They’re like the little trail of crumbs Hansel and Gretel left behind – guiding visitors through your website and helping them find their way back.

In this comprehensive beginner’s guide, we’ll dive into everything you need to know about adding breadcrumbs to your WooCommerce store. I’ll break down the process step-by-step, making it easy for anyone to follow, even if you’re a complete newbie to WordPress.

Not only will you learn how to implement breadcrumbs, but I’ll also share expert tips and tricks to help you create a truly engaging user experience that keeps visitors browsing and coming back for more.

Why Add Breadcrumbs in WooCommerce?

Think about navigating a large department store. You might wander around, losing track of where you started and how to get back to the main aisle. The same can happen on a complex online store. That’s where breadcrumbs come in!

Breadcrumbs are those small navigation links that show the path you’ve taken on a website. They act like helpful signposts, guiding shoppers through your WooCommerce store.

Here’s why you should add breadcrumbs to your WooCommerce store:

1. Enhanced User Navigation

Breadcrumbs make it easier for customers to navigate your online store and find the products they’re looking for. They can easily click on product attributes or categories to view related items, creating a smoother browsing experience.

2. Improved SEO

Search engines like Google use breadcrumbs to understand the hierarchy and link structure of your e-commerce store. They even display breadcrumbs in search results, which can increase your click-through rate.

3. Increased User Engagement

By providing a clear navigation path, breadcrumbs help visitors feel more confident and in control. This can lead to longer session durations, more page views, and ultimately, higher conversion rates.

Two Ways to Add Breadcrumbs in WooCommerce

Now let’s get down to the nitty-gritty and explore two popular methods to add breadcrumbs to your WooCommerce store. The first method is my recommendation for most users due to its simplicity and powerful features.

Method 1: Add Breadcrumbs in WooCommerce Using AIOSEO (Recommended)

For me, All in One SEO (AIOSEO) is the top SEO plugin for WordPress, and it makes adding breadcrumbs to WooCommerce a breeze. With just a few clicks, you can enable breadcrumbs and optimize your store for search engines without needing any coding expertise.

We’ll be using the AIOSEO Pro version for this tutorial because it includes breadcrumb templates and offers more customization options. While there’s a free version, AIOSEO Pro provides the best experience for optimizing your WooCommerce store.

Step 1: Install and Activate AIOSEO

First, you’ll need to install and activate the AIOSEO plugin on your website. If you need help with this, check out our guide on how to install a WordPress plugin.

Step 2: Enter Your License Key

After activation, go to **All in One SEO > General Settings** and enter your license key. You can find this key in your AIOSEO account area.

Step 3: Set Up AIOSEO for WooCommerce

Next, you’ll need to set up AIOSEO for your WooCommerce store using its setup wizard. For assistance, follow our guide on how to set up All in One SEO for WordPress.

Step 4: Enable Breadcrumbs

Once the plugin is set up correctly, navigate to **All in One SEO > General Settings** and click the **Breadcrumbs** tab.

Now, simply enable the “**Enable Breadcrumbs**” option. AIOSEO will automatically add the breadcrumb schema markup to your WooCommerce store’s code.

Step 5: Choose Your Breadcrumb Display Method

Scroll down to see the different ways you can display breadcrumbs on your online store. You can:

Add them to any page or post manually using a shortcode or block.
Add them to a widget area.
Use PHP code to add them to your theme’s template files (for advanced users).

Step 6: Customize Your Breadcrumbs

In the **Breadcrumb Settings** section, you’ll find a wealth of options for customizing your breadcrumbs. Here are some key settings:

Separator: Change the symbol used to separate your breadcrumb links (e.g., ” > “, ” / “).
Home Link: Enable the home page link.
Prefix: Add a prefix to your breadcrumbs (e.g., “You are here:”).
Format: Adjust the format and appearance of your breadcrumb links.

AIOSEO Pro also gives you access to breadcrumb templates. These templates let you create professional-looking breadcrumbs for different types of content, taxonomies, and archives.

Step 7: Add Breadcrumbs to Your WooCommerce Products

AIOSEO provides four methods for adding breadcrumbs to your WooCommerce products. The easiest approach is to use a shortcode.

Add the following shortcode wherever you want to display breadcrumbs:

“`html

“`

Simply go to **Products > All Products** and edit a product page. Then, paste the shortcode into the “Text” view of the WordPress editor and update your page.

You can now visit your product page to see how the breadcrumbs are linked.

Here’s how it would look on our test website:

[Image of breadcrumbs on product page]

Step 8: Add Breadcrumbs to Your WooCommerce Sidebar (Optional)

You can also add breadcrumbs to the sidebar of your WooCommerce store. This way, you won’t need to edit every individual product page, as they’ll appear site-wide in the sidebar.

To display breadcrumbs in the sidebar, go to **Appearance > Widgets** from your WordPress admin area. Click the plus icon in the top left corner and search for “breadcrumbs” to find the “AIOSEO – Breadcrumbs” widget. Drag and drop it into your sidebar. You can also enter a title for your breadcrumbs.

After that, click the “Save” button.

Now simply view your WooCommerce store to see the breadcrumbs in the sidebar.

