A Comprehensive Introduction to WooCommerce

In this article, we’ll introduce you to WooCommerce, take a look at its key features, and explain why you might want to use it. We’ll also talk about how you can use WooCommerce-specific extensions and themes to make your store even better.

WordPress has come a long way from the humble blogging platform it used to be. These days, you can use it to create any type of site you need, which naturally means that it can be used for e-commerce. However, selling products and services online hasn’t always been easy, even on a user-friendly platform like WordPress.

That all changed when WooCommerce was launched and became the de facto e-commerce solution for WordPress users. WooCommerce is the standout choice for anybody who wants to build an online store. This popular plugin offers a wide variety of features and makes selling goods and services through your site simple — even for beginners.

An Introduction to WooCommerce

The WooCommerce plugin was first launched in 2011 and quickly became a popular method for creating an online store. It was later acquired by Automattic in 2015, making it more or less the officially supported WordPress e-commerce plugin. Its growth since then has been continuous and staggering.

According to statistics collected by Barn2, WooCommerce powers 42 percent of all e-commerce websites. This makes it the most popular e-commerce solution by far, more than six times as common as its closest competitor. Its popularity becomes even more impressive when you compare it to other WordPress e-commerce solutions. Again according to Barn2, WooCommerce is currently used to power 94.3 percent of WordPress e-commerce sites.

So what is all the hubbub about? The main reason for WooCommerce’s incredible growth and continuing success is how easy it is to use. Before it came along, selling products and services online was not always a picnic. You usually had to purchase several pieces of software, construct the site yourself, and keep track of every moving part.

WooCommerce streamlines this process, enabling you to turn your existing WordPress site into an online store in minutes. It also makes configuring and running your store much easier. Let’s take a closer look at why WooCommerce is such a valuable tool.

Why WooCommerce Is the Best Choice for Your Online Store

We’ve already mentioned that WooCommerce is easy to install and configure, even for total beginners. Just by using the basic free plugin and its default settings, you can set up a store in minutes. This significantly lowers the threshold for e-commerce beginners, while still giving you control over nearly every facet of your store.

Once WooCommerce is installed, you can easily configure and manage everything from one user-friendly interface. This includes product costs, item details, shipping fees, taxes, stock levels, images, and much more. You can also tailor the checkout process to suit your needs, thanks to customizable carts, geolocation features, and several different payment options.

Perhaps the best feature of WooCommerce is its flexibility. It truly is a one-size-fits-all solution, one that works equally well for small independent stores and large, ambitious e-commerce businesses. As your business grows over time, WooCommerce’s scalability makes it easy to expand your store.

While the plugin’s default settings work well for a more modest site, the plugin can be configured and customized to match your precise needs. You can change the look of your store using themes created specifically with WooCommerce sites in mind, and add new functionality through dedicated extensions. In the next few sections, we’ll look at both of those options in more depth.

How to Customize Your Online Store With WooCommerce Themes

WooCommerce works well with just about any WordPress theme. However, there are plenty of themes specifically created for sites that use WooCommerce. These themes help you customize your store’s appearance to match the rest of your site. Some even add new functionality related to WooCommerce, such as custom post types.

Most WooCommerce themes are based on the official Storefront theme:

This theme is developed by the team behind WooCommerce, so you can be sure that it’s secure and that the integration is bullet-proof. Storefront is also free, which is always a plus.

While this theme works great on its own, it can be further expanded using one of several child themes. If you’re not aware, a child theme builds on an existing theme, enabling you to make changes to the ‘parent theme’ without editing it directly.

In addition to Storefront and its child themes, you can find more than a thousand WooCommerce-ready themes on ThemeForest. Many of these are specialized for different types of stores. For example, Electro is specifically built for creating electronics shops, while the Motor theme is tailored towards car dealerships. Regardless of your business and tastes, you should be able to find a theme that works perfectly for you.

4 Extensions for Augmenting Your WooCommerce Store

Once you’ve picked out a theme for your store, it’s time to consider adding features. WooCommerce extensions enable you to add new functionality to your WordPress store. While they work very much like WordPress plugins, they are specifically created to integrate with WooCommerce.

Some extensions are free to use, while others require a one-time payment or a regular subscription fee. Either way, you can use them to enhance your store with new features. There are hundreds of extensions available, but we’re going to take a look at a few of the best options for first-time WooCommerce users.

1. WooCommerce Google Analytics

WooCommerce Google Analytics enables you to use Google Analytics to track your store’s performance. This extension is a great way to understand your customers’ journey, including how they find your site and which products they’re most interested in. You can use this data to optimize your sales funnel.

Key Features:

• Tracks session length, users, and referrers.
• Highlights which areas of your store perform well and which need improvement.
• Helps you understand customer behavior and product popularity.

Pricing: WooCommerce Google Analytics is a free extension, but it does offer a premium version as well, starting at $29 for a single site. Both extensions also require a free Google Analytics account to use.

2. WooCommerce Subscriptions

WooCommerce Subscriptions enables you to create products with recurring payments. It can be used to sell both physical products, such as a monthly subscription box like Loot Crate, and virtual products or services.

Key Features:

• Enables you to choose your payment schedule from several options.
• Offers more than 25 different payment gateways.
• Supports automatic subscription renewal emails for both you and your customers.

Pricing: WooCommerce Subscriptions starts at $199 per year for a single site.

3. WooCommerce Zapier

WooCommerce Zapier is a perfect solution for integrating your store with third-party services. With this one extension, you can connect WooCommerce with MailChimp, YouTube, Dropbox, Google Drive, and many other platforms.

Key Features:

• Integrates with over 1000 third-party services.
• Enables you to configure automation to save time.
• Provides performance reports through the ‘Digest by Zapier’ feature.

Pricing: WooCommerce Zapier prices start at $59 per year for a single site.

4. Square for WooCommerce

Square for WooCommerce enhances your store’s payment options, both online and in-person. The extension is very easy to install, and you’ll be able to accept payment within minutes. Square is compatible with all credit and debit cards in the US, UK, Australia, Canada, and Japan.

Key Features:

• Makes it easier to accept payments from various sources.
• Deposits your funds quickly, within 1-2 business days.
• Enables you to quickly sync your Square and WooCommerce accounts.

Pricing: Square for WooCommerce is a free extension, but does require a Square account to use.

Conclusion

If you want to use your WordPress site to sell goods and services, WooCommerce is by far your best option. It’s the most popular e-commerce plugin for a reason, and makes it incredibly easy for beginners and experienced users alike to open an online store. While using the basic plugin will enable you to build a successful store, you can improve it even further using themes and extensions.