How to Set Up WooCommerce Store – A Comprehensive Guide
WooCommerce is one of the most popular eCommerce platforms that users use to build and manage online stores. It has the ability to turn a normal WordPress website into a high-quality and seamlessly functional eCommerce website. However, setting up a WooCommerce store is tricky.
Since you clicked on this article, I assume you want to learn how to set up WooCommerce store for your brand. You are at the right place. In this article, I will explain what WooCommerce is and how to set it up with the easiest method with effective online marketing tips. Without further ado, Let’s Go!
What is WooCommerce
WooCommerce is a free WordPress plugin, that users use to build high-quality eCommerce websites. You can create online stores from scratch or add features to your existing WordPress website, ensuring functionality and seamless user experience.
As WooCommerce is open-source, you can download it for free and control your e-commerce website in any way you like. However, to set up a WooCommerce store, you need to purchase a domain name and hosting. Still, WooCommerce online stores are cost-effective, flexible, and worth investing in to ensure your business’s growth.
What Can You Do with WooCommerce Plugin
WooCommerce site is a super helpful tool that takes your brand to the next level.
- Add Features and Functionalities. WooCommerce has hundreds of extensions, designs, and templates that allow you to create visually appealing web designs that reflect your brand image and value.
- Build Multistore. With WooCommerce, you can create and manage multiple products and services super easily.
- Manage Products. You can easily manage digital products with WooCommerce’s easy-to-use intuitive interface like adding products to carts, editing, and removing.
- Sell Unlimited Products or Services. Do you want to sell physical products, digital products, or services? WooCommerce has all the options.
- Manage Order and Shipping. The WooCommerce plugin allows you to monitor orders and shipping easily and effectively.
- Add Multiple Payment Methods. You can add multiple payment options like Paypal, Credit Cards, Stripe, and more, ensuring your customers can make purchases and pay smoothly.
How to Set Up WooCommerce Store in Simple 11 Steps
Here comes the part you clicked on in this article. Let’s see how to add WooCommerce to WordPress, fulfilling your business needs and enhancing sales.
Purchase a Domain Name and Hosting
Though the WooCommerce plugin is free, you need to buy your interested domain name and hosting.
If you want to rank your WordPress website in a local area like the UK or BD, you can purchase a domain name like “digitalhome.uk.” and if you are targeting local and global clients, purchase a domain name like “yourstore.com”. Also, choose hosting from reliable sources like Bluehost, SiteGround, or Hostinger.
Install and Set Up WordPress
After you are done purchasing the domain and hosting, You need to install WordPress and set it up.
Most hosting providers offer 1-click WordPress installation. So, when you log into your hosting dashboard, Click on “Log into WordPress” to directly go to the WordPress dashboard.
On the WordPress Dashboard, click on “Settings”.
- Write your website title.
- Provide a small description of your website in the Tagline.
- Add your website URL (ensure your URL is “https”).
- Add your email address accurately as you will get notifications and do other work with this email.
- Select your timezone for your website.
- Recheck all your information and click “save changes”.
WooCommerce Download & Install
The WooCommerce installation process is similar to that of other WordPress plugins.
Go to Add Plugins – Search WooCommerce – and Install WooCommerce Plugin from the appeared search results.
WordPress will automatically install WooCommerce. Click on the activate button beside WooCommerce and it will take you to the WooCommerce setup wizard. Let’s see how to set up WooCommerce on WordPress.
- Add your store location in the appeared box and click “Continue”.
- Add your other business details in the next steps like your industry, product type, and more.
- Checkmark the “Add recommended business features to site” and click “Continue”.
- For the last WooCommerce setup step, you can choose a theme or continue with your active theme. You can change your theme at any time so I suggest keep working with your current theme and change it later if needed. Click on your desired option, and save your WooCommerce settings.
- Once you are done setting up your store, it will directly take you to the WooCommerce Dashboard.
Add Products in WooCommerce
Upon appearing on the WooCommerce dashboard, you can start setting up your WooCommerce store. Let’s begin with adding product types to your website.
Click on WooCommerce > Add my products.
A section will appear. You can add your products with a template, manually, or import via CSV, or another service. Choose your desired option and add physical products, digital products, or variable products to your WordPress website. Click “Go”.
