Create Custom Add to Cart URLs in WooCommerce (4 Steps)

Optimize the purchase process and reduce friction on your WooCommerce store using Add to Cart URLs. Learn how to create custom Add to Cart URLs in your WooCommerce store using the URL Coupons plugin.

Imagine you see an ad on social media, and when you click on it, you’re taken to a product URL. There, you add the product to your cart, go to checkout, and maybe even use a coupon code. It’s a bit of a hassle, right?

What if you could skip those extra steps and go straight to the checkout page with the product already added to the cart and the discount automatically applied?

Let’s dig in further!

To fully grasp the potential of WooCommerce Add to Cart URLs, it’s important to understand how they differ from the built-in WooCommerce add-to-cart buttons.

The default WooCommerce add to cart buttons work well for users browsing your website, allowing them to check product details before purchasing. However, these buttons don’t allow you to share product URLs through a link that takes them directly to the WooCommerce shopping cart or checkout page.

That’s where custom Add to Cart URLs come into play.

A WooCommerce custom Add to Cart link is a tailored URL that automatically adds specific products to a customer’s WooCommerce shopping cart when clicked. It’s a simple tool for promoting products, particularly in marketing emails or social media campaigns.

The first and major reason for adding the add to cart URLs automation in WooCommerce is that it saves a considerable amount of time. By providing a direct link to the WooCommerce shopping cart with products pre-added, you reduce the number of steps a customer needs to take to complete a purchase. This can increase conversion rates, especially for impulse buys.

Add to Cart URLs truly shine when integrated into marketing strategies. As the upcoming holiday season and major sales events like Black Friday and Cyber Monday approach, it becomes crucial to promote offers across various platforms like social media and industry blogs, etc.

WooCommerce Add to Cart URLs make it easier for customers to engage with these promotions and complete purchases quickly, thereby maximizing conversions during high-traffic periods.

To create Add to cart URLs in WooCommerce, we will be using the premium WooCommerce URL Coupons plugin from WebToffee.

The plugin enables you to:

• Create unique and shareable URLs and QR Code for individual WooCommerce coupons on your website.
• Add specific products to the cart when clicking on the URL.
• Redirect customers to specific pages on your website when they click on the coupon URL.

Follow the below steps to create WooCommerce Add to Cart URLs with auto-applied discounts:

Step 1: Install and Activate the WooCommerce URL Coupons Plugin

The WooCommerce URL Coupons plugin by WebToffee is a premium plugin, so you need an active license to use the plugin.

After purchasing the plugin, you will receive an email with a link to download the plugin zip file. You can also download the plugin file from the My Accounts page.

• Now, log into your WordPress admin console and go to Plugins > Add New.
• Click on Upload Plugin and upload the plugin zip file.
• Click on Install Now to initiate the installation.
• Then, tap on Activate plugin.

This will add the URL plugin to your WooCommerce store. You will now have to generate a coupon URL, which, when clicked, will add a specific product to the cart.

Step 2: Create a WooCommerce Coupon

You should now create a coupon; it can be a product-specific coupon or a simple general coupon. In this example, let’s generate a product-specific coupon.

• Go to Marketing > Coupons, and click on Add New.
• Generate a coupon code and add a description (optional).
• In the Coupon data widget General tab, specify a coupon discount type and amount.

Step 3: Select the Products to be Automatically Added to The Cart

• Now, go to the Usage restriction tab and specify the product to which the coupon should be applied.

Step 4: Create Add to Cart Coupon URL

• Go to the URL options in the Coupon data widget.
• Enter the URL slug under Unique URL.
• Specify the product that you want to automatically add to your WooCommerce shopping cart under Add products to cart.
• Specify what should happen after adding the product to the cart. You can redirect to a specific page on your site or to a URL. Since we want to land on the Cart page, choose Page and select the Cart page.
• Then, click on Publish to save the coupon URL.

On completing the above-mentioned steps, the coupon will be created in your store. You can now place the unique coupon URL you have generated while embedding the coupon in your promotional posts and social media campaigns.

For instance, you can post a blog on your store’s blogging site to promote a particular product. Embed the add to cart link you have generated in key anchor texts (generally, product images are hyperlinked). When a user clicks on the coupon link, they will be redirected to their cart page with the product automatically added to it.

Here is an example of WooCommerce Add to Cart in working.

This is a great way to promote your WooCommerce deals and offers as your customers will be fully aware of the functionalities and the needs of a product before they have to make a purchase decision. It could help you secure more purchases.

Customers will be redirected to this cart page when they click on the add to cart link button.

Here are some of the best use cases for integrating the WooCommerce Add to Cart link strategy:

• Email marketing: Including Add to Cart links in promotional emails streamlines the customer’s shopping experience and improves conversion rates.
• Social media posts: Add cart links to social media posts to encourage impulse purchases by showcasing deals directly on platforms like Instagram or Facebook.
• Affiliate/ Influencer marketing: Affiliates and influencers can share Add to Cart URLs to drive traffic directly to the products they promote.
• Storewide banners and popups: Embedding cart links in coupon banners or popups creates urgency and allows store owners to quickly convert customers.
• Exclusive deals and flash sales: During sales events like Black Friday and Cyber Monday, WooCommerce Add to Cart URLs help customers quickly grab limited-time deals.

To get the most out of WooCommerce Add to Cart links, follow these best practices:

• Test links thoroughly across various devices and browsers
• Utilize product IDs to ensure accurate item identification
• Implement SSL (HTTPS) for better security
• Create clear and compelling CTAs to drive engagement

As a WooCommerce store admin looking to boost your store’s revenue, automatically adding products to the cart is one of the easiest and most effective strategies. The URL Coupons for WooCommerce plugin offers exactly that.

With Add to Cart URLs, you can apply specific promotions or discounts directly to products when they are added to the cart. This convenience encourages customers to take advantage of special offers.

In addition to the discussed product-specific coupon URL, you will also get a QR code from the plugin. This QR code can be used as an alternative to the coupon link (if that feels more convenient).

Moreover, the coupon URL plugin is compatible with WooCommerce coupon plugins such as WebToffee’s WooCommerce smart coupons. This would help you generate more advanced discount rules and promotions.

Hope this article was informative. Do let us know what you think in the comments.