How to Setup WooCommerce Category Discount (Easy Guide)

WooCommerce category discount refers to the promotional strategy where price reductions are applied on products belonging to specific categories. 

It mainly involves providing fixed or percentage-based discounts on products within a particular category. 

Now, you will be shocked to know that 62% of U.S. consumers actively look for and use discounts when shopping online.

Among the various types of discounts, these WooCommerce category discounts stand out for their ability to target specific products. They are also particularly effective for promoting seasonal items, clearing slow-moving inventory, and increasing WooCommerce sales. 

In this guide, we’ll explore everything you need to know about category discounts in WooCommerce. From creating them step-by-step to understanding their benefits and resolving common issues you’ll get everything. 

Let’s start by Creating WooCommerce discounts by categories. 

Step 1: Getting Started With Disco Plugin

The easiest and simplest way to add category discounts in WooCommerce is by using a plugin. But out of all the tools available, which one should you choose? 

Well, let us introduce to you Disco – the All-in-One WooCommerce Discount plugin. This versatile freemium plugin lets you create all sorts of discounts based on different user conditions. And of course, you can make WooCommerce discounts by category easily with it. 

Now, to use it, you have to install and activate this WooCommerce category discount plugin. So, from the left-hand side of your WordPress Dashboard, go to Plugins>>Add New Plugin. 

Then search for the “Disco” plugin. After that, install and activate the plugin. 

Now, let’s set up a flat 10% discount on all the products in the “Men” Category. 

Step 2: Select Discount Campaign Name and Choose Discount Intention 

To use the Disco plugin, click on the Disco menu from the left-hand side of your WordPress panel. Then click on “Create a Discount” to make your category discount campaign.

There, give your discount campaign a name. In this part, we will be making a basic category discount campaign based on the products. So, select the discount intention as “Products” for now. 

Step 3: Selecting Discount Rules

Next up, in the “Discount” section we need to add the the discount rules. Here, you should choose between all products and specific products. As you can see, we have gone for “All Products”. Don’t worry, we will select the specific categories later on. 

How can I set a user limit for a WooCommerce category discount?

You can set a fixed user limit for your category discounts in WooCommerce using the “User Limit” field of the Disco plugin. 

For example, We will be selecting the user limit as 30, so the discount can be used for a total of 30 times. 

You can also, set a date validity for your Discount campaign in the “Valid Between” field. 

Step 4: Setting up Discount Type and Value

In the “Product Rules” section you will be able to add the Discount type and value. So, you should add the discount type as “Percentage”. Keep in mind that you could also select it as fixed, fixed per cart item, or free. 

Now, add the discount value as “10” in order to add a 10% discount. 

Step 5: Setting up User Conditions (Categories) 

In this step, we will be selecting the specific categories as user conditions. Now, to do that, firstly click on “Add Condition”. 

Then, from the Filtering options, select “Categories”. 

After that, select the “In List” options and choose the “Men” category. 

Key Note:  “In List” refers to the category you want to include in the discount. For example, if you select the “Men” category, only products within that category will be eligible for the discount.
On the other hand, “Not In List” excludes a category from the discount. So, if you add the category “Gadget” under “Not In List,” the discount will apply to all products in your store except those from category “Gadget.”

Step 6: Click “Save & Exit”

Scroll down below and click on the “Save & Exit” button. 

That’s it for the WooCommerce category discounts setup process. It will launch and run your campaign. You can enable and disable the campaign anytime you want with just one click. 

Now, we have to check out if the discount really applies to the products in the “Men” category. Let’s order a product from the front end. 

As you can see, the “Black Slim Fit Classic Stretch Jeans” product belongs to the “Men” category. 

Now, whenever the customers order it, they are going to get a 10% discount on it. The regular price was $40, but after the 10% discount, the price came down to $36. 

Let’s try out WooCommerce discount by category for multiple other scenarios. 

How do you set free shipping for a specific category in WooCommerce? 

Under this scenario, we will be applying free shipping-based discounts on all the products of one of our categories.

For Example, let’s set up Free Shipping on any products from the ‘Home Appliances’ Category.

As usual, start by, going to Disco Menu>>Create a Discount again. 

Give your discount campaign a name and choose the discount intention as “Free Shipping”. 

Then, as we will be providing this discount to all the products of our “Home Appliances” category, choose “All products”.

Afterward, to add the specific category rule, go down below and click on “Add Condition”. 

In the next step, from the filtering options, select “Conditions”. Then search and select your desired category. In our case, we have obviously selected the “Home Appliances” category.

Click on the “Save & Exit” button.

That’s it! Your campaign is up and running. 

Let’s check it out. You can see down below that the coffee Maker belongs to the “Home Appliances” category. 

Now, if anyone orders that, they are going to get the shipping for free. 

How to Set WooCommerce Category Discounts Based on Product Quantity? 

In this case, we will be setting up WooCommerce percentage category discounts based on product quantity. 

Example: Get a 15% flat discount on purchasing 3 or more units of a product from the ‘Gym’ category.

