Are you thinking of starting an online store but don’t know where to begin? WooCommerce is here to make things super easy. Whether you’re selling physical or digital products, WooCommerce is a free WordPress plugin that turns your website into a fully functional online store. In this guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know as a beginner about WooCommerce.

What is Woocommerce

Let’s begin by answering the main question: What is WooCommerce? WooCommerce is free eCommerce software that enables you to turn a WordPress site into a fully operational ecommerce platform. In simple terms, it’s a WordPress plugin that adds e-commerce features to your website, turning it into a fully functional shop.

Before WooCommerce, WordPress website owners needed to combine multiple plugins and custom code to sell products. Now, with WooCommerce, setting up your store is much easier. You can install WooCommerce on any WordPress site and manage everything right from the WordPress dashboard without coding.

Why Use WooCommerce?

Here are a few reasons why WooCommerce is perfect for your online shop:

1. It’s Free – You can download and install WooCommerce without spending a dime. Of course, there are some paid add-ons for extra features, but the basic setup is completely free.
2. Loads of Features – WooCommerce lets you sell both physical and digital products. You can offer product variations (like different sizes or colors) and even sell affiliate products.
3. Customizable and Secure – WooCommerce works well with most WordPress themes, and it’s regularly audited for security, so your store will be safe.
4. Scalable and Extendable – As your store grows, you can add more features using extensions, like adding extra payment gateways or setting up a subscription service.

What does WooCommerce do exactly?

WooCommerce is a flexible solution for online stores. It lets you sell almost anything you want. The most common use is selling physical products, like t-shirts, jewelry, or anything else. These are the kinds of stores you see everywhere, like Amazon.

But WooCommerce can also help you sell digital products, book appointments, or charge for services. For example, if you have a vacation rental, you can use WooCommerce to let people book your place and pay the reservation fee.

Basically, if you want to sell something and accept payments for it, WooCommerce can help make that happen.

Getting Started with WooCommerce

If you want to create your own online store with WooCommerce, the first thing you need to do is install and set up WordPress. For a complete step-by-step guide, check out the WooCommerce Tutorial: A-Z of Setting Up an Online Store with WordPress.

But here’s a quick overview of the steps you’ll need to follow:

Step 1: Get a Web Hosting Plan

First, you’ll need a web hosting plan and a domain name (your website’s address). There are plenty of web hosting services out there, so pick one that fits your budget and needs. Some hosts even offer plans that come with WordPress pre-installed, which makes things even easier.

Step 2: Install WordPress

Once you’ve got your hosting and domain set up, it’s time to install WordPress. If you’re using a service like Elementor Hosting, WordPress might already be installed for you. If not, your hosting provider will have instructions on how to install WordPress via cPanel.

Step 3: Install WooCommerce

Once your WordPress site is ready, you can install WooCommerce:

1. Go to your WordPress dashboard.
2. Click on Plugins > Add New.
3. Search for “WooCommerce.”
4. Click Install Now, and then click Activate.

That’s it! WooCommerce will now walk you through setting up your store, including basic details like currency, payment methods, and shipping options.

How To Set Up WooCommerce

Once you’ve installed and activated WooCommerce, you’ll be guided through the WooCommerce setup wizard. This wizard helps you quickly configure basic settings for your online store. Let’s walk through the steps:

• Basic Information: Enter your store details like location, currency, and the type of products (physical or digital).
• Payment Gateways: Set up payment methods like Stripe, PayPal, or offline options (e.g., bank transfer).
• Shipping Configuration: Define shipping zones and rates. More advanced shipping options are available via plugins.
• Optional Extras: Choose additional features like the Storefront theme, automated taxes with Jetpack, or email marketing via MailChimp.
• Finalize Setup: Complete the setup by reviewing settings, adding products, and applying store templates.

Quick recap

At this point you should have a pretty good idea of what WooCommerce is. To put it simply, it’s a free tool that lets you set up an online store. It also works with WordPress, which is the most widely used platform for building websites.

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And if you’d like to see the best WooCommerce widget for elementor, check out our article here.

Still confused about what WooCommerce is, drop your questions in the comments, and we’ll be happy to help!

References

WooCommerce – everything you need to know as a beginner – Upbrand.pl

Is WooCommerce Best for You? – Ultimate Guide – Spocket.co

What Is WooCommerce? WooCommerce 101, Explained for Beginners – Themeisle.com

Woocommerce Tutorial: A-Z of Setting Up Online Store with WordPress – Elementor.com