Many online store owners struggle to convert visitors into paying customers. One major reason is unexpected shipping costs at checkout, which often lead to cart abandonment.
But what if you could turn shipping fees into a sales booster instead of a deal breaker?
Free shipping in WooCommerce allows store owners to create a tendency among buyers to complete the purchase process. Here, in this blog, you will discover:
✅ How to offer free shipping from the WooCommerce default setting.
✅ Free shipping based on Minimum order amount
✅ Free shipping coupon code setup
✅ Free shipping based on Specific user roles
And that’s not the end of it. You need to learn other use cases of free shipping. Let’s not wait anymore 👇
What is Free Shipping in WooCommerce?
Free shipping is a method in WooCommerce by which customers can receive products without any delivery charges. This method allows store owners to set some conditions that encourage customers to spend more.
You may wonder how giving anything free can help any seller. In WooCommerce, you can set some requirements for customers to get free shipping. To achieve that facility, they tend to spend more to meet the requirements.
Benefits of Free Shipping
So now that you get the reason behind free shipping, you might guess the benefits. Here they are:
- Increased Conversion Rates: A free shipping option generally incentivizes users to complete the buying process. It would reduce the cart abandon rate and eventually increase the conversion rates.
- Boosted Average Order Value (AOV): When buyers add more items to buy, it increases the AOV in the process. With many buyers doing the same thing, it boosts the average order value eventually.
- Improved Customer Satisfaction and Loyalty: Free shipping facility creates a satisfactory impression on customers’ minds. They feel the recognition and their value to the seller/owner. It increases loyalty to the store/shop.
- Competitive Advantage: Free shipping is a proven tool to attract new customers and stabilize one’s position in the market. It also makes your store more preferable than your rival.
Now that you know why you should give free shipping, you need to know how. Let’s get started ⬇️
How to Set Free Shipping from WooCommerce Built-In Setting
To implement free shipping you need to have the WooCommerce plugin installed. Follow the official documentation and proceed with the setting.
- Step 1: Shipping Zone Setting
First, you have to go to the WooCommerce shipping setting. Here, you will need to set up the shipping zones for your store.
You can create a shipping zone by clicking the add zone button. Here, you need to add a name for this zone and select the zone regions.
After that, you need to create a shipping method for this zone.
- Step 2: Set up the Shipping Method
Now click the add shipping method button below the methods section. You will find three different methods including free shipping. Click the Free Shipping.
It will take you to an interface where you can set a name for this method. The name is given free shipping by default, you don’t have to change it.
The next thing you need to do is choose the free shipping requirements. These are the conditions we talked about earlier. You can select four different conditions from the dropdown option.
⚠️ The no-requirement condition will give free shipping to everybody, every time on every product.
A valid free shipping coupon: customers need to insert a valid coupon to activate the free shipping facility.
A minimum order amount: customers need to add a minimum amount of product value to the cart to get free shipping.
A minimum order amount OR coupon: Customers can either add a coupon code or a minimum amount of order in the cart to get free shipping.
A minimum order amount AND coupon: Customers have to use both coupon and minimum order amount to activate the free shipping.
Create a Free Shipping Coupon in WooCommerce
Now that you know about the conditions, you should know what they are, and how they work. Let’s learn about free shipping coupons.
It’s a special type of code that allows customers to get free shipping in WooCommerce upon applying that code. These codes are generated from the WooCommerce built-in setting.
You can create a new coupon from the coupon option in the WooCommerce/marketing section. Click the add new coupon button and generate your coupon codes.
You need to click the box for free shipping to allow it to work with the condition set in the free shipping method. Explore other settings to configure your free shipping coupon code.
Free Shipping Based on Minimum Order Amount
The other requirement is based on the minimum order amount. After selecting this requirement, you will get a box to set the value of the minimum amount.
Here I set the minimum amount as $500; so that, when a customer adds the $500 worth of product value to the cart, s/he will get the option of free shipping.
If you check the box of Apply minimum order rule before coupon discount, it will calculate the free shipping before any discount is applied.
Giving Free Shipping for Specific Products in WooCommerce
You can implement free shipping on specific products in WooCommerce. To specify the products, you need to create a class from the shipping setting.
Step 1: Create and Set up a Shipping class
Click the classes in the shipping setting. You will find a detailed list of classes added to your store. To create a new class click the add shipping class button.
