BEGINNER'S GUIDE

How to Create an eCommerce Website Using WooCommerce? (Ultimate Guide)

Last Updated: 19 mins By: ThemeGrill Editorial

Are you curious about how to create an eCommerce website using WooCommerce? If yes, you’ve found the right WooCommerce tutorial. 

WooCommerce is a popular WordPress plugin that lets you create your own online store. It’s a free eCommerce platform that is beginner-friendly and easy to manage. You can directly add this plugin to your WordPress site and start selling online. Don’t know how to do that?

No worries. In this article, we’ll guide you on how to build a WordPress eCommerce website with WooCommerce. 

Let’s start.

A. Why Choose WooCommerce for an eCommerce Website?

You’ll find many other online platforms to start your eCommerce website. However, out of all, WooCommerce is the best as it has some distinct features. 

WooCommerce - Most Popular eCommerce Platform

To begin, it’s a free WordPress plugin. That means you can easily integrate it to your WordPress website without any additional charges.

Likewise, you can sell all kinds of products using WooCommerce. You can sell physical products like jewelry, clothes, etc, or digital products like photos, eBooks, etc. from your WooCommerce store.

Additionally, you’ll find plenty of WooCommerce compatible themes and plugins in the market. This will help you to build an attractive, professional-looking website that is rich in features.

Also, its unlimited customization feature lets you modify your eCommerce website effortlessly. Hence, WooCommerce is the best option to create an eCommerce website or an online store.


B. Building an eCommerce Store with WooCommerce (Step-by-Step)

We already discussed why creating an eCommerce website with WooCommerce is a great choice. Now, let’s look at the step-by-step guide that will help you understand how to create an eCommerce website using WooCommerce.

Step 1. Buy Hosting and Domain Name

Before starting your eCommerce store, you’ll need to purchase web hosting and a domain name and install WordPress.. 

Web hosting is simply a storage area on the internet where your website files are stored. Similarly, a domain name is the name of your website on the web. For example Google.com, Wikipedia.com, ThemeGrill.com, etc.

Domain Name Example ThemeGrill

You’ll also require an SSL certificate. This will verify your website as secure and the customers can perform the online transactions without any doubt. 

Most of the hosting companies offer a free domain name and SSL certificate in their hosting plans.

Now, let’s discuss how to choose a hosting plan for your WooCommerce website.

How to Choose a Hosting Plan?

As mentioned earlier, web hosting is the basic foundation of every website. And it affects the overall performance/ speed, security, and user experience of your website. So, you should be really careful when choosing a hosting plan for your website. 

To create an eCommerce website using WooCommerce, you’ll need to purchase a WooCommerce hosting plan. WooCommerce hosting is a web hosting package specially created for WooCommerce based websites. They come with specific features that help you to manage products, shipping, accept payments, etc. 

So, while choosing a WooCommerce hosting plan make sure it has plenty of features included that can help you run your store easily. You also need to check the support that it offers and whether its price is reasonable or not. 

Some of the best WooCommerce hosting providers in the market are:

Among them, we’ll use Bluehost for this tutorial as it’s one of the best WordPress hosting providers. It offers affordable hosting plans that are full of advanced features.

Bluehost Banner (Bluehost Review)

Further, Bluehost includes a free domain and SSL certificate along with the hosting service. This means you don’t need to purchase a separate domain name and SSL certificate for your online store. 

How to Choose a Good Domain Name?

Before choosing a domain name for your website, you should be aware of certain things. As it gives identity to your eCommerce website, you need to be very careful before making a decision. 

Your potential customers will try to reach out with the help of your domain name. They’ll type your website’s name in the web browser whenever they want to visit your online store. So, always choose a unique domain name that can attract the attention of your customers. 

Here, we’ve listed some points that you need to consider before selecting a domain name:

  • Short and simple: A long and confusing domain name is hard to remember. Always choose a domain name that is short, simple, and catchy. So, the customer can search your website easily.
  • Represent your website type: Your domain name should help the visitors in identifying your website type. It must represent the theme of your website. For example shoppingtoday.org, buymycloth.com, lookingood.org, etc. 
  • Unique: Always try to choose a unique domain name for your site. Else, it can confuse your potential clients and they may land on your competitor’s eCommerce website.  

