Free shipping is one of the most powerful incentives for online shoppers. Customers are more likely to complete a purchase if they know they can avoid paying extra for shipping. To capitalize on this, WooCommerce store owners can install a Free Shipping Bar to not only boost sales but also encourage customers to add more products to their carts in order to reach the free shipping threshold. The WooCommerce Free Shipping Over Amount Plugin is designed to display a Free Shipping Bar across your store’s pages, providing a clear incentive for customers to increase their order value to qualify for free shipping.
In this blog, we’ll dive into the benefits of adding a Free Shipping Bar to your WooCommerce store, explore its features, and show you how to implement it effectively.
Why Offer Free Shipping?
Free shipping has become an industry standard in eCommerce. In fact, studies show that 90% of consumers say free shipping is a top incentive when shopping online. Here’s why offering free shipping—especially with a strategically placed Free Shipping Bar—is important for your WooCommerce store:
1. Increase Average Order Value (AOV)
When customers are close to qualifying for free shipping, they are more likely to add extra products to their cart to reach the minimum required order amount. This simple nudge can increase your store’s average order value, leading to higher revenue.
2. Reduce Cart Abandonment
Cart abandonment is a significant challenge for eCommerce businesses, and high shipping costs are often to blame. A visible Free Shipping Bar eliminates the guesswork for customers, showing them exactly how much more they need to spend to qualify for free shipping, reducing the likelihood of cart abandonment.
3. Improve Customer Loyalty
Offering free shipping can enhance the overall shopping experience and make your store more attractive. Satisfied customers are more likely to return and make repeat purchases, especially if they know they can qualify for free shipping.
4. Create Urgency and Motivation
By adding a Free Shipping Bar, you’re giving your customers a clear goal and creating a sense of urgency. As they shop, they see how close they are to receiving free shipping, which motivates them to make a purchase or add more items to their cart.
Key Features of the WooCommerce Free Shipping Bar Plugin
The WooCommerce Free Shipping Over Amount Plugin is a powerful tool that helps you implement a Free Shipping Bar on your store. Let’s look at some of the key features that make this plugin an excellent choice for WooCommerce store owners.
1. Add a Customizable Free Shipping Bar
With this plugin, you can easily add a customizable Free Shipping Bar to your WooCommerce store. The bar can be displayed across various pages—like the product page, cart, or checkout—so your customers are always reminded of the free shipping offer.
2. Enable Country Restrictions
If you only want to offer free shipping to certain countries or regions, the plugin allows you to set country restrictions. This is ideal for stores that want to minimize shipping costs by targeting countries where shipping is cheaper or where free shipping is a popular incentive.
3. Change Shipping Bar Styles
You can fully customize the look and feel of the Free Shipping Bar to match your store’s branding. Choose from multiple styles, colors, and fonts to create a visually appealing bar that complements the rest of your website design.
4. Offer Discounts on All Shipping Methods
Not only can you offer free shipping, but the plugin also allows you to offer discounts on other shipping methods. This flexibility enables you to provide various shipping incentives, such as a reduced rate for expedited shipping or discounts for international shipping.
5. Set Bar Positioning (Top or Bottom)
You can choose where to display the Free Shipping Bar on your store. Whether you prefer it to be at the top of the page, the bottom, or even as a floating bar, the plugin provides versatile positioning options to suit your store’s layout.
6. Project the Bar on Mobile Devices
Mobile shopping is on the rise, and it’s crucial that your Free Shipping Bar is visible on all devices. The plugin ensures that the bar is fully responsive and works seamlessly on mobile devices, enhancing the user experience and increasing mobile conversion rates.
7. Display Progress for Free Shipping
One of the most effective features of the plugin is the Progress Bar. As customers add items to their cart, the progress bar updates in real-time to show how close they are to reaching the minimum amount required for free shipping. This visual representation encourages them to continue shopping until they meet the goal.
8. Customize Display Messages
You can personalize the message displayed on the Free Shipping Bar to make it more engaging and aligned with your brand voice. Whether it’s a friendly reminder like “You’re $10 away from free shipping!” or a celebratory message when the threshold is reached, you can tailor the text to suit your needs.
9. Display Bar on Specific Pages
You have full control over where the Free Shipping Bar appears. Whether you want it displayed on all pages or limited to specific pages like the product, cart, or checkout page, you can configure the plugin to fit your preferences.
10. Works with WooCommerce Custom Shipping Icons
The WooCommerce Free Shipping Bar plugin can be used in conjunction with the WooCommerce Custom Shipping Icons Plugin to enhance the visual appeal of your shipping methods. Custom icons make the shipping options more attractive, and when combined with the Free Shipping Bar, they create a comprehensive and visually engaging checkout experience.
Step-by-Step Guide to Adding a Free Shipping Bar in WooCommerce
Follow these steps to set up the WooCommerce Free Shipping Bar plugin and start offering free shipping to boost your sales.
Step 1: Install and Activate the Plugin
- From your WooCommerce dashboard, navigate to Plugins > Add New.
- Search for WooCommerce Free Shipping Over Amount.
- Install the plugin and click Activate.
Step 2: Configure Free Shipping Settings
- Once activated, go to WooCommerce > Settings > Shipping > Free Shipping Bar.
- Set your free shipping threshold amount (e.g., $50, $75, or any amount you choose).
- Enable Country Restrictions if you want to limit free shipping to specific regions or countries.
Step 3: Customize the Free Shipping Bar
- Under the Appearance settings, choose the bar’s position (top or bottom) and customize its style. Select colors, fonts, and sizes that align with your store’s branding.
- Add a custom message that will appear on the bar, such as “You’re only $X away from free shipping!”
Step 4: Enable Progress Bar
- If you want to show a progress bar, enable this feature in the settings. This will dynamically update as customers add products to their cart, showing them how close they are to qualifying for free shipping.
Step 5: Save and Preview
- Once you’ve configured the settings, save your changes.
- Visit your store’s product or cart page to preview how the Free Shipping Bar looks and ensure it’s working correctly.
Best Practices for Using a Free Shipping Bar
To maximize the impact of your Free Shipping Bar, follow these best practices:
1. Set an Achievable Free Shipping Threshold
Make sure the minimum order amount for free shipping is realistic and achievable for your customers. For instance, if your average order value is $40, setting a free shipping threshold at $50 encourages customers to add more items without being out of reach.
2. Customize the Message
Use engaging and friendly language in your Free Shipping Bar message. Personalize it to your brand’s tone, and consider adding a sense of urgency to motivate customers to complete their purchases.
3. Display the Bar on High-Traffic Pages
Place the Free Shipping Bar on key pages like product pages, the cart, and checkout to ensure that customers are constantly reminded of the free shipping offer as they shop.
4. Optimize for Mobile
Ensure that the Free Shipping Bar is mobile-friendly, as a significant portion of online shoppers use their smartphones. A responsive, well-positioned Free Shipping Bar can greatly enhance the shopping experience on mobile devices.
Conclusion
Adding a Free Shipping Bar to your WooCommerce store is a simple yet highly effective way to increase sales, boost average order value, and reduce cart abandonment. By offering free shipping and guiding customers with a clear progress bar, you can create a more engaging shopping experience and incentivize customers to buy more from your store. Combine the Free Shipping Bar with custom shipping icons for a visually appealing and streamlined checkout process.
Install the WooCommerce Free Shipping Over Amount Plugin today and start reaping the benefits of free shipping in your store.
