Are you looking to maximize the sales of your WooCommerce store? If so, you’ve come to the right place. In this blog post, we’ll explore how to select the best WooCommerce plugins that you should be using to get the most out of your store. We’ll cover what WooCommerce is, the benefits of using it, where and how to find the best plugins, how to install and manage them, best practices for optimizing your store, and key features of the essential plugins. We’ll also discuss ways to troubleshoot common WooCommerce issues. By the end of this blog, you’ll have the resources and knowledge you need to maximize customer engagement and profits for your WooCommerce store.
What is WooCommerce?
WooCommerce is an e-commerce plugin for WordPress, an open-source web-building platform. It is used to convert the WordPress website into an e-commerce platform to help businesses display and sell products or services to customers online. It’s a popular choice among online retailers because it’s easy to use and has a wide range of features. With WooCommerce, you can create a store to sell physical and digital products, manage orders, process payments, and more. It also supports hundreds of plugins and themes, so you can customize your store to fit your business needs.
Benefits of WooCommerce
There are many benefits to using WooCommerce to power your online store. For starters, it’s free to use, and you don’t need any coding experience to get started. You can easily set up a store and add products with just a few clicks. You can also customize the look of your store with themes and plugins, and you can use WooCommerce to accept payments from a variety of payment gateways. WordPress makes it easy to manage blog posts, pages, and other content in one place, which is convenient.
What are WooCommerce plugins?
While WooCommerce is a great platform, it’s essential that you use plugins to get the most out of it. Plugins are small pieces of software that can be installed to add extra features and functionality to your store. The right plugins can help you optimize your store, increase sales, and make managing your store easier and more efficient.
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Key features of WooCommerce plugins
The essential plugins that you choose for your store will depend on the type of store you have, but there are some key features you should look for. For example, look for plugins that offer analytics and reporting, so you can track the performance of your store. You should also look for plugins that offer customer support, so you can provide excellent service to your customers. Look for plugins that offer payment gateways, so you can accept payments from a variety of sources. Finally, look for plugins that offer marketing and promotion tools so you can grow your store’s reach.
How to install and manage the plugins for your WooCommerce store?
Do you know that the WordPress plugin repository has more than 60,000 free plugins? Imagine having to go through the list to select the best for your store! So, instead of listing the best WordPress or WooCommerce plugins, why not let you decide which is best for your online business and marketing requirements? But first, let us see where we can access all the plugins and how to select the best plugins for WooCommerce. It is similar to a WooCommerce installation.
Navigate to the Plugins section in your WordPress admin dashboard. Or you can directly go to the WordPress plugins page. This shows all the plugins currently installed. Obviously, this list would contain WooCommerce. Also, depending on your host, you might have several plugins installed already. To add a new plugin, click Add New. Search for your desired plugin and click Install Now. Next, after installation, tap on Activate. Activating the plugin may require you to configure some settings. You’ll find resources for that plugin on their respective websites.
Once you have activated the plugin, keep looking for updates. If you find that any of the plugins needs an update, click on the Update button, which you’ll find against the plugin name in the installed plugin list.
10 tips on how to choose the best WooCommerce plugins for your store
When it comes to finding the best plugins for your store, it’s important to do your research. Start by looking at the most popular plugins and reading reviews from other users. You can also search for plugins that are specifically designed for WooCommerce. Make sure to read the details of each plugin and make sure it’s compatible with your version of WooCommerce.
1. Plugin requirements
First, make a list of the things you expect from the plugin. For instance, if you require a plugin to convert your WooCommerce store into a mobile app, make a checklist of the features you require. Maybe you need a no-code app builder to make it easy to create apps without any coding challenges. Next, you need to ensure that the plugin allows third-party integration to add extra features. Think about the budget for your plugin. Make a list of features you absolutely require and some add-ons that may help you if those are available at affordable rates.
2. Plugin features
The plugin section typically includes a short description and a list of its features. Go through its features to get an idea of whether this plugin has all that you require. For instance, let’s take the above requirement for a plugin to convert the WooCommerce store into an app. If we select the no-code app builder Swipecart plugin, it has all the necessary features to build an app for your WooCommerce store without having to code. Is this the right plugin for your needs? Explore its features and see if it checks all the right boxes.
3. Compare plugins
Since there are hundreds and thousands of plugins available for any specific feature you need for your WooCommerce store, it is always better to compare the plugins. You can make a list of the most popular plugins and get comparison resources from the internet. Make your own comparison chart regarding its features, pricing, and support before you come to a conclusion.
