WooCommerce has a wide range of features that you can use to improve your online store. If you take the time to learn the system well, the sheer number of choices allow you to create a storefront that is markedly different from anything else on the Internet. No matter what you do with WooCommerce, there are still certain business strategies that you should always follow.
Buy an SSL Certificate
Any online store needs to use HTTPS support. Without that, you cannot guarantee a secure connection and your customers’ personal information may be accessible to hackers. You need to buy an SSL certificate in order to enable HTTPS support in WooCommerce. Be sure to get a dedicated SSL certificate, not a shared one.
Become VAT Compliant
If you plan to do business with customers in the European Union (EU), you need to make sure that you are compliant with the Value Added Tax (VAT) laws. You can use the WooCommerce EU VAT Compliance plugin for this. This plugin comes in handy for any store selling to customers in Europe.
Hide Product Pages Before they are Ready
Setting up a product page requires some testing to make sure that it appears properly to users on multiple devices. Use WooCommerce’s settings to hide products to the public while they are in this testing phase. That way, you have ample time to detect any issues and make sure your products are as appealing as possible across all platforms before they become visible.
You can Customize Pages without Code
To somebody who knows how to write PHP code, a WooCommerce store is a virtual playground. However, you do not need to be a coder to customize your store. The WooCommerce Customizer plugin provides you with easy to use fields that give you a chance to change headings, button text, and much more.
Good Store Management Is Only a Plugin Away
Many plugins/extensions provide you with better management capabilities that can help boost your sales. Smart Manager for WooCommerce & WPEC allows you to manage products, coupons, orders, and more. You can also use the Putler analytics tool to gain insights into your store’s performance, customer trends, and potential future sales.
Encourage Bulk Ordering
Bulk ordering reduces processing and shipping fees for your store. Use the WooCommerce Bulk Discount plugin to encourage larger orders. You can select any number of products you want and apply a discount to help incentivize bulk ordering from your customers.
Provide Easy Shopping Cart Access
Your customers should have access to their shopping cart from anywhere in the store, which is why building it into the menu is a great idea. Using the WooCommerce Menu Chart plugin, you can make the shopping cart icon easier to find, giving customers a chance to change quantities or jump to checkout with ease.
Maximize Your Visual Marketing
Images are as important to your sales as the product description. Make sure that your customers can zoom in to examine products in detail. This means using high-quality pictures and plugins like the YITH WooCommerce Zoom Magnifier. You can also customize sale badges with the WooCommerce Smart Sale Badge plugin.
Provide Instant Search
The Instant Search + for WooCommerce Search plugin is a great tool that provides suggestions as your customers type in the search bar. This allows customers to find popular products more easily and helps mobile users navigate your store more effectively.
Present Clear Payment Options
Make sure to display your accepted payment methods prominently. Additionally, accepting multiple forms of payment helps prevent abandoned shopping carts. The WooCommerce Accepted Payment Methods plugin creates a banner display of options, while WooCommerce Payment Gateway by Novalnet easily manages multiple payment types.
Use a Plugin for Automated Invoices and Packing Slips
Automating the invoicing and packing slip process can help you get shipments out the door much faster. If you use the WooCommerce PDF Invoices & Packing Slips plugin, you can streamline these processes while also providing customers with PDF invoices via email.
Create Tracking Numbers in WooCommerce
If your customer needs to contact you about a shipped order, having the tracking number handy is very useful. The plugin AfterShip – WooCommerce Tracking supports hundreds of different carriers and creates an automated tracking number for each shipment. This allows you to answer any questions that come up about a product that has already shipped.
It just takes a little creative thinking and good planning to make your WooCommerce store thrive. The tips above can help you run your store more efficiently and keep your customers more satisfied.
