Is it possible to build an eCommerce website with WordPress?
Absolutely!! WordPress has now become an eCommerce powerhouse and is now offering many different ways to build online stores for all sorts of markets and products.
Using WordPress for an eCommerce Development Company requires a lot of moving pieces. To sell online, you need a beautiful, secure, and user-friendly website. With this, you also require a proper business plan, SEO, shopping cart software, and payment gateway to succeed and run your business for the long term.
Also, Custom WordPress Development for eCommerce stores tailors WordPress to enhance the shopping experience, optimize performance, and integrate payment systems.
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Why use WordPress for an eCommerce Website?
eCommerce business has grown in the last 5 years. Since 2012, the number of internet users who make online purchases has also increased.
Also, WordPress is a free, open-source content management system. About one-quarter of the websites on the internet use WordPress as their content management system.
WordPress is mostly preferred for eCommerce Website Development Companies because WordPress consists of plenty of premade themes and plugins to design a storefront. The WordPress plugins add complete functionality to a site.
So, there is no doubt that focusing on eCommerce in the future and using a WordPress Development Company for the eCommerce store will be a boon for the online business.
How to create an eCommerce website with WordPress?
Can I build an eCommerce site with WordPress?
Is WordPress a good website for eCommerce?
The answer to the most asked questions is a big YES. But how to create an eCommerce website with WordPress? This blog will help you to create your eCommerce development company with a step-by-step guide.
Let’s get started.
1. Choose a domain name and hosting provider
A domain name is the address or URL of your website, which the user searches in the Google search bar. If you own a physical general store, then it is a good idea to name your online store with that name. As WordPress itself is free, you will need to pay for the domain name, which starts at US$10.
Along with this, you will also need a hosting provider to host your website on the Internet. It is advisable to use a dedicated host for your website, which is quite expensive but gives the whole server, control, and bandwidth exclusively to your website.
After this, you can install WordPress with a one-click install with service providers like PHP 7, MySQL v5.6+ or MariaDB v10.0+, and HTTPS.
WordPress itself recommends service providers like Pressable, Bluehost, Dreamhost, Flywheel, and SiteGround.
2. Set an E-commerce plug-in
To add functionality to your WordPress Development Company, you need to install WordPress eCommerce plugins.
WooCommerce
WooCommerce is the most popular WordPress plug-in. It allows you to sell both digital and physical products on your online store. About 30% of the online store users use WooCommerce as their platform.
It has its own set of extensions that allow you to sync your orders with accounting software, automatically send emails to customers, offer extra shipping methods, and much more.
Easy Digital Downloads
It is specially designed to help you sell digital products. It allows you to create discount codes, offer full tracking of downloads and sales. You can add this to your storefront which allows you to sell software licenses and subscriptions.
It is free with various paid extensions.
3. Install eCommerce plug-in
Now you have chosen your eCommerce plug-in, so it’s time to install it. Better choose WooCommerce as your eCommerce plug-in. Follow these steps to install:
- Login to your WordPress dashboard.
- Select the Plug-in section from the sidebar and then click “Add New”
- Type WooCommerce in the search bar and click “Install Now” on WooCommerce.
4. Set up Product pages
Now, it’s time to add products to your website. Visit the WordPress Admin Panel and select the “Products” option, then click “Add Product”.
5. Customize visual appearance
After you finish setting up pages and products, go to Appearance and click “Customize”. You can also upload your own logo and site identity icon, or you can change fonts and many more.
6. Payment
This is the last step in any shopping process, both online and offline. In online shopping, the transactions mostly take place through payment gateways that act as a middleman between you and your customer.
PayPal is the leading payment gateway but not necessarily the preferred one always.
There are numerous extensions to add extra functionalities to your online store. Here are some useful WooCommerce Extensions to help you run your website easier and faster.
WP Flat Visual Chat
Live Chat Option is very important in building trust with your customers and solving their doubts about products or services. With Live Chat Option, they can get answers to their queries immediately.
WooCommerce Menu Cart
It adds a shopping cart button at the top of your storefront. It has the following features:
- Floating position
- Custom CSS
- Selective visibility depends on the price, items, and the content of the shopping cart.
WooCommerce Ultimate Gift Cards
This extension helps you to sell gift cards on your online store. The customers can buy them and gift them to their loved ones. You can also reward them for returning customers to your store.
Product Filter for WooCommerce
With this SEO-friendly plug-in, your customers can filter products by categories, attributes, ranges, Meta keys, and many more filter options. This allows them to find the exact product they are looking for.
Enhanced eCommerce Google Analytics Plug-in for WooCommerce
Enhanced eCommerce Google Analytics is a free and easy-to-use module that allows you to track the client’s behavior on your online store from the product page to the thank-you page. This only supports Universal Analytics.
WooCommerce Refund and Exchange
Refund is a very cumbersome task if you don’t have this extension. But, with this extension, you can automate the entire process and allow your customers to submit a refund request, which is sent to you through email. You can decide further for a refund or exchange and proceed accordingly.
Getting Started with Your WordPress eCommerce Store
Starting a website is very exciting. Now you know how to build your own eCommerce development company with WordPress plugins and themes. You can set up your own store and start earning through your online store.
