WooCommerce Setting

WooCommerce Plugin User Guide for WordPress

This guide explains, in plain language, how to set up and manage the WooCommerce plugin on your WordPress website. Follow these step‐by‐step instructions to install WooCommerce and configure its main settings so you can start selling products online.

1. Installing and Activating WooCommerce

• Log in to Your WordPress Dashboard:
  Open your WordPress admin panel by navigating to yourdomain.com/wp-admin
• Install the Plugin:
  • Click on Plugins in the left menu, then Add New.
  • In the search bar, type “WooCommerce”.
  • Find the WooCommerce plugin by Automattic and click Install Now.
• Activate WooCommerce:
  Once installed, click Activate. After activation, WooCommerce will automatically create key pages (Shop, Cart, Checkout, and My Account) and launch a Setup Wizard.

2. Using the WooCommerce Setup Wizard

When you activate WooCommerce, you’re greeted with a simple Setup Wizard that helps you quickly configure your store. You can complete the wizard now or return to it later by clicking WooCommerce > Help > Setup Wizard.

Steps in the Wizard:

• Store Details:
  Enter your store’s address, choose the country/region, set your currency, and provide your email address.
• Product Type:
  Choose what kind of products you sell (physical, digital, or both).
• Payment Methods:
  Select your preferred payment options (for example, PayPal and/or Stripe).
• Shipping Details:
  Configure basic shipping settings such as shipping origin and measurement units for weight and dimensions
• Theme Recommendation (Optional):
  WooCommerce may suggest installing a theme like Storefront. You can choose to install it or use your current theme.
• Finish:
  Once done, click Finish and you will be directed to your new WooCommerce dashboard.

3. Managing WooCommerce Settings

After the Setup Wizard, you can customize your store’s functionality further through the WooCommerce > Settings page. This page is divided into several tabs. Here’s a quick overview of each:

a. General Settings

• Store Address & Currency:
  Verify or update your store’s address, choose the selling/shipping locations, enable tax calculations (if needed), and set your store’s currency.
• Guest Checkout & Coupons:
  Decide if customers can purchase without an account and if you want to allow discount coupons.

b. Products Settings

• Shop Page and Display Options:
  Select which page will be your Shop page and choose display settings for products.
• Measurements:
  Set the weight and dimension units for your products.
• Reviews & Inventory:
  Enable or disable product reviews and configure inventory management (e.g., manage stock quantity, low-stock notifications).

c. Tax Settings

• Enable Taxes:
  Check the box if you want WooCommerce to calculate taxes.
• Tax Rates:
  Set up tax classes (e.g., standard, reduced, zero) and configure how taxes are displayed during checkout.

d. Shipping Settings

• Shipping Zones:
  Define geographic regions (zones) and assign shipping methods (Flat Rate, Free Shipping, or Local Pickup) to each zone.
• Shipping Options:
  Decide if you want to show a shipping calculator in the cart and set the default shipping destination.
• Shipping Classes:
  (Optional) Create shipping classes for grouping products that may have different shipping costs.

e. Payment Settings

• Payment Gateways:
  Enable and configure your payment methods by navigating to WooCommerce > Settings > Payments. Click on a gateway’s name to adjust settings (for example, entering your PayPal email address or configuring Stripe).
• Order Display:
  Rearrange the order in which payment options appear during checkout.

f. Accounts & Privacy Settings

• Customer Accounts:
  Enable guest checkout and allow customers to create accounts during checkout or on a dedicated “My Account” page.
• Privacy Options:
  Configure data retention, account erasure, and privacy policy settings to meet your business requirements and legal obligations.

g. Email Settings

• Automated Emails:
  Manage the email notifications sent for new orders, order status updates, refunds, and more.
• Sender Information:
  Set your “From” name and email address, and customize the email template if needed.

h. Advanced Settings

• Page Setup:
  Verify that WooCommerce pages (Cart, Checkout, My Account, and Terms and Conditions) are correctly set. You can also change URL endpoints here.
• REST API & Webhooks:
  (For advanced users) Manage API keys for external integrations.
• Other Options:
  Enable or disable experimental features or adjust developer-related options if required.

Managing Your Store on the Front End

• Products Management:
  Use the Products tab to add, edit, or remove products. You can also create product categories and tags to help organize your catalog.
• Order Management:
  The WooCommerce > Orders section lets you view, update, and manage customer orders.
• Reports & Analytics:
  Monitor your store’s performance via the Analytics tab, which provides insights into sales, customer behavior, and product performance.

Saving and Updating Changes

• WooCommerce settings are automatically saved when you click the Save Changes button at the bottom of each settings tab.
• Regularly review your settings to ensure they still match your store’s needs, especially after adding new products or extensions.

Getting Help

• WooCommerce Documentation:
  Visit the official WooCommerce Documentation for more in-depth guides.
• Support Forums:
  Use the WooCommerce Support Forums on WordPress.org for community help.
• Contact Your Host or Developer:
  If you run into issues that you cannot resolve, consider reaching out to your hosting provider or a WooCommerce expert.