Have you been dreaming of opening that online store for a while now? Wondering how the pandemic should affect that decision? You shouldn’t waste any more time, and WordPress can make the process much easier for you. It even has its own e-commerce plug-in called WooCommerce, designed for small to large-sized online merchants.
Is WordPress the right solution for you and your business? For e-commerce? Let’s look through it in detail and find out.
WooCommerce in a Nutshell
What is WooCommerce?
If we begin talking about WordPress’s features, we’re going to be sitting here for a while. So, let’s start by knowing all about WooCommerce, which is the software responsible for e-commerce on WordPress.
WooCommerce is a website software that allows you to create your own website and install an e-commerce plug-in. This WooCommerce plug-in will handle all the transactions and payments later on.
This process requires some technical skills, such as installing the software and the plugins. You’ll also be required to add a theme. So, you should have some website building skills, but other than that the platform is relatively easy to use.
WooCommerce enables you to add endless extensions to your website and it offers exceptional features for content management. Additionally, it’s packed with free themes that you can choose from, as well as some paid ones.
Reasons You Should Use WordPress for Ecommerce
There are plenty of reasons to consider WooCommerce for your upcoming e-commerce project. Here below are a few valid ones to help you make your decision.
No Restrictions
WordPress is an open-source system, which means it doesn’t bind you to commercial restrictions like most similar sites do. This means you’ll be able to create your website and utilize WooCommerce in any manner you want. Not to mention that it’s a free platform, which is one more reason to love it.
Furthermore, if you encounter any issue, you’ll be able to contact WordPress’s support community. You won’t get immediate answers, but it’s still a nice option to have.
Only Basic Skills Needed
If you’re worried about your lack of coding skills, don’t be. While most similar sites demand that you know the basics of coding, WordPress doesn’t. That’s unless you want to add some advanced customization to your website.
With WooCommerce, you’ll only need some basic skills of forming a website, which you can easily acquire through the internet. Besides, managing your site later on will become a breeze. You’ll be able to monitor your sales and add your products without the need for professional help.
A Wide Variety of Plug-ins
The number of e-commerce plug-ins on WooCommerce is unrivaled. They help raise your website’s functionality and make your mission easier. On top of that, the themes available will serve as an attraction for visitors.
Instead of having a basic website, WooCommerce lets you have a fully equipped one, and at an affordable cost too. Some themes are free, but the paid ones are moderately-priced and suitable for tight budgets.
The good news is that both the themes and the plug-ins are easy to install and use. Like everything else on the platform, they don’t need the help of a specialist.
Easy Inventory Management
With online stores, you’ll be required to update the inventory constantly. Adding and removing products can be challenging to deal with, especially if you’re selling a variable item such as clothes. There are various sizes and colors to take into consideration.
With WordPress, this process will be a piece of cake. WooCommerce offers you a dashboard that enables you to manage your products with ease. You’ll be able to adjust the inventory by a click on a few buttons, a process that is pretty hard to do on similar platforms.
Reasons You May Want to Consider an Alternative
There’s no such thing as perfect; everything comes with downsides, including WordPress. If you want to make the right decision about using it, you should know the pros and the cons.
Security
Security is a common software downside. It’s the first thing people are looking for when using any kind of software. The thing with WordPress is that it’s a primary target for hackers. Imagine all of the amount of shopping data on one site; it’ll tempt any hacker to try and obtain financial information.
The issue is not insolvable, though. A robust security plug-in ought to do it, such as Wordfence. However, the premium versions of such plug-ins will cost a lot, and the free versions can only work to an extent.
Costly Hosting
While WordPress is free, the hosting servers aren’t. We know that WooCommerce only works on WordPress, so you have no other choice but to pay.
So, while you think you’re signing up for a free platform, there are in fact some hidden costs.
When to Use WooCommerce?
If you’re still confused about when to use WooCommerce, we can help you figure it out. There are a couple of situations where it’s your best option.
For one, if you already have a site on WordPress, WooCommerce would be an ideal option to consider. You’d already be familiar with the site and the interface. Additionally, you’ll know your way around the admin panel, which will naturally make your mission easier and save time. Not to mention that in this case, you won’t have to pay for a new platform.
Furthermore, you can go for WooCommerce if you’re comfortable with the effort you’ll do. You’ll have to set up the web host and launch the website. In addition to that, you’ll have to obtain a couple of plug-ins to optimize your online store.
Some people may not have enough skills for this. If you do, you’re lucky because you’ll be able to gain WooCommerce’s benefits at a much lower cost than similar software. No other platform has the number of features on WooCommerce. It has shopping carts, online payment, catalog, and coupons, It makes e-commerce a breeze.
The Final Verdict
If you want everything that has to do with e-commerce on one platform, WooCommerce is worth considering. Aside from the convenience and ease of use, it offers a wide array of features that you won’t find anywhere else.
We believe it’s one of the best options available if you’re willing to acquire some website building skills. If you want to make an inquiry about WordPress, contact us; we have all the answers you need!
