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How To Build An E-Commerce Website (2023 Guide) – Forbes Advisor UK

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How To Build An E-Commerce Website (2023 Guide) – Forbes Advisor UK

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Revenue in the UK ecommerce market is projected to reach a staggering £132.90bn in 2023, according to Statista. And if you are in the retail space, creating an e-commerce site can allow you to get a share of that pie. Here’s how to build an e-commerce website in just seven steps.

Step 1. Choose your content management system (CMS)

The foundation of every website is a content management system (CMS). There are a number of different content management systems to choose from open-source platforms such as WordPress to beginner-friendly all-in-one website builders such as Shopify or Squarespace. Which is right for you and your online store will depend on your budget, experience, and unique e-commerce needs.

Here are the most popular content management systems for e-commerce websites:

  • WordPress: The world’s leading CMS that is also one of the most customisable.
  • Shopify: An ideal e-commerce solution for building a dropshipping business.
  • Squarespace: One of the best website builders for beginners who want to easily build a professional website with no previous web design experience.
  • Square Online: Best for existing retailers that are looking to sell in-person and online.
  • Wix: An all-in-one website builder that is both easy to use and highly customizable.

For help deciding which is the best CMS for your e-commerce needs, learn more about the best e-commerce platforms.

Step 2. Create an account (or get web hosting)

Once you have decided which CMS to use, the next step is to create an account–unless you choose WordPress. If you are planning to build your e-commerce site with WordPress, your next step is to get a web hosting plan. The best web hosting services come with a free domain name, a free SSL certificate and one-click WordPress installation, eliminating the need to manually connect your domain and hosting to WordPress.

If you’re using a website builder such as Shopify, Squarespace, Square Online or Wix, simply navigate to the provider’s website and register for an account. If your chosen CMS allows, register your domain name through the CMS to eliminate the need for manual domain configuration process.

In the instance where your chosen CMS does not give you the option to get a domain name, register your domain using a domain name registrar. For help choosing one, check out our article on the best domain name registrars.

Step 3. Select an e-commerce theme or template

The first thing you need to consider is a theme for your website. Themes are ready-made templates that give your website a consistent look and feel. All subscription platforms have tons of templates to choose from, so whether you’re building your e-commerce website with WordPress, Shopify, Wix or anything else, you will have prebuilt templates and themes to choose from.

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Keep in mind that while free templates are generally available across most platforms, some also offer paid (or premium) templates. For example, both WordPress and Shopify offer premium themes that range in price from around £30 to over £200. The benefit is that many offer more unique designs, which can help businesses that want a specific look to reduce the amount of time spent customizing their chosen theme.

Step 4. Customise your site and build out web pages

After you have found the perfect theme or template for your online store, the next step is to begin customising it. This is where you will be updating your header and footer, configuring your site’s navigation, and building out pages from your homepage to your refunds and return policy page.

Step 5. Create product listings

No online store is complete with product listings. So once you have built out your website, the next step is to create your product catalogue, complete with all of your individual product listings. In this process be sure to organise and categorise your listings so they are easy for your future site visitors to find and for you to manage.

After you have populated your e-commerce website, there are a few key aspects of building an e-commerce site to attend to from setting up a payment processor to adding inventory and tax tools.

Choose a payment gateway

When it comes to choosing and setting up a payment gateway, many online retailers opt for third-party tools such as Stripe or PayPal to make the process easier and more secure. If you are redirecting the customer to other websites, you must ensure that the data is fully encrypted before transfer.

If you are choosing payment integrations, consider these points:

  • How easy is it to integrate the tool with your platform?
  • Is the tool secure?
  • Is the tool PCI compliant?
  • What are the fees you and the customer must pay?

For a detailed breakdown, refer to our article on the best payment gateways.

Integrate shipping

If your platform allows it, you should integrate shipping with your e-commerce website for a seamless experience. It will also simplify operations and you can focus on selling. But before you integrate shipping, determine your shipping policies such as free shipping, variable fee, flat rate, etc. And while you are at it, also establish refund and return policies.

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Add a sales tax calculator (optional)

Additionally, you may want to consider adding a tax calculator to automatically calculate VAT, shipping and any other fees at checkout.

Step 7. Test and launch your e-commerce site

Before launching the e-commerce site to your customers, you must check the site thoroughly. Every button and every link on the site must be working. Even 404 error web pages should be designed according to the theme.

Run tests to see if you can add products to the cart and process the payment. Most platforms will allow you to test payment processing without actually charging your credit card.

Be sure to check if all the emails are getting sent to the right inboxes after a purchase has been made or declined. And last but not least, check how your site looks and functions on mobile devices. If possible, try to check out the site’s performance on different web browsers.

Once you have tested and double-checked everything, from product descriptions to category pages, you are ready to launch.

