If you’re thinking of launching your own online store, you have two main options. You can use an eCommerce platform like Wix or Shopify. Or you could use your own WordPress installation, a couple of WordPress eCommerce plugins and a little effort.
One costs quite a lot of money per month and has very little freedom while the other costs very little per year and gives you total freedom over everything you do.
We know which we would choose!
If that sounds like something you would also choose, this list of the best WordPress eCommerce plugins is for you.
We are going to outline the basic building blocks of an online store and list the 10 best WordPress eCommerce plugins you can use to build it.\
What Do You Need to Build an eCommerce Website?
It has been 26 years since the first online purchase was made back in 1994. Technology has come a long way since then. It is now possible to build your own online store and populate it with products in a single afternoon.
Running it will take longer of course but you really can build your own eCommerce store and begin selling within a few hours!
You will need:
Web Hosting
Fast, WordPress optimized web hosting can help your store perform. Visitors hate slow loading websites so host selection is key. There are hundreds of web hosts out there and some are better than others.
You would need to install WordPress once you settle on a web host but most good quality hosts will either do that for you or utilize a simple installer to set it all up.
Domain Name
Your domain name should accurately reflect your company name or your store name. If you can also include a keyword related to your store or what your store sells, all the better.
It is typical to buy web hosting and the domain name at the same time but you don’t have to.
SSL Certificate
An SSL certificate is now mandatory for an online store. SSL (Secure Socket Layer) is a method of encryption that secures a session between your browser and a website. It means nobody can see what you’re doing and if you’re sharing personal data such as credit card information, that data is securely encrypted.
SSL isn’t mandated by any law but by users. Browsers will actively warn users of any website or store that doesn’t use an SSL certificate and there aren’t many shoppers out there who would trust a store that didn’t protect their data!
WordPress eCommerce Plugin
A WordPress eCommerce plugin installs into WordPress and turns a standard blog into an all-powerful online store. There is some configuring to do and you’ll have to figure out shipping, local taxes and other details but it is very straightforward to set it all up.
Inventory
Once you have a web host, a domain name and have installed a WordPress eCommerce plugin, you need items to sell. You can sell whatever you like as long as you have a reliable supplier.
You can use dropshippers, local suppliers or even sell your own items. It’s entirely up to you!
It’s for precisely that freedom that we recommend a WordPress store over an eCommerce platform like Wix or Shopify anyday!
Read full article here: https://wpastra.com/wordpress-ecommerce-plugins
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