How to Buy Web Hosting for Your eCommerce Site?

In this WooCommerce tutorial, we’ll show you how to buy Bluehost WooCommerce hosting.

We decided to choose Bluehost as it’s officially recommended by WordPress.org. Also, its hosting package offers plenty of WooCommerce based features along with pre-installed WordPress, WooCommerce, and Jetpack.

First of all, go to the official Bluehost WooCommerce hosting page and click on the ‘Start Your Store’ button.

WooCommerce Hosting to Start eCommerce Website

After that, the WooCommerce hosting pricing plan will appear on your screen. 

There you’ll see two different hosting plans available: Standard and Premium. The standard plan is targeted at beginners who are planning to start their online store. Likewise, the premium plan is designed for those eCommerce store owners who want to grow their online store.

Just click on the ‘Select’ button.

WooCommerce Plan to Create eCommerce Website

Now, you’ll reach a page where you need to set up your domain name. Since Bluehost offers a free domain name feature with its hosting plan, you can create a new domain name for your eCommerce website.

Enter the domain name that you have chosen and click on ‘Next’ to see whether it’s available or not. 

Next Button to Add Domain Name for Online Store

Again, you’ll be directed to the next page where you need to enter your personal details. Enter every detail carefully and scroll down your page.

Also, you’ll find a section where you need to fill in your payment information i.e. credit card details. At last, click on the ‘Submit’ button to complete your WooCommerce hosting purchase. 

WooCommerce Hosting Account Information

After this, you’ll receive an email that contains details about logging into your hosting control panel. Simply follow the steps and log in to the cPanel.

Again, you’ll see a popup informing you that WordPress and WooCommerce have been preinstalled. You’ll also see the ‘Log in to your site’ button there. Click on it and you’ll reach your WordPress dashboard.  

That’s all. 


Step 2. Install and Setup WooCommerce

As mentioned earlier, WordPress and WooCommerce have been automatically installed. So, as soon as you log in to your dashboard, you’ll be directed to the WooCommerce setup wizard.

In case it didn’t happen, find ‘WooCommerce’ on the left side of your screen and click on it.

Go to WooCommerce Menu to Start Setup Wizard
Go to WooCommerce Menu to Start Setup Wizard

Now, we’ll talk about the different steps that you need to follow to setup WooCommerce. Only then, you can build a WordPress eCommerce website.

Add Store Details

First, you’ll have to add the details of your store. You need to enter the address of your store in the ‘Address line 1’ block. If your store is located in any other location, you can enter the address in the ‘Address line 2’ block as well else you can leave it blank.

Likewise, select the country/ region where your online store is located. You also need to mention the city and its postal code. Finally, click on the ‘Continue’ button.

WooCommerce Store Details

Choose the Industry 

In this step, you need to choose the industry type that your online store belongs to. Basically, select the mentioned options that match your product. There are seven different options available. Simply, tick on one of them and click on ‘Continue’

Indudtry Detail to Create eCommerce Website

Product Type

Now, you need to clarify the type of product you’re going to sell. If you plan to sell physical products or downloads, you don’t need to pay any additional charges. But, if you want to sell subscriptions, memberships, bookings, bundles, or customizable products, you’ll have to pay some extra charge. 

Again, after making a selection, click on the ‘Continue’ button to move towards the next step. 

Add Product Types to Start Online Store

Enter Business Details

Here, you need to add the number of products you plan to display on your eCommerce website. Just click on the downward arrow button and select your preferred option. 

Likewise, you also need to mention if you’re currently selling your products anywhere else. Again, click on the downward arrow and choose an option from there. At last, click on the ‘Continue’ button at the end.

Add Business Details to Start Your Online Store

After that, you’ll reach the ‘choose theme’ page. You can skip this for now as we’ll talk about changing the theme of your WooCommerce store in the next step. Find the ‘Skip this step’ option at the end of the page and click on it.

