WordPress eCommerce: Which Shop Platform for Your Project?

An online shop with WordPress. Good choice. WordPress is flexible, WooCommerce is free, the learning curve is gentle. Here are the steps I show my clients.

At a glance

• WordPress + WooCommerce is enough for most shops.
• Mollie or Stripe: payment provider integrated in minutes.
• Legal notice, GDPR, terms and conditions — do not forget the legal side.

WordPress as a shop system

WordPress is the most widely used CMS. With WooCommerce it turns into a shop. Setting it up: install WordPress, choose a theme, activate WooCommerce. That gives you the foundation.

The best eCommerce plugins for WordPress

WooCommerce is the standard. Products, variants, shipping, taxes — all covered. For digital products there is Easy Digital Downloads. WP EasyCart exists but is hardly widespread. My advice: start with WooCommerce. I have written a step-by-step guide here.

Payment systems for your WordPress shop

No payment provider, no shop. Mollie and Stripe are the most common options in Europe. Both integrate directly into WooCommerce. Mollie scores with local methods such as Bancontact or iDEAL. Stripe is strong on credit cards. Look at what your customers prefer.

If your shop grows and you need subscriptions, invoicing or several sales channels, it is worth looking at Stripe's solutions for businesses.

Legal requirements

Often underestimated. Legal notice, privacy policy, terms and conditions — mandatory. GDPR applies. Do not forget the cancellation policy. When in doubt: an hour with a lawyer is cheaper than a warning notice.

Marketing for your WordPress shop

A shop without visitors achieves nothing. SEO ensures that your products are found. Social media brings reach. Email marketing brings customers back. My tip: start small. Measure. Then expand.

WordPress and WooCommerce are a solid foundation. The technology is manageable. If you want to dig deeper, take a look at my training courses.

Which marketing channels really bring visitors to a WooCommerce shop, I describe in detail in WooCommerce marketing.

Frequently asked questions

How do I set up my WordPress shop?

Install WordPress, activate WooCommerce, create products. You will find the details in my WooCommerce articles.

Which payment methods can I integrate?

Mollie, Stripe or PayPal — depending on what your customers use.

What legal requirements are there for online shops?

Legal notice, privacy policy, terms and conditions and a cancellation policy. Check the requirements in your country.