Are you looking to migrate from Shopify to WooCommerce?
Shopify is a fantastic platform for beginners. It is easy to use, quick to learn, and offers all the help one needs to start an online shop.
However, if you want more freedom and flexibility, you have to move on to some open-source platform.
Magento and WooCommerce is the most popular PHP-based open-source platform to begin an eCommerce store. Magento is too complicated, and if you have a reasonable budget, you can migrate to it.
But WooCommerce is where you find the best balance. It is not that expensive, nor is it restrictive at all.
The migration will take time and resources, but adapting to the open-source platform will help you in the long haul.
In this post, I will tell you how to switch the platform without any error or issue.
Preparation before the Migration
You have to do some preparation before migrating before Shopify to WooCommerce. These preparations are essential, and they will save