Skip This Step Button in WooCommerce

That’s it! You’ve complete WooCommerce setup process. Next, we’ll install a theme!


Step 3. Choose a Perfect WooCommerce Theme

A WordPress theme is simply a tool that enhances the look of your website. It helps in making your site attractive and professional. You need to choose a perfect WooCommerce theme for your eCommerce website.

It’s important to decide which WooCommerce theme is best for your eCommerce store as it determines the overall look of your online store. Not only this, but it also affects how your products are displayed on your site.

Here, we have decided to use the eStore theme by ThemeGrill.

eStore Theme for eCommerce Website

It’s a responsive WooCommerce theme that is fully customizable. This theme comes with several features and custom widgets that help to make your online store professional and well organized.

Alternately, you can try the Zakra theme which is another powerful WooCommerce theme. It’s fully integrated with powerful page builders like Elementor, Brizy builder, and lets you build stunning websites.

Now, let’s discuss how to install a theme on your WooCommerce website. 

How to Install WooCommerce Theme?

On the left side of your screen, find ‘Appearance’ and hover your mouse over it. From the popup click on ‘Themes’ after which you’ll reach the add new themes page. There click on the ‘Add New’ button.

Step to Add Theme in Your Online Store

Now, you’ll be directed to the add themes page where you’ll find the search theme box. Type eStore there to see the eStore theme appearing in the search result. 

Search eStore Theme for your Online Store

Again, hover your mouse cursor over the theme result and click on the ‘Install’ button. After a few minutes, you’ll see the ‘Activate’ button. Click on it to activate the theme. 

Install Theme on Your eCommerce Website

In this way, you can install the eStore WordPress theme and create an eCommerce website using WooCommerce. For a detailed tutorial, check our full guide on how to install a WordPress theme.

How to Import Demo for Your eCommerce Website?

On your dashboard, you’ll see a welcome message from the eStore theme. Click on the ‘Get started with eStore’ button. 

Get Started with eStore eCommerce Theme

After a while, you’ll reach the demo importer page. There you’ll find different demos of the eStore theme. Hover your mouse over the starter demo that you want to import. Click on the ‘Preview’ option if you want to preview the demo else click on ‘Import’ and ‘Confirm’

Import eStore eCommerce Theme Demo

That’s all. 


Step 4. Add Products to Your Online Store

Again find ‘WooCommerce’ on the left side of your screen and click on it. This will direct you to the WooCommerce home page. There you’ll see different steps that you need to complete to build your store fully.

WooCommerce to Home

First of all, let’s start with ‘Add products’ by simply clicking on it. You can add products using 3 different ways manually, import them, or migrate the products from your other store.

Ways to Add Products to Your Online Store

Now, let’s discuss how to add a product to your WooCommerce store.

How to Add a Product Manually? 

Firstly, click on the ‘Add manually’ option after which you’ll reach the add new product page. Then you need to add the name, image, and a detailed description of your product. Then you need to select the ‘Product category’ from the right side of your screen.

Steps to Add Product Manually in Your Online Store

Likewise, scroll down the page to find the ‘Product data’ section. From the dropdown arrow select the product type. After that, add the regular and selling price of the product from the ‘General section’

Select Product Data Type on Your eCommerce Website

Similarly, from the ‘Inventory section’, you can manage your product’s stock. You can also change the stock status of your product. 

Further, click on ‘Shipping’ and add your product’s weight, length, height detail. From the ‘Advanced section’, you can even add the optional note that you wish to send to your customers after they make a purchase. 

Product Shipping on Your Online Store

Again, scroll down to the ‘Product short description’ and add a short detail of your product. You can again add your product image here. At last, click on the ‘Publish’ button to make your new product visible in your store. 

Publish Product on Your eCommerce Website

How to Import Product via CSV?

You can also import your products using CSV (Comma Separated Values) file. Through CSV, you can save data in a tabular format. This method is suitable for larger store owners as they can import all of their products at once through a CSV file.

All you need to do is click on the ‘Import via CSV’ after which you’ll reach a new page. Then click on ‘Choose File’ to select a CSV file (Max 2 MB) from your computer. After that, click on ‘Continue’.

