WooCommerce is an easy choice for the average eCommerce merchant at the helm of an SME. For a start, it allows them to use WordPress as their foundation: the world’s most popular CMS is free, secure, frequently updated, and compatible with just about every service out there.
Even if it didn’t, though, WooCommerce would justify its consideration: it’s a potent free system in its own right, and can stand up to top paid solutions. One of the key strengths of this combo is its fundamental flexibility. Not only can store owners use various plugins designed for WordPress, but they can also pick from a selection built specifically for WooCommerce.
There aren’t as many of the latter, obviously, but it’s still a very respectable number. With that said, and keeping all compatible plugins under consideration, we’re going to look at some of the top Woo add-ons that you should think about using in 2020:
RafflePress
Contests and giveaways are great for getting some easy attention, and that’s perfect for most online retailers (they’re always on the lookout for fresh traffic). RafflePress offers a wide variety of options that fit neatly into WooCommerce, including retargeting, social integration (social media is massive for marketing), and even fraud protection to reassure participants.
One giveaway can easily produce numerous referrals, giving massive returns on your investment. And since the main system is template-driven, you don’t need to put much time into the design of your giveaways. Varying depending on current offers, the yearly license for one site should cost you between $40 and $50, so it isn’t very expensive.
WooCommerce POS
Selling online is great, but it’s increasingly tough due to the level of competition. How can you stand out when all the products and prices are starting to blur together? The answer is that you must do something different, and that’s what WooCommerce POS can offer. POS systems have always been particularly useful for selling at events, and now there’s one that’s open-source.
The execution is simple: get the site set up on a tablet computer, take it to an event or show, set up a stall, and start pitching to people. Used well, this software can radically transform how your brand is viewed, and significantly boost your conversion rate. Why not at least try it? The demo is free, and the pro version is just $129 per year per site.
Botsify
Timely customer support is mission-critical when it comes to customer retention, and then there’s the need to assist prospective customers when they have questions they want answered. The problem, however, is that having people waiting and ready to field queries is expensive, and you won’t have the time to do it yourself.
That’s where live chat bots become useful, and Botsify works very well with WooCommerce. $50 per month can get you 10 chatbots, which should be more than enough to process basic out-of-hour queries and record the details of more complex issues for escalation.
Progressive Web App (PWA) for WooCommerce
You may have thought about investing in a mobile app for your Woo store, but ultimately decided that it isn’t financially justifiable. The appeal of the PWA format is that it doesn’t require any custom development: it simply takes your regular web experience and effectively slots it into an app container that can be placed on someone’s home screen.
This app is currently reasonably costly at $89, but you only need that single payment (you can pay more for ongoing support, but it isn’t necessary). Once it’s been deployed, your store will be ready to go, and you can start taking advantage of the additional visibility.
2020 presents a fresh opportunity to work on your WooCommerce store, so don’t just settle for the same tactics you’ve been using up to this point. Each of these apps can help you take things to the next level, so why not give them a try?
Guest article by Rodney Laws
“Rodney Laws is an eCommerce expert with over a decade of experience in building online businesses. Check out his reviews on EcommercePlatforms.io and you’ll find practical tips that you can use to build the best online store for your business. Connect with him on Twitter @EcomPlatformsio.”
