Hidden Products
Definition
Hidden products in WooCommerce are items that exist in the store but are not visible to all users or in all locations like the shop page, search results, or category listings.
They can still be accessed directly by URL or shown conditionally based on user roles, product status, or other criteria.
Good or Bad?
Good when used for private sales, exclusive offers, or limited releases
Bad when customers accidentally land on hidden pages or when hiding is done without strategy
Why It Matters?
There are many business cases where hiding products is useful. You might want to:
- Offer exclusive items to logged-in users
- Create product pages for affiliate partners
- Hide discontinued products that are still being sold privately
- Launch a product to a test group before a public release
It helps control visibility and user experience.
Common Mistakes
- Hiding products without linking to them elsewhere
- Forgetting they are hidden and wondering why they are not selling
- Not testing how they behave in mobile search or filters
- Making them public again without changing URLs or categories
How to Improve It?
- Use a plugin to manage product visibility based on rules
- Label hidden products clearly in the backend for team members
- Combine hidden products with private marketing pages
- Always test who can access the product and from where
Real-World Example
A WooCommerce store runs a loyalty program. Customers who reach a certain spending threshold receive a link to hidden products like limited-edition items or discounted bundles. These products are not listed publicly and are only accessible through the private link shared by email.
Related Terms
- Product Visibility
- User Role Access
- Private Products
- WooCommerce Catalog Mode
FAQs
What are hidden products in WooCommerce?
These are products that are not visible in the main shop or category pages but still exist and can be accessed directly or conditionally
Can I hide products from guests but show them to logged-in users?
Yes. You can use plugins or shortcodes to set this rule
Will hidden products affect SEO or indexing?
If the product is still indexed by Google and linked somewhere public, it may still appear. Use proper noindex tags if necessary
Can I sell a product that is hidden?
Yes. As long as the user has the link or meets the conditions to see it, they can purchase it normally