Announce the launch of your e-commerce store through your social media pages, guest posts on popular retail blogs in your niche, influencer marketing and to your email lists. If you have the budget, you can also go for paid advertising on Facebook, Google and other platforms.

Benefits of selling online

Before you actually start building your e-commerce website, you need to be clear about your business needs for building a website. Here are some reasons why you should sell online.

More buyers are going online

Buying online is convenient as well as safe, and during the pandemic, e-commerce sales surged by as much as 40% in 2020, the first pandemic year. The easy availability of smartphones also means that you can buy from anywhere, any time of the day. So it’s obvious that people will continue buying long after the pandemic has abated.

Setting up an e-commerce shopfront is cheaper

When you compare it with a brick-and-mortar store, Setting up an e-commerce storefront is much cheaper. This is partially because brick-and-mortar stores incur multiple fixed costs such as rent, electricity bills, employee payments, infrastructure maintenance, etc.

E-commerce website can help offline sales

It is not necessary that online and offline stores should be mutually exclusive. They can augment each other nicely when you tell people about your brick-and-mortar store on your e-commerce website and install app kiosks in your stores.

For instance, Amazon is now opening brick-and-mortar stores after the runaway success of its online e-commerce website.

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Create unique customer experiences

Personalising experiences and services are much easier online. You can use different media including video, audio, stories, customer reviews and personalised messaging to build an experience your customers cherish and share with others.

Start selling immediately

Once you have the website ready, all you need to do is set up payment processing and list your products on the website to start selling. There is no need to wait for new employees, stockpile inventory or generate enough marketing buzz. You are in business the moment you put your website live.

Eliminate costly overheads with dropshipping

When you think of retail, the first thing that comes to mind is sourcing, maintaining and handling inventory. However, if you choose a dropshipping business model, you don’t need to maintain and handle inventory by yourself. You can read all about dropshipping here.

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Bottom Line

An e-commerce website is your online brand identity. You must take care to build it in a way that makes it easier for customers to experience your brand. Also, remember that it is not possible to get everything right the first time. Keep learning from your experiences, be ready to experiment and make changes when required.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Can I build an e-commerce website on my own?

Yes, you can easily build an e-commerce website on your own. You need to follow these steps:

  1. Buy a custom domain name for your e-commerce website
  2. Opt for an SaaS e-commerce solution
  3. Choose a shopfront theme
  4. Customise the theme to match your brand
  5. Upload products to sell
  6. Set up payment methods and you are ready to sell

How much does it cost to build an e-commerce website?

These are the best e-commerce platforms for 2023: Squarespace, Square Online, Ecwid, Shift4Shop, Shopify, Wix, Weebly, BigCommerce, WooCommerce and Big Cartel. You can read the pros and cons of all these platforms here.

Which is the best e-commerce platform?

These are the best e-commerce platforms for 2023: Squarespace, Square Online, Ecwid, Shift4Shop, Shopify, Wix, Weebly, BigCommerce, WooCommerce and Big Cartel. You can read the pros and cons of all these platforms here.

Are website builders secure?

Because most website builders offer cutting-edge technology, they are usually ahead of the curve when it comes to keeping their sites secure. They do this by keeping their customers’ websites protected by using top-end technology. Because of this, most website building companies offer some of the best security options available on the internet.

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Happy 20th Anniversary, WordPress! We Wouldn’t Be Here Without You  – WordPress.com News

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Happy 20th Anniversary, WordPress! We Wouldn’t Be Here Without You  – WordPress.com News

Above: Watch Matt Mullenweg, Mike Little, and Dries Buytaert — in conversation for the first time ever — discuss 20 years of WordPress as well as the future of open source.

On May 27, 2003, co-founders Matt Mullenweg and Mike Little announced that WordPress was available to the public. Their vision, as you can still read in their original post on WordPress.org, was to foster a means by which anyone could easily share and discuss their ideas with the world. 

What started as a humble open-source blogging platform is now the driving force behind over one-third of the internet’s most popular websites, including The New York Times, Salesforce, and Disney. But the non-profit WordPress project continues to further its mission of democratizing publishing for the entire world. Just as Version 0.7 was available as a free download under the General Public License (GPL) 20 years ago, WordPress remains free today — at Version 6.2 and counting. 

1685144732 780 Happy 20th Anniversary WordPress We Wouldnt Be Here Without You
The original comment from WordPress co-founder Mike Little, which kickstarted the creation of a platform that would change the internet forever.

Automattic — the parent company of WordPress.com, Jetpack, Tumblr, and other web platforms and services — didn’t yet exist when Mike and Matt launched WordPress. But since its birth in 2005, the two organizations have worked hand in hand. Through the Five for the Future initiative, Automattic commits 5% of our company’s resources — including over 4,000 employee hours per week — to the open source WordPress project. In turn, we benefit from the amazing work they do in improving WordPress and ensuring the best possible experience for building and maintaining your website, no matter how small or large.  

