5 must-have features for your WordPress e-commerce website

First, let’s look at what you might need to add these features.

What are the tools for a great e-commerce website

WordPress is a great base upon which to build any e-commerce store. What’s more, WordPress comes replete with plugins that enable you to add features and functionalities without the need for complex coding, like Toolset.

Combine it with WooCommerce, and you’ve got yourself a powerful combination of e-commerce management tools on your side.

1. Custom Search

A custom search is a great way to help customers find the items they seek as soon as possible, avoiding any distractions.

Don’t assume that shoppers know the exact item they’re looking for, especially if they’re just here to window shop. A custom search allows you to provide a number of filters so that customers can narrow down their search and find exactly what they want.

2. Detailed product page

The product page is a critical piece in your website’s sales funnel. Whereas the home page or categories page show off how expansive your inventory is, the product page is your chance to give individual items a chance to shine.

Once shoppers land on the desired WooCommerce product page, you want to give them something impressive to look at.

Not only should you include great images and descriptive text but you should make sure you customize your WooCommerce product page. A custom product template will provide a unique shop window which will help your items stand out.

Not only can you style your page but you can also include other important features to it such as custom fields, taxonomies and special offers.

3. Related product recommendations

Another way to help visitors find what they need on your WooCommerce website — and help you upsell or cross-sell customers in the process — is to provide related product recommendations. You can do this in a number of ways and at different points throughout the customer journey.

You can display related product widgets or sliders beneath a product’s photo and description.

You can display a related product pop-up after an item was added to the shopping cart. You can also display related product pop-ups if someone is about to abandon the website before completing their purchase.

The goal is to accurately assess their needs based on their behavior and profile and provide them with an item that is related to the product they’ve shown interest in or an item that can replace the current one they’re looking at (in case it’s not exactly what they were looking for).

4. Product categories slider

Another way to compel visitors to peruse more of your store is to display product categories sliders around the site.

Related product widgets are essential in upselling items that visitors have already shown interest in. But product categories introduce them to inventory they might not have even been aware of or simply hadn’t considered buying at the time.

It’s a great way to inspire customers to stick around and get all their shopping done while they’re on your website.

5. Multilingual

One of the easiest and most cost-effective ways to expand into new markets is by creating a multilingual website. Not only will new customers be able to understand you but you can also localize your website by using the correct currency, taxation and by offering free shipping.

This is where a multilingual plugin should enter the picture. Specifically, you will need two plugins to accomplish this. WPML is the WordPress multilingual plugin. The free WooCommerce Multilingual plugin is the glue that connects WPML to your WooCommerce website.

With multilingual functionality programmed into your site, international customers can now enter your website and experience as seamless and welcoming an experience as those who are local to your business.

Wrapping Up

If you’ve spent enough time online as a consumer, you recognize that e-commerce websites come equipped with certain features and functionality you wouldn’t see on an ordinary business website. When building your own e-commerce site, be sure to take the five must-have features above into consideration if you want to compel your visitors to become customers. This WooCommerce tutorial will help get you started.

This is a guest post by Joe Lobo.

Original post: 5 must-have features for your WordPress e-commerce website

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