Benefits of Using WooCommerce for Building Online Stores

Want to set up your online store but lack technical skills and abilities? No need to worry when you have a platform like WooCommerce. You do not have to think twice about starting your e-commerce journey with this platform. 

WooCommerce is among the top-ranked platform for WordPress that allows you to start your online store cost-effectively. There are millions of online stores developed and deployed with this platform that are resulting in massive outcomes. The number of entrepreneurs turning their interests towards this platform is increasing each passing day and there is a reason why. 

In this article, we will discuss some attention-grabbing benefits of building online stores with the WooCommerce platform.

woocommerce simple logo
 
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Top 5 Benefits of Using WooCommerce For Building Websites

Before you start developing your online store with this platform, it is pivotal for you to know what it has to offer. The number of benefits this platform has to offer for your online business are extensive but we will discuss the major ones here. 

The following are some of the benefits, that you can offer to your website with this platform:

  1. Cost-Effectiveness

Cost is not an issue with the WooCommerce platform as it is the most cost-effective and affordable option you can opt for in your store. With this platform, no hidden costs are involved as you will initially be provided with the idea of the cost associated with premium support for advanced features and add-ons. 

With the WooCommerce platform, setting up your first-ever E-commerce solution is no big deal anymore. You can set up your store free of cost with this platform without worrying about additional costs. However, your subscription to premium solutions requires some amounts to be paid, but that is worth it. 

  1. Range Of Plugins

If you want your online store to be enriched with features and functionalities, then WooCommerce is the best platform to opt for. With the wide range of built-in plugins and extensions, acquiring your desired features and functionality is achievable now. It is not only the built-in plugins that help, but the acceptance of third-party plugins is also there. 

With such an array of secure and reliable plugins integrated into your WooCommerce site, maximizing the website performance, security, and speed is no big deal. With these plugins, you can say goodbye to the struggles of custom coding to meet your online store requirements. With these extensive plugins available to integrate, you no longer have to rely on developers or any web development company. 

  1. Extensive Customizations

The extensive range of plugins is not the only wow factor about the WooCommerce platform, but the customization benefits it offers are also noticeable. It is observed that highly customized online stores are more likely to generate more leads and sales compared to less customized sites. One such example is the Custom checkout field for WooCommerce which allows you to edit your checkout page. 

Besides a wide range of secure and powerful plugins, the range of themes available with this platform is appreciable. You can give a customized look to your WooCommerce store with the most relevant theme that exhibits your brand value very well. These themes are also customizable just in case you want to add more changes to the look of the website without worrying about technical skills and expertise. 

  1. Secure Solution 

Security is of utmost importance for any online store and security is guaranteed for websites developed with the WooCommerce platform. The reason behind the increased levels of security with this platform is its built-in security features and extensions. From a completely secure solution to offering secure payment gateways is all possible with WooCommerce. 

Moreover, the built-in security extensions are not the only source adding to the security of your website, the freedom to integrate third-party plugins also contributes to this cause. Plugins like biometric login for WooCommerce are some of the great examples of fulfilling the security needs of any online store built with this platform. 

  1. Powerful Analytics

More than offering a platform for businesses to sell their products and services to target audiences, WooCommerce offers more. It offers powerful analytics and SEO tools that help businesses to offer intelligent web solutions. With your website built on the WooCommerce platform, gaining insight into your website’s powerful data analytics is no big deal.

With the built-in data analytics and optimization tools, you can offer great solutions to your target audience by identifying the performance gaps. You can extract your performance reports and data with this platform to identify your highs and lows. 

Are You Ready To Build Your WooCommerce Store?

If you have not yet decided on the platform you want to build your website on, then WooCommerce is the one you need to choose. Even though you have built your website on any other platform like Magento, you can still migrate it using a plugin.

Choose this platform to build your website, so that you do not have to worry about the cost and management of the website later. 

No matter the size of your online store, with WooCommerce, improved website performance, and functionality is guaranteed. A wide range of successful Ecommerce solutions have opted for WooCoomerce and you should do it also.

Social Media Week- Day 5

Social Media Week -Mumbai

On 16th September 2016, I set out to attend Day 5 of Social Media Week. I reached the venue very early.

@HyattRegencyMum Kudos for being a warm #host and wonderfully handled attendee arrangements @SMWMumbai #SMWMumbai pic.twitter.com/OeVGZvJ51N

— HDS Digital (@HDSdigital) September 16, 2016

So, I waited in the Hyatt Lounge. Then after registration, I went to check out what was there for breakfast.

Breakfast at Hyatt Regency- Social Media Week, Mumbai
Breakfast at Hyatt Regency

Smoothies, cakes, pastries, tea, coffee and cookies. The breakfast was simply awesome.

