Use Name Your Price to Increase Conversions & Donations in WooCommerce
Ever ask yourself What if I let customers decide the price? Sounds crazy, right? Why would any store risk that? Yet, here’s the twist. It works. People like freedom. They like choices. They like control. And when you give them that? They reward you with trust, loyalty sometimes even more money than you expected.
That’s the heart of the name your price strategy. No fixed tags. No rigid limits. Just flexibility—with a safety net. You set the rules, but the customer feels in charge. It’s being used in WooCommerce stores everywhere. And in this piece, we’re going to dig into why it works, how to set it up, and how it can boost both sales and donations.
What Exactly is Name Your Price?
It’s simple. A shopper lands on your product page. Instead of a “$20 Buy Now” button, they see an open box. They can type $15. Or $25. Or $100 if they’re feeling generous.
Of course, you’re not letting chaos run wild. You guide them. You drop hints with a suggested price. You set a floor (minimum price). Maybe even a ceiling (maximum price). But the power shifts. It moves from you, the seller, to them, the buyer.
And that shift? That’s where the magic happens.
Why People Respond to It
Here’s the psychology. People don’t like being told what to do. Or what to pay. But give them freedom? They surprise you.
Trust. You’re basically saying: “I trust you to be fair.” People feel that.
Fairness. Most shoppers want to do the right thing. They won’t all pick the cheapest.
Curiosity. The idea itself feels novel. That extra engagement leads to more conversions.
Reciprocity. You trust them, so they give back. It’s human nature.
Think about it. Have you ever paid more for something than you had to? Maybe tipped extra. Supported an artist—same thing.
Business Side: Why Stores Love It
Let’s flip to your side, the seller. Why use Name Your Price?
More conversions. Those who can’t afford full price might still buy at a lower one. A sale is better than no sale.
Donations skyrocket. Nonprofits and cause-driven stores benefit most. Some donors go above and beyond.
Market research. You learn what people think your product is worth. No fancy surveys needed.
Customer loyalty. Empower them, and they’ll remember. They’ll come back.
Clear out stock. Stuck with products gathering dust? Let people set the price. You move inventory and win goodwill.
It’s not just a trick. It’s a strategy.
A Few Stories to Prove It
Let’s go real-world for a second.
Musicians. Many indie artists sell albums online as “Pay what you want.” Fans often give more because they want to support.
Charities. Donation drives get bigger lifts when people aren’t locked into fixed amounts. Someone might drop $2. Another might drop $200.
Educators. Online courses, eBooks—they’ve seen wider reach when pricing is flexible. Students in different parts of the world pay what they can.
E-commerce stores. Some sellers use it for clearance products. Others use it for launches, testing demand without heavy risk.
Different industries. Same outcome. More engagement. More action.
How to Use It in WooCommerce
Okay, let’s get practical. You run a WooCommerce store. You want Name Your Price. How? Easy. Plugins.
Take WooCommerce Name Your Price. It does all the heavy lifting. Here’s what you get:
Add suggested, minimum, and maximum prices.
Works with simple, variable, and grouped products.
Custom error messages for invalid entries.
The suggested price shows right on the product page.
Customers type their number, and boom—it’s in the cart.
Setup is quick. Edit a product. Tick the box. Enter your three numbers (suggested, minimum, maximum). Done. The control panel is simple, and the customer view is even simpler.
Best Practices That Make It Work
You don’t just flip the switch and walk away. There are tricks.
1. Always suggest a price. People want guidance. Without it, they’ll aim low.
2. Set smart limits. Protect yourself with a minimum. If your product costs $10 to produce, don’t allow $2 purchases.
3. Use it selectively. Not every product needs it. Focus on digital goods, donations, or slow movers.
4. Tell a story. Don’t just say “Pay what you want.” Share why. Are you testing? Supporting a cause? Customers like context.
5. Watch the data. Track what people pay. Adjust your strategy. Learn.
Do these, and the strategy doesn’t just work—it shines.
The Rough Spots (And Fixes)
Alright, it’s not all sunshine. Here’s what can go wrong.
People lowballing. Some buyers will pay the least possible. Fix: strong suggested price, solid minimums.
Not right for big-ticket items. No one’s buying a $1,000 couch this way. Fix: only use it for certain products.
Revenue swings. Payments vary. One day high, next day low. Fix: balance it with fixed pricing items.
Confusion. Some customers don’t “get it.” Fix: keep instructions super clear.
Every strategy has cracks. The point is to patch them quickly.
How to Market the Idea
You’ve set it up. Now what? People need to know.
Email blasts. Announce it to your list. Make it sound fun, fresh.
Social media. Share posts like: “You choose the price today!” Curiosity does the rest.
Time-limited events. Run “Pay What You Want Week.” Builds urgency.
Behind-the-scenes stories. Tell customers why you’re using it. Transparency sells.
Marketing is what fuels the idea. Without it, the feature sits there quietly.
Donations: Where It Truly Shines
Let’s pause. This is where Name Your Price really earns its crown. Donations.
Nonprofits, churches, community projects—they thrive on this model. No one feels forced. Everyone feels free. And that freedom? It makes people give. A little here, a lot there.
It builds a culture of giving, not obligation. And if you explain where the money goes—if you tie it to real impact—it multiplies. That’s the sweet spot.
Don’t Forget the Numbers
This isn’t just feel-good. You need hard data. WooCommerce gives you numbers. Study them.
Look for patterns:
The most common price point.
How often do people go above the suggested?
How much higher are donations compared to fixed campaigns?
Those numbers are your truth. They’ll shape your next product launch, your next campaign, maybe even your core pricing strategy.
Looking Ahead: Flexible Pricing is the Future
The world of e-commerce is changing—subscription models. Buy now, pay later. Personal discounts. Flexibility everywhere.
Name Your Price fits right in. It’s not a gimmick. It’s a mindset. It says: “We trust our customers.” It says: “We’re open to new ways of doing business.” And in 2025 and beyond, that’s how brands win.
Conclusion
So, here’s the bottom line. Name Your Price isn’t just a quirky feature. It’s a real way to increase conversions, grow donations, and earn customer loyalty. Sure, there are risks. Sure, you need smart limits. But the upside? Huge.
Plugins like WooCommerce Name Your Price make it dead simple. Add it to your store. Test it on a few products. See what happens. Worst case? You learn something. Best case? You unlock a whole new way of selling.
Remember: customers crave freedom. They like to feel in charge. Give them that chance, and many will surprise you—with generosity, with fairness, with loyalty. Don’t fear the experiment. Lean into it. Because sometimes, the smartest pricing strategy is the one where you stop setting the price.