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It’s a symbiotic relationship for which we have a deep appreciation. The WordPress community often uses a saying that we love: “A rising tide lifts all boats.” A healthy and thriving WordPress project benefits all of us. 

So, to our friends in the WordPress open source community, we extend a heartfelt congratulations and thank you. Happy 20th anniversary! We can’t wait to see what the next two decades — and beyond — will bring. 


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9 Best WordPress Conditional Logic Plugins for 2023

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Best WordPress conditional logic plugins

Are you looking for the best conditional logic plugins for your WordPress website?

Conditional logic plugins allow you to show or hide information based on users’ responses and behavior. They help collect relevant leads, boost conversions, and provide a better user experience.

In this article, we will show you the best WordPress conditional logic plugins.

What is Conditional Logic in WordPress?

In simple words, you can think of conditional logic as if-then statements. It is a technique where you can automatically display relevant information, snippets, or scripts to users based on their actions.

For instance, a user may want to connect with the support team. If they select a support team as an option on your WordPress site, then you can show relevant contact information or a landing page.

Similarly, let’s say a customer is looking for hiking shoes. You can use conditional logic to only show those products and addons that a customer is looking for.

Where Can You Use WordPress Conditional Logic Plugins?

You’ll find conditional logic in WordPress forms, automated email workflows, conversion optimization methods, and more.

Here are some ways you can use conditional logic on your WordPress website:

  • Use conditional logic on your WordPress forms and dynamically change form fields based on the selection users make while filling out your forms.
  • Create optin campaigns and show popups based on different rules, like the user spending a certain time on the page or clicking a link.
  • Load code snippets and scripts based on conditional logic and user roles.
  • Ask different questions in online quizzes based on the user’s previous answers.
  • Display or hide products, addons, and other items based on customer choices on your eCommerce store.
  • Set up visibility rules using conditional logic to show menu items for your visitors.

That said, let’s see the best WordPress conditional logic plugins you can use today for your website.

1. WPCode

WPCode - Best WordPress Code Snippets Plugin

WPCode is the best WordPress code snippet plugin. You easily add custom code snippets to your website and manage them using the plugin.

The best part, WPCode offers a conditional logic feature that lets you set up rules for running code snippets without editing code. It is super easy to use and offers a beginner-friendly interface.

For example, you can load code snippets for logged-in users, run PHP code snippets for specific user roles and page URLs, and insert header and footer pixel scripts for certain pages.

WPCode Smart Conditional Logic

You can also hide custom code from running on pages like the homepage or for different user roles.

2. Conditional Blocks

Conditional blocks

Conditional Blocks is a free WordPress plugin for hiding or showing different blocks in the content editor. You can control the visibility of each block without writing a single line of code.

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The plugins let you set up conditions where WordPress blocks will appear for different user roles or membership levels. For instance, you can show the image block to only logged-in users. It also allows you to show certain blocks based on screen size.

Conditional Blocks offers a premium version as well. You get to unlock more conditions for showing WordPress blocks. For example, you can control block visibility based on post type, time, server requests, and more. There are also conditions for WooCommerce users in the pro version.

3. WPForms

WPForms

WPForms is the best contact form plugin for WordPress. It is beginner friendly plugin that offers a drag-and-drop form builder, lots of templates, and a smart conditional logic feature.

You can easily hide or show different form fields, display payment options, dropdown menus, and more based on the user’s responses.

All you need to do is select the form field in the template and enable conditional logic. After that, you can set up the rules to show different form fields.

For example, let’s say you’re running a net promoter score (NPS) survey on your website. If a user rates 8 or higher, then you can hide other questions in the survey using conditional logic. If they rate a lower score, then you can ask more questions to improve your performance.

Enter conditional logic conditions

Besides that, WPForms offers lots of other features and addons. You can integrate different payment services and create forms to collect online payments.

It also works with some of the most popular email marketing tools, so you can easily collect leads and grow your email list.

Other than that, there are addons for recovering form abandonment, tracking user journeys, adding save and resume features, learning about the user’s geolocation data, and more.

4. OptinMonster

The OptinMonster lead generation tool

OptinMonster is the best WordPress popup and lead generation plugin. It helps you get more conversions, grow your email list, and increase sales.

OptinMonster offers powerful display rules that you can use to display your campaigns to the right people at the right time.

For example, you can show optin popups to users that spend a certain time on a page, visit a particular page, or scroll X% of the page.

OptinMonster also offers an Exit-Intent technology, which triggers your campaigns as a user is about to leave your website. This helps recover abandoning visitors and converts them into subscribers and customers.

