We have discussed why you should use WordPress and the benefits of doing so for your existing or new website. One of the primary reasons for having a site is getting online exposure for your business and translating those visits into sales. When it comes to selling online, there are several eCommerce platforms, payment gateways and other options that are available to a WordPress site owner. For the intents and purposes of this article, let’s go over the most popular eCommerce utilities that WordPress has to offer.

These eCommerce platforms work via the installation of plugins to your WordPress site and after a little time and configuration, you are ready to add some products and start selling to the masses. Since WordPress is a CMS which features full integration of a MySQL database, you will be able to save and retrieve a list of new customers, reports, orders and more providing for an efficient store management. Getting started with an online store using your new WordPress website couldn’t be any easier, let’s look at some of the top options (plugins) available.

  1. WooCommerce – This giant WordPress eCommerce solution is the most popular solution that is actively being used with almost two (2) million websites. It is a free platform, with paid add-ons for enhanced features, that makes adding and customizing products a cinch. Offering easy-to-understand analytics and freedom to customize, it is no surprise why WooCommerce is number one here.
  2. Shopify – Perhaps you already have an online store or account with a third-party provider such as Shopify. With the Shopify plugin for WordPress, you can seamlessly connect and display/sell your existing Shopify products directly on your WordPress website. With this option, you can take advantage of the benefits of two powerhouses in one and grow your online presence and marketing efforts.
  3. iThemes Exchange – In the case of this strong candidate, one has the ability to sell not only physical goods but also digital goods. iThemes Exchange is a community that is on the rise and continuously growing. Setup is quite easy and the simplicity of options makes it appealing to those who want to get up and running as quickly as possible and not be bothered by too many options or choices.

In this era, choosing eCommerce as the way to go is certainly a smart decision for so many businesses with lower operational budgets and a need for growth. The potential reach and buyer pool is far greater, orders can be placed 24/7 and potential buyers are given a shopping experience that makes them feel more in control. With that said, it is important to keep your eCommerce website up and running because any downtime can directly lead to loss of sales. At Site Rockstar, it is our goal to maintain your site’s health. Let us help you get more from your eCommerce website and bring your online store to the next level, you’ll be glad you did.