How to Display Subcategories on Category Pages in WordPress

WordPress is an incredibly powerful platform, but sometimes, its features may not be intuitive for beginners and intermediates alike. One common question among users revolves around displaying subcategories on category pages. This functionality is not just about aesthetics; it significantly enhances user experience, making navigation easier and improving SEO.

In this article, we’ll explore the importance of displaying subcategories on your category pages and provide you with a step-by-step guide on how to do it. Whether you’re running a blog, an e-commerce site, or a portfolio, this feature can help you organize your content better, ultimately leading to increased visitor satisfaction and engagement.

Understanding Categories and Subcategories in WordPress

Before diving into the technical aspects, let’s clarify what categories and subcategories are within the WordPress ecosystem.

What Are Categories?

Categories are meant to group related posts together. For example, if you have a website about travel, you might have categories like:

• Destinations
• Travel Tips
• Travel Gear

What Are Subcategories?

Subcategories help to further refine your content. Following the same travel website example, under the 'Destinations' category, you could have:

• Europe
• Asia
• North America

Why Display Subcategories on Category Pages?

Understanding the benefits of displaying subcategories can motivate you to implement this feature effectively:

Improves User Experience

When users land on a category page, showcasing subcategories:

• Helps them navigate to more specific areas easily.
• Reduces the time and effort it takes to find relevant content.

Enhances SEO

Search engines prefer well-structured content. By displaying subcategories, you help search engines understand your site better, which can lead to:

• Higher search rankings.
• More organic traffic.

Example Application

Consider the case of a fashion e-commerce store. If a user clicks on the category 'Women’s Clothing', displaying subcategories such as 'Dresses', 'Tops', and 'Bottoms' will direct them straight to what they need, increasing the chance of conversion.

How to Display Subcategories on Category Pages in WordPress

Now that we’ve established the benefits, let's dive into the practical steps to display subcategories on your category pages.

Method 1: Using Code

One of the most straightforward methods is by adding a small snippet of code to your theme's files.

Step 1: Access Theme Editor

Go to your WordPress dashboard and navigate to Appearance > Theme Editor.

Step 2: Add Code

Select category.php or archive.php (depending on your theme) and add the following snippet:

<?php 
$subcategories = get_categories(array(
    'child_of' => get_query_var('cat'),
    'hide_empty' => false,
));
if ($subcategories) {
    echo '<ul>';
    foreach ($subcategories as $subcategory) {
        echo '<li><a href="' . get_category_link($subcategory->term_id) . '">' . $subcategory->name . '</a></li>';
    }
    echo '</ul>';
}
?>

Step 3: Save Changes

Once you add the code snippet, click Update File to save changes. The subcategories should now be visible on category pages.

Method 2: Using a Plugin

If you’re not comfortable editing code, consider using a plugin. Here’s how:

Step 1: Install a Plugin

Go to Plugins > Add New and search for a plugin like List Category Posts.

Step 2: Configure the Plugin

After activation, navigate to the plugin’s settings and customize how you want the subcategories to be displayed. Most plugins will allow you to choose options like:

• Display with or without posts.
• Choose styles and formats.

Step 3: Shortcode

Use the given shortcode to insert a list of subcategories into any post or page.

Design and Aesthetics: Making Subcategories Stand Out

This aspect cannot be overlooked. The way you display subcategories can impact user engagement and retention.

Choosing the Right Layout

Consider using one of the following types of layouts for subcategories:

• Grid Layout: Perfect for visual-heavy sites.
• List Layout: Good for content-heavy blogs.

Styling with CSS

If you're comfortable with CSS, you can easily style subcategories to match your website's branding. Consider adjustments like:

• Font styles and sizes.
• Color schemes to align with your theme.
• Hover effects to improve interactivity.

Testing and Optimization

After implementing your changes, it’s vital to test their effectiveness. This ensures that your new setup is functioning optimally.

Use Analytics Tools

Tools like Google Analytics can help you track user engagement, such as:

• Click-through rates for subcategories.
• Time spent on category pages.

A/B Testing

Consider conducting A/B tests to compare layout designs or styles to see which performs better in terms of user interaction.

Displaying subcategories on your WordPress category pages can significantly enhance usability and SEO effectiveness. By following the steps outlined above—whether through code or plugins—you can add this valuable functionality to your website.

By improving navigation, enhancing user experience, and boosting your SEO efforts, displaying subcategories becomes an essential aspect of a well-structured site. If you're ready to take your WordPress site to the next level, implement these suggestions today!

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