In this scenario, a percentage discount is applied when customers buy 5 or more units of any product from the selected category. 

Just like we did in the previous examples, let’s begin by giving the discount campaign a name and select the discount intention as “Bulk Discount” this time. 

Select “All Products” in the Discount Rules section. 

Then, in the “Bulk Rules” section set the “Minimum Quantity” as 3 and keep the “Maximum Quantity” field empty. 

Key Note: Here, keeping it blank means an unlimited amount of products. 

Set the discount type as a percentage and the value as 15. 

 In the next phase, select the “Categories” filter in the conditions section. Then, search and select your category. 

Save it. Now, let’s test it out from the front end. You will find that, there is no discount on our “Coffee Maker” product from the “Home Appliances” category. 

But, if someone orders at least 3 or more units of any product from the ‘Gym’ category, he or she will get the 15% WooCommerce bulk discount category on it. 

How to apply WooCommerce category discounts based on order total?

Under this scenario, we will be applying Category Discounts based on the total amount of the order. 

Example: Get $50 Off on orders of at least $750 from the category “Home Appliances”.

In this example, customers receive a flat $50 discount when their purchase from the “Home Appliances” category is at least $750 or exceeds the amount of $750.

Give your Discount campaign a name and select the Discount intention as “Cart”. 

Then, choose “All Products”. After that, from the “Cart Rules” section choose the discount type as “Fixed” and input the discount value as $50. 

Now, for this example, we will select two conditions. 

• The usual Category selection.
• The cart subtotal is equal to or exceeds $750. 

To add the first condition, select the “Categories” filter and under the “In List” option, choose “Home Appliances”. 

Let’s add up the second condition. Simply, click on the “Add Condition” option below it. 

Another similar window will come up. Now, from the filtering options, you should select “Cart Subtotal”. Then choose the “Greater Than or Equal” option and input the value $750. 

One important thing! Between the two conditions, you will find “And/Or” options. Here, you must select the “And” option as you want to run these two conditions together. 

Click on “Save & Exit”. Your campaign will be launched and running.

Let’s test it out. 

If someone orders one of our “Home Appliances” category’s products “BLUEAIR Air Purifiers” for anything less than $750, that person won’t be getting any discounts.

But, the moment, he adds another “Home Appliances” product and the cart total exceeds $750, he will get a flat $50 discount on it. 

Apply Category Discounts in WooCommerce for a Limited time 

A lot of people ask, “Is it possible to limit a category discount to only apply during holidays?”

Yes, you can set up a category discount to apply only during certain times of the year using the Disco Plugin’s “Valid Between” Feature. 

In fact, for this example, a flat $5 discount is applied to all products within the “Men” category, but only for a specific promotional period.

In a new discount campaign setup window, set up your Discount campaign name and select the Discount intention as “Product”. 

Afterward, choose “All Products”

Here’s the interesting part! In the “Valid Between” field, you can set up the date validity in just a couple of seconds. For instance, we want to offer a discount on Halloween week. So, we have selected the dates from 22nd October 2024 to 31st October 2024. 

Now, the discount will only apply during this promotional period. 

Next up, add the Discount type as “Fixed” and the discount value as 5. Then select the Categories filter and add the “Men” category. 

Click on “Save & Exit”.

Now, whenever someone orders any product from the Men category during this promotional period, he or she will get a $5 discount. 

As you can see down below, a men’s t-shirt product from the “Men” category is getting a $5 discount. But on the other hand, there is no discount available for the Water bottle. 

That’s it! Hopefully, now you know everything related to WooCommerce add discounts to a category. Let’s have a quick look at the category discount’s importance and some best practices related to it. 

Existing Content Relevance: 

How to Set Up WooCommerce Bulk Discounts 

How to Setup WooCommerce Fixed Cart Discount

Why Setup Category Discounts for WooCommerce: Key Benefits 

Setting up category discounts in your WooCommerce store offers numerous benefits such as: maximizing sales, clearing slow-moving inventory, driving customer loyalty, etc. 

Here are key reasons why you should implement category-based discounts: 

Boost Sales and Revenue

• Incentivized Purchases: Discounts are a universally recognized motivator. By offering category discounts, you entice customers to purchase products they might have been considering but are hesitant about. The potential savings can push them over the edge and lead to increased sales.

• Increased Average Order Value (AOV): Category discounts encourage customers to buy more by adding complementary items. For example, a discount on phone cases might prompt them to include a screen protector, increasing the overall purchase value.

• Strategic Inventory Clearance: Do you have a surplus of products in a specific category that aren’t selling as quickly as others? Category discounts can be your secret weapon! Offering WooCommerce discount on category helps sell slow-moving products, free up space, and generate revenue from unsold items.

Promotional Flexibility and Strategic Marketing

• Targeted Product Highlighting: Let’s say you’ve launched a new clothing line for a specific season. Category discounts allow you to strategically target this new collection by offering a discount on the entire seasonal category. 