Enter exact URL for exit intent display rule

Other than that, you can display campaigns to users from a particular location or when they click a link. There are also display rules for eCommerce sites. You can show popups when customers have a specific cart total or when they view a product.

OptinMonster also offers a drag-and-drop builder, which makes it very easy to create attractive campaigns. There are lots of templates for different types of campaigns and various customization options. You can also integrate it with leading email marketing tools to collect leads.

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5. YITH WooCommerce Product Add-Ons & Extra Options

YITH WooCommerce product addons and extra options

YITH WooCommerce Product Add-Ons & Extra Options is a WooCommerce plugin that lets you add extra options and addons to your products.

The plugin is very easy to use and allows you to add options and extra services, like warranty, insurance, special transfer services, express shipping, customizations, and more.

For example, if you’re selling jewelry and rings, then you can add an option to engrave the customer’s name. Or if you’re selling tech products in WooCommerce, then you can offer additional services like warranty, product customization, and device checkup.

With YITH WooCommerce Product Add-Ons & Extra Options, you get a conditional logic feature that automatically shows or hides addons and options based on the customer’s selection.

You can define rules, and when the conditions are met, users will be able to see extra services and addons on your WooCommerce products.

6. Thrive Quiz Builder

Thrive Quizzes

Thrive Quiz Builder is the best WordPress quiz plugin and is part of Thrive Theme suite. It is beginner friendly to use, and you can create complex quizzes for your website without editing code.

The plugin offers different quiz styles, which include a right/wrong, number, percentage, personality, and survey. Thrive Quiz Builder also provides pre-made quiz templates that you can use to get started quickly.

Using the plugin, you can create conditional quizzes. The drag-and-drop quiz builder lets you display questions based on the user’s previous answers. Simply set the conditions where the next question will only appear if a person enters a particular answer.

When they’re finished, you can direct them to a page or product based on their answers.

Besides that, you can create badges for users, customize the quizzes, track results, check the quiz flow and see where users dropped off, and get detailed analytics of how your quizzes perform.

7. Formidable Forms

The Formidable Forms plugin and Signature addon

Formidable Forms is the next WordPress conditional logic plugin on our list. The plugin allows you to create simple contact forms to advanced and complex WordPress forms, like mortgage calculators.

Formidable Forms offers a conditional logic feature built into its drag-and-drop form builder. You can easily set up conditions for each form field and show or hide them based on the user’s answers.

If you have a multi-step form, then you can use conditional logic to automatically skip pages and lead users to the relevant section. Similarly, you can send email confirmation or redirect users to respective pages based on their answers.

Other features offered by Formidable Forms include pre-built templates for web applications. It also lets you create apps for real estate listings, product reviews, restaurant menus, and more.

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The plugin also has a visual views feature that allows you to display data from form entries on the frontend of your site.

8. If Menu

If Menu

If Menus is the next conditional logic plugin for WordPress on our list. It is a free WordPress plugin that you can use to create dynamic menus and control their visibility on your site.

The plugin lets you use conditional logic to show or hide different menu items. For instance, it lets you display certain menu items only if a user is logged in, hide menu items on mobile devices, show specific menus to admin and editors, and more.

Similarly, you can also show menu items to users from different locations or show any entirely new menu to members.

9. FunnelKit

FunnelKit Automations

FunnelKit is the best WooCommerce sales funnel and automation plugin. It lets you create high-converting landing pages, order bump pages, upsells, checkout pages, and more.

FunnelKit Automation offers multiple triggers that you can for automating workflows. You can set up different conditions, and based on the user’s actions, you can initiate different tasks.

For example, if a customer adds products to the cart but doesn’t checkout, then you can trigger the cart abandonment recovery workflow.

Similarly, you can automatically show different products to customers as upsells or order bumps. This way, you’ll increase sales without spending on paid ads.

Which WordPress Conditional Logic Plugin Should You Use?

Choosing the right conditional logic plugin for WordPress depends on your requirements and what you want to achieve.

If you want to create dynamic forms that show different fields to users based on their selection, then WPForms is the best plugin. It is super easy to use and offers lots of customization options.

Similarly, if you are looking to run different code snippets based on certain conditions, then WPCode is the perfect solution. It lets you set up rules and conditions without editing code.

On the other hand, you can use OptinMonster to display different campaigns based on user actions or create conditional quizzes using Thrive Quiz Builder.

You can also use conditional logic in WooCommerce and use FunnelKit to trigger workflows based on customers’ selections and actions.

We hope this article helped you find the best WordPress conditional logic plugins. You may also want to see our list of best WooCommerce plugins and how to start your own podcast.

If you liked this article, then please subscribe to our YouTube Channel for WordPress video tutorials. You can also find us on Twitter and Facebook.



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