A Complete Introduction to WooCommerce

WordPress has come a great distance from the common-or-garden running a blog platform it was once. Today, you should use it to create any kind of website you want, together with e-commerce. Nonetheless, promoting services and products on-line hasn’t all the time been straightforward, even with a user-friendly platform like WordPress.

That each one modified when WooCommerce was launched and have become the de facto e-commerce answer for WordPress customers. WooCommerce is the standout alternative for anyone who needs to construct a web based retailer. This standard plugin provides all kinds of options and makes promoting items and providers by your website easy — even for newbies.

An Introduction to WooCommerce

The WooCommerce plugin was first launched in 2011 and rapidly grew to become a preferred methodology for creating a web based retailer:

It was later acquired by Automattic in 2015, making it roughly the formally supported WordPress e-commerce plugin. WooCommerce’s progress since then has been steady and staggering.

In line with statistics collected by Barn2, WooCommerce powers nearly 41% of all e-commerce web sites. This makes it the most well-liked e-commerce answer by far, nearly double its closest competitor (Shopify).

So what’s all of the hubbub about? The principle cause for WooCommerce’s unbelievable progress and persevering with success is how straightforward it’s to make use of. Earlier than it got here alongside, promoting services and products on-line was not all the time a picnic. You normally needed to buy a number of items of software program, assemble the positioning your self, and hold monitor of each shifting half.

WooCommerce streamlines this course of, serving to you flip your present WordPress website into a web based retailer in minutes. It additionally makes configuring and working your retailer a lot simpler. Now, let’s take a more in-depth have a look at why WooCommerce is such a worthwhile device.

Why WooCommerce Is the Greatest Selection for Your On-line Retailer

We’ve already talked about that WooCommerce is simple to put in and configure, even for whole newbies. Simply by utilizing the fundamental free plugin and its default settings, you’ll be able to arrange a retailer in lower than an hour:

This ease of set up considerably lowers the edge for e-commerce newbies whereas nonetheless supplying you with management over almost each side of your retailer.

As soon as WooCommerce is put in, you’ll be able to simply configure and handle the whole lot from a user-friendly interface. This consists of product prices, merchandise particulars, transport charges, taxes, inventory ranges, photographs, and far more. You may also tailor the checkout course of to fit your wants, due to customizable carts, geolocation options, and a number of other completely different cost choices.

Maybe the most effective characteristic of WooCommerce is its flexibility. It really is a one-size-fits-all answer that works equally effectively for small impartial shops and enormous, bold e-commerce companies. As your organization grows over time, WooCommerce’s scalability makes it straightforward to broaden your retailer.

Whereas the plugin’s default settings work effectively for a extra modest website, the plugin may also be configured and customised to match your exact wants. You’ll be able to change the look of your retailer utilizing themes created particularly with WooCommerce websites in thoughts and add new performance by devoted extensions. Within the subsequent few sections, we’ll have a look at each of these choices in additional depth.

The right way to Customise Your On-line Retailer With WooCommerce Themes

WooCommerce works effectively with nearly any WordPress theme. Nonetheless, there are many themes particularly created for websites that use WooCommerce. These themes enable you to customise your retailer’s look to match the remainder of your website. Some even add new performance associated to WooCommerce, resembling customized put up sorts.

Most WooCommerce themes are primarily based on the official Storefront theme:

This theme is developed by the group behind WooCommerce, so you’ll be able to make certain that it’s safe and that the mixing is bullet-proof. Storefront can be free, which is all the time a plus.

Whereas this theme works nice by itself, it may be additional expanded utilizing certainly one of a number of little one themes. Should you’re not conscious, a baby theme builds on an present theme (its ‘dad or mum’),  enabling you to make adjustments to the ‘dad or mum theme’ with out modifying it straight.

Along with Storefront and its little one themes, you could find greater than a thousand WooCommerce-ready themes on ThemeForest. Many of those are specialised for various kinds of shops.