Looking forward to true wanderers!@krishnadorai @Wranglerdenims #wrangleratSMW #smwmumbai pic.twitter.com/e1NOSfGoHw

— nashik 3lectronica (@electronic0253) September 16, 2016

Then I entered Hyatt Regency Ballroom where the session was to begin.

Inside the Regency Ballroom, Hyatt Social Media Week
Inside the Regency Ballroom, Hyatt
  1. The first session was ‘Monetisation of digital content’ by Satya Raghavan
YouTube India content chief Satya Raghavan- Social Media Week, Mumbai
YouTube India content chief Satya Raghavan. Image credit

His question made us ponder on –

  • If content is king, why doesn’t anybody pay for it?
  • 7 out of 10 watch videos online every month in India.
  • Creating content that will get money. He gave us the example of Ambuja Cement ad.
  • He also mentioned how ads were charged differently in different media – YouTube vs Television.
  • Models of monetization– Buy content, advertising and content acquisition.
  • He said that Thumbnails in YouTube are effective for better merchandising your content.
  • He mentioned that ‘Title and description’ are important for content to be found on YouTube. The suggested video link is created alongside as per title and description.
Prahlad Kakkar at Hyatt, Mumbai for Social Media Week
Prahlad Kakkar near the lounge area outside the Regency Ballroom at Hyatt
  1. Marginalising of creativity– This next session was taken by Prahlad Kakkar. Prahlad Kakkar is a leading Indian ad film director, best known for his work on the famous Pepsi TV commercial with Amitabh Bachchan and Sachin Tendulkar. He is Advertising Film Director, for Genesis Film Production, one of India’s oldest and foremost Ad film production houses since its inception in 1977. He recently launched Prahlad Kakkar School of Branding and Entrepreneurship in Mumbai in association with Subhash Ghai’s Whistling Woods International.

     

    Below is a gist to what he spoke about in the session

  • The content that is lacklustre will be marginalised.
  • Social media is voracious. Social media is a penetration of the mind.
  • Penetrating the mind is forever as compared to penetrating the body.
  • You need, to be honest about your content. Ask yourself, how honest can you be to yourself?
  • You need to bring value to the table and not bluff yourself.
  • You need to handle rejection. If you can handle rejection, then you can handle the world.
  • If you are not trying because of rejection then you cannot get on in life.
  • Social media is about opening doors.
  • Cope with fear
  • Overcome fears to become an entrepreneur.
  • You need to look fear in the eye.
  • Are you capable of lateral thinking?
  • Truth, originality, and engagement are factors of good content.
  • Unique content is with passion.
  • If the content has been picked up from somewhere then it is mediocre.
  • He gave an example of the Cadbury’s ad which was made 20 years ago but it still has an impact and a repeat value. The spirit of a woman, celebration of Dairy Milk, can be seen in it.
  • An example of Erikson ad. It opens up a dialogue. Advertising used to be a one-way street in the past, now it is a dialog of meaningful interactions.
  • Social media has changed lives faster than before.
  • The older you get, the more marginalised you are.
  • At workplace or a company, the system needs to change from a manager to a mentor. You need to have more mentors than managers.
  • Social media is a mirror of society metamorphosing.
  • Your content should challenge the status quo.
  • Add value to content where it can be questioned.
  • If you want repeat value, then be original and truthful.
  • If your content is predictable and boring, then there will no repeat views.
  1. Crisis Co-operation Insights with Heidi from the USA, Priya from @SamhitaDotOrg and Sonal #SMWMumbai
  • Understanding crisis management in the age of social media
  • There are 2 types of people in a disaster- one’s who are affected and one’s offering help.
  • Technology can make co-ordination easy in every crisis.
  • Speed and accuracy are vital keys for communication during a crisis.
  • Community mobilisation is important as local leaders help the message to reach out to the last mile.
  • Communication and early preparation are necessary during crisis situations.
  • Every disaster teaches us new things says Priya Naik from Samhita.org.
  • A great way to form communities is not just engaging but educating. Learn how to learn, how to educate.
  1. Influencer Marketing was a panel discussion. The panel consisted of Adarsh Munjal, Gopa, Pankaj Parihar and Rohit Raj

Panel discussion on Influencer marketing w/ @mad_toothbrush @TheBigBhookad @VasudevaSanjay @gopa @9ankaj #SMWMumbai pic.twitter.com/yI9iU4otcE