Now, add your product title, and description, add it to the new category, add pricing, and add the main feature product image with multiple-angle images. Review your product information and publish your product in the WooCommerce store.
Set Up Payment Gateways
You need to add payment options so that your customers can purchase your products.
Again click on WooCommerce > Home. “Set up payments” is right below the add my products. Click on the setup payments and it will take you to a page with payment methods. Choose your desired options like Stripe, Klarna, PayPal, Cash on Delivery, or bank transfer.
Set Up Tax
Now, you need to set up your sales tax in WooCommerce. Click on WooCommerce > Home > Set Up Tax. The option is right below the Set Up Payments.
Choose Set up Tax and a box will appear with “Choose a Tax Partner”. You can select Woocommerce Tax, Avalara, or set up taxes manually. Also, if you do not charge sales tax, select “I Don’t Charge Sales Tax”.
If you want to set up your taxes manually, it will take you to the WooCommerce Settings’s Tax tab. In the tab, add your tax details like your country, city, zip code, tax rate, and others. Review the information and click on “Save Changes” to save the details.
Set Up Your Shipping Pricing
Go back to WooCommerce > Home and click “Set Up Shipping”. Add Shipping costs to your desired country and the rest of the world or offer free shipping.
Add your WooCommerce shipping prices and click “Proceed” to save it.
Set Up Marketing Tools
Select “Set Up Marketing Tools” from WooCommerce’s Home. Recommended marketing extensions will appear. Choose your preferred email marketing method from the MailPoet, Mailchimp, and Creative Mail for WooCommerce options. If you want to run Google Ads to promote your website, choose Google Listings & Ads.
Personalize Your Store
It is the final step for customizing your WooCommerce store. Select WooCommerce > Home > Personalize Your Store. A screen will pop up with three options. Create a custom homepage, Upload a logo, and Set a store notice.
First, customize your homepage. Choose Create homepage and WooCommerce will automatically set up a homepage using one of the default WordPress themes. You can use the default theme or customize it according to your vision.
Choose “Upload a Logo” to add your brand logo to the WordPress site. I suggest using an “SVG” image file for uploading the logo so that it looks the same and visually appealing on all devices.
For the “Set a Store Notice” section, if you have any notice you want to publish for the audience like 50% off on all products, you can add it in this section. Review all the information and click on “Complete Task” to save the data.
Test Your WooCommerce Store
After finishing setting up your WooCommerce store, you need to test its functionality and performance. How?
- Use the latest technology to check the website’s overall performance.
- Place a test order on your website, check order processing, and order notifications on the device.
- Check different payment methods and checkout processes are working properly.
If your online store is functioning perfectly, you are ready to launch your WooCommerce store. Regularly check the website’s functionality with quality website maintenance services and ensure visitors always have a seamless experience. Congratulations on building a successful WooCommerce website for your brand.
Promote Your Online Store
Just launching your WooCommerce WordPress website will not get you found by your target audience and enhance traffic and sales. You need to promote your business with an effective marketing strategy.
- Invest in WooCommerce SEO to promote your brand in search engines. Add SEO-friendly product titles and descriptions and optimize your product images to ensure your brand ranks online and appears in searchers’ queries, enhancing engagement, traffic, and sales.
- Promote your WooCommerce website on social media and entice your users to visit your website. To tempt your users to visit your online store, you can offer sales like 10% off on website purchases.
- Run Google Ads and Facebook Ads. Bring instant traffic, engage with your audience, and improve sales fast with result-driven ad campaigns.
- Invest in influencer marketing. Influencer marketing is the trend now. To get noticed faster, hire popular influencers to promote your brand and enhance revenue.
Last but not least, monitor your website performance and marketing strategy to ensure your users have a seamless experience and convert into customers.
Concluding With
Was our how to set up WooCommerce store tutorial easy? It may seem like too much information at first but if you follow the process step-by-step, it is super easy.
After you launch your WooCommerce store, you can update its features slowly. For example, customize a perfect theme that reflects your brand and learn more about WooCommerce settings.
However, if you are busy selling your products and do not have enough time to invest in customizing your WooCommerce store, take Adapts Today’s professional WordPress design and development services. We listen to your query and build a WooCommerce online store that meets your business needs, ensuring functionality, engagement, and conversion. Get a Free Consultation Today!