You will find options to add a name, slug, and description to the class. Set them all up. You can leave the slug as it will be generated by WooCommerce.
Step 2: Add Products to The Class
Now you have to add your preferred products to this class. Head over to the product list and click edit to the product. Then go to the shipping tab in the product data section.
Step 3: Set the Shipping Rate for the Class
Now go back to the shipping setting and click edit to the flat rate method. You will find a section named Shipping Class Costs.
Enter the value of free shipping class zero. Thus the product of this class will get a free shipping facility.
You can also check out this amazing informative video before setting up the free shipping bar.
Can You Restrict Free Shipping in WooCommerce to Certain Users/Roles?
You can also restrict the free shipping facility for specific user roles in your store. To do that you need a plugin that allows you to create different users/roles in WooCommerce.
Here I demonstrated with wholesalex to create users and allow them to get free shipping. You can find the setting in the shipping methods of the user’s details setting.
Check the free shipping box if you want to provide them with this benefit.
Can You Show a Free Shipping Bar in WooCommerce?
You can also add a free shipping bar on your cart page in WooCommerce. This feature isn’t available on the default setting. For this, you need another plugin that offers this feature.
With WowRevenue you can create a free shipping campaign. You can show the free shipping bar if you set the condition to a minimum order amount.
Go to the WowRevenue campaign page and select the free shipping campaign. Then you can set the configuration of how this feature would function in real life.
You should explore all the settings of the free shipping campaign to fine-tune your store.
Why Do You Need This?
You should use free shipping to provide a better experience for your customers. In the default settings of WooCommerce, they couldn’t know the existence of a free shipping option unless they met the criteria.
With a free shipping bar, customers can realize the present situation visually to obtain the facility. It’s a realistic feature that encourages customers to reach their goals and gain rewards.
Best Practices for Offering Free Shipping in WooCommerce
To make the best out of free shipping in your WooCommerce store, follow these practices:
- Set a reasonable threshold: Ensure the minimum order amount is beneficial for both the business and customers.
- Use a Free Shipping Bar: As mentioned earlier, a free shipping bar encourages customers to add more items to their cart to meet the free shipping requirement. This can be a great way to boost order value.
- Use limited-time free shipping: Create urgency to drive sales.
- Promote free shipping: Highlight it on product pages, banners, and checkout pages.
- Track performance: Use analytics to monitor how free shipping impacts sales.
Free Shipping Not Working Issues Fix
While setting up free shipping for your store, you may stumble upon some difficulties. To avoid some common issues I will list some reasons down and provide an easy fix.
1️⃣ Free Shipping Doesn’t Apply
Sometimes customers can’t activate free shipping even after meeting requirements. It’s mostly because owners forgot to add free shipping for that zone in the setting.
Solution: Add a free shipping method to your preferred zone.
2️⃣ Invalid Free Shipping Coupon Code
Customers may face difficulties after inserting the coupon code for free shipping.
Solution: Check the coupon validity in the coupon setting. It might be outdated or restricted.
3️⃣ Free Shipping Bar Not Updating
While using a free shipping bar, the progress does not update accurately as customers add items to the cart.
Solution: Ensure that your free shipping bar plugin is correctly configured. Also, clear the website cache if updates to improve functionality.
Conclusion
Free shipping is a powerful strategy to increase conversions, boost AOV, and build customer loyalty.
WooCommerce provides various ways to implement and customize free shipping based on conditions, user roles, and specific products. You should configure the settings properly and use plugins where necessary to enhance user experience.
By following the steps and best practices, you can optimize free shipping to benefit both your customers and your business. You can tell where you find difficulties in the comment section.
FAQs
Can I restrict free shipping in certain areas?
Yes, WooCommerce allows you to define shipping zones so you can limit free shipping to specific regions or countries. Simply configure the shipping zone where you want to apply free shipping.
Can I set a time-limited free shipping offer in WooCommerce?
Yes, you can set an expiration date for your free shipping coupon. This can create urgency and drive more sales.
Can I offer free shipping only for specific payment methods?
Yes, with the help of WholesaleX, you can set payment method-based conditions for free shipping. You can offer free shipping only when customers use a specific payment gateway.
Is WooCommerce’s built-in setting enough for a free shipping method?
Yes, if you want a basic configuration for your store. However, there are advanced customization available through additional plugins. You can install and activate your preferred plugins if you feel the need.