— #SMWMumbai (@SMWMumbai) September 16, 2016

  • Big change in influencer marketing. It’s an old technique, social media influencer is a big change now
  • #Influencer is a very confusing term according to Adarsh Munjal.
  • Anybody who influences a consumer’s decision for a product is an influencer.
  • What makes one a social media influencer? It doesn’t happen overnight. It’s  time-consuming.
  • Being an influencer is all about identifying your interests and then getting into the arena.
  • Influencers need to know about interest, knowledge and research and then adaptation.
  • Influencing has to be sustainable over a period of time.
  • Advocacy is very important from a brand’s point of view.
  • Customers trust friends & family instead of advertising, & there the influencer marketing comes in the picture.
  • The long-term approach is required for content and influencer marketing instead of campaign level approach.
  • Passion is what will make you an influencer.
  • Influencer Marketing is not only for bigger brands but for every single and local brand too.
  1. Can Social Media replace conventional marketing strategies?– A Panel discussion
  • Brands need to test out what social media has to say
  • We are a data-driven organisation says Varun Joshua from Flipkart
  • Brands need to test out what social media has to say.
  • Restructuring the organisation and being nimble towards social media marketing is the challenge most brands suffer with.
  • Data insights and social listening when stitched together create market research a real cohesive story. Data wins.
  1. It is good to be good’ by K.V. Sridhar. He is the chief creative officer at SapientNitro.
  • Nobody believes in advertising these days! Says KV Sridhar.
  • Marketing is all about understanding people.
  • We talk to people when we discover there is something in common says, K.V. Sridhar.
  • It is good to be good- a creative topic; the line that borrows from life. Brands connect with people.
  • People with a point of view are influencers.
  • Brands need to have a point of view, a voice and values like human beings.
  • At a time when we are caught between legal v/s moral creative, that is where brand builds character and its values.
  • A brand means a product that commands a price premium and connects with emotions.
  • By creating more experiences and communities, one can build affinity with the customers to build a brand.
  • Tell stories, engage and take live feedback – the way to increase brand affinity, brand equity via social media!
  • The way you can articulate an idea today, compared to 20 years back, there’s a sea change. – KV Sridhar
  • Brands need to behave like human beings. All the softer aspects that make us good humans such as values, compassion, and goodness should be there in a brand- K.V. Sridhar.
  • Brands need to have integrity, authenticity, credibility and honesty together to tell their story.
  • At the end of the day, ideas, technology, and data all need to be together.
  • Choosing the technology and putting emotions together is important.

This session was very informative.

  1. User-generated content: New data, best practices, and concerns, this was a panel discussion.
  • User generated content brings in personal gratification on social feed.
  • Inspirational ads of YesFoundation. The backbone of the YesFoundation campaign is user-generated content.
  • User generated content increases customer loyalty and organic word of mouth marketing.
  • User generated content is pretty important for a brand.
  • If you want to facilitate user-generated content then it has to be a long-term strategy, a short-term tactic won’t fetch tangible returns.
  1. Social Media for artists– A panel discussion had Hema Sardesai, Faridoon Shahryar, Soumini Sridhara Paul and Amit Yadav.
  • The first thing an artist needs is to be recognised as an entertainer and take it high in philosophy.
  • Hema Sardesai says that she always wanted to give something back to the society, which rewarded her with all the love during her career.
  • Social media has been a revelation for Faridoon.
  • Streaming is a good forward approach to music consumption.

The session ended with Hema Sardesai singing.

@HemaSardesaai singing at #SMWMumbai pic.twitter.com/D6jDpg7d4O

— Nitesh Amesar (@nitedili) September 16, 2016

You may also like to read Social Media Week -Day 3

Social Media Week- Day 3

Social media week, Mumbai

Social Media Week is a leading media platform and worldwide event with local presence and global reach across five continents.

It is produced by R SQUARE Consulting, a full-service marketing agency managing Brand Properties and providing the following, but not limited, to Marketing Services – Brand Activation, Digital Marketing, Corporate Events, Brand Identity Consultancy & Design, Retail Marketing and Trade Marketing.

Day 3 of Social Media Week was  at Todi Mill Social in Mumbai.

Todi Mill Social- Social Media Week
Todi Mill Social. Image credit

Day 3- September 14- 2016 – SMW Mumbai, schedule for Day 3 was as follows

Day 3 of #SMWMumbai promises to be more interesting. Here is the line up for the day. @SMWMumbai pic.twitter.com/b5P2e5sFlq

