‎How to Build eCommerce Website with WordPress in 2026

‎So you have finally decided to build your own online store, awesome. Whether you want to sell handmade crafts, digital products, or even dropship gadgets one thing’s for sure WordPress makes it surprisingly easy.

‎In this guide, I will walk you through how to build eCommerce website with WordPress from scratch step by step even if you have never touched a line of code before.

‎Grab a cup of coffee and let’s get started.

‎Why WordPress Is the Best Choice for Your eCommerce Store

‎Before we dive into the technical stuff here is the thing, not all website builders are created equal.

‎Platforms like Shopify or Wix are great but they can be expensive and restrictive.

WordPress on the other hand gives you:

• ‎Full control over your website

• ‎Thousands of free themes and plugins

• ‎Scalability perfect for both small shops and big brands

• ‎WooCommerce integration which transforms any WordPress website into a professional online store

‎So if you want flexibility, cost efficiency and freedom WordPress is the clear winner.

how to make landing page?

‎Step 1: Get a Domain Name and Web Hosting

‎Every website needs a domain name like yourstore.com and web hosting (a server that stores your website’s files.

‎Here is how to do it:

‎1. Choose a domain name that matches your brand.

• ‎Example: If you sell handmade candles you might go for glowcandles.com.

• ‎Keep it short, memorable and easy to spell.

‎2. Buy web hosting from a reliable company like:

• ‎Hostinger budgetvfriendly and fast

• ‎Bluehost officially recommended by WordPress

• ‎SiteGround great for speed and support

• During the signup most hosting providers give you a free domain and an auto WordPress installation option, choose that to save time.

‎Once done, you will receive login details for your WordPress dashboard something like yourstore.com/wp-admin.

‎Step 2: Install WordPress If Not Already Done

• ‎If your hosting didn’t auto install WordPress, don’t worry it’s a 5 minute process.

• ‎Just log in to your hosting panel and find the WordPress Installer, click Install and boom, your website is live.

• ‎Now you can log in to your dashboard using your credentials and start customizing.

change meta description in wordPress

‎Step 3: Choose the Right eCommerce Theme

‎Your theme decides how your store looks and feels. Here’s how to pick a good one:

• ‎Go to Appearance then Themes and click Add New

• ‎Search for a responsive, WooCommerceccompatible theme like

• ‎Astra, OceanWP, Blocksy and ‎Storefront WooCommerce official theme

‎Pro Tip: Choose a theme that’s lightweight and customizable, speed matters for SEO and user experience.

After installing your theme click Activate and your website will instantly get a new look.

‎Step 4: Install WooCommerce Plugins

‎Now comes the magic part turning your simple website into a full eCommerce store.

1. ‎Go to Plugins click Add New

2. ‎Search WooCommerce plugin

3. ‎Click Install Now then Activate

‎Once activated WooCommerce will launch a setup wizard to help you configure your store.

‎You will enter details like:

• ‎Store name & address

• ‎Currency

• ‎Product type physical or digital

• ‎Payment options PayPal, Stripe or Cash on Delivery

• ‎Shipping zones

‎Follow the steps it’s beginner friendly and takes just a few minutes.

‎Step 5: Add Your Products

‎With WooCommerce ready, it’s time to fill your store with products. ‎

• Go to Products Click Add New and start creating your first item.

‎Here’s what to include:

1. ‎‎Product Title: Keep it clear and SEO friendly Like, Lavender Soy Candle – 200ml Jar

2. ‎Product Description: Tell a story highlight the benefits and what makes it unique.

3. ‎Product Image: Use high quality photos with white backgrounds.

4. ‎Pricing: Set a regular and sale price.

5. ‎Inventory: Manage stock and SKU numbers.

6. ‎Shipping: Define weight, size and shipping classes.

‎Hit Publish and congratulations your first product is live!

‎Step 6: Create Essential Pages

‎Every eCommerce store needs a few essential pages to look professional and trustworthy.

Here’s a quick list:

1. ‎Home Page – Highlights your top products and deals.

2. ‎Shop Page – Automatically created by WooCommerce to display all products.

3. ‎About Us – Share your brand’s story.

4. ‎Cart & Checkout – WooCommerce sets these up automatically.

5. ‎Contact Page – Add a form using the Contact Form 7 plugin.

6. ‎Privacy Policy & Terms – Use templates from WooCommerce or your hosting provider.

‎You can customize these pages using the Elementor plugin drag and drop builder. It’s perfect for beginners no coding needed.

‎Step 7: Set Up Payment Gateways

‎To accept payments, you need to connect WooCommerce with a payment gateway.

Go to WooCommerce Settings then Payments option and enable your preferred options:

1. ‎PayPal for global and easy

2. ‎Stripe for credit/debit cards

3. ‎Cash on Delivery

4. ‎Bank Transfer

‎If you are selling in Pakistan or India you can integrate local options like JazzCash, EasyPaisa, or Paytm using third party plugins.

‎Step 8: Configure Shipping Settings

‎Head to WooCommerce Settings then Shipping and define your shipping zones.

‎Example:

• ‎‎Zone 1: Local area – Free Shipping

• ‎Zone 2: Other regions – Flat Rate $5

‎You can also integrate ShipStation or Table Rate Shipping for advanced control.

‎Step 9: Add SSL Certificate (HTTPS)

• ‎Security matters especially for online stores handling payments.

• ‎Most hosting providers offer a free SSL certificate. Make sure your website shows a padlock icon (https://) in the address bar.

• ‎If not, go to your hosting dashboard and enable it. This boosts both trust and SEO rankings.

‎Step 10: Customize Your Store Design

‎Here’s where you make your store truly yours, ‎‎Use Appearance Customize or Elementor to:

• ‎Add your logo and brand colors

• ‎Customize fonts

• ‎Create a hero section with featured products

• ‎Add testimonials and trust badges

• ‎Set up a newsletter pop up using Mailchimp or FluentCRM

‎The goal? Make visitors trust your store enough to buy.

‎Step 11: Test Everything Before Launch

‎Before you go live double check everything:

• ‎Add a product to cart go through checkout and test payments

• ‎Make sure all links and pages work properly

• ‎Test on mobile devices over 70% of shoppers browse on phones.

• ‎You can even ask a friend to test your store and share honest feedback.

‎Step 12: Launch and Promote Your Store

‎Once everything looks perfect, it’s time to launch and ‎Share your website on:

• ‎Social media platform pike Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest etc

• ‎Email lists

• ‎Google Business Profile

• ‎Then start blogging using SEO friendly posts to drive organic traffic.

‎For example, if you sell candles and write blog posts like:

• ‎Top 5 Fragrances for Relaxation

• ‎How to Make Your Home Smell Amazing Naturally

‎This builds authority and attracts potential buyers.

‎Bonus Tips to Grow Your eCommerce Store

‎Here are a few extra things that can help you scale faster:

• ‎Use Yoast SEO or Rank Math to optimize your pages.

• ‎Install Google Analytics and Search Console for tracking.

• ‎Offer discount coupons or free shipping to boost conversions.

• ‎Add live chat with Tawk.to or WP Chatbot.

• ‎Always keep your plugins and WordPress version updated.

‎Conclusion

‎You have just learned how to build eCommerce website with WordPress from domain to launch.

It’s not as hard as it sounds, right? Once your store is live focus on improving your product photos, writing detailed descriptions, and building trust with your customers.

‎Remember, even the biggest online stores started small Keep learning, keep improving and your eCommerce dream will turn into reality sooner than you think.

‎FAQs – How to Build eCommerce Website with WordPress