With a staggering 248+ million lifetime downloads and 38.74% market share, WooCommerce is undoubtedly the undisputed king of eCommerce platforms.
Along with a wide range of eCommerce features, WooCommerce’s flexibility and robust support for 3rd party plugins are what makes it a champion. Most importantly, the plugin is absolutely free and scalable without any limits.
Not convinced yet? Let’s check out some statistics.
- WooCommerce stands out as the most popular plugin, used in 68% of sites.
- Nearly 94% of WordPress eCommerce sites use the WooCommerce plugin.
- Over 6.5 million websites use WooCommerce.
- Over 12,600 WooCommerce sites make over $100,000 in sales.
- About 23% of all online stores use WooCommerce Checkout.
- 1 in 5 WordPress websites relies on WooCommerce.
- There are more than 980 plugins available for WooCommerce on WordPress.
- The official WooCommerce site offers over 770 extensions.
- WooCommerce gets around 30,000 downloads daily from WordPress.org.
- WordPress.org has 1,591 themes designed for WooCommerce.
WooCommerce covers everything you need to smoothly operate an online store, including various payment gateways, efficient tax and shipping management. Its SEO-friendly tools, multilingual capabilities, and strong community support are added advantages that make it stand out even more.
Moreover, WooCommerce allows you to promote your products across the web with minimum effort and investments through product feed marketing.
Therefore, if you are planning to launch an online store, WooCommerce is your best choice. In this article, we will discuss WooCommerce integration and walk you through the steps of integrating WooCommerce with WordPress.
WooCommerce integration with WordPress: Step-by-step guide
WooCommerce is a WordPress plugin. You can install it for free from the WordPress plugin repository. In the following segments, we will guide you through a step-by-step process of setting up WooCommerce on WordPress.
To begin with, log into your WordPress admin panel and go to Plugins>>Add New Plugin. Search for WooCommerce and install the plugin.
After you activate the plugin, it will take you to the WooCommerce integration wizard. Click on the button at the bottom that says Set up my store.
Select the option that describes you best.
Enter your store name, industry/niche, location, and email. Click to continue to the next window when you are done.
WooCommerce will offer you to install a number of popular extensions to enhance your store’s features. You can skip them if you don’t know or want to set them up later.
Now, it will take a couple of moments to integrate WooCommerce with WordPress site.
When it’s done, you will be redirected to the following page.
WooCommerce integration – Adding products
As you can see above, the plugin is telling you the next steps of the WooCommerce integration process. Start with adding some products.
WooCommerce supports a number of product types. For this example, we will go with a physical product.
This is what a product edit page looks like.
We will quickly discuss some important elements of a product page. First up, categories.
Dividing products into appropriate categories is significantly important for an online store as it organizes products, simplifies navigation, enhances user experience, and improves SEO by making it easier for customers to find what they’re looking for.
To create categories, go to Products>>Categories and add your categories. You can also add categories from individual product pages.
After you create the categories, you can assign them from the product pages. You can also add tags in a similar fashion.
WooCommerce integration – creating variable products
The next thing you need to learn is adding attributes.
For example, you sell clothes such as T-shirts. Now, t-shirts can come in various colors and should have different sizes as per customer’s needs. In a WooCommerce store, these are called variable products.
To create a variable product, jump to the Product Data section of the individual product page, and from the following dropdown, select variable products.
Click on the Attribute tab and click on the Add New button.
Let’s say we want to add different color options for the t-shirt. Name the attribute Color and add values. Similarly, add different sizes.
Now, you need to enable your customers to choose different variations of the product as per their requirements. For example, a customer can select a medium-size blue shirt, and another can choose a large-size grey shirt, etc.
Go to the Variations tab and click on the Generate Variations button to automatically create all possible variations for your attributes.
Here’s how it may look.
On the front end, your users can now select attributes and different variations.
You can also add attributes from the Attributes menu.
Additionally, WooCommerce allows you to upload your products in bulk using a product feed.
After you are done adding products, click continue setup to move to your next WooCommerce integration process.