Import CSV File in Your Online Store

Then, the Column Mapping screen will display and WooCommerce will automatically attempt to match the Column Name from your CSV to Fields. 

Column Mapping on Your Online Store

From the dropdown menus on the right side, you can adjust fields or indicate ‘Do not import’. If any column gets unrecognized, it’ll not be imported by default. Again, select the ‘Run the Importer’ button.

Run the Importer on Your eCommerce Website

In the next step, your products will get imported. Wait for a while and don’t refresh or touch the browser while in progress. That’s all.

How to Import Product from Another Service?

Cart2cart WooCommerce Extension

If you have an eCommerce store that currently sells elsewhere, you can use the product migration service and migrate your products easily. This can be done using the Cart2Cart extension. Through this WooCommerce extension, you can move your store info from 85+ eCommerce platforms to WooCommerce in a few simple steps.


Step 5: Setup Other WooCommerce Services

We already talked about the ways of adding a product to your WooCommerce store. Now, let’s discuss how to set up other WooCommerce services like payment methods, tax rates, shipping costs, etc. 

How to Choose Payment Methods for WooCommerce Store?

Again, hover your mouse on ‘WooCommerce’ and click on ‘Home’. After this, you’ll reach the page displaying the steps that you need to complete to set up your eCommerce website fully. 

WooCommerce Homepage to Setup Your Online Store

Click on ‘Choose payment methods’ which will take you to a page with different payment methods. There you’ll find 3 different options: PayPal, cash on delivery, and Direct Bank Transfer.

Payment Options for eCommerce Website

If you want to use ‘PayPal’ payment gateway simply click on the ‘Set up’ button. Now, PayPal will get automatically downloaded to your WooCommerce store. After that, you need to connect your PayPal account that you have purchased. Enter your account details and click on ‘Proceed’.

Connect PayPal to Your Online Store

In case you don’t want to use PayPal, you still have two other payment methods available. Just enable the ‘Cash on delivery’ option and you can receive payment in cash upon delivery of the products. 

Enable Cash on Delivery Option

You can also use the ‘Direct bank transfer’ method. Click on the ‘Set up’ button and you’ll be directed to a page where you need to add your bank details. After that, click on the ‘Save’ button. That’s it. 

Bank Details for WooCommerce Store

How to Add Tax Rates? 

Now you’ll again reach the WooCommerce homepage. Click on ‘Add tax rates’ after which you’ll see the ‘Set store location’ and ‘Configure tax rates’ options. As you already added the location of your WooCommerce store while setting up WooCommerce, you don’t need to do anything here. Simply click on the ‘Configure’ button below the ‘Configure tax rates’ option.

Configure Tax on Your Online Store

After this, you’ll reach the tax rate settings screen from where you can configure your tax rates. It will show the tax rates as per your country code, state code. You can also add it manually by clicking on ‘Insert row’. At last, click on ‘Save changes’.

Insert Row in Your eCommerce Website

How to Set Up Shipping Costs?

After adding the tax rates, you’ll again be directed to the WooCommerce homepage. There click on the ‘Set up shipping costs’ options and you’ll again see two different options: ‘Set store location’ and ‘Set shipping costs’

Setup Shipping Costs For eCommerce Website

Just add the shipping cost manually. If you want to provide free shipping, you don’t need to add anything. Similarly, if you want to sell your products globally, enable the ‘Rest of the world’ option. Add the shipping rates in the available area and at the end click on the ‘Complete task’ option. 

Set Shipping Costs on Your Online Store

How to Personalize Your WooCommerce Store?

This is the last step that you need to follow to complete the WooCommerce setup process fully. Click on the ‘Personalize your store’ option that will direct you to a page from where you can create a homepage, upload your store logo, and set a store notice.

Personalize Your Online Store

Simply click on the ‘Create homepage’ option to create a new homepage for your eCommerce site. If you prefer to use the same homepage that your theme offers you can click on the ‘Skip’ option. By doing this you can still change the logo of your existing homepage.

Create eCommerce Website Homepage

To upload a new site logo, click on the ‘Remove image’ button. This will remove the existing logo. After that click on the ‘Add an image’ button and browse the logo that you want to add. At last click on the ‘Proceed’ button. 

Upload Online Store Logo

You can also set a store notice. Edit the store notice text and click on the ‘Complete task’ button. 

Complete Task Button

Step 6. Install Additional Plugins and Extensions

Now, you have successfully created your eCommerce website using WooCommerce and can start selling your products. However, you can still install some additional plugins and extensions to extend the functionality of your eCommerce website. 

There are plenty of plugins and extensions that you can integrate with your eCommerce website. Let’s recommend you some of the plugins and extensions for your WooCommerce store:

Customize My Account for WooCommerce

Customize My Account for WooCommerce Plugin

This extension plugin is specially created for WooCommerce to customize ‘My Account Dashboard’. It has a design editor tool that is highly customizable and easy to use. Using this plugin, you can easily modify the font, font size, font color, background color of ‘My Account Dashboard’. You can also create new tabs easily without any coding.

Everest Forms

Everest Forms Plugin for eCommerce Website

Everest Forms is one of the best WordPress form plugins that are suitable even for WooCommerce. It’s a simple yet powerful plugin with a drag and drop form builder which makes controlling and using the form easier. Likewise, it’s mobile responsive and can be translated into multiple languages. So, you can easily create customer surveys, login forms using this plugin.

Yoast SEO

Yoast SEO Plugin for Online Store

Yoast is the #1 WordPress SEO plugin that helps your website rank higher in search engines. It contains everything that you need to manage the SEO of your website. Further, it helps to make your eCommerce site better, faster, stronger so that it can compete well with its competitors. So, you can use this plugin to boost the SEO of your online store and gain more visitors.

Sucuri Security

Sucuri Security Plugin

Sucuri Security is a globally recognized WordPress security plugin. It comes with a set of security features for your website. Security is a serious factor especially when you’re dealing with card payments on your site. So, this plugin will ensure the overall security of your eCommerce website.

MonsterInsights 

Monsterinsights Plugin

MonsterInsights is a Google Analytics plugin for WordPress through which you can track your top products, categories, and landing pages. It offers an eCommerce addon that lets you see the overall stats of your website so that you can grow your sales. You can also track your customers and their activities on your website and analyze the trend. 

How to Install Plugins to Your WooCommerce Store?

You can easily install these plugins on your eCommerce site. For this, you need to follow the same step that you use while installing the WordPress plugin.

Firstly, hover your mouse over ‘Plugins’ at the left of your screen. Then, click on the ‘Add New’ button which will take you to the add plugins page. 

Plugins to Add New

You’ll see a search plugins box there on the right side. Just type the name of the plugin that you want to install. Then, you’ll see the plugin appearing in the search result. 

Click on the ‘Install Now’ button and wait for a few minutes. After that, click on the ‘Activate’ button. That’s all. You have successfully installed the plugin on your WooCommerce store. 

Install Plugin on Your eCommerce Website

Conclusion

In this way, you can build a WordPress eCommerce website and start selling online. You can follow the steps mentioned in this WooCommerce tutorial and start your online business easily. 

There are 6 different steps to create an eCommerce website using WooCommerce. Let’s revise them. 

  • Step 1. Buy Hosting and Domain Name
  • Step 2. Install and Setup WooCommerce
  • Step 3. Choose a Perfect WooCommerce Theme
  • Step 4. Add Products to Your Online Store
  • Step 5. Setup Other WooCommerce Services
  • Step 6. Install Additional Plugins and Extensions

We assume this step-by-step process of the WooCommerce shop tutorial was helpful for you. Now, we hope that you can create your eCommerce website using WooCommerce without any difficulty. 

You can check our blog if you want to read more articles on WooCommerce.

Please share this article with your friend circle. Also, do leave your insightful comments and suggestions below. 

Disclaimer: Some of the links in the post may be affiliate links. So if you purchase anything using the link, we will earn affiliate commission.
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