Can WordPress Be Used for eCommerce?

Author: Rachel Durkan Category: Web Design Date: March 13, 2020

If you have a business and you’re considering selling your products online, there is no better time than now to dip your toe into the eCommerce world. Consider this: in 2019, consumers spent approximately $601.75 billion online with U.S merchants, and only slightly less than that in 2018. If we stay on the trajectory of this current trend, by 2040 we can realistically expect to see as much as 95% of all purchases made online. In other words, eCommerce is hot right now.

While there are many platforms to choose from that meet a range of needs, I am most frequently asked about WordPress for eCommerce. Whether you have an existing online presence and want to expand into the eCommerce space or you’re looking to start from scratch, using WordPress for your eCommerce site is a great option.

WordPress for Ecommerce: Pros and Cons

As with any solution, WordPress comes with its share of pros and cons you’ll want to consider before selecting WordPress for your eCommerce platform.

In the “plus” column, when you use WordPress for your eCommerce site, you’ll benefit from:

• Tons of WordPress eCommerce plugins, including WooCommerce, BigCommerce and Shopify, to name a few—all of which deliver a superior online shopping experience. While there is a BigCommerce WordPress plugin and Shopify WordPress plugin, these two eCommerce options can also be used independently as an all-in-one platform in which you can host and build out your entire website from homepage to shopping pages to everything in between.
• Customized functionality. Whether you’re shipping one product to one location or 1,000 products across the globe, there’s a plugin to meet your specific needs
• Over 1000 WordPress eCommerce themes that make it easy to customize your design specific to your visual brand identity

There are, however, a few drawbacks to consider:

• WordPress is an open source platform which means multiple developers can create new tools and plugins. With new plugins and code being added to WordPress every day, the platform is frequently updating, which could cause issues with some WordPress eCommerce plugins. It all depends on the update. Be aware of these updates, and when they do occur, be sure to test your site’s functionality to ensure it continues to run smoothly.
• When using WordPress for Ecommerce With hundreds of WordPress eCommerce plugins to choose from, users may actually find themselves plagued by a case of analysis paralysis. Deciding which platform to choose can be tricky. The WooCommerce plugin offers different capabilities than the BigCommerce WordPress plugin. Both boast feature-rich capabilities, and both have restrictions to keep in mind. The same goes for the Shopify WordPress plugin, as well as the many others out there. The fact is, there are many factors to consider and even more options to wade through—all dependent on your specific needs. For that reason, you may benefit from the expertise of an experienced WordPress developer to help guide your path forward.

More About WordPress for eCommerce

As you narrow down your options and decide which direction to take, here are some other questions you may have about using WordPress for eCommerce:

1. What is the cost? When it comes to WordPress eCommerce pricing, it really depends on the plugin. While most are free, additional customization and add-ons may come at a cost.
2. Is WordPress eCommerce secure? WordPress eCommerce plugins, in and of themselves, are not secure; you will need to install security plugins. But that’s not difficult to do. Two popular ones are WordFence and Sucuri.
3. Is it hard to install? At this point, you may be wondering: exactly how do I add eCommerce to my WordPress site? While WordPress is a popular platform that offers robust features and functionality, you’ll likely need a WordPress developer to help you through the installation of your WordPress eCommerce plugin and theme of choice.
4. What other factors do I need to consider? As you peruse the wide range of WordPress eCommerce Plugins, consider how you want to handle various functions of your online store, such as shipping, invoicing, inventory management and customer accounts.

Between pinpointing what you need, narrowing down your options and figuring out how to get your WordPress eCommerce site up and running, your best bet may be to consult with a developer who can walk you through every step. Your customers are waiting for you, as evidenced by the billions of dollars being spent online every year. What are you waiting for?

Do you want to learn more about using WordPress for eCommerce? Contact us today to get started on your WordPress eCommerce site.