E-Commerce Website with WordPress : A General Explanation
Why choose WordPress and WooCommerce?
WordPress is a content management system and WooCommerce is an e-commerce platform built for WordPress. Online shopping has become common place in South Africa and people often buy from Takealot, Pick ‘n Pay, Game, Checkers, etc. The list can go on and on. This means having an e-commerce website can be very lucrative.
Most websites (over 40%) on of the internet is built using WordPress and for good reason. The software allows anyone to be creative build their business website and further complement their main business website by writing blogs or articles. This not only increases the value you give to customers, but also improves your overall SEO (appearing higher on Google and other search engines). We won’t go into details about that here, but it is good for both customers and the business.
Types of E-Commerce Websites
An e-Commerce website can include physical products, digital products and also service offerings. Let’s look at what these three categories are all about.
Physical Products
These can take the form of general retail items like groceries from retailers like Pick ‘n Pay or Checkers. It can be hardware products from popular hardware stores like Builders or Build It. Any physical items like automotive additives, the list is endless.
Services
You can also sell your time, if you are for example a business coach, people can pay for your expertise which they pay for in sessions like 30 minutes or 60 minutes consultation. This can take the form of a salon appointment, entertainment bookings like bowling or a play park. Most businesses in some form or another can have an e-commerce website.
Digital Products
You can also sell information or software. Items like an e-book for entertainment or to improve your skills in a certain area. You sell games or any software that people would be willing to buy, that solves some problem that they have and so on. What is a bonus for digital products is that there is no shipping involved, so no free and no waiting time. You get your e-book immediately on successful payment.
In our introduction we mentioned that most websites are powered by WordPress and in the same breath, most e-commerce stores are built using WooCommerce. What I like about this combination is the fact that both WordPress and WooCommerce are run by the same company, Automattic. So, you can be assured that that they work exceptionally well together.
These systems are tried and tested but more importantly they can scale as your business grows, so you don’t have to find other solutions as you grow.
E-Commerce websites provide for subscriptions. If you charge a monthly fee for your services this can be accomplished, examples are a magazine subscription, tennis clubs or any other service where an ongoing payment is required. This is easily achieved using the WooCommerce add-on subscription plugin.
E-Commerce websites are a real asset to any business. It makes it easy for your customers to do business with you. Let’s take the 3 scenarios listed below and use a flower shop as our business and a busy business owner with a busy schedule:
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- No website.
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- A website with no e-commerce
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- A website with e-commerce
1. No website
In this scenario you would have to have prior knowledge that this store exists, either by seeing it before or by a referral. So, you go to the shop, just to make a decision on what flowers to buy. You spend time talking to the florist, which will be very nice, but at the back of your mind your thinking of things needed to be done as you have a busy schedule. Finally, you decide on the flowers you want and give them the delivery instructions; you pay and back to work.
2. A website with no e-commerce
You find the perfect florist online, you see the flowers you like, what’s next? You either have to call to make the arrangements, then make an EFT payment, then email them the proof of payment. Or you have to complete a form on their website and wait for them to respond, which they will eventually. They will sort out the flowers and you are back to work.
3. An e-commerce website
In this scenario you also find the perfect florist online, but you are able to pay online and give your specific instructions and you are done and back to work. Your flowers are arranged and sorted.
Now let’s look at 1 PRO’s and 1 CON’s of each of these scenarios:
| Website Type | PRO | CON |
| No website | Physical human interaction | Lots of waster time |
| A website no e-commerce | Online choices, less wasted time | Offline Payment, email |
| An e-commerce website | No wasted time | No human interaction |
All 3 have their place.
Summary
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- No website: If you have time, you can personally choose that perfect bunch of flowers for you wife or significant other. It’s great to have that connection that only comes from talking to another person.
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- A website, no e-commerce: This option is a great time-saver for a busy person, but it still requires additional interaction from the buyer’s side. From the business side it will be more cost effective as the website probably costs less than an e-commerce website
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- An e-commerce website: Here there is no waisted time, this option is the most streamlined and if you are very busy or simply prefer to do things online, don’t think twice. It makes the buying process very easy for the customer and the business can do the backend work and it will actually save money, not upfront but as the orders start coming in as this is a massive time saver and much less or even zero double checking for payments.
Everyone will have their own opinion, but one thing is clear that the e-commerce website will get you your desired result much quicker and you will be able to get more work done.
In saying this e-commerce is not for every business, some may only require a website as the practicality of having an online shop does not make sense. One such a business is a mechanical spares shop. Generally, customers don’t know exactly what part they will need for their vehicles. There are just too many variables to consider. However, if you sell specialised parts and your customers are professional then, it may work. Most businesses will be able to add e-commerce to their existing model.
Conclusion
In summary you can save time and money by having an e-commerce website. There is no opening or closing hours. People can buy from anywhere in the country, meaning you expand your businesses reach beyond your local store.
Talk to us about your next e-commerce project.
Regards,
Graham
