How to Build a Successful eCommerce Website with WordPress
Are you planning to launch an online store? It’s a powerful platform that offers plenty of tools to create a fully functioning eCommerce website. Whether you’re a seasoned developer or a beginner, WordPress makes it easy to build an online storefront.
In this guide, we’ll explore why WordPress is an excellent choice for your eCommerce business, the essentials your online store should have, and how to build an online store on WordPress.
Also Read: How to Build a Website From Scratch
Why Choose WordPress for Your eCommerce Business?
WordPress powers almost 43% of the world’s websites, from personal blogs to the top 100 websites on the Internet. As an open-source platform, WordPress is free and consists of a set of core codes that form the framework of a website. The platform’s versatility comes from thousands of themes, plugins, and plugin extensions that allow you to create unique sites from the basic website framework.
WordPress is the world’s most popular site builder and content management system, meaning it has a vast community of users, contributors, and developers behind it. This community develops many premium and free WordPress themes and plugins, allowing anyone to optimize any WordPress site for showcasing goods, services, and memberships. Additionally, the community offers ample resources, such as online courses, forums, blog posts, and webinars, that can help you set up an online store.
The Essentials of Your WordPress eCommerce Website.
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However, some core functions make it easy for site owners to manage the store and visitors to find and purchase products. These essential functions include:
Easy-to-manage product pages:
You should have options to promote featured products and special deals, include product descriptions and images, and organize products into categories.
Secure payment portals:
Your online store must protect buyers’ payment information.
Design that reflects your brand:
Your website’s appearance should match your business’s identity.
Contact features:
You should offer contact forms, live chat, or a support number to handle customer issues and questions.
Mobile responsiveness:
Your website should be optimized for mobile devices, which have become increasingly popular among online shoppers.
Social media integration:
You should have links to social media platforms to share content and engage with your customers.
SSL certificate:
Your website should be secure with an SSL certificate.
How to Build an Online Store on WordPress
Before you can start building your online store, you need to choose a domain name and a hosting provider. Bluehost offers hosting packages specifically for WordPress users and eCommerce websites. Once you have your domain name and hosting provider, you can start building your online store on WordPress.
Pick a WordPress eCommerce theme: Themes define your website’s appearance and layout. Free and premium eCommerce-friendly themes offer various ways to showcase products, such as adding landing pages, galleries for featured product images, and blogs. Premium themes offer more features to round out your online store’s essentials.
Choose the right WordPress eCommerce plugins: Plugins round out the essential functions that make up your website. E-commerce-related plugins for WordPress range from full storefronts to dedicated functions like shopping carts and payment portals. Some themes, such as the Storefront eCommerce theme, are directly compatible with WooCommerce – the most popular WordPress eCommerce plugin.
In conclusion, WordPress is an excellent platform for building an eCommerce website. With its vast community of users, contributors, and developers, you have access to numerous resources and tools to build a successful online store. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can create
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