— Rohit Varma (@rohitvaarma) September 14, 2016

  1. Digital Marketing Innovations– The first speaker was Radhesh Kanumury #SMWMumbai. He  is the Lead – Global Entrepreneur Program, IBM India
  • Great session on cognitive learning with Radhesh at #SMWMumbai
  • @radhesh_k talks about new tool #KPoint . It lets the user make video content more interactive. #SMWMumbai
  • Amazing insights by @radhesh_k #SMWMumbai #IBMWatson #CognitiveThinking #CognitiveComputing
  • What is cognitive computing? IBM describes the components used to develop, and behaviours resulting from, “systems that learn at scale, reason with purpose and interact with humans naturally.” According to them, while sharing many attributes with the field of artificial intelligence, it differentiates itself via the complex interplay of disparate components, each of which comprises their own individual mature disciplines.
  • Watson: The first cognitive system
  • The first cognitive system was Watson, which debuted in a televised Jeopardy! the challenge where it bested the show’s two greatest champions. The challenge for Watson was to answer questions posed in every nuance of natural languages, such as puns, synonyms and homonyms, slang, and jargon.
  • Watson was not connected to the Internet for the match. It only knew what it had amassed through years of persistent interaction and learning from a large set of unstructured knowledge. Using machine learning, statistical analysis, and natural language processing to find and understand the clues in the questions, Watson then compared possible answers, by ranking its confidence in their accuracy, and responded – all in about three seconds.
  • IBM Watson, analytic innovation, the IBM Watson Developer Cloud Cognitive services. @radhesh_k speaks about Watson and how we can use it for marketing. The following are the services which available under it:
  • Dialog
  • Tone Analyser
  • Personality Insight
  • Tradeoff
  • Visual recognition

2. Digital Market for start-ups– The next speaker was Samit Arora. He is Co-Founder, SalesPanda.com

  • “1/3rd of the shopping happens online,” says Samit Arora #SMWMumbai
Reach and attractEngage and convertNurture and close 
·        Visitors

 

·        Digital Presence

·        Brand Recall

Suspects

 

·        User experience

·        Conversions

·        Referrals

ProspectsLeads

 

·        Visitor engagement

·        Lead progression

·        Pipeline Management

 

The key challenge for Marketers:

  • Content creation
  • Web-traffic- Google and social media
  • Lead conversion
  • Lead management and nurturing
  • Resources

The 5 steps to follow are ACCESS, STRATEGIZE, PLAN, IMPLEMENT, and OPTIMISE.

In the digital assessment, you need to do website assessment, Google Analytics and take stock of assets.

 

3 ) “Personal Branding simplified in 60 minutes” with Kavi Arasu @_Kavi @SMWMumbai  #SMWMumbai.  

Let’s begin our next session “Personal Branding simplified in 60 minutes” with @_Kavi @SMWMumbai #SMWMumbai pic.twitter.com/TvtllxLFMi

— #SMWMumbai (@SMWMumbai) September 14, 2016

Kavi Arasu is an Executive Coach, Leadership, and change for Social Business,

  • “Humans basic instinct is to stand out,” says @_Kavi #SMWMumbai
  • “People buy from people, therefore it’s important to have a proposition for ourselves.” quotes @_Kavi  #SMWMumbai
  • “90% consumes, 9% curate & 1% creates content” says @_Kavi #SMWMumbai
  • “There is a very thin line between #transparency vs #authenticity” quotes @_Kavi  #SMWMumbai
  • What is #Personal #Brand?
  • – Domain Experts
  • – People who know
  • – People who share
  • – People who respond

4)  Anand Virani – Anand Virani is a Co-founder & CEO, Cutting Chai Technologies. He spoke about how mobile technology evolved over the years. ‘The Seed of Human Connectivity’- Dec 12, 1901, when the radio waves were first transmitted. 

First transatlantic radio transmission, Social Media Week, SMW Mumbai
First transatlantic radio transmission

April 3, 1973- Martin Cooper introduced us to Mobile Telephony, AT and T Bell Labs. 

Martin Cooper talks on the
Martin Cooper talks on the “DynaTAC,” the first commercial cell phone. Image credit- CNN.com

Then on August 16, 1994, IBM Simon was launched. Nokia 9000 communicator, 

Nokia 9110 open, Image credit
Nokia 9110 open, Image credit

Sharp J-SH04 (first camera),

Sharp J-SH04 CP+ 2011- Social media week, SMW Mumbai
Sharp J-SH04 CP+ 2011. Image credit

Nokia 9210- Open Symbian.

Nokia 9210, Social media week, SMW Mumbai
Nokia 9210

All these mobile phones were launched from 1996-2005. The first Android Phone and iPhone were launched between 2005-2006.

  • “20 billion SMS were sent per day in the 90s,” says @anandvirani #SMWMumbai
  • “This would be the scenario in next 5 years” suggests @anandvirani #SMWMumbai- 5G, 1.2Gbps, 8K UHD and 1ms

5 ) Finally, Day 3 ended with Prabhakaran’s – Chase ideas and not platforms. Prabhakaran B is the President, R SQUARE Consulting Services. This is what he had to say

  • “Key to getting the creative idea right is knowing your customer,” says @iprabhakaran #SMWMumbai
  • User generated content is original, has emotional connect and adds value to customers. ‘Food for thought’.

#SMWMumbai  #SMWMumbai2016

To be continued…Social Media Week -Day 5

References:

IBM

Cognitive computing

R Square Consulting