For instance, Electro is particularly constructed for creating electronics retailers, whereas the Motor theme is tailor-made towards automobile dealerships. No matter your enterprise and tastes, it is best to be capable to discover a theme that works completely for you.

4 Extensions for Augmenting Your WooCommerce Retailer

When you’ve picked out a theme on your retailer, it’s time to think about including further options. WooCommerce extensions allow you so as to add new performance to your WordPress retailer. Whereas they work very very similar to WordPress plugins, they’re particularly created to combine with WooCommerce.

Some extensions are free to make use of, whereas others require a one-time cost or an everyday subscription payment. Both approach, you should use them to reinforce your retailer with new options.

There are a whole lot of extensions obtainable, however we’re going to try a number of of the most effective choices for first-time WooCommerce customers.

1. WooCommerce Google Analytics

WooCommerce Google Analytics lets you use Google Analytics to trace your retailer’s efficiency. This extension might help you perceive your clients’ journey, together with how they discover your website and which merchandise they’re most eager about. You’ll be able to then use this information to optimize your gross sales funnel.

Key Options:

• Tracks session size, customers, and referrers.
• Highlights which areas of your retailer carry out effectively and which want enchancment.
• Helps you perceive buyer conduct and product recognition.

Pricing: WooCommerce Google Analytics is a free extension, but it surely does supply a premium model as effectively, beginning at $79 for a single website. Each extensions additionally require a free Google Analytics account to make use of.

2. WooCommerce Subscriptions

WooCommerce Subscriptions lets you create merchandise with recurring funds. It may be used to promote each bodily merchandise, resembling a month-to-month subscription field like Loot Crate and digital services or products.

Key Options:

• Allows you to decide on your cost schedule from a number of choices.
• Presents greater than 25 completely different cost gateways.
• Helps automated subscription renewal emails for each you and your clients.

Pricing: WooCommerce Subscriptions begins at $199 per 12 months for a single website.

3. WooCommerce Zapier

WooCommerce Zapier is a good answer for integrating your retailer with third-party providers. With this one extension, you’ll be able to join WooCommerce with MailChimp, YouTube, Dropbox, Google Drive, and plenty of different platforms.

Key Options:

• Integrates with over 1000 third-party providers.
• Lets you configure automation to save lots of time.
• Supplies efficiency experiences by the ‘Digest by Zapier’ characteristic.

Pricing: WooCommerce Zapier costs begin at $59 per 12 months for a single website.

4. Sq. for WooCommerce

Sq. for WooCommerce enhances your retailer’s cost choices, each on-line and in-person. The extension could be very straightforward to put in, and also you’ll be capable to settle for cost inside minutes. Sq. is suitable with all credit score and debit playing cards within the US, UK, Australia, Canada, and Japan.

Key Options:

• Makes it simpler to simply accept funds from numerous sources.
• Deposits your funds rapidly, inside 1-2 enterprise days.
• Lets you rapidly sync your Sq. and WooCommerce accounts.

Pricing: Sq. for WooCommerce is a free extension that requires a Sq. account to make use of.

Begin an On-line Retailer Immediately

If you wish to use your WordPress website to promote items and providers, WooCommerce is by far the best choice. It’s the most well-liked e-commerce plugin for a cause and makes it extremely straightforward for newbies and skilled customers alike to open a web based retailer.

Whereas utilizing the fundamental WooCommerce plugin will allow you to construct a profitable retailer, you’ll be able to enhance it even additional utilizing themes and extensions. For example, you’ll be able to hyperlink your on-line retailer with Google Analytics to trace buyer conduct or arrange recurring subscriptions on your clients.

Creating a gorgeous e-commerce retailer is simply step one. You’ll additionally must guarantee that your WooCommerce-powered store masses rapidly and offers a terrific consumer expertise. Take a look at our managed WordPress internet hosting plans to supercharge your website’s efficiency!