Building a Webshop with WordPress and WooCommerce: Complete Guide
WordPress is by far the most popular system for building websites, and with the free WooCommerce plugin you turn it into a fully-fledged webshop in no time. In this guide you'll learn step by step how to set up your own webshop.
Why WordPress and WooCommerce for your webshop?
WooCommerce is a free plugin that turns WordPress into a webshop, complete with product pages, a shopping cart, checkout process and stock management. The advantage: you're not locked into one platform, there are thousands of free and paid extensions, and you have full control over the design.
What do you need to get started?
- A domain name. Don't have one yet? Register one first.
- WordPress hosting. At bHosted, WordPress is already set up for you on our WordPress hosting package.
- An SSL certificate. Essential for a webshop, especially when processing payments. You get this free with every hosting package.
Setting up your webshop in 6 steps
- Choose your WordPress hosting. Pick a package that fits your number of products and expected visitor numbers.
- Install WordPress. At bHosted the installation is already set up for you, so there's nothing to configure yourself.
- Install the WooCommerce plugin. Go to Plugins > Add New, search for "WooCommerce" and activate it. The setup wizard immediately guides you further.
- Add your products. Fill in product names, prices, photos and descriptions. WooCommerce supports both simple products and variants (such as sizes or colours).
- Connect your payment methods. WooCommerce supports, among others, iDEAL, credit card and PayPal through various payment providers.
- Choose a theme and go live. There are hundreds of free and paid WooCommerce themes available. Pick one that fits your brand and publish your webshop.
WooCommerce or the Sitebuilder webshop: what's the difference?
Torn between WordPress with WooCommerce and our Sitebuilder? The main difference:
| WordPress + WooCommerce | Sitebuilder Webshop | |
|---|---|---|
| Flexibility | Very high, thousands of plugins and themes | More limited, but simpler |
| Learning curve | Slightly steeper | Very low, ideal for beginners |
| Number of products | Unlimited | Up to 10 (Webshop) or unlimited (Pro) |
| Management | More options, more choices to make | All-in-one, less setup work |
Want to get started quickly without making a lot of choices? The Sitebuilder is easier. Want maximum flexibility and room to grow? WordPress with WooCommerce is the better choice.
Common mistakes when setting up a WooCommerce webshop
- Not setting up an SSL certificate. Without an encrypted connection, visitors won't trust your checkout process, and payment providers often require it too.
- Installing too many plugins at once. Every plugin can slow down your website. Only install what you truly need.
- Not arranging backups. Make sure your hosting package creates automatic backups, so you never lose product data or orders.
- Not testing the theme on mobile. Most visitors shop via their phone these days; always check how your webshop looks on a small screen.
Optimising your webshop after launch
Once you're live, the work isn't done. Keep your webshop fast with a CDN, write clear product descriptions for better visibility in Google, and regularly test the checkout process to make sure everything runs smoothly.
Ready to build your webshop?
Take a look at our WordPress hosting packages and start setting up your webshop today. Not sure about the right steps? Our support team is happy to help you further.