Step 9: Customize Breadcrumbs for Products with Multiple Categories

If you have products in your WooCommerce store that belong to multiple categories, setting up breadcrumbs correctly can be tricky because WordPress doesn’t track the exact path a customer took to reach the product page. However, AIOSEO automatically adds the first category in the breadcrumbs, making it easy to display the correct navigation menu for products with multiple categories.

The plugin also offers a breadcrumb template that you can customize for WordPress taxonomies like product categories. Just go to **All in One SEO > General Settings** and select the ‘Breadcrumbs’ tab.

Scroll down to the “Breadcrumb Templates” section and select the Taxonomies tab. By default, the plugin will show the parent item/post link in your WooCommerce store’s breadcrumbs.

If you disable the “Use a Default Template” option, you’ll see that the “Show Parent Item/Post Link” option is enabled. This allows you to easily display the primary category for any product on your website.

For example, let’s say you have an online shoe store and one of your products belongs to both the “Sneakers” and “Running Shoes” categories.

AIOSEO will automatically select the first category, “Sneakers,” and display it in the breadcrumb navigation menu.

Method 2: Add Breadcrumbs Using WooCommerce Breadcrumbs Plugin

Another way to enable breadcrumbs in WooCommerce is by using the WooCommerce Breadcrumbs plugin. This free WordPress plugin lets you add breadcrumbs to your online store.

While it’s easy to use, it lacks the customization features you’ll find in AIOSEO.

Step 1: Install and Activate WooCommerce Breadcrumbs

You’ll need to install and activate the WooCommerce Breadcrumbs plugin. For detailed instructions, check out our tutorial on how to install a WordPress plugin.

Step 2: Enable Breadcrumbs

Once the plugin is activated, go to **Settings > WC Breadcrumbs** from your WordPress admin area. Then, check the “Enable breadcrumbs” checkbox.

Step 3: Customize Breadcrumb Appearance

You can customize the appearance of the breadcrumbs that will appear on your WooCommerce store.

The WooCommerce Breadcrumbs plugin lets you choose the breadcrumb separator symbol and the HTML tags before and after your breadcrumbs.

Scrolling down, you’ll find more customization options. For instance, you can change the text and URL of your home page that will appear in the breadcrumbs.

Step 4: Save Changes

Once you’ve made your changes, be sure to click the “Save Changes” button at the bottom.

Expert Guides on WordPress and WooCommerce Navigation

I hope this article has helped you learn how to add breadcrumbs to your WooCommerce store. You might also want to check out these other guides related to navigation in WordPress and WooCommerce:

Conclusion

Adding breadcrumbs to your WooCommerce store is a simple yet powerful way to improve user experience, boost SEO, and increase engagement.

Whether you choose the AIOSEO or WooCommerce Breadcrumbs plugin, you’re well on your way to creating a more user-friendly and search-engine-friendly online store.

If you’re interested in learning more about tech news, feel free to visit my website: www.naveedahmed.me.

FAQs

What are breadcrumbs?

Breadcrumbs are a type of navigation element that shows the path a user has taken on a website. They appear as a series of links, typically at the top of a page, that lead back to the homepage or other relevant sections of the site.

Why are breadcrumbs important for SEO?

Breadcrumbs help search engines understand the structure and hierarchy of your website, which can improve your site’s ranking in search results. They also provide users with a clear path back to the homepage or other important pages, which can improve your site’s overall usability and engagement.

How do I add breadcrumbs to my WooCommerce store?

You can add breadcrumbs to your WooCommerce store using a plugin like All in One SEO (AIOSEO) or WooCommerce Breadcrumbs. Both plugins offer a simple way to enable breadcrumbs and customize their appearance.

Do breadcrumbs work for all types of pages?

Yes, breadcrumbs can be used on all types of pages, including product pages, category pages, and blog posts. They’re particularly useful for large or complex websites with multiple levels of navigation.

Can I customize the appearance of breadcrumbs?

Yes, most breadcrumb plugins allow you to customize the appearance of your breadcrumbs, including the separator symbol, the text used for each link, and the overall style.

How do I add breadcrumbs to my WooCommerce sidebar?

You can add breadcrumbs to your WooCommerce sidebar using a widget provided by your chosen breadcrumb plugin (like AIOSEO). Simply drag and drop the widget into your sidebar area and configure it to display breadcrumbs.

What if my product belongs to multiple categories?

Plugins like AIOSEO will automatically choose the first category for products with multiple categories. You can also customize the breadcrumb template to display specific categories or use a different approach for multi-category products.

Are breadcrumbs a requirement for search engine optimization?

While breadcrumbs are not a requirement for SEO, they are a valuable tool for improving your website’s usability and search engine visibility. Google recommends using breadcrumbs for websites with complex navigation structures.

How can I make sure my breadcrumbs are accessible to all users?

Ensure your breadcrumbs are accessible by using clear and concise language, using appropriate HTML markup, and providing screen reader compatibility. It’s best to test your breadcrumbs using accessibility tools to ensure they meet accessibility standards.

Can I add custom breadcrumb links?

Some breadcrumb plugins offer the ability to add custom links to your breadcrumbs. This can be useful for promoting specific pages or categories or for providing additional navigation options.

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how to add breadcrumbs in woocommerce beginners guide