Choosing your e-commerce website platform is probably the most crucial step for anyone starting a business online. Though there are plenty of choices for you to consider, being able to select the best option will allow for a more accessible website set up, help increase e-commerce conversions, and showcase flexibility to accommodate your business’ future growth.
Due to its powerful features that make e-commerce management easy and efficient, WordPress continually proves to be a fantastic choice for e-commerce businesses. Even if your coding expertise isn’t as advanced as other experts, you’d still be able to assemble a properly functional e-commerce website that will allow you to sell products efficiently and reach an ever-growing target audience.
WordPress as an e-commerce website platform
Because WordPress is such a fantastic platform to manage websites with a wide array of content, businesses that use content marketing as the core of their advertising approach will find this very appealing. WordPress will also be more convenient if you plan to go heavy on SEO to market your business.
Throughout the years, WordPress has continued to prove its flexibility that allows different platforms for e-commerce management to thrive. Paired with powerful and straight forward features for website design, as well as some extra functionalities to help boost your website SEO, WordPress is the right choice for you.
Should you choose WordPress to start your e-commerce website platform, these steps will be able to guide you in setting up your WordPress e-commerce website properly:
Step 1: Choose your web hosting provider
Sites require web hosting services for them to remain accessible 24/7. Because of this, you’ll have to be more meticulous in your selection process. Don’t just look at a hosting provider’s performance – take a close look at e-commerce-specific features that will give more value for what you’ll be paying for.
Additionally, web hosting interruptions is always a possibility that your provider should be prepared to handle at any given time. Having your website inaccessible even for a couple of minutes can equate to profit loss, so see to it that your web hosting provider can offer real-time support.
You also have to choose whether you prefer to use a standard domain name extensions (.com, .net, etc.) or fresh Top Level Domains (.clothing, .berlin, etc.). Remember that this seemingly minute detail will eventually affect your branding, credibility, and customer perception in the years to come. Therefore, getting this decision right is very crucial for your business.
Step 2: Secure an SSL certificate
Because you’ll be needing sensitive information from your customers such as their addresses and credit card numbers to finish a transaction, keeping your website secure for your customers is crucial for your business. With an SSL certificate, you can assure your customers that their data is safe, and all transactions are secure.
An SSL certificate is a requirement for you to receive and process transactions using credit cards. This ensures that all communication between a customer’s device and your web server is adequately guarded.
Some web hosting providers offer SSL certificates bundled up with their service, allowing for a more convenient procurement process on your end. However, you can also opt for separate SSL certificates, which you can get from SSL providers.
Step 3: Select your eCommerce platform
On its own, WordPress websites aren’t designed for e-commerce. You will need e-commerce plugins to turn an essential website into a booming online store. However, there are plenty of choices available on WordPress, so knowing which e-commerce plugins to use is vital.
Experts say that Magento, Shopify, and WooCommerce are among the best e-commerce WordPress platforms currently available, so you should check them out. Just remember to look at options that can be easily adapted to your changing needs so that you can avoid having to switch platforms as your customer base and product offerings expand.
Step 4: Step-up your eCommerce Store on WordPress
After taking a good look at available options, you can now proceed and set up your e-commerce plugin on your WordPress website. Don’t be disheartened if you’re inexperienced in coding as these steps are designed to be immensely customer-friendly.
- Create a WordPress account and select your website presets
- Navigate to the Administration panel
- Select “Plugins” -> “Add new”
- Search your preferred e-commerce platform by typing the plugin’s name on the search bar
- After selecting your preferred plugin, click “Install now” and proceed
- Wait a few minutes and let WordPress complete the installation for you
WordPress has a built-in installation wizard that will make installation and set-up easy for you and that you don’t skip any essential steps such as your tax information and shipping preferences. You can now get to work and list your products by creating critical pages for your e-commerce website.
Step 5: Customize your eCommerce site
Once your e-commerce plugin has been installed, it means you now have a fully-functioning e-commerce website. However, you should customize its appearance for it to embody your brand correctly. Personalizing your site will also make it easier for you to deliver quality content and enjoyable user experience – factors that will eventually increase your sales.
As you customize your website, see to it to consider doing the following tips to help you continuously attract more customers and drive them towards conversion:
- Test your website’s links by checking if each webpage link is working
- Look for website promoting platforms that will help your site get noticed by a wider audience
- Leverage social media marketing tools that drive social media users to your website
- Encourage customer reviews and referrals on your products, especially since 8 out of 10 customers trust online reviews when buying online
- Look for other useful plugins that will make it easier to spread the word about your website around
- Keep your website plugins updated
- Integrate your social media platforms to your site
Proper start for your e-commerce website success
As with any aspect in life, laying down a strong foundation is crucial in maximizing your opportunities as well as avoiding costly mistakes. By following these steps, you should find it easy to make decisions and other necessary actions that will ultimately help you correctly set-up your e-commerce website for a successful business.
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