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Ever since the pandemic, more and more people have been trying to set up their eCommerce stores. The primary reason is that the pandemic has forever changed consumer buying behavior. Although the removal of the mandatory lockdowns and stay-at-home orders, consumers prefer shopping online.
Therefore, this is the best time to start an e-commerce store.
The first thing you must consider when setting up a store is the eCommerce website development platform. Multiple options are available, such as Shopify, Magento, and WordPress. While WordPress is not an eCommerce platform, you can convert it into one using plugins such as WooCommerce.
This article will list the top benefits of using WordPress for your eCommerce website. If you already have an eCommerce store, consider our tips on boosting sales on your WooCommerce store. Before listing the top benefits of using WordPress, let’s quickly get an overview of it.
Introduction to WordPress & WooCommerce
WordPress is a free, open-source website creation platform or, in technical terms, a content management system. Today, it is undoubtedly the easiest and among the most powerful platforms for creating stunning websites. It is designed with ease of use and flexibility in mind. WordPress meets everyone’s needs, whether you want to make a personal blog, an online business website, or a comprehensive e-commerce store.
If you wish to set up an eCommerce store using WordPress, you need to install WooCommerce first. Like WordPress itself, it is entirely open-source, i.e., free to download and use. You can customize the store using plugins and tweaking the code to create a unique and compelling online store. A WooCommerce smartphone app allows you to manage your entire store using your phone.
Figure 1. WooCommerce Smartphone App (Source: WooCommerce)
Figure 2. Add Shipping Labels (Source: WooCommerce)
Now that you know about WordPress and WooCommerce, let’s review the benefits of using WordPress for your eCommerce website.
Top Reasons to Select WordPress for eCommerce Websites
1. Simplicity
Individuals and businesses (big or small) prefer WordPress because of its simplicity, i.e., ease of use. Regardless of your knowledge of WordPress, you can set up a compelling eCommerce store yourself. The platform is built for non-technical people and is relatively user-friendly.
Figure 3. WordPress Dashboard
A glance at the WordPress dashboard shows that all you need to manage the website is on the screen’s left side. If you want to create new pages or change the appearance, click and follow the instructions. There is no need to hire a web design company or eCommerce experts, a testament to WordPress’s ease of use.
2. Community
If you get stuck using WordPress, there is no cause for alarm. WordPress has the largest online community willing to help you at a moment’s notice. You only need to search for the relevant WordPress forum and post your query. Professionals will help you free of cost.
The alternative is to hire an expert eCommerce website development company to help you set up and manage your eCommerce store. This option is available if budget is not an issue and you want a professional-looking online store that stands out.
3. Updates
One of the most notable things about WordPress is the frequent updates. It regularly adds new features, improves security, and enhances its functionality. Many of the top eCommerce stores need to respond to market changes, making WordPress the top choice for integrating the latest trends.
4. Search Engine Optimisation (SEO)
The first thing that any online store owner must do after setting up the store is invest in SEO. It refers to improving your store’s ranking on search engines such as Google to increase organic traffic. Unlike other platforms, there are dedicated WordPress SEO plugins to improve your rankings. Adding alt texts, meta descriptions, keyword-rich content, and more is easy. That’s only part of it, as the minimal code and design allow crawlers to crawl your WordPress eCommerce website easily.
5. Pricing
As said earlier, WooCommerce is open-source and free to use. All you need to do is buy the domain name and hosting service. Ensure that the domain name is SEO-friendly, and consider the FAQs about WordPress hosting before proceeding with the purchase. WordPress is relatively inexpensive. SiteGround, a leading hosting provider, offers WooCommerce hosting plans for as low as $1.99 monthly.
Figure 4. SIteGround’s WooCommerce Hosting Offers
With the holiday season upon us, you can get even more exciting discounts.
6. Payment Charges
The purpose of setting up an e-commerce store is to allow people to shop online. WordPress does not charge a fee for online transactions. Shopify, a popular e-commerce platform, charges a fee for every transaction unless you use its payment gateway.
Figure 5. Shopify Payment Charges
The above figure shows the fee for every transaction for the Basic, Shopify, and Advanced plans. What’s more interesting is that each plan has a separate fee. For instance, the Advanced Plan costs $399 per month, which is relatively high. WordPress is free; you must only pay for hosting and premium plugins.
7. Plugins
Another benefit of using WordPress for your eCommerce store is the availability of plugins. The plugins help you customize each aspect of your store, most of which are free. Shopify and Magento have fewer extensions available than WordPress.
8. Themes
When setting up your eCommerce store, you want it to stand out. Well, WordPress provides the perfect answer in the form of ready-made themes. All you need to do is download the desired theme and install it. You can then work on its customization to ensure it stands out. Like the plugins, some themes are free, while others are premium. There are dedicated eCommerce themes that you can utilize for your store.
Conclusion
This concludes our article on the benefits of using WordPress to create an eCommerce website. You will be surprised to know that these are only some benefits, as there are countless reasons to prefer WordPress over others. If you have any suggestions or queries, please leave a comment below.
