Overview

Category-based conditional redirects allow you to customize the post-checkout experience for customers based on the product categories in their order. This powerful feature lets you create targeted thank you pages and follow-up experiences specific to different product lines in your store.

Benefits of Category-Based Redirects

• Create specialized thank you pages for different product categories
• Offer category-specific upsells, cross-sells, or complementary products
• Provide tailored instructions or resources relevant to specific product types
• Segment post-purchase marketing by product interest
• Improve customer experience with more relevant post-checkout content

Step-by-Step Guide: Creating a Category Redirect

1. Access the Conditional Redirects Form

• Navigate to WooCommerce > WRAC Redirect
• Click on the “Conditional Redirects” tab
• Click “Add New Redirect” button

2. Configure Basic Rule Information

• Enable the Rule: Toggle the switch to enable your category redirect rule
• Name Your Rule: Enter a descriptive name like “Clothing Category to Fashion Page”
• Add a Description: Briefly explain what your rule does, e.g., “Redirects customers who purchase clothing items to our fashion collections page”

3. Set Up the Category Condition

• In the Redirect Conditions section, click the “+ Add Condition” button
• From the first dropdown menu, select “Product Category”
• From the second dropdown (operator), select “Includes”
• In the third dropdown, click “Select Product Category” to open the category list
• Select your desired category (e.g., “Clothing”, “Accessories”, “Decor”, etc.)
• The condition is now set to redirect when an order includes items from your selected category

4. Configure Redirect Actions

• In the Redirect Actions section:
  • Redirect Type: Select “Redirect to Page” from the dropdown
  • Successful Order Destination: From “Select Successful Redirect Page” dropdown, choose the appropriate landing page for customers who purchased from your selected category
  • Failed Order Destination: From “Select Failed Order Redirect Page” dropdown, choose where customers should go if their payment fails

5. Optional: Add Time Limitations

• If you want this category redirect to be temporary (e.g., for seasonal promotions):
  • Enable the “Redirect Time Range” toggle
  • Set the Start Date and End Date for when this redirect should be active
  • The rule will automatically activate and deactivate based on these dates

6. Save Your Category Redirect Rule

• Click “Save changes” at the bottom of the form
• Your category-based redirect is now active (if enabled)

Advanced Category Redirect Configurations

Multiple Categories in One Rule

You can create more complex rules by adding additional category conditions:

1. Set up your first category condition as described above
2. Click “+ Add Condition” again
3. Add another Product Category condition
4. This creates an “AND” relationship – the order must contain items from all specified categories to trigger the redirect

Category Exclusions

You can also redirect orders that do NOT contain items from specific categories:

1. Add a Product Category condition
2. Select “Does Not Include” from the operator dropdown
3. Select the category you want to exclude
4. This rule will trigger for orders that don’t contain items from the specified category

Combining with Other Conditions

For more targeted redirects, combine category conditions with other factors:

• Category + Payment Method: Different experiences based on both what and how customers purchase
• Category + User Role: Special category experiences for wholesale vs. retail customers
• Category + Order Total: Premium post-checkout experience for high-value category purchases

Practical Examples

Example 1: Fashion Category Styling Guide

Rule Configuration:

• Condition: Product Category Includes “Clothing”
• Action: Redirect to Page “Fashion Styling Guide”

Result: When customers purchase clothing items, they’re redirected to a thank you page featuring a styling guide, outfit inspiration, and care instructions specific to their purchase.

Example 2: Electronics Setup Support

Rule Configuration:

• Condition: Product Category Includes “Electronics”
• Action: Redirect to Page “Electronics Setup Support”

Result: Customers who purchase electronics are redirected to a page with setup guides, troubleshooting tips, and links to technical support resources.

Example 3: Seasonal Holiday Decor Ideas

Rule Configuration:

• Condition: Product Category Includes “Decor”
• Action: Redirect to Page “Seasonal Decor Ideas”
• Time Range: Active during holiday season only

Result: During the holiday season, customers purchasing decor items are redirected to a page with seasonal decorating ideas and complementary product suggestions.

Troubleshooting Category-Based Redirects

• Rule Not Triggering: Verify the category slug exactly matches your WooCommerce category
• Multiple Rules Conflict: Check if you have other rules that might take precedence
• Subcategory Issues: Ensure you’re selecting the correct category level (parent or child)
• Time-Based Problems: Confirm the current date falls within your configured date range

Best Practices

• Create dedicated landing pages tailored to each product category
• Include category-relevant content, resources, and next steps
• Consider the customer’s intent when purchasing from specific categories
• Test each category redirect to ensure a smooth customer experience
• Update category pages regularly with seasonal or new product information
• Monitor which category redirects lead to additional sales or engagement

Category-based redirects are an excellent way to segment and personalize the post-purchase experience, providing relevant information and offers that align with customers’ demonstrated interests.