Add Ecommerce to Your Squarespace Site
Learning Objectives
- Understand how to integrate ecommerce features into an existing Squarespace website
- Learn to set up and customise your first product
- Familiarise yourself with Squarespace's primary payment gateways
Introduction
Adding ecommerce functionality to your Squarespace website means you can sell products directly to your customers. This chapter shows you how to activate and use commerce features on your existing Squarespace site. Whether you're selling handmade goods, digital products, or services, we'll guide you through the steps to get your store up and running.
Lessons
Lesson 1: Enabling Ecommerce Features
To start selling on your Squarespace website, you need to enable ecommerce features first. Here's how:
Step 1: Log in to your Squarespace account.
Step 2: Navigate to 'Settings' and select 'Commerce'.
Step 3: Choose 'Enable Commerce' to activate ecommerce functionalities.
Lesson 2: Setting Up Your First Product
Once you've enabled ecommerce, it's time to add your first product:
Step 1: From the 'Commerce' menu, click on 'Inventory'.
Step 2: Select 'Add Product' and choose the type of product you're selling (physical, digital, or service).
Step 3: Fill in product details such as name, price, and description. Upload images to enhance visual appeal.
Lesson 3: Configuring Payment Gateways
Secure payment processing is crucial for any online store. Here's how to set up payment gateways:
Step 1: Go back to the 'Commerce' settings.
Step 2: Click on 'Payments' and choose from the available options (Stripe or PayPal).
Step 3: Follow the on-screen instructions to connect and configure your chosen payment gateway.
Practice
Try adding a sample product to your site. Experiment with various descriptions and images to see what looks best and resonates most with potential customers.
FAQs
Can I add ecommerce to my existing Squarespace site without redesigning it?
Yes, you can add ecommerce functionalities directly within your current Squarespace design settings.
What are the payment gateways available on Squarespace?
Squarespace primarily supports Stripe and PayPal for secure online transactions.
How do I handle shipping for physical products?
Squarespace offers tools for setting up shipping options. Navigate to 'Commerce', then 'Shipping' to configure according to your product needs.
Jargon Buster
Ecommerce: The buying and selling of goods or services using the internet.
Payment Gateway: Digital mechanism that processes and authorises transaction payments.
Inventory Management: The process of organising and tracking stock, from order to sale.
Wrap-up
You've learned how to integrate ecommerce into your existing Squarespace site, set up your first product, and configure a payment gateway. Continue exploring more advanced features such as custom checkout experiences and sophisticated inventory management to fully optimise your new online store.