Next up, choosing a WooCommerce theme. You can install and activate a free theme or upload a premium one of your choice.
Set up payment and tax for WooCommerce integration
WooCommerce is the most flexible platform when it comes to supporting payment gateways. It supports a wide range of payment methods for store owners.
Besides Stripe, PayPal, and other popular gateways, WooCommerce now has its own payment gateway called Woo Payments. Moreover, you can add your own custom payment gateway if needed.
Setting up tax on WooCommerce requires detailed discussion, and it varies based on your and your customer’s location. Let us give you a quick review.
Here’s a breakdown of the key steps involved:
- Enable taxes: Go to WooCommerce >> Settings >> General and check the box labeled “Enable taxes and tax calculations.”
- Tax options: Click on the “Tax” tab. Configure tax settings based on your location, including whether to display prices with tax, your customer’s address, or your store’s base location for tax calculations.
- Tax classes: Set up tax classes if your products or services have different tax rates. You can create classes like “Standard Rate,” “Reduced Rate,” or “Zero Rate.”
- Tax rates: Navigate to WooCommerce >> Settings >> Tax >> Standard Rates. Add tax rates according to your business location’s tax laws. Input the tax rate and assign the tax class that applies.
- Shipping tax class: Decide whether shipping should be taxed and select the appropriate tax class for shipping if applicable.
However, if you want to save yourself from all the manual hassles, WooCommerce offers a free extension to automate the process. This plugin will be recommended during the WooCommerce integration process.
Enter your full address and install the plugin. After activating, connect it with WordPress.com.
Finally, click the following button to automate the entire tax calculation process.
This will end all the necessary steps required for WooCommerce integration.
The last option will recommend installing some plugins/extensions to add more useful features to your WooCommerce store.
Salesforce integration with WooCommerce
Salesforce is a customer relationship management (CRM) software. This tool is cloud-based, which means you can access it online from anywhere and don’t need to install any program on your computer.
Salesforce manages your customer data, such as contact information, support tickets, sales pipelines, and marketing campaigns. In addition to CRM features, Salesforce offers a number of applications. These cover various business needs like marketing automation, e-commerce, analytics, and even app development.
Overall, Salesforce offers a comprehensive suite of advantages, including streamlined customer relationship management for enhanced satisfaction and loyalty. It boosts sales productivity by optimizing pipelines and providing insightful data, leading to more closed deals.
Additionally, it revolutionizes marketing by automating campaigns and providing valuable customer insights. With robust analytics, it offers a holistic view of business operations, promoting growth and adaptability for future needs.
Integrating Salesforce with WooCommerce means improved customer management, better sales tracking, and smarter marketing. It streamlines your processes, helps you understand your customers better, and ultimately boosts your business efficiency.
There are quite a few WooCommerce Salesforce integration plugins available. They come in both free and paid versions.
You can simply install a plugin like eShopSync, Salesforce Integration for WooCommerce, or WPForms Salesforce Integration and connect your WooCommerce store with Salesforce.
Connect with multiple platforms
Did you know you can display your WooCommerce products all over the internet and reach millions of potential customers?
Yes, you read it right. WooCommerce allows you to export your products on a feed file and connect with multiple platforms, including marketplaces, social media sites, affiliate sites, and price comparison engines.
This means you can simultaneously list and display your products on Google Shopping, Amazon, Walmart, eBay, Instagram, Bing Shopping, Snapchat, etc. To create feed files for over 130 channels and connect and manage them right from your WooCommerce back panel, you can install a plugin like CTX Feed.
CTX Feed has built-in templates for all the channels it supports. All you need to do is select the template and click generate. Additionally, you can also create complete custom feed files.
This plugin supports automatic updates and URL connections. This means you don’t need to manually update your products on other channels when you make some changes to your Woo site.
Overall, the plugin automates the entire process and allows you to significantly increase your visibility and reach.
Benefits of using WooCommerce
Let’s delve into the advantages of using WooCommerce integration across various dimensions.
