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WordPress

e-commerce…eCommerce…Ecommerce?

JOSH LEVINSON

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Questions?

  • Tweet them! Use the hashtag #eeecomm
  • Consider using hashtag #wcavl

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Why choose WordPress?

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It’s proven

It’s proven; 20% of the web

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It’s FAST!

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It’s open source

  • Globally distributed
  • Protected against feature bloat
  • Plugins and themes galore!
    • WP.org - 31,374 plugins, 2,570 themes

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Requirements

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An approach

  • DIY
  • DIY + help
  • Hiring someone

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Business goals and metrics

  • Clear, well-defined business goals
  • Specific business metrics

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The nitty-gritty

  • Payment processor
  • A web host/server
  • WordPress
  • An ecommerce plugin
  • Enhancement plugins
  • A theme (ecommerce or otherwise)
  • A secured domain

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Selecting a payment processor

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Selecting a payment processor

Just use

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Offsite

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Onsite

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PCI compliance

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Selecting a payment processor

  • Support (test this!)
  • Fees (especially the hidden ones!)
    • Setup
    • Monthly
    • Per transaction
    • Per card type
  • Compatibility (Subscriptions, Cardholder profiles, etc.)

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Selecting a host

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PCI Compliance

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Selecting a host

  • Support/Service (KB, chat, email, phone)
  • Uptime/SLA
  • Server type (dedicated, VPS, shared)
  • Managed/unmanaged

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Selecting a host

  • Hardware/Software
  • Email capabilities
  • Security
  • Limits (storage, RAM, visits, bandwidth)
  • Ability to scale
  • Pricing

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Selecting a plugin

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Selecting a plugin

  • Support (forums, KB)
  • Downloads, Reviews, Updates
  • Recommendations

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Selecting a plugin

  • Support (forums, KB)
  • Downloads, Reviews, Updates
  • Recommendations

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Downloads, Reviews, Update History

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Selecting a plugin

  • Support (forums, KB)
  • Downloads, Reviews, Updates
  • Recommendations

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Selecting a theme

  • Support (forums, KB)
  • Downloads
  • Reviews
  • Update history
  • Recommendations

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Selecting a theme

  • Compatibility with ecommerce plugin
  • Responsive
  • Not feature-bloated (shortcodes, options). Themes are the paint, not the car!
  • Meets goals, not your “designer’s eye”

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Selecting a theme

  • Compatibility with ecommerce plugin
  • Responsive
  • Not feature-bloated (shortcodes, options). Themes are the paint, not the car!
  • Meets goals, not your “designer’s eye”

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Selecting a theme

  • Compatibility with ecommerce plugin
  • Responsive
  • Not feature-bloated (shortcodes, options). Themes are the paint, not the engine!
  • Meets goals, not your “designer’s eye”

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Selecting a theme

  • Compatibility with ecommerce plugin
  • Responsive
  • Not feature-bloated (shortcodes, options). Themes are the paint, not the car!
  • Meets goals, not your “designer’s eye”

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Securing your site - SSL

  • SSL is min. requirement for onsite processing
  • http://www.ssls.com/
  • Not easy to install!

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Securing your site - SSL

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Securing your site - PCI

  • Can be defined by your processor
  • Can be very hard, or fairly easy
  • Bare minimum is an SSL-secured site

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Securing your site - Plugins

  • Proactive methods
    • Hide wp-admin
    • Force very strong passwords
    • Limit login attempts
    • Block known bad-list
    • Enforce SSL on admin
    • Scan for vulnerabilities
    • Detect/block file changes
    • Use two-factor authentication

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Securing your site - Plugins

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Security - Offsite

  • Require/use strong & unique passwords
  • Never login to your site on public Wi-Fi
  • Secure your computer
  • 2-factor authentication for email
  • Recognize phishing attacks

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Customization

  • Extra functionality
  • Style customizations
  • Functionality customizations

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Deal of the day

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Customization

  • Extra functionality
  • Style customizations
  • Functionality customizations

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Genesis Design Palette Pro

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CSS Hero

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Customization

  • Extra functionality
  • Style customizations
  • Functionality customizations

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Optimization - Speed

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Optimization - Speed

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Optimization - Speed

  • Eventually comes down to server
    • Managed hosting choice can help maximize speed

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Optimization - Design

  • Goal-centric content/theme/design
  • Compare websites
  • User Testing
  • A/B Testing

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Testing

  • Test before and after launch
  • Tests
    • Base on business goals!
    • Speed
    • Conversion
    • Referrals
    • Reviews
  • Never stop testing!

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Marketing/outreach

  • Coupons
  • Affiliates
  • Reviews
  • Social sharing (checkout/cart/product)
  • External advertising
  • Broadcasting (ask for exposure)

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The possibilities

  • Mobile app
    • Customer images
    • Touch-enabled galleries
    • Product templates
    • Cart/user panel

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The possibilities

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The possibilities

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The possibilities

  • Hotel/appointment booking
  • Sell digital goods
  • Online learning course
  • Subscription
    • Product
    • Membership

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The possibilities

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Endless!