Wordpress + WooCommerce

[WinterCelt]

Hi again,

I'm weighing up the options of either trying out Wordpress + Woocommerce or building a full website from scratch (probably using Microsoft Expression 4, though that also entails me learning about CSS, etc.) and I really need some guidance please.

I need the end result to sell a wide variety of one-off products and I need to weigh up how time-intensive it is to build (and more importatntly, to maintain and update) versus having fexibility with the design (hence steering away from Shopify, etc.). I add new items several times a week and I need to be able to have lots of product pages to sell items, but also to have plenty of information paragraphs/pages throughout the site.

Payments are all done through Paypal.

Would I be able to do all that through Wordpress? I've had a look at that and Woocommerce but I'm a bit stumped about pricing - would I need to have the business option for Wordpress (the £250 per year one), or can a free Wordpress account do it?

 

[Faevilangel]

You don't need to pay WordPress, you need the self hosted version which is free from wordpress.org (most web hosts have an installer so you don't need to download and install manually)

If you're gonna have lots of products then a dedicated ecommerce program such as opencart would be much better due to it's better product handling systems but it's a little more complicated to use.

 

[WinterCelt]

Okay, thanks I'm a bit worried that opencart would be more rigid in the design .. although I don't really know much about any of it at the moment as I've never used them before.

 

[Nosgaming uk]

I've just started on Wordpress and woocommerce from a point of no web knowledge at all and I am finding it very easy to learn when I get stuck with something it only takes a quick google to find the solution. Although I never had a good look at any of the alternatives.

 

[nahosting]

As mentioned you can get WordPress hosting, which is usual a one click installation, from most webhosts.

I would say that WooCommerce would be OK for you and a more simple solution.

though that also entails me learning about CSS

I would advise spending more time promoting and building your business than trying to learn to build a website from scratch as it sounds like you don't have lots of experience doing that.

 

[Nuno]

nahosting is right. If you have little experience in any ecommerce platform you should seek outside help to get it built.
You could probably get on top of WordPress.org (not Wordpress.com), and woocommerce but would you be able to put in good Calls to Action, configure the on-page SEO, maximise the site for conversions: in all, make a working and profitable site?
Can you clean up images to make them attractive, write compelling sales copy and harvest emails to use in an email marketing scheme?
What is the cost of your time spent on making a website compared to hiring someone?

Just a few thoughts.

 

[WinterCelt]

I would advise spending more time promoting and building your business than trying to learn to build a website from scratch as it sounds like you don't have lots of experience doing that.

You're probably right. I have experience in one sense - I built our current site from scratch and maintained it for many years. The trouble is, it's a tables-based Frontpage site and that's all I know so CSS, etc. is completely new to me.

 

[WinterCelt]

You could probably get on top of WordPress.org (not Wordpress.com)

What's the difference? Not Wordpress.com? That's what I was looking at ...

 

[antropy]

I'm weighing up the options of either trying out Wordpress + Woocommerce or building a full website from scratch (probably using Microsoft Expression 4, though that also entails me learning about CSS, etc.) and I really need some guidance please.

It sounds like you're not sure if you want to run an ecommerce business or if you want to become a web designer and developer? Neither are easy.

 

[Nuno]

Wordpress.org is self hosted, (on your own hosting), and is far more configurable than Wordpress.com. You can't, to my knowledge, run Woocommerce on Wordpress.com.

 

[WinterCelt]

It sounds like you're not sure if you want to run an ecommerce business or if you want to become a web designer and developer?

Running the business is by far my priority. Considering learning the web design side of things is simply for if we get a better end result with a view to flexibility of the website.

Wordpress.org is self hosted, (on your own hosting), and is far more configurable than Wordpress.com. You can't, to my knowledge, run Woocommerce on Wordpress.com.

I see - thanks

 

[fisicx]

Considering learning the web design side of things is simply for if we get a better end result with a view to flexibility of the website.

If I need the roof fixing on my house I could go buy the ladders, learn the skills and spend ages fixing the leak. Or I could pay a roofer to do the job and have it done in a day.

If you want a shiny new responsive website, why not just pay someone to set it all up for you. That way you can spend your time making money rather than learn the intricacies of coding, CSS, navigation systems, intenal linking, SEO, typography, colour theory, usability, accessibility and general site configuration.

 

[EUWindowsHost]

Hi again,

I'm weighing up the options of either trying out Wordpress + Woocommerce or building a full website from scratch (probably using Microsoft Expression 4, though that also entails me learning about CSS, etc.) and I really need some guidance please.

I need the end result to sell a wide variety of one-off products and I need to weigh up how time-intensive it is to build (and more importatntly, to maintain and update) versus having fexibility with the design (hence steering away from Shopify, etc.). I add new items several times a week and I need to be able to have lots of product pages to sell items, but also to have plenty of information paragraphs/pages throughout the site.

Payments are all done through Paypal.

Would I be able to do all that through Wordpress? I've had a look at that and Woocommerce but I'm a bit stumped about pricing - would I need to have the business option for Wordpress (the £250 per year one), or can a free Wordpress account do it?

Instead of using wordpress, you can use other ecommerce CMS alternative, such as magento, prestashop, nopcommerce, opencart. That is good CMS for ecommerce site. You may compare it side by side.

 

[14Steve14]

If you already have a hosting account, have a look and see if it includes cpanel and something like softalicious. This offers a one click install on hundreds of opensource software. There are many specific ecommerce platforms there, and with one click install and remove you can test many of the applications to see if you like them. Have a look at the one already mentioned in above posts.

Hopefully you will find something with the features that you want. It is easy afterwards to change the look.

 

[RepricerExpress]

Different pros and cons of each option. Personally, I'd go with Wordpress and Woocommerce as it is very easy to pick up, cost-effective and seems to meet your needs.

Themeforest have some great themes to help create a professional looking website and offer support to if you have any issues.

 

[Nuno]

Themeforest don't offer support. The individual theme sellers offer support of varying quality.