How to Modify WooCommerce Checkout Fields to Improve Revenue

Header image for WooCommerce checkout

Last updated - February 8, 2021

The Checkout page is one of the most important pages of an eCommerce store. It is where a user turns into a customer. The features of this page determines the scope and success of a store in many ways. The different fields available on the checkout page and their relative position determines how effective the checkout page is. Though there is general consensus on how a checkout page should be, you can always look for customizations based on the interest of your customers. This article will look into some of the ways you can modify the WooCommerce checkout page by editing and rearranging fields. It should help you enhance conversions and subsequently, revenue on your store.

Use a plugin to edit the checkout fields

One of the easiest ways to modify the checkout fields is by using a plugin. Here, we will introduce you to some of the best plugins that would help you edit checkout fields

WooCommerce One Page Checkout

A simple and focused checkout is one of the primary requirements for a clean WooCommerce checkout. You can try out this extension if you are looking for a way to reduce the hassles of cart abandonment and checkout complaints. Basically, this extension helps you display the list of products and the checkout form on the same page. This will help your customers to make an order in a more simplified way.

WooCommerce one page checkout provides great options to create a checkout flow in a single page.

Furthermore, this extension offers you the option to apply this feature on products selectively. For example, you can display use the option of one page checkout only for a single popular product. On the other hand, if you want to apply the feature to all your products, that is also possible quite easily.

With the help of shortcodes, you can insert sales copy for multiple landing pages on any post or page. The extension also provides built-in templates for pricing table or list of products. And, you will find an option to create custom templates according to the requirements of your store.

Checkout Field Editor

With the help of this extension, you can add, remove or edit Checkout fields on your WooCommerce checkout page. Several types of checkout fields such as select boxes, checkboxes, datepickers, etc., are available. You can choose to add fields according to the requirement on your store.

image for WooCommerce Checkout field editor
This extension helps to add, edit and remove fields on your checkout page.

The installation procedure of this extension is quite simple and straightforward. After payment, you can download the zip file for the extension. Install and Activate this file to start using the extension.

Once, you are on the extension settings page, you will find three sections on your WooCommerce checkout page, where you can modify the fields. These are billing information, shipping information and an additional location next to order notes. You will see the available fields in each section, which you can place differently or remove. Though it is not advisable to remove core WooCommerce fields, it is still possible with this plugin. You can add additional checkout fields using the Add fields button, as per your requirement.

Field types

The Checkout field editor extension offers several field types that you can insert on your WooCommerce Checkout page. These include:

  • standard text field where you can input text.
  • password text, where you can allow users to input a password.
  • text area field, where users can input a detailed comment or instruction.
  • dropdown/select box, where users can select from a set of options.
  • multi-select box, where users can choose multiple selections from a set of options.
  • radio button, to choose one from a set of options.
  • checkbox field, where users can check the desired choice
  • date picker to choose a date.
  • heading field to help you group separating fields.

You can purchase the single site subscription of the extension for $49. 5-site subscription is $79, and 25-site is $149.

Download the extension here.

Checkout Field Editor (Manager) Pro

If you are looking for a free option to modify WooCommerce checkout fields, this is a great option you can try out. This plugin too helps you add, edit, remove or move existing WooCommerce checkout fields. With this free plugin, you can add checkout fields on the billing and shipping information sections, as well as an additional section. Similarly, you can edit core and custom checkout fields, where you can provide new values for name, label, etc.

image of ThemeHigh WooCommerce checkout field editor
If you are looking for a free option to add or edit checkout fields on your WooCommerce store, this one is probably a good option to try out

You also have the option to display specific checkout fields on the order details page and emails. It also offers an option to remove fields temporarily or permanently according to requirements. Another handy feature is the ability to shift the position of checkout fields according to your liking. You can always test the position of the fields this way to understand customer preference better.

One limitation of this free plugin is that only two field types are available, which are text input and select box. However, you can try the premium version to get more input field types and other features.

 

WooCommerce Checkout Best Practices

As the checkout page is one of the last hurdles a customer faces in the sales funnel, you need to be extremely careful. Any hiccups on this page can quickly result in you losing a potential customer. So here are a few best practices recommended by experts that you can follow:

Avoid hidden costs

One of the major reasons for cart abandonment is unexpected costs suddenly appearing on the checkout page. You need to inform your customers about tax or shipping costs well in advance, so that they are not frustrated on the Checkout page. Ideally, a customer should be aware of the entire costs upfront, so that they should not be reassessing their decision.

Take payment information last

The collection of payment information should be the last thing in a checkout flow. So, after entering the payment information, like credit card details, a customer should be able to place an order instantly. On the checkout page, it is better to ask the customer to fill in address and other details before they get into the payment information part. The fact that they have invested time and effort before entering payment information would keep them committed to the purchase.

Allow customers to save wishlists

Wishlists are a great way to ensure conversions on your store. There are several scenarios where the customer reaches till the checkout page and is unable to make a purchase decision. If there is an option to save the product for later, there are chances for them to come back. WooCommerce wishlist plugins can be quite handy in setting up wishlist option on your store. Another aspect to consider is how often mobile users would want to save a product for later. Those who are not comfortable to complete a purchase on their mobile might come back later for further research or purchase. Such users would find it quite helpful to save the product from their mobile device.

Provide an option for guest checkout

Another possible distraction that stand in the way of a conversion is the forced sign in option that many websites feature. Of course users signing in is a very important factor for all eCommerce stores. However, there are several customers who don’t prefer the hassles of entering their personal information just before a purchase. One way to deal with this is to offer an option for guest checkout. Many sites offer both options in the Checkout page. If you can’t decide, you can always test different options to find  out what is preferred by your customers.

Explain why you are asking for personal information

If you are collecting personal information of customers on the checkout page, it is a good idea to explain why you need them. This would in fact create a sense of transparency, so that customers would feel comfortable with your brand. You can keep an explanation similar to a tool tip.

Keep the checkout simple

Your checkout page offers a great opportunity for cross sells and up sells. However, it is very important to keep the checkout simple with minimal distractions. Your customers should be able to keep their focus on the main aspect – complete the purchase. Even if you are attempting to cross sell on the checkout page, it should be done without affecting the checkout flow.

Conclusion

Checkout is one of the most important levels of the online shopping process. As it is the final stage of the sales funnel, the impact of the slightest mistake will be huge. If you look at the built-in WooCommerce checkout options, you will see it is quite good. However, each online store is different, and you need unique strategies to find the elusive success. This article has listed out some of the best ways to modify the checkout fields to suit the specific nature of your store. We have only described the options with the help of plugins, though there are several code level customizations available. You have also seen a few of the best practices recommended by eCommerce experts to set up the best checkout flow.

Further reading

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