4. Plugin fee
Some plugins are available for free, while others require you to pay a one-time fee or subscription fee. Some have a basic free plan, but you have to pay to access their premium features. Other plugins allow a trial period to help you access the features and make an informed decision about buying them. The trial period helps you decide if you want to go with that plan or if you want an upgrade. Consider all these factors when choosing the best plugin for your WooCommerce store.
5. Ratings and Reviews
The rating for the plugin is visible on the plugin listing page. On the plugin detail page, navigate to the Reviews tab to see the ratings and reviews in detail. You can read all the reviews to see its performance and the feedback from users.
6. Plugin screenshots
You’ll find the screenshots toward the end of the Details tab. This screenshot is usually about where you can access the plugin on your WordPress dashboard. Some of the plugins also add descriptive screenshots of the features of their plugin. Go through these images and videos and see if they fit your requirements.
7. Active installations
The active installation numbers denote the number of WordPress stores that have installed the plugin and are currently using it. The higher this number, the better. But some niche plugins may not have millions of active installations. For instance, a plugin for SEO may have millions of active installations, while a photo gallery builder may have fewer active installations. This doesn’t imply that the plugin is bad. It just means that fewer stores, like the photography stores, feel the necessity to install this plugin.
8. Test version
WordPress keeps releasing new versions. It is essential that the plugin also remains up-to-date to run smoothly on all the latest WordPress and WooCommerce versions. If the plugin is not up-to-date, you might face minor to major hiccups in its operation. So, ensure that the plugin is tested on the latest WordPress version before you install it in your WooCommerce store.
9. Plugin support
Click on Support below the Download button, and it’ll reveal a list of user queries for that plugin. Open any thread, and it’ll display the query and the answer. You'll also have a Resolved green tick for resolved queries. If many of them are resolved, you know that the support team is active and helping merchants. For other support resources, you can even check the FAQs or their website resource section. Some of the plugins provide a comprehensive guide in the form of text and videos to help you with their features and functioning.
10. Plugin compatibility
All said and done, your plugin must be compatible with the WordPress theme and WooCommerce. Many of the plugins have compatibility issues with other installed plugins, wherein the features and functions interfere and you don’t get the expected results. Of course, you can talk to customer support to resolve the issue. But there are chances that you may have to deactivate the plugin if it interferes with other necessary plugins. So, ensure that your plugin is tested on all versions and keep it updated.
Remember to have an overall view of the plugin. Most importantly, it has to serve its purpose and be within your budget. By following these ten tips when choosing plugins, you can maximize the efficiency of your WooCommerce store.
How can a mobile app help you increase your WooCommerce store’s efficiency?
When talking about maximizing your store’s efficiency, there’s one more way you can achieve it easily and quickly. Swipecart, a no-code app builder available as a plugin on the WordPress plugin repository, helps you build an engaging app for your store. It uses no-code technology, meaning you can build codes with its visual interface. Just like how you designed your store on WordPress without any codes and installed the WooCommerce plugin, you can create an app on similar lines without the hassle of coding. Just install the Swipecart plugin, and you are ready to go! You can carry forward the best plugins installed for your WooCommerce store and use them on your app too. There’s everything you need on Swipecart to make your app an additional revenue source for your online store. Build an app for your WooCommerce store in minutes, and you can maximize profits by providing a personalized experience for your customers on your app.
Best practices for optimizing your WooCommerce store
Once you have installed the plugins that you need, it’s important to optimize your store for maximum performance. Start by optimizing your images and compressing them to reduce their file size. This will help your pages load faster and improve your rankings in search engines. You should also make sure that your store is secure by using an SSL certificate and setting up two-factor authentication. Finally, make sure to test your store by running a few tests to check for errors.
Troubleshooting common WooCommerce plugin issues
It’s inevitable that you’ll run into some issues when managing a plugin on your WooCommerce store. Luckily, there are lots of resources available to help you troubleshoot common WooCommerce plugin issues. Start by searching the WooCommerce forums for answers to your questions. You can also search for tutorials and videos to help you learn how to fix the issue. If all else fails, you can contact the WooCommerce customer support team for help.
Conclusion
By following the ten tips in this blog on how to choose the best WooCommerce plugins, you can maximize the efficiency of your WooCommerce store. Also, don’t forget to try the no-code app builder Swipecart for your store. Start by researching the most popular plugins and reading reviews from other users. Make sure to install the plugins correctly and configure the settings, and don’t forget to optimize your store for maximum performance. Finally, make sure to troubleshoot any common issues. With the right plugins, you can get the most out of your WooCommerce store.
