What is an eCommerce platform?
Put in simple terms eCommerce is the selling and buying of good or services via the internet with a transfer of money and data to complete the sale. When building a website to integrate selling and buying of your goods there are numerous ways you can go about it. You can either use an all-in-one eCommerce platform such as Wix or Squarespace which allows you to choose a website template and start selling instantly. Another way to do this is by using an eCommerce plugin that is compatible with your Content Management System (CMS).
No matter what method you use to implement your eCommerce there is no denying that currently it is beneficial to your company to allow for customers to purchase your goods online. As internet access and adoption has increased rapidly worldwide, the number of digital buyers is climbing continuously every year. In 2020, over two billion people purchased goods or services online meaning that you should think about moving your business/shop online. Let’s discuss some of the key benefits that eCommerce can provide your business.
Global Marketplace
As you are no longer using a physical store in a set place, using an eCommerce site can allow you to reach customers around the globe meaning you are no longer restricted by geography and physical barriers.
Convenience
As your website will be up continuously it means that customers will have access to your site 24/7 allowing for constant sales, quick delivery, and easy returns.
Customer Experience
By creating an eCommerce site, you are allowing your site to create a user profile for the customers that purchase goods from you. This allows you to suggest products and offers that may relate and tailor to them. This improves customer experience as it makes them feel that they are understood on a personal level in turn increasing the likelihood that they will return to your site and purchase from you again.
Reduces Costs
Having a digital store means that you are no longer paying the costs of having to run a physical store meaning that you will have a minimal operating cost along with a minimal start-up cost.
What is WooCommerce
WooCommerce is an eCommerce plugin that is used with WordPress a content management system (CMS) which is used to create websites or blogs. Using WooCommerce allows us to create and manage online stores simplifying the process with levels of flexibility including several useful features such as inventory and tax management, secure payments, and shipping integration.
WooCommerce works by turning your website into an eCommerce store allowing you to add products, shopping cart and checkout options all whilst being able to set zone specific shipping areas and assigning tax to specific products and deliveries. It is a free plugin that is fully compatible with the functions that will be on your WordPress website. Now we will have a look at why you should look at implementing or creating a WooCommerce site.
Why use WooCommerce
WooCommerce is one of the most popular eCommerce plugins that are available and is in our eyes one of the best. Its integration with WordPress allows you to ensure that you can best include great SEO practices and eCommerce ability. Using WooCommerce you can track orders, update your customers with delivery statuses, manage your inventory by making products out of stock or setting a stock amount and most important of all is that it will improve customer engagement. Below we will list a few of the reason that you should think about using WooCommerce as your next eCommerce plugin.
Pricing
One of the main reasons that anyone looks at when deciding on a plugin to use is the pricing and when looking for a good eCommerce plugin it is always important to factor in the cost of use. One of the main reasons to use WooCommerce other than its amazing functionality is the fact that it is free to use. Where you could pay up to thousands of pounds per year for a similar application, WooCommerce being free is why so many people like us praise it so highly.
You will need to note that although the main plugin for WooCommerce is free third-party add-ons and extra functionality will cost but these aren’t necessary as most extra plugins are not directly from WooCommerce.
Use of Analytics
One of WooCommerce’s key features is the built-in analytics which allows you to know more about your customers and the way that they interact with your website. When a client makes a purchase WooCommerce keeps track of the order summary allowing you to see total spend from the order along with where the delivery was being made to. You are also able to track all the orders that are being made on your site and WooCommerce keeps a history of these orders ensuring that if there is ever a problem with an order you can see what was supposed to be delivered.
WooCommerce also allows you to integrate Google Analytics giving you an even deeper understanding of the type of customers you are receiving to your website.
You can sell anything
WooCommerce is extremely flexible basically allowing you to sell anything you want ranging from physics products to digital products, subscriptions, appointments and much more. Along with being able to sell virtually anything you can think of you are able to use WooCommerce’s Variable product to allow you to sell multiple types of a single product. This is most seen in shops where you wish to sell a top in different sizes, you only need to create one product and assign it these multiple attributes.
Conclusion
In short WooCommerce is one of the best eCommerce solutions out there as it is affordable and has many available features straight from the off. We recommend WooCommerce to all online shops that are using WordPress as their CMS. If you are looking to get your business online and are unsure where to start, then please get in touch with us and we can help guide you into the world of eCommerce. Alternatively, if you are looking to continue your use of Wix or Squarespace and are looking to update the look of your site then please get in touch our development team are well trained in all types of Content Management Systems.
