eCommerce is a growing industry, and there are numerous ways to build an online store in the modern world. However, WordPress remains one of the most popular, and most effective online store builders – but only if you know what you’re doing.
Luckily, there are a lot of great resources out there to help you build your own eCommerce store. I’ve drawn on a few of the best to put together this ultimate guide to building an online store with WordPress. Although it’s short, it includes all the basics that you need to know.
Start By Choosing A Reliable Hosting Provider
The first thing you want to do when you’re building an online store with WordPress is find a hosting provider which is both reliable and which can cope with the needs of an online store. Don’t be tempted to go with a base-level shared hosting plan. Instead, look for something a little more expensive. In the case of hosting, you definitely get what you pay for.
Then, Choose A Design
Unfortunately, your store design will depend on your budget to a large extent. If your budget is limited, then you will probably have to use a free or cheap premade theme. However, if you can afford it, I’d definitely recommend paying a developer to put together a custom theme for you.
Choose A Domain
Like your theme, the domain you choose will largely depend on your budget. If you have a limited budget, then you will probably be confined to using a cheap domain name which doesn’t really draw people in. However, if you can afford it, you should definitely consider using a premium domain which is attractive and which embodies your brand.
Install eCommerce Plugins
Running a WordPress eCommerce store without some sort of specialised plugins is going to be very difficult. Luckily, there is a wide range of plugins available.
If you’re an eCommerce beginner, then I’d probably recommend starting with WooCommerce. It’s the most popular online store plugin for WordPress, and it essentially includes everything you’re going to need.
Load Your Store With Products And Start Selling!
By now you should have a domain set up, a theme installed – and hopefully customized – and at least one eCommerce plugin added to your new online store. If so, then you’re probably right to get started. Add some products to your store, set up your first marketing campaign, and start selling!
Consider Ongoing Maintenance
Although the hardest part is getting to the stage where you can actually make your first sale, you do need to keep ongoing maintenance of your WordPress store in mind. Make sure that your most popular items remain in stock, that you’re keeping up with order fulfillment, and that you’re continually doing what you can to grow your store.
Final Word
Starting your first online store with WordPress doesn’t have to be too hard, especially if you’re already familiar with the WordPress dashboard. Basically, you need to make sure that you’re using a reliable hosting provider, get a good domain, install a plugin like WooCommerce, develop an attractive theme, and start selling!
