Can I accept online payments with Wordpress?
Yes, you can! And it's simplier than you may think.
Below is a high level overview of what you need to accept payments online. A capable web developer will do the heavy lifting, and also provide guidance to help you navigate the options and create an easy to use solution to accept the type of online payments that are most suitable for your business needs.
Website Basics
If you already have a Wordpress website, you can skip this part. If you don't already have a website, you'll need:
- A domain name
- A web hosting account
- An SSL certificate
The domain name is the address of your website. Often times, the domain name contains the company name (such as apple.com, amazon.com, target.com). Some companies prefer to use keywords in their domain name, to rank higher in search engine results for the words that people will type or speak to find a product or service.
A web hosting account stores your website files and database. It is connected to the internet, making your website available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
An SSL Certificate protects your site visitors. It encrypts data that is passed from the web server ( the actual device where your website files are stored ) and your website visitors' computer or mobile device. When a website is secured this way, the website address will start with https instead of http. Browsers will alert visitors if your website is not secure. SSL is always a good idea, whether you accept payments online or not.
Payment Gateways
Wordpress itself does not process online payments. You need an account with a payment gateway provider. Each company has their own fee structure. Some companies charge a monthly fee, others only charge you when a transaction is processed.
Some of the more popular providers in the US and Canada are:
- PayPal
- Stripe
- Square
Does popularity matter? Yes, because brand reputation and convenience can impact user behavior. If your visitors recognize your provider, or better yet already have an account with them, they're more likely to complete a transaction. Speaking of trust and convenience, PayPal, Stripe, and Square all accept payments from major credit cards, Apple Pay, and Google Pay. So, think about the companies that are the most popular in your service area.
What you sell
Be prepared to discuss what you want to sell online. Do you need a catalog of products? Will your site vitiors make a single purchase, or will they put multiple items in a cart and then checkout? Will you collect payments for a scheduled service or membership fees? Do you need to accept reoccuring payments? Do you want to provide links to invoices that can be paid online?
The answers to these questions will help your developer to recommend and implement the solution(s) that meet your business needs.
What if my website is not on Wordpress?
Wordpress is a popular content management system, but it's not the only one! You can process online payments on many others website platforms, and even very simple websites. We'd be happy to learn more about your paricular website, and discuss how we can help you.