Over the past week or so, I have been telling you about plans that I have and my goals of what to achieve with my various businesses in 2014. Last week, I revealed these Business Resolutions for 2014:
- Moving much of my computing to the cloud
- Getting more active in email marketing through newsletter publishing
- The use of autoresponders to further my email marketing campaigns
Today, I’ll tell you about another of my business resolutions for 2014, and it is related to my eCommerce stores. I have a number of eCommerce sites, I guess about 7 or 8 currently. But, this business resolution relates to only 3 of the sites. All three sites are virtually the same, and changing one will make the changes on the other 2 sites very easy.
On these 3 sites, I have been using OSCommerce e-commerce software as the platform on the sites for many years now. Probably 10 years already, or very close to that. I have decided, though, that the platform is getting stale, and it’s time to make a change.
The truth is that over the years, I have done less and less work on these sites, and because of that, I have lost some of my skills in working with OSCommerce. Almost all of the work I do these days is on the WordPress platform. Also, it’s important to realize that WordPress has become much more than a blogging platform. These days, many people are using WordPress as a CMS (Content Management System) and increasingly, WordPress is being used for eCommerce.
Last year I set up two new eCommerce sites, one for selling electronic books, and another for selling another product. On both of these new sites, I used WordPress as my eCommerce platform in conjunction with the eStore plugin from Tips & Tricks HQ. It is a great plugin that turns WordPress into an eCommerce platform. There are a number of such plugins out there, and I have tried many over the past 5 years or so, but this is the first one that I found which actually works quite well. Really, when I set up these two sites, I considered them as somewhat of an experiment, I did not have huge confidence in using WordPress as an eCommerce platform. My mind, however, has been changed, and I am really happy with the setup.
So, because my OSCommerce skills have gotten rusty, and because I am so happy with the way WordPress can perform as an eCommerce site, I have decided to switch my 3 OSCommerce sites over to WordPress in 2014. In fact, I have already started the work and a well on my way to completing the first such move. I would say that the work is 70% done, and I expect that the entire work can be completed in the next 2 weeks or so.
I feel really good about making this move, because I am very good at working with WordPress, I know the platform like the back of my hand. I will be able to make changes to my stores very easily and quickly when I am based on WordPress. I’m excited about it!
Hi bob, I will purchase your Blogging book as soon as we can, it would be an excellent part time for Nancy, Grace Favour
Thank you, and good luck on the China thing.
I on the other hand have to make some cash straight away so I am off to work in China for a while.
WordPress is a great basis for a website and 90% of all the sites that Nancy and I built used WordPress
Yes, I also use WordPress extensively and build WP sites for others. It is a great platform.
Hi I found something that works for me. I have WD cloud drive at home on my net. Many advantages Still works when the net gos down also backs up your PCs you acces it any where in the world. you can take it in a hurry in bad times.
Mine is even hidden in the house
If you have found something that works for you, go for it!
Weird the idea crossed my mind to offer to redo your wowphilippines site as I’m sure you did that site way back when. Was going to use WordPress as well. Have you tried the free plugin called “WooCommerce” great plugin if you ask me and very easy to use.
WooCommerce would not be adequate for the site. I played with it so year or two ago and it is too limited.
I better get on the boat and check out the plugins you mentioned then
I have enjoyed WordPress to post my stories. Good luck in 2014.
Hi Glenn L. Durden – I didn’t realize that you had a website!
Yeah Bob. I love telling stories so much that I decided to write a few of them down. They are a scattering of childhood, Vietnam, and early adult stories, plus a few that I have mostly made up, plus the occasional opinion and even some song lyrics. They’re at “Musings and other Mental Wanderings” if you ever have a few minutes to read me spinning a yarn.
OK, that’s great! I just did a search and found your site, I’ll be doing some reading there.
Thanks Bob. I hope you enjoy them.
Hi Bob!
Thank you for this blog post. I will try eCommerce with WP and the plug-in that you recommended.
Regards,
Patrik Öbrink