Are you interested in swapping your WooCommerce store into a product catalog?
Enabling WooCommerce catalog mode can be a strategic move for businesses that want to display products without the “Add to Cart” option. Whether you’re running a wholesale store, collecting leads, or performing maintenance on your e-commerce site, catalog mode can help you achieve your goals seamlessly.
Instead of manually tweaking your store’s settings or writing custom code, using a plugin is the most efficient and reliable way to enable catalog mode. In this guide, we’ll explore the easiest way to enable WooCommerce catalog mode using the ELEX WooCommerce Catalog Mode, Wholesale & Role-Based Pricing Plugin. This plugin provides robust features, ensuring a smooth experience for store owners and customers alike.
Catalog Management – Overview
Catalogs are an effective way of showcasing products on a page while withholding the price. They contain depictions of products, along with their images, titles, and prices, and can be used to invite customers to individual sites and generate leads for eStores. Catalog management is the process of organizing and managing a catalog of products or services, which is a crucial part of e-commerce businesses. It involves creating and maintaining product descriptions, setting prices, and managing inventory levels.
Effective catalog management systems can help businesses boost sales or conversions and improve the customer experience by keeping track of their products or services, ensuring that pricing is up-to-date and accurate, and streamlining the ordering process. Catalog management tools are designed to store, retrieve, perform, and optimize the omnichannel maintenance of e-commerce product catalogs while structuring them according to a range of factors such as
- Product names,
- Descriptions,
- Prices,
- Suppliers,
- Hierarchy,
- SKUs,
- And all other product details.
What is WooCommerce Catalog Mode?
WooCommerce catalog mode is a feature that allows store owners to disable purchasing functionality while still displaying product listings. By implementing catalog mode, you can enhance customer engagement, streamline your business model, and optimize your WooCommerce store for specific needs.
The catalog mode is ideal for businesses that:
- Want to display products without immediate purchasing options?
- Sell wholesale and require customers to inquire about pricing before purchasing.
- Need to temporarily disable checkout during site maintenance or updates.
- Wish to use their store for lead generation rather than direct sales.
- Operate a request-for-quote model, allowing customers to contact them for customized pricing.
Benefits of Using WooCommerce Catalog Mode
- Enhanced Customer Engagement
Catalog mode encourages customers to contact the store for product details, leading to direct communication and potential conversions.
- Wholesale Pricing Control
If you cater to both retail and wholesale customers, you can use catalog mode to display products without revealing prices to guest users.
- Business Flexibility
Whether you operate a showroom, an inquiry-based business, or a lead generation site, catalog mode gives you complete control over how customers interact with your store.
- Temporary Store Maintenance
If your e-commerce store is undergoing updates or a transition, catalog mode allows you to showcase products without enabling purchases.
- Lead Generation and Quote Requests
By removing direct purchases and integrating a contact form, you can encourage potential buyers to inquire about your products, strengthening your sales funnel.
How to Enable WooCommerce Catalog Mode Using a Plugin
The ELEX WooCommerce Catalog Mode Plugin is a free version of WooCommerce that activates the catalog mode in your e-commerce store. Employing this plugin you can remove the Add to Cart button and also replace it with HTML Placeholder text, you can even customize the Add to Cart button by modifying it to custom text or call to action. Moreover, it can also exclude the Administrator from catalog mode.
Features Highlighted
- Hide “Add to Cart” Button
Removes the add to cart button or option for specific products, categories, or user roles. - Hide Prices Based on User Role
Display prices only for registered or logged-in users. - Custom Redirects
Redirect users to a contact form, external page, or inquiry form instead of a checkout page. - Role-Based Pricing
Set role-based pricing structures for wholesale, retail, and guest customers accordingly. - Disable Checkout Functionality
Completely remove the cart and checkout options to prevent direct purchases. - Enable Inquiry Forms
Replace the “Add to Cart” button with an inquiry or request-a-quote form.
Step-by-Step Guide to Set Up the Plugin
Step 1: Install & Activate the Plugin
- Purchase and download the ELEX WooCommerce Catalog Mode, Wholesale & Role-Based Pricing Plugin from ELEXtensions.
- Go to your WordPress dashboard and navigate to Plugins > Add New.
- Click Upload Plugin, select the downloaded ZIP file, and install it.
- Once installed, click Activate Plugin to enable it on your store.
Step 2: Configure Catalog Mode Settings
The customization of your WooCommerce catalog mode can be simplified implying a wide range of options provided by the ELEX WooCommerce Catalog Mode plugin. To optimize lead generation you have to follow these key settings:
- Remove Add to Cart
You can disable the “Add to Cart” button on all product pages to focus on product information instead.
- Replace Add to Cart
Create a custom message or call to action that guides users to the next desired action. For say, “Get a quote”.
- Redirecting
Using this setting, users who click the button on the shop page will be redirected to a specific URL, perhaps to a lead capture form. - Hide Product Prices
Hide your product prices entirely from your site if displaying them does not align with your goals.
- Exclude Admin Users
Using this option, you can uphold the “Add to Cart” functionality for administrator accounts while hiding it for the customers, assuring efficient internal management.
Click the “Save Changes” link at the bottom of the page once you have precisely selected your desired settings. When you click this, your selected catalog mode configuration will be activated.
Step 3: Apply Role-Based Pricing (Optional)
- Go to the Role-Based Pricing section within the plugin settings.
- Define specific price structures for different customer groups (e.g., wholesale, retail, members).
- Save your settings and apply them across your WooCommerce store.
Step 4: Test and Verify the process
- After configuring the settings, click Save Changes.
- Visit your store as a guest user to confirm that catalog mode is active and working as expected.
Last Shot
Enabling catalog mode in WooCommerce is a strategic way to control purchasing functionality while still showcasing products. By using a powerful and feature-rich plugin like ELEX WooCommerce Catalog Mode, Wholesale & Role-Based Pricing, you can easily set up and manage catalog mode without any coding knowledge.
With features like role-based pricing, inquiry forms, and hidden prices, this plugin provides ultimate flexibility for store owners looking to optimize their sales strategy. Whether you’re running a wholesale business, transitioning your store, or focusing on lead generation, this plugin simplifies the process and enhances user experience.
FAQ’S
- Can I enable catalog mode for specific products only?
Yes, the ELEX WooCommerce Catalog Mode plugin allows you to enable catalog mode for selected products or categories. - Will enabling catalog mode affect my SEO rankings?
No, as long as your product pages remain indexed and contain valuable content, enabling catalog mode will not negatively impact SEO. - Can I hide prices for unregistered users?
Yes, the plugin allows role-based price visibility, so you can hide prices for guests or display them only to registered users. - Can I still receive inquiries for my products?
Absolutely! The plugin provides an option to replace the “Add to Cart” button with an inquiry form, allowing customers to contact you. - Do I need coding knowledge to enable catalog mode?
No, the plugin is user-friendly and requires no coding skills to enable catalog mode in WooCommerce.
