How To Build An Online Store In WordPress

WordPress may seem like a blogger’s platform, but nothing can be further from the truth. WordPress is an extremely versatile software. Themes and plugins help you change the way your site looks and functions with just a few mouse clicks. So, yes, it is entirely possible to build an online store in WordPress. In fact, millions of online stores are built on WordPress!

To begin, you’d need to have your own domain name and your own web hosting plan. Your domain name is your store’s name. It can be something like YourAwesomeStore.com or BuyMyProductNow.com. Domain names cost around $10-$15 per year. However, you can get it for free with some web hosting companies. 

For web hosting, you can choose to start with the basic plan just to see how things work. However, once your store starts gaining popularity and thousands of people visit your site every month, then you will need to upgrade to a more advanced hosting plan. Also, check if your web host offers a free SSL certificate for your plan. You’ll need this so you can accept payments on your website. 

Once you’ve purchased your domain name and web hosting, you can then install WordPress on your site. Some commercial web hosts feature 1-click WordPress install in their control panel or cPanel, so you may want to inquire about this with your web host. 

With WordPress installed, you can proceed to download the WooCommerce plugin. The setup wizard will walk you through the basic store setup such as your store location, currency, payment methods, shipping and tax, etc. Once that’s done, you can start adding products to your online store. 

WooCommerce has a lot of features. For one, you can sell both physical and digital products on your site. You can accept online payments, bank transfers, even cash on delivery payments. You can define all aspects of your online business. So, it’s really not surprising that WooCommerce is the most popular eCommerce plugin on WordPress.org.

To change your store’s appearance, there are plenty of WooCommerce-compatible themes to choose from. The free Storefront theme looks great on WooCommerce sites, but if you want to make your site stand out, then consider buying a premium WooCommerce theme. With a well-designed and eye-catching storefront, more people will be willing to stay on your site and check out your products.  
