Building an ecommerce website sounds complicated. But it does not have to be. When I started selling products online nearly 20 years ago it took me over six months just to figure out what to do and in what order to do it. The good news is that technology has come a long way since then. Today you can have a fully functional online store up and running in a single afternoon — without being a developer.

This guide walks you through the exact 6 steps to launching an ecommerce website using WordPress. By the end you will have your domain set up, your store built, WooCommerce installed, and your first product live. Before you build anything though, make sure you have chosen your niche — if you have not done that yet, start with the guide on how to choose a profitable niche.

Why Use WordPress for Your eCommerce Site?

There is no such thing as the perfect ecommerce platform. I have personally used more than 15 different systems over the years — Shopify, BigCommerce, Volusion, Ecwid, and many more. Every one of them has pros and cons.

That said, I keep coming back to WordPress for one big reason: 100% freedom and control. WordPress is open-source software. You own your site completely. No platform can change their pricing, remove a feature, or shut down your store. WordPress now powers over 43% of all websites on the internet — making it by far the most used platform in the world. The WordPress plugin directory has over 68,000 free plugins, giving you the ability to customize your store for almost any need without writing a single line of code.

For more WordPress tips and answers to common questions check out our WordPress questions and answers guide. And to understand how ecommerce platforms fit into the bigger picture of running an online store, the overview of how ecommerce platforms really work is worth a read.

WordPress vs Shopify — Which One Should You Choose?

This is the most common question beginners ask. Here is an honest answer.

Why Build an eCommerce Site in the First Place?

An ecommerce store lets you sell anything — physical products, digital downloads, or services — to anyone in the world, around the clock. Most people start a store to earn extra income each month. Some do it to replace their full-time salary and escape a job they are stuck in. Others do it for the challenge, the growth, and the sense of purpose that comes from building something real.

Whatever is driving you — the personal growth that comes from learning to serve customers, market products, and run a business is one of the biggest unexpected benefits. As Zig Ziglar said: “Help enough people get what they want, and you will get what you want.” If you are curious about why this business model resonates so deeply with people at all stages of life, the guide on why dropshipping builds wealth puts it in perspective.

Before You Start: Choose Your Niche

If you have not yet decided what type of store you want to build, do not skip this step. Choosing the right niche is the single most important decision you will make. The wrong niche wastes months of work. The right one gives you a clear audience, clear products, and a clear path to profit.

Use the keyword research guide to confirm there is real search demand for your niche before you build anything. Once you know what you want to sell, validating that demand with data is the next step — the guide on steps to validate a profitable dropshipping niche walks you through the research process in detail.

The 6 Steps to Launching Your WordPress eCommerce Store

The video below walks through all 6 steps in real time. Follow along, pause as needed, and complete each step as you watch.

Watch the Full eCommerce WordPress Tutorial

The video below covers all 6 steps in detail. Implement each step as you watch and pause as needed.

What to Do After Your Store Is Live

Getting your store live is step one. Driving traffic and making sales is what comes next. Here are the three things to focus on immediately after launch:

• SEO — Optimize every product page and blog post so Google can find and rank your store. Use a free plugin like Yoast SEO or Rank Math to get started.
• Email marketing — Set up an email list from day one. Every visitor who gives you their email is a future customer. Use a free tool like Mailchimp or MailerLite to start building your list.
• Supplier relationships — If you are dropshipping, get approved with at least one solid supplier before you start running traffic. You need to be ready to fulfill orders before they start coming in.

Once your store is live the next priority is finding reliable suppliers. The free list of dropshipping suppliers here is a solid starting point, and the in-depth guide on how to find a dropshipping supplier covers everything from vetting to getting approved.

If you would like personal help setting up your ecommerce store or choosing the right niche and suppliers, book a free 30-minute call with Trent here.