As a blogger or a creative freelancer, the rise in eCommerce transactions offers a great opportunity to monetize your blog and take advantage of your creative skills.
If you have an established blog with a loyal audience, you can sell different products related to your niche to your readers. If you’re a freelancer, you can sell your creative work as eBooks, video tutorials, and premium services. The possibilities are just endless.
Thanks to WordPress, adding eCommerce features to your website or setting up an online store has become very simple. There are dozens of feature-rich WordPress eCommerce plugins that you can easily configure to turn your blog into an eCommerce website.
But to make the task even simpler for you, here are three of the most versatile and user-friendly WordPress eCommerce plugins for bloggers.
As one of the newer kids on the block that has taken on the challenge of competing witht he mighty WooCommerce, SureCart stands out in the WordPress e-commerce space with its easy-to-use interface, allowing users to easily set up their online store in minutes.
It rivals WooCommerce by offering enhanced features like a visual drag-and-drop checkout form builder and extensive customization options without requiring coding.
The platform supports various payment models including one-time and recurring payments, it offers cart abandonment recovery, real-time tax calculations, compliance with EU VAT, and a range of integration capabilities to ensure a seamless and efficient online selling experience.
Take a look at their tutorial video to get a better idea of how it all works.
Why We Like SureCart
Here are the top 5 reasons we chose SureCart as one of the top 3 eCommerce plugins in this list:
- Simplified setup with drag-and-drop, no-code customizations, and full control over the checkout process.
- Enhanced customer retention through cart abandonment recovery and multiple payment options, including subscriptions.
- Compliance and efficiency with EU VAT compliance, real-time tax calculations, and subscription flexibility.
- Increased sales opportunities via cross-sell options and global selling support.
- Streamlined operations with workflow automation and integration flexibility.
Pricing
SureCart offers a user-friendly pricing model, allowing you to start for free without a credit card. They emphasize a 100% risk-free money-back guarantee within the first 14 days, so you can test it out without making any financial commitments upfront.
Beyond the free tier, they offer two plans – Grow and Scale. They start at just $29/month paid monthly, or $19/month if paid yearly. The latter saves you at least $120 per year.
Naturally, WooCommerce will always make a list like this given that it’s such a robust and widely adopted eCommerce solution.
WooCommerce empowers users to launch their online store seamlessly. Known for its flexibility, WooCommerce supports physical, digital, and subscription-based products, integrating with various payment gateways.
Why We Like WooCommerce
There’s no doubt that WooCommerce should be considered when reviewing eCommerce plugin options, so here are our top 5 reasons for choosing it over anything else.
- Extensive customization with a wide array of themes and WooCommerce plugins.
- Integrated analytics for in-depth sales and customer insights.
- Strong community support complemented by thorough documentation.
- Scalable solutions that are ideal for business expansion.
- Comprehensive security features to safeguard transactions and data.
Pricing
This is where it gets a bit tricky. WooCommerce is free to start, but there are always additional costs for extensions and additional functionality. There are plenty of WooCommerce plugins out there to choose from in order to upgrade your site.
Although free plugins are available, at the end of the day, your setup cost varies based on the services and extensions chosen. The good thing is that this offers flexibility to fit various business needs, so if you want to start small, you can always do so.
Ecwid might not be the first name that comes to mind but it has over 20,000 active installations and plenty of positive user feedback.
It stands out as a dynamic and versatile eCommerce plugin that effortlessly integrates with existing websites, including WordPress, enabling entrepreneurs and businesses to start selling online without extensive technical knowledge.
Whether you’re looking to sell on your website, across various social media platforms, or through multiple online marketplaces, Ecwid offers a unified solution to manage it all from a single interface.
Why We Like Ecwid
As an eCommerce platform that goes beyond just WordPress, Ecwid offers a level of flexibility that goes beyond your website. In terms of future-proofing your store, it could be worth looking into.
Here are the 5 reasons it stood out to us in our research:
- Ecwid integrates smoothly with platforms like WordPress, enabling easy e-commerce store addition to websites or social media channels, broadening reach and user convenience.
- Ecwid connects with over 500 marketplaces worldwide such as Amazon and eBay, centralizing product, inventory, and order management.
- Its mobile apps allow on-the-go business management, product additions, and order processing, enhancing mobile commerce efficiency.
- It supports multiple payment methods and subscription selling, promoting recurring revenues and diverse payment options.
- With no coding needed, Ecwid streamlines store setup, offering automated tax calculations and a variety of shipping options for efficient business management.
Pricing
Ecwid’s pricing structure is designed to be approachable and flexible, starting with a free tier similar to WooCommerce and SureCart that doesn’t require a credit card for signup.
They underscore their commitment to customer satisfaction with a no-risk 14-day money-back guarantee on all paid plans, allowing you to explore the platform.
After the initial free option, Ecwid provides three paid plans, Venture, Business, and Unlimited. Their prices vary from $15/month to $99/month, making it affordable for most.
Wrapping It Up
In wrapping up, diving into the world of eCommerce could be the game-changer for your blog or freelance business.
We’ve walked through three user-friendly tools: WooCommerce, SureCart, and Ecwid. Each brings something special to the table – whether it’s customizing to your heart’s content, getting set up in no snap, or selling everywhere your audience hangs out.
Don’t worry about getting everything perfect from the get-go. Start small with their free versions and play around to see what fits best with your style and needs. Remember, adding a shop to your site isn’t just about selling; it’s about creating more value for your readers and taking your creative journey one step further. Go ahead, give it a whirl, and see where it takes you and your blog!
