eCommerce is becoming an essential aspect for many businesses. As we mentioned in a previous blog, there are a lot of factors to consider when you choose the best eCommerce platform for your business.
But if you already know that you want WordPress to be the home base of your website, you may be wondering if WordPress can be used for eCommerce and how. The good news is it can.
Using WordPress for eCommerce
Along with various other platforms, WordPress is one of the many options that your company can utilize to house its online store. With a functional interface, the ability to easily edit content, various plugins available, and the fact that it’s free, WordPress is one of the most used eCommerce platforms.
The WooCommerce plugin is the most popular option
WooCommerce is a WordPress plugin that is becoming trendy for businesses already operating on WordPress. Data shows that nearly 42% of online stores in Canada are running on this platform. WooCommerce is future-rich, user-friendly, and open-source. Not only is this plugin easy for users to navigate, but it is also free for users to download. Making this option accessible for those on a tight budget. A vital feature of this plugin is that it allows businesses to sell any product or service. WooCommerce also doubles as an online catalog for those not quite ready for a functional online store.
For your other options, think Shopify
If your company has already developed a WordPress site but hasn't considered adding an eCommerce platform until now, you still have the option to! You can download WooCommerce or operate your store from a third-party site like Shopify.
If you are using Shopify, you have a couple of options. You will build your store out on Shopify, and you then connect your store through a secondary URL, for example "shop.computan.com," to your navigation. A bonus feature WordPress users will love is the Shopify plugin. Using the free Shopify plugin, this plugin allows you to make any WordPress page or blog post shoppable. This plug-in lets you quickly drop products with “buy” buttons into any page, sidebar, or blog post. This feature will also add a pop-out shopping cart for your site, allowing customers to purchase multiple products simultaneously. The Shopify platform costs users a monthly fee; however, the WordPress plugin is free. The monthly payment depends on how complex the user desires their eCommerce platform to be.
With eCommerce changing how businesses sell their products, many companies are investing in online stores. This easily accessible form of shopping allows consumers to shop for their favorite products from the tip of their fingers. Your WordPress website may already be the perfect home; it just needs a store!
Specializing in development and customization, we work with clients to build the perfect storefront for their business. So, if you're still doing a Google search for “How to build an eCommerce website using WordPress,” contact us today.