• Seasonal Promotions and Themed Sales: Category discounts are perfect for crafting seasonal promotions or themed sales. Imagine offering a discount on all your summer clothing categories during a “Summer Sizzle Sale.” This approach creates a sense of urgency and excitement around your seasonal offerings.

• Highlight Specific Categories: Perhaps you have a category of high-quality products with a slightly higher price point. A targeted category discount can help showcase these items and encourage customers to consider the value proposition they offer.

Enhanced Customer Experience and Loyalty

• Rewarding Loyal Customers: Category discounts can be a way to show appreciation to your regular customers. Offering exclusive discounts on their favorite categories can encourage repeat purchases and build customer loyalty.

• Value Perception and Increased Satisfaction: A well-structured category discount can create a perception of greater value for customers. When they see a discount applied to a broader category purchase, it can enhance customer satisfaction with the deal.

• Discovery and Exploration: Let’s say you offer a discount on a combination of categories like tools and hardware. This might introduce customers to new product lines they might not have considered before. This exploration could lead them to discover hidden gems in your store and become loyal customers for a wider range of items.

7 Best Practices for WooCommerce Discounts Based on Category 

To ensure your category discounts are effective and profitable, it’s essential to follow some best practices. Here are key tips to optimize your WooCommerce category-based promotions:

1. Set Clear Objectives: Define what you want to achieve. Whether it’s clearing inventory, increasing average order value, or boosting seasonal sales.

2. Use Time-Limited Offers: Create urgency by setting expiration dates. Like labeling the discount “20% off this weekend only” to motivate quicker purchases. You can use the Disco plugin’s “Date Validity” to easily do this. 

3. Segment Your Audience: Offer discounts tailored to specific customer groups. For example, provide exclusive discounts on luxury items for VIP customers.

4. Monitor Product Margins: Ensure the discounts don’t eat into your profit margins. Calculate the lowest price you can offer without incurring losses.

5. Promote Discounts Strategically: Announce your category discounts through multiple channels like email newsletters, social media, and pop-ups to reach more customers.

Key Note: The Disco plugin will soon introduce a Pro feature as Design Block where you can design and showcase your discounts in the best possible way. So, you can use it to increase your sales. 

6. Analyze Performance Regularly: Track discount campaigns to understand what works best. Use WooCommerce analytics to monitor sales, customer behavior, and profitability.

Key Note: The Disco plugin will soon introduce a feature as “Advanced Reporting System” where you can easily analyze your discount campaign performances. 

7. Test Different Discount Strategies: Experiment with the WooCommerce discount per category with various discount types (e.g., percentage-based vs. fixed amount). But why? It will definitely help you to understand what resonates most with your audience.

Following these best practices will ensure your category discounts are not only attractive to customers but also sustainable for your business in the long run. 

Troubleshooting Common Issues with WooCommerce Discounts Based on Category 

Even with the best planning, you may encounter some challenges while setting up and managing WooCommerce discounts based on category. Below are common issues of category discounts WooCommerce and how to troubleshoot them effectively:

1. Discount Not Applying at Checkout

• Possible Cause: Conflicting rules or plugin conflicts.

• Solution: Review all active discount campaigns to ensure no overlapping rules. Disable any plugins that might interfere with the discount settings, then re-enable them one by one to identify conflicts. Also, if you are using the Disco plugin, make sure to enable your discount campaign. 

2. Incorrect Discount Amount

• Possible Cause: Misconfigured discount conditions

• Solution: Double-check the discount type as  “Percentage” or “Fixed”. Then check the discount value and conditions in your WooCommerce settings to ensure they align with your intent.

3. Discounts Applying to the Wrong Products

• Possible Cause: Misassigned categories.

• Solution: Verify that the products are tagged correctly within the intended category. Ensure the discount only targets the intended categories.

4. Category Discounts Affecting Other Promotions

Possible Cause: Conflicts between category discount campaigns and other promotional campaigns. 

Solution: You can keep the category discount campaigns disabled if you want to run the other promotional offers. Or vice versa. Another thing you can do is schedule different campaigns at separate times(using the Disco plugin’s “Valid Between” field) to avoid overlap.

5. Customers Exploiting Discounts

Possible Cause: No limits on discount usage.

Solution: Set limits on how many times a discount can be used per customer or cart. In this case, you can use the Disco plugin’s “User Limit” tool to set up how many times the discount can be used. Again, you can disable the category discount campaign to avoid customers exploiting discounts. 

Frequently Asked Questions 

Final Thought 

Setting up WooCommerce category discounts is a smart strategy to boost sales, promote specific products, and manage inventory effectively. Whether you’re running seasonal campaigns or clearing out slow-moving items, these discounts can enhance customer engagement and drive conversions. 

Hopefully, now you will be able to create category discounts in WooCommerce by using the Disco plugin. Just follow the steps outlined in this guide, apply best practices, and avoid common pitfalls to make the most of your campaigns.

That’s it for today! Enjoy your WooCommerce journey!