Cost-effective
WooCommerce is a pocket-friendly option for aspiring online entrepreneurs. Its core plugin is free, offering a robust foundation for launching an eCommerce store without initial platform or development investments.
Even as your business flourishes, the scalability of WooCommerce keeps additional expenses at bay. You only pay for the extensions or add-ons that you truly need, making it a financially feasible choice.
User-friendly
One of the most appealing features of WooCommerce is its user-friendliness. From installation to setup and daily management, the platform is designed to cater to users of all technical abilities.
Its intuitive interface simplifies product management, inventory tracking, and order processing. With clear and easy navigation, anyone can smoothly operate their online store without feeling overwhelmed by technical jargon.
Highly Customizable
The flexibility and customization options in WooCommerce are unparalleled. Store owners can tailor their online shops to reflect their brand identity.
With numerous themes, plugins, and extensions available, the platform allows deep customization to match specific business needs. Whether it’s tweaking the appearance or adding functionalities, WooCommerce integration empowers users to create unique and personalized online experiences for customers.
Scalable
WooCommerce is not just a platform for small startups; it’s built to grow with your business. As your customer base expands or you decide to diversify your product offerings, WooCommerce easily scales up to accommodate these changes.
You can add new features, products, or functionalities without worrying about hitting limits, ensuring your store evolves in line with your business ambitions.
Secure
Security is paramount in the eCommerce realm, and WooCommerce takes it seriously. The platform follows stringent security protocols, which ensures a safe environment for online transactions.
With regular updates, security patches, and compliance with industry standards, WooCommerce offers a shield against potential cyber threats. It integrates reliable payment gateways and encryption measures, safeguarding sensitive customer data and building trust among your clientele.
SEO-optimized
WooCommerce has a built-in foundation for search engine optimization (SEO). It offers various tools and features that aid in optimizing your online store for better visibility on search engines.
From customizable URLs and metadata to schema markup and content optimization, WooCommerce gives you the tools to enhance your website’s SEO. Along with those, it supports plugins like Yoast to ensure that your products are more discoverable and attract organic traffic.
Thriving community
WooCommerce isn’t just a platform; it’s part of a vibrant community. With millions of users, developers, and contributors, the WooCommerce community is an invaluable resource.
Whether you’re seeking advice, troubleshooting WooCommerce integration issues, or looking for customization options, the community forums, support groups, and extensive documentation provide immense support.
This ecosystem encourages collaboration, sharing of ideas, and continuous improvement. This makes WooCommerce a constantly evolving and enriching platform.
Flexible
Flexibility is one of WooCommerce’s defining strengths. It offers a wide array of themes, plugins, and extensions that allow you to tailor your online store to meet specific business needs.
This flexibility enables seamless integration with third-party tools and services, empowering you to add functionalities, customize the design, and optimize user experiences. Whether you’re a small boutique or a large enterprise, the adaptability of WooCommerce ensures your store reflects your vision and goals.
Mobile-first approach
In today’s digital landscape, mobile commerce is crucial. WooCommerce understands this and adopts a mobile-first approach.
The platform is designed to be responsive across devices, ensuring a seamless shopping experience for customers on smartphones, tablets, or desktops. With mobile-friendly themes and optimization, WooCommerce enables businesses to tap into the growing market of mobile shoppers, enhancing accessibility and convenience.
Wide range of payment gateways
Customers appreciate multiple payment options, and WooCommerce supports numerous payment gateways, offering flexibility to customers in completing transactions.
Whether it’s credit/debit cards, PayPal, Apple Pay, or other regional payment methods, WooCommerce integrates with a diverse range of payment gateways. This versatility caters to customers globally, enhancing their shopping experience and reducing cart abandonment rates.
Wrap up
In conclusion, WooCommerce is a highly secure, user-friendly, and scalable platform for all business sizes. Its diverse range of features and adaptability allows entrepreneurs to create, expand, and maintain their online presence while ensuring a seamless and secure shopping experience for customers.
We hope this guide on WooCommerce integration will help you set up your own eCommerce store. Let us know if you are stuck on any step or have any questions on the topic.
