Setting up an online shop with WordPress
Selling online has never been so simple, thanks to the WordPress content management system (CMS).
WordPress e-commerce: a turnkey solution
WordPress is known worldwide as a blog or e-commerce website creation tool. Thanks to its plugins, it can be customised to suit a wide range of needs, making WordPress a leading content management system. You can customise your website with different themes (sets of files that change the visual aspect of your website). Some of them even allow you to graphically edit your pages without having to grapple with its HTML/CSS code.
With the right plugins, you can transform WordPress into an e-commerce website. Most of these plugins are available for free, with additional premium options.
The advantages of the WordPress CMS
Easy to use
WordPress is ideal for users who don’t have the technical skills of a web development expert.
Customisable
You can download thousands of free or premium themes and plugins to create a modern, unique and responsive WordPress website.
E-commerce compatible
Some WordPress plugins allow you to easily build a product catalogue for online sales: simply add product pages, payment and shipping methods, and discount coupons.
SEO
The WordPress environment promotes your content, which organically boosts your search engine rankings. SEO plugins add advanced features that help improve your organic SEO.
Set up an e-commerce website with WordPress in a few easy steps
1. Requirements
Before setting up your WordPress e-commerce website, remember to reserve a relevant domain name and subscribe to a web hosting plan that suits your business. Once this is enabled, simply set up your website with the one-click installation module available at OVHcloud.
2. From your WordPress admin dashboard (back office)
Your WordPress solution is now installed. Now, use the platform’s vast catalogue of free and premium extensions to select the e-commerce plugin best suited to your needs.
Choose the right WordPress hosting plan
Before opening your online store, make sure you have properly planned your web project.
• The storage space you need for your e-commerce store. You need to estimate this volume accurately, and anticipate the growth of your business. You can determine your need based on the number of products you will offer and the size of the images.
• The number of visits to your online shop. An e-commerce platform can attract a lot of traffic in a very short space of time, depending on variables such as seasonality, sales, etc.
To create a WordPress online store, we recommend the OVHcloud Performance range of web hosting plans. With this solution, you get a free domain name* and an excellent price/performance ratio. There are four possible options in the Performance plan, depending on the size of your business.
* Domain name creation and transfer is free for the first year, then renewals are charged at the annual price of the extension chosen from the following list: .com, .net, .biz, .info, .org, .name, .fr, .re, .eu, .be, .es, .it, .de, .at, .co.uk, .me.uk, .org.uk, .nl, .us, .ca, .cz, .ch, .in, .lt, .dk, .pm, .so, .se, .yt, .tf , .wf, .pt, .pl, .ovh, .xyz.
How to launch a WordPress website in one click
With the WordPress module, complete all the steps of installing a CMS (creating a database, transferring files via an FTP) in one click! When you choose your web hosting plan, select the pre-installed WordPress module at no extra cost.
If you already have a web hosting plan, you can also find this module in your OVHcloud Control Panel.
WooCommerce plugin for WordPress
As a free and adaptable plugin for any business, WooCommerce is the most popular e-commerce extension for WordPress, with almost 25% of French online shops using it*. In terms of market share, WooCommerce is just behind Magento, but ahead of Shopify and PrestaShop.
*Source: https://blog.aheadworks.com/magento-2-contributes-to-the-global-ecommerce-platforms-market/
With a simple and comprehensive interface, you can launch and manage many features:
・ product categories and sheets
・ special items (variations, digital versions)
・ product stock count
・ your shipping methods
・ different payment methods (debit/credit card, PayPal, etc.)
・ your customer data
・ one or more newsletters
・ sales statistics via the dashboard
Creating a product page with WooCommerce
With your e-commerce plugin on WordPress, you can create product pages and publish them to your customers in just a few clicks.
To add a product sheet, go to the “Products” tab (in the left-hand column of your WordPress administration interface) then click “Add a product”.
Enter all the information about the item: name, category, description, price, stock, delivery service, attributes, etc.
For a product with variants (e.g. a dress available in several sizes and colours), choose “Variable Product” instead of “Simple Product”. The “Variations” tab will then appear, for you to enter and collate the different attributes of your item.
Help your customers find you
To attract the attention of prospective customers, you need to make use of various traffic acquisition methods. Fortunately, there are many marketing plugins to help, specially designed to be integrated into your back office. You can also use other services, such as our solution for boosting your website’s visibility.
Here are a few examples:
• Organic SEO Optimise your content so that your website appears on the first page of search engines.
For example: Yoast SEO analyses your text, then offers recommendations and best practices to improve your organic SEO.
• Email Collect your visitors’ email addresses via a registration form, in order to create a database of prospects and customers.
For example: Mailchimp and Mailjet are tools for creating and sending emails or newsletters. Both are available as WordPress extensions.
• Social media Raise awareness of your store through social media. You can publish on Facebook and Twitter directly from your WordPress back office. You can also include your social network account feed on your website.
For example: the Facebook extension allows users to like your page and follow your posts.
• Contact form Create proximity and give visitors the opportunity to contact you via a form on your website.
For example: with Contact Form 7, you can easily create a contact or quote request form that fits your needs.
• Blog Expand your content with blog articles for your customers.
For example: by offering quality articles on your site, you will attract new readers who may turn into customers. Blogging also helps your SEO ranking.
Many other WordPress plugins are available for download, to automate your marketing or even translate your site. You can find them in your admin dashboard, in the left-hand column under “Plugins”.
I already have a WordPress website
You don’t need to create a whole new website to set up your online store. However, it may need to be redesigned. The first step is to update your website to the latest version of WordPress, to ensure that it remains compatible with your plugins and for security reasons. You can then set up the theme of your choice, or approach a web design agency or freelance specialist, who will offer you solutions adapted to your business, including developing a layout and a style guide. Afterwards, you can set up your chosen e-commerce plugin and start selling your products.
Your WordPress online store with WooCommerce (or your chosen solution) is now ready to receive its first orders and customers! If you don’t already have a website, you can now order a web hosting plan from OVHcloud.
Your questions answered
Why should I create my website with OVHcloud?
To create a WordPress website, WooCommerce requires essential features, such as a secure FTP server, databases, and a link to a domain name. We combine all of these tools into a hosting plan that is easy to use and affordable. With OVHcloud, you also benefit from the expertise of Europe’s leading web hosting and cloud services provider.
How do I use WooCommerce to create my online store?
To use WooCommerce, you must first install your website with WordPress. Then you just need to install the official WooCommerce plugin to get the e-commerce features: product creation, sales funnels, payment methods, etc. It is also possible to create an e-commerce website with PrestaShop, which is natively designed for this purpose.
What are the advantages of creating an e-commerce website with OVHcloud?
Our solutions have over 20 years of proven experience, giving you the professionalism and performance you need to launch your online business. You get many convenient and reliable services included in a solution adapted to your use. With OVHcloud, hosting your WordPress online store has never been easier.
Can OVHcloud help me configure my WordPress store?
We can install your chosen CMS on your web hosting plan in just one click. However, we do not offer technical support for configuring your WordPress website. You can refer to the official documentation for your CMS if you need to. Otherwise, you can ask for help in its vast community, made up of both amateurs and experts.
Can I install WordPress manually?
Yes. You can choose between installing WordPress in just one click, or setting it up manually.
My module is not installing. What should I do?
If you experience any issues while installing your modules, please refer to this guide:
https://docs.ovh.com/gb/en/hosting/web_hosting_web_hosting_modules/