I was recently asked, can I sell products on WordPress? The short answer is yes! You can sell products on WordPress.
What Do You Need? The Essentials
WordPress is free computer code that makes it easy to manage the content of your website. Content includes webpages and all the things on those pages. This includes words, images, videos, and forms.
You need to have the WordPress software installed on your hosting server. You can download the latest version of the software for free from WordPress.org. But I find it easier to install it through your hosting company.
Yet, to unlock the flexible power of WordPress, you use plugins. Plugins are pre-packaged sets of code that adds specific functionality to your WordPress website.
To sell products on your WordPress site, you need plugins to set up an online:
- Store with your products
- Payment system
As a web designer, I can help you with both of these.
WooCommerce: The Most Popular Online Store Plugin
WooCommerce is the most popular plugin for setting up an online store. It allows you to add products to your WordPress website. You can also set prices, sort products into categories and much more.
Best of all, the WooCommerce plugin is free!
There are other online store plugins for specific niches, such as digital downloads or online courses, but for most people, WooCommerce is the way to go.
WooCommerce Payments
To accept payments, you need an additional plugin. There are a few to choose from. However, I recommend using the WooCommerce Payments plugin.
It allows your customers to pay for products using their credit cards. You can also set up Apple Pay and Google Pay.
The plugin is free with no set-up or monthly cost. However, you pay a processing fee per transaction.
WooCommerce Extensions
You can also tailor and enhance your online store using one or more of the WooCommerce extensions. These extensions include functionality such as:
- Shipping (e.g., Australia Post)
- Integration with your accounting system
- Google product listings
- Gift cards
- More …
Selling Products on WordPress in a Nutshell
The answer to the question, can I sell products on WordPress is yes. Simply use:
- WooCommerce to set your online store
- WooCommerce Payments to accept credit cards
- WooCommerce Extensions to tailor and enhance your store
Of course, a well-designed website is also important.
