Related Products
Definition
Related products are suggestions shown on a product page to encourage customers to explore similar or complementary items.
They can be manually selected or automatically generated based on category, tags, or customer behavior.
Good or Bad?
Good when they genuinely match customer interest and increase cart value
Bad if they feel random, irrelevant, or confusing
Why does it matter?
Showing related products can increase average order value, improve user experience, and help shoppers discover more of your catalog.
It’s also a subtle way to cross-sell without being too aggressive.
Common Mistakes
- Showing unrelated or repetitive items
- Overloading the page with too many suggestions
- Not updating related items after changes in your catalog
- Relying only on WooCommerce’s default logic without customizing
How to Improve It?
- Use plugins that allow smart rules based on behavior, product type, or purchase history
- Test manual vs auto-related items to find what works better
- Limit the number of suggestions to keep it clean
- Place them strategically (for example: below product details, not before add-to-cart)
Recommended Plugin
Related Categories for WooCommerce
It is a plugin designed to enhance the related products feature in WooCommerce, giving store owners more control over how related products are displayed and managed.
It offers features beyond the basic WooCommerce functionality, allowing for customization and optimization of the related products section to boost sales and improve the customer experience.
Real-World Example
You sell cameras, and on the product page for a DSLR, you show related items like camera bags, tripods, and memory cards.
A customer clicks and adds a bag and card, increasing the total order value from $499 to $620.
Related Terms
- Cross-Sell
- Upsell
- Product Bundles
- Personalized Recommendations
FAQs
Does WooCommerce show related products by default?
Yes, but it uses product categories and tags, which might not always be accurate.
Can I manually choose related products?
Yes, with plugins like WPFactory’s Related Categories, you can set specific matches.
Do related products really increase sales?
Yes, when relevant, they often lead to higher average order values and more product discovery.
