If your shop is soaring to new heights, you may have outgrown the limitations of Shopify. But worry not – migrating from this hosted platform to WooCommerce isn't a huge task that'll put too much strain on your business. In fact, it could mark an even more successful chapter for you and its future growth! The decision can be daunting, but with a few simple steps and some basic knowledge of how the two platforms differ, it doesn’t have to be.
Woocommerce is becoming a more popular choice than Shopify for businesses today. This is largely due to Woocommerce's affordability, easier of setup, and customizable, making it a great option for new and experienced e-commerce entrepreneurs alike.
Not only that, but Woocommerce also allows for the integration of many third-party plugins and tools to make running your online store much easier. These plugins help with SEO, security, product customization, and more, letting you tailor your site exactly the way you want.
With so much control in the way of creating your store, Woocommerce provides an excellent platform for both small business owners and large companies alike.
In this blog post, we will discuss why Woocommerce may be a better option than Shopify and provide an easy step-by-step guide on how to move from Shopify to Woocommerce in 2022 quickly and easily.
You might be interested in other e-commerce platforms for your business, you may take a look at our Top Best e-commerce Platforms of 2022.
Why Shift From Shopify to Woocommerce
When it comes to e-commerce, shop owners must choose a platform that will enable their business to grow successfully. Shopify is a known hosted platform for online stores, however, as businesses grow and expand, using Shopify may no longer be the best option.
If you're looking for more flexibility and customization, WooCommerce is the way to go. It's built on open-source software using WordPress so that you can make your website just as unique and individualistic as it needs to be without feeling limited or paying extra ‘unlock' fees as Shopify does. On top of all this – no processing fees either!
Benefits of Making the Switch
Shifting from Shopify to Woocommerce offers a number of attractive advantages for businesses looking for an e-commerce platform. Aside from the cost savings derived from not having to pay recurring fees and commissions, Woocommerce has sophisticated features that can be easily customized and integrated into current websites.
Whether you are a small business or an international enterprise, the seamless transfers designed by Woocommerce streamline setup times and reduce confusion when managing multiple product lines. With plenty of opportunities for customization, extending capabilities, and scalability, there is no better time than now to make the shift to Woocommerce. These are the benefits provided by Woocommerce:
• Better customer experience: With WooCommerce, you have more control and customization options to make your store look unique and individualistic. This can lead to improved user engagement with customers, resulting in greater sales and success for your business.
• Improved scalability and flexibility: As businesses grow and expand, they may need more features than what Shopify offers. With WooCommerce, you can easily scale your business to meet the ever-growing needs of customers without paying extra fees or unlocking limitations.
• Enhanced security features: WooCommerce provides a higher level of security for your store compared to Shopify, as it is updated more frequently due to its open-source platform. This ensures that your customer's data, as well as yours, remain secure at all times.
Steps for Shifting from Shopify to Woocommerce
a. Export Your Data from Shopify
Before beginning the migration process, you will need to export all of your Shopify data. This includes products, customer information, orders, and any other pertinent information that is stored in your Shopify account.
To get your Shopify product data transferred quickly and easily, just go to the All Products page on your account. This one-stop shop for all of your store's products will give you access to import and export options.
Then take all your Shopify products and export them into any spreadsheet program. Simply select the Export button at the top of the screen, choose All Products from their list, then pick CSV for Excel or Numbers to get everything exported.
Shopify will send you an email with a link where all your product information is listed that can be downloaded and saved to your computer.
b. Set Up Your Domain and Hosting on WordPress with Woocommerce
Once you have downloaded and saved your Shopify product data, it is time to set up your domain and hosting on WordPress with WooCommerce. You might want to check out our Top Best Web Hosting Services to help you decide and set up your WordPress.
You can choose Bluehost since it is the top hosting company for powering your WooCommerce store. Not only are they one of the largest web hosts, but WordPress and WooCommerce officially recommend them too. Signing up for your hosting account with Bluehost gets you straight to business – they'll automatically set up WordPress.
Just click the Login button to WordPress then go to plugins > add a new page and search for Woocommerce and installed it.
After clicking Install Now, an Activate button will appear – click it to activate WooCommerce and open up the setup wizard. Follow each step along the way for a smooth process of setting up your store, from payment gateways to entering all other relevant info.
c. Install the Required Plugins for WooCommerce
Once installed, you can then install the WooCommerce plugin to your WordPress site. This will give you access to all of the features and tools needed to run a successful online store. To make sure the plugin is installed properly, go to WooCommerce > Settings and select the “Install Now” button.
You can also install any additional plugins that you may need. This can include things like payment gateways, shipping plugins, and other features that will help you run your store smoothly.
d. Import Your Products, Customers, Orders & Other Data into WooCommerce
When everything is installed and set up properly, it is time to import your Shopify data into WooCommerce. To do this, go to the admin panel of your WordPress website and select “Import” from the left navigation menu. Select the CSV file that you saved from Shopify and click “Import”.
The final step is to ensure that everything has been imported properly by checking for any errors or problems with the product listings. Once everything is done, your shop should be ready to launch!
Tips on optimizing a new store
Start by making sure your store is designed with customer experience in mind. This means taking into account things such as website speed, user interface design, and the overall presentation of the page. Additionally, you should make sure you are using the right marketing strategies to reach your target audience. This can include things like SEO, social media campaigns, and email newsletters.
Finally, it is important to stay up-to-date with the latest trends in e-commerce technology, such as automation tools, AI chatbots, and more. This will help to ensure that your store remains competitive and attractive to potential customers.
You can read our Top Best AI Chatbot Software in 2022 that can help you create a fully automated customer service experience.
Wrap-Up – Final Thoughts on Migrating from Shopify to WooCommerce
Shifting from Shopify to Woocommerce is an important decision for any business and should be done with care. After considering the features, ease of use, design flexibility, payment processing options, and price points of each platform, the final decision will come down to which platform makes the most sense for a specific business's goals and budget.
With Woocommerce being open-source and available to host on any existing website, it provides more creative freedom than Shopify but may also require more maintenance on behalf of the company. However, with its array of features and capabilities, WooCommerce also offers an exceptional wealth of power to those wanting increased control over their online store. Ultimately, deciding between these two popular eCommerce solutions comes down to what is necessary for a company’s short-term and long-term success.
