Many people still think WordPress is just for blogs and standard websites, but it’s for so much more.

With all of the customisation features, many are now using WordPress for ecommerce. With the right plugins and setup, it’s easy to build your business using the WordPress platform.

From selling ebooks to running a membership site, WordPress has the tools you need to get setup so you can focus on running your business.

Ecommerce Features

WordPress is more powerful than many realise. It can handle both small and large ecommerce sites. Plus, it’s compatible with all major browsers. What really makes WordPress stand out is how customisable it is. You’re not forced to choose a single layout or one or two payment methods. You choose the layout, payment options, site access and much more.

Depending on the plugins and themes you choose, you get the benefits of numerous payment options such as PayPal, Stripe and manual payments. You also have integrated tax calculators to make selling digital goods as easy as possible.

One final feature that makes WordPress for ecommerce a good choice is how the platform works with databases. Simply create a new database for user account and transaction data along with the graphical interface and you’re done. WordPress is well known for it’s powerful database functionality and it’s yet another benefit when it comes to ecommerce.

Types Of Sites

WordPress is often used to power digital ecommerce and membership sites. For digital sites, files are stored and accessed as soon as payment is processed. Since you’re able to accept multiple payment options, it’s easy to sell products to nearly any customer.

Membership based sites are just as easy to work with. Once the customer pays for access, they’re able to view specific areas of a site, such as a course or premium posts. All relevant data for what they’re able to access and when they must renew their membership is all stored in a WordPress database.

Recommended Plugins

While the platform on it’s own is powerful, the true ecommerce features come from plugins. These plugins provide features such as payment processing, shopping carts, analytics, secure data entry and more.

The most popular WordPress ecommerce plugin is WooCommerce. It’s currently used on over 78% of all WordPress ecommerce sites. According to the developer’s site, the WooCommerce toolkit powers 29% of all online stores. It’s designed to allow you to sell anything while keeping customer data secure. There are also extensions and even themes created specifically for this plugin.

Gravity Forms helps you create simple and complex contact forms so it’s easy for customers to contact you. Every reputable ecommerce site needs contact forms. Once the plugin is installed, forms are created through a drag and drop approach, so it’s easy to create forms without being a programmer. Plus, it integrates well with major services such as PayPal, AWeber and MailChimp along with many major theme providers such as WooThemes and Organic Themes.

One final plugin you’ll likely want is Easy Digital Downloads. It’s perfect for managing any digital products such as music, videos, ebooks and more. Easily track earnings with graphical statistics and even add in discounted pricing whenever you want. It also supports multiple payment gateways such as PayPal, Stripe and WorldPay.

While other plugins are available, these three have made their way to the top due their ease of use and powerful ecommerce features. It’s ideal to hire a developer to set them up for you and ensure they’re properly integrated on your site. Once everything’s set up, all you have to do is add in your products, choose your payment options and start marketing your site.

Conclusion

If you want a platform that scales with your ecommerce business, look no further than WordPress. Get a unique storefront with all the features you need by working with an experienced WordPress developer. The end result is a store you’re proud of and one your customers will love.

Ready to experience how well WordPress works with ecommerce? Contact StuartMedia today to get started on your own site.

Image: Serge Kij

It’s great to give readers something for free, but membership sites give visitors something more valuable.

Building a membership business doesn’t have to be complicated. WordPress has everything necessary to create professional membership sites.

Boost revenue and sell valuable resources straight through your WordPress site by adding in a few extra features and plugins.

Membership Site Basics

Membership sites allow businesses to sell digital content and services. Members can sign up for a set period to access restricted areas of the site. You can change permissions on the site to allow for varying membership levels on a single WordPress site. Payments are accepted through your site via your desired payment method, such a PayPal or credit card. Non-members are only able to access free content, such as blog posts or product announcements.

Takeaway: Membership businesses are extremely popular and offer an easy way to increase business profits. Site visitors are eager to sign up to gain exclusive content and services. WordPress developers are highly knowledgeable on how to set up both basic and advanced WordPress member sites.

Types Of Membership Sites

While there are really  no restrictions to the type of membership site you create, the majority fall into five different types. Each has its own benefits. The one you choose to create depends on solely on what you wish to sell and offer to members. The most common types include:

• Courses – Sell access to educational courses complete with exclusive course materials, lessons, videos and even forums for students to interact.
• Periodical Content – Sell access to regularly uploaded content such as articles, tutorials, podcasts, videos and ebooks. This is the most common type.
• Evergreen Content – Sell access to previously created content a little at a time once a member signs up. This requires creating a larger content base to before signing up members.
• Downloads – Sell access to special members only downloads such as software, ebooks, videos and more.
• Community – Sell access to a moderated community for members to discuss topics related to your business. This requires an existing visitor base to create a thriving a community and the business will need to be involved in the community discussions.

Each of these types can be set up for a pre-defined period or lifetime. You can also restrict access to different levels, such as only offering certain downloads for standard members and additional downloads for premium members. Businesses can customise these membership types as much as they want to fit their business model.

Takeaway: Take the time before setting up a membership business to decide what you want to sell, create the necessary material and developer a membership structure. This makes building the site much easier. Plus, if you hire a WordPress developer, they’ll have an easier time turning your vision into reality.

Using Membership Plugins

One of the easiest ways to build a membership business with WordPress is by installing plugins specifically designed for this purpose. These plugins add all the membership features you need without drastically re-designing your site. They add features such as password protected material, membership levels, discounts, shopping carts, course creation and much more. Some plugins are free while others require a one-time, monthly or yearly fee.

Each membership plugin has its own unique feature set. Choose a plugin that includes all the features your membership site will need. If you can’t find one that does it all, hire a WordPress developer to build a custom plugin for your WordPress site. Most WordPress member sites utilize one of the following six plugins:

• Membership – Available in a free lite version and fee based pro version. It offers forums, protected areas, membership levels, resource areas and more.
• S2Member – Available in different licensing structures. The highly configurable plugin offers protected content, integration with Amazon S3/CloudFront, accept payments, add discounts and more.
• Paid Memberships Pro – The plugin is completely free, but will cost $97 for additional support from the developers. It offers all basic membership features and even provides trial membership options.
• Restrict Content – A free version is available, but the pro version is what most businesses need. It offers payment features, protected content, membership levels, discounts, reporting and more.
• MemberPress – Requires an annual fee and offers unlimited membership packages and levels. It’s similar to Restrict Content, but business may prefer the extremely user friendly interface.
• WP eMember – Requires a fee and offers unlimited membership levels, automated member setup, multi-site licensing and much more.

Takeaway: Numerous membership plugins are available. If possible, try a free version or demo of plugins first to see if the features fit your needs. Of course, custom plugins are always an option.

Conclusion

Membership business sites are easy to create with WordPress. You don’t need a special site. You can run your normal site and membership site through the same WordPress installation.

If you’re ready to build a membership based business through WordPress, contact StuartMedia today for everything from developing the site to custom built membership plugins.

Image: Robert S. Donovan