Setting up a small store on Wordpress - Woocommerce?

[NickGrogan]

I'm looking at adding a small store to one of my domains, no more than 12 products.

There is not massive traffic; rarely needs to update, more like set and forget.

It would be good to add a q and a section to each product, but it is not essential.

I'm thinking of using a subdomain and woocommerce.

Is this overkill, is there a simpler/better option.

 

[fisicx]

It's free, fairly simple and can be low maintenance. Could be up and running in an hour. Then a couple more hours fiddling to make it look pretty.

 

[NickGrogan]

It's free, fairly simple and can be low maintenance. Could be up and running in an hour. Then a couple more hours fiddling to make it look pretty.

Anything scary to look out for?

What about payment provider integration? What's the simplest/best?

 

[Paul Kelly ICHYB]

WP/Woo is a simple solution, but if you use cpanel on your hosting you could one click install one of several specific e-commerce systems like Prestashop, Zen Cart and OSCommerce (there are many to choose from).

If looking at replacing/updating your site, then WP/Woo is a great option.

Setting up payment providers is relatively simple (generally getting a couple codes from your provider).

 

[NickGrogan]

WP/Woo is a simple solution, but if you use cpanel on your hosting you could one click install one of several specific e-commerce systems like Prestashop, Zen Cart and OSCommerce (there are many to choose from).

If looking at replacing/updating your site, then WP/Woo is a great option.

Setting up payment providers is relatively simple (generally getting a couple codes from your provider).

Looking at integrating with the existing Wordpress site - I thought about just installing on top of the current WP install, but that seems like a layer of risk I don't need, hence using a subdomain.

I presume matching the "look" will be easier with WP/Woo - I can install the same theme/custom settings?

 

[Paul Kelly ICHYB]

If you use a subdomain, you either do a clean install or just point it to your /store link.

What risks to you envisage?

I would say (without further info) just install it to your current (up to date) WP installation.

 

[ukwebhosting]

I would say (without further info) just install it to your current (up to date) WP installation.

Would recommend setting up a dev subdomain and trying it all there first.

Or if you absolutely have to do it in your live site make sure you have a tested working backup first.

 

[NickGrogan]

The current install is a WordPress multisite with ~25 domains, some important, some basically blank, and a variety of plugins installed.

I've noticed that plugins don't always clean up after themselves so you can have stray data in options table/database. I have not seen any way to clean this except to fresh install, but that doesn't seem like fun.

I'm worried that adding WooCommerce, plus whatever other plugins are added on top of that, could impact things further down the road.

I think a separate WP install just for Woocommerce might be easier/better - if it dies, it only knocks itself out. Could make this a multisite/multishop install as well to add shops to other domains if needed.

 

[Paul Kelly ICHYB]

Makes sense!

 

[fisicx]

Anything scary to look out for?

What about payment provider integration? What's the simplest/best?

Nothing to break. It just works.

Paypal comes built in but I tend to install the stripe plugin. Dead simple to do.

If you need a hand just ask. Me and others on UKBF can get you installed faster than it takes to type this message.

 

[NickGrogan]

Subdomain setup
clean WP multisite installed
Woocommerce plugin installing

 

[NickGrogan]

Its alive !

kind of

store.niccolo.co.uk

 

[NickGrogan]

Not made pretty, only one product, and not setup woo payments or google shop listings yet.

 

[Paul Kelly ICHYB]

Pretty would be nice - clear and simple to use is best!

 

[fisicx]

That does the job.

 

[antropy]

Is this overkill, is there a simpler/better option.

OpenCart is far simpler and far better.

Paul.

 

[Ozzy]

Paypal comes built in but I tend to install the stripe plugin. Dead simple to do.

A massive +1 to this comment @NickGrogan because when I added Stripe as a payment option to my wife's Woocommerce site the checkout conversion rate increased by about 600% compared to when it was just PayPal.
I was trying to find the graph to post here to show the difference but cannot find it, it was a huge massive uplift that really shocked us.

 

[NickGrogan]

A massive +1 to this comment @NickGrogan because when I added Stripe as a payment option to my wife's Woocommerce site the checkout conversion rate increased by about 600% compared to when it was just PayPal.
I was trying to find the graph to post here to show the difference but cannot find it, it was a huge massive uplift that really shocked us.

Thanks for the tip.

Is the Stripe plugin different from the WooPayments plugin that Woo seems keen to push - that offers Visa/Amex/Apple pay, etc.

 

[NickGrogan]

OpenCart is far simpler and far better.

Paul.

What does it do better?

 

[antropy]

What does it do better?

I thought you'd never ask:

OpenCart vs WooCommerce: Which One Should You Choose - Antropy - OpenCart Developers

Are you grappling with the decision between OpenCart and WooCommerce for your online store? In our recent article, we delved into a comparison between OpenCart and Shopify. Now, we're turning our focus to the battle between OpenCart and WooCommerce, to help you make an informed decision. You can...

www.antropy.co.uk

Paul.

 

[fisicx]

WooCommerce Stripe Payment Gateway

Accept debit and credit cards in 135+ currencies, many local methods like Alipay, ACH, and SEPA, and express checkout with Apple Pay and Google Pay.

wordpress.org

or

Payment Plugins for Stripe WooCommerce

Accept Credit Cards, Google Pay, ApplePay, Afterpay, Affirm, ACH, Klarna, iDEAL and more all in one plugin for free!

wordpress.org

 

[NickGrogan]

WooCommerce Stripe Payment Gateway

Accept debit and credit cards in 135+ currencies, many local methods like Alipay, ACH, and SEPA, and express checkout with Apple Pay and Google Pay.

wordpress.org

or

Payment Plugins for Stripe WooCommerce

Accept Credit Cards, Google Pay, ApplePay, Afterpay, Affirm, ACH, Klarna, iDEAL and more all in one plugin for free!

wordpress.org

Or

WooPayments: Integrated WooCommerce Payments

Securely accept credit and debit cards on your WooCommerce store. Manage payments without leaving your WordPress dashboard. Only with WooPayments.

wordpress.org

Are they significantly different?

 

[Shopclicks]

You don't need the Woopayments plugin. Use the first one @fisicx suggests. You can still take Google & Apple payments using that plugin.

 

[NickGrogan]

I thought you'd never ask:

OpenCart vs WooCommerce: Which One Should You Choose - Antropy - OpenCart Developers

Are you grappling with the decision between OpenCart and WooCommerce for your online store? In our recent article, we delved into a comparison between OpenCart and Shopify. Now, we're turning our focus to the battle between OpenCart and WooCommerce, to help you make an informed decision. You can...

www.antropy.co.uk

Paul.

Looks like something to install on a bank holiday weekend

 

[Ozzy]

Thanks for the tip.

Is the Stripe plugin different from the WooPayments plugin that Woo seems keen to push - that offers Visa/Amex/Apple pay, etc.

Ok, am back home to check my old emails and what I installed was CheckoutWC which improved the default checkout page and installed the Woocommerce Stripe Payment Gateway plugin by Woocommerce.

These two together is what ramped her conversions significantly.

 

[zomex]

The current install is a WordPress multisite with ~25 domains, some important, some basically blank, and a variety of plugins installed.

I've noticed that plugins don't always clean up after themselves so you can have stray data in options table/database. I have not seen any way to clean this except to fresh install, but that doesn't seem like fun.

I'm worried that adding WooCommerce, plus whatever other plugins are added on top of that, could impact things further down the road.

I think a separate WP install just for Woocommerce might be easier/better - if it dies, it only knocks itself out. Could make this a multisite/multishop install as well to add shops to other domains if needed.

You know your setup best and have concerns messing with your main site so I think a sub-domain does make perfect sense. It does mean you will have another WordPress installation to maintain but that's not always too bad depending on the theme/extra plugins being used.

In terms of payment processors everyone has a different opinion and it will also depend on your audience.

I've used PayPal for over 15 years I can safely recommend adding the option (although they have their fair share of bad feedback these days). Also been using Stripe for many years now and I would argue it's even better than PayPal.

 

[NickGrogan]

Woocommerce Stripe payments installed and "working"
9 products across 3 categories added

@Ozzy checkoutWC looks a bit pricey as its a new addon, and when I looked at it I didn't see much difference to the standard checkout - maybe I missed something.

Woocommerce has a Google plugin but looks like a lot of setup, so may look at direct listing on Google.

Anyone pros/cons with the plugin?

Seems to manage ads as well, but don't need that yet

 

[fisicx]

Do you have as Google merchant center? Are you planning on showing your products on Google shopping?

If not then don't bother. It is a lot of work to set up.

 

[NickGrogan]

Do you have as Google merchant center? Are you planning on showing your products on Google shopping?

If not then don't bother. It is a lot of work to set up.

Yes, but under a different site, which makes things more complex.

Yes, but direct listing might be easier as its a small number of rarely changing products.

Gas meter fashions are very slow moving.

 

[NickGrogan]

Images added
Litespeed cache added,
Security plugin added.

90% on pagespeed mobile / 99% pagespeed desktop.

That'll do.

I need to make a test purchase, but it looks like done.

What have I missed?

store.niccolo.co.uk

 

[Paul Kelly ICHYB]

WooPayments is a white label Stripe offer and a little bit cheaper.

Do not label the gateway as 'Pay By Stripe' etc. People do not care who you use - just call it 'Pay by debit/credit card'.

 

[NickGrogan]

WooPayments is a white label Stripe offer and a little bit cheaper.

Do not label the gateway as 'Pay By Stripe' etc. People do not care who you use - just call it 'Pay by debit/credit card'.

Where does it say Pay by Stripe?

On the checkout I just see

Payment Options: Credit / Debit Card

But I might have missed it.

 

[Paul Kelly ICHYB]

Woo/Settings/Payments - click Stripe 'Enter a name which customers will see during checkout.'

But what you have is fine!

On checking this, I just swapped to the new Stripe payment process, which is almost the same.

 

[NickGrogan]

Found the proper basket thing that shows the value/number as well.

 

[NickGrogan]

Went this this plugin for google merchant listing

Product Feed Pro by Adtribes

It's a fairly easy setup, and products are listed on Google and getting clicks, I can't ask for much more than that.

The site ranks top 10 on Google for various relevant terms, so anyone that says it takes 6 months to get listed is talking crap.

 

[NickGrogan]

I realised that I hadn't made a sitemap or turned on the SEO plugin, but I'm still getting traffic.

First sale completed, money in the bank...

 

[Martin Patfield]

You have just set up something similar to what I have been working on recently. I've got 3 different products but 20+ different listings based on dimensions.

Genuine question really.
Should the price show on the site as "inclusive of VAT" so customer see's the overall price up front rather than when they go through the shopping basket to final payment to then realise that it's actually more expensive because now they see the price including VAT.

 

[Paul Kelly ICHYB]

Depends if you are B2B or B2C

 

[NickGrogan]

Mine is strictly B2B, so I show all prices as XX excluding VAT.

Businesses expect this and would be confused if I showed the prices with VAT.

B2C would be the other way round.