WordPress Introduces New Plug-In Feature, WooCommerce

Business owners who use WordPress should take note of a new and impressive plug-in: WooCommerce.

Business News Daily reports that WooCommerce, a shopping cart plug-in, can enable anyone with a WordPress site to set up their own e-commerce store without purchasing expensive e-commerce software. WooCommerce offers a wide range of services and, more importantly, is entirely free to use.

The plug-in is free to download and install and has no monthly fees, unlike other shopping cart plug-ins. Most of its extensions and website themes are free as well but more advanced versions of these features do come with a price tag. Paid website themes can range anywhere from $79 to $139. Extension prices also vary but given the plethora of extension options to choose from, a business owner can most likely find something suitable for free.

Another money-saving feature of WooCommerce is that no merchant account is required to send and receive payment, saving businesses money on bank fees. Merchant transactions are integrated directly with PayPal, which doesn’t levy fees for bank transfers.

WooCommerce also comes equipped with Storefront, a free WordPress theme which enables the site administrator to set up an online store either directly on the site or as a stand-alone feature. WooCommerce also has many options for payment services, such as extensions that accept credit cards, cryptocurrencies, and Cash on Delivery. It is also capable of handling tax forms and automatic payments.

The plug-in also features inventory management and human resourcing tools. Marketing strategies and summary reports are included as well.

WooCommerce has an array of themes and extensions to choose from, both from itself and from third-party developers. These themes and extensions, among other things, enable the site administrator to add WordPress widgets and programs from other companies such as FedEx, Google, and Amazon.

“Databerry doesn’t really endorse using WordPress for E-commerce sites, but we will consult with you and recommend a shopping cart system that is based on your company’s requirements and needs that best suits your business,” said Jared Haggerty of Databerry, a web design and marketing solutions company.

There are, however, drawbacks to WooCommerce. WooCommerce only handles the e-commerce part of the website. Everything else, from finding a Web host and purchasing a domain name to designing the WordPress site itself, is not covered by the plug-in. Business owners unfamiliar with WordPress functions and designing techniques may find WooCommerce challenging to work with, although those with WordPress knowledge will find the plug-in easy to use.

Assuming a business owner can overcome these limitations, WooCommerce is a more than reliable method of setting up free e-commerce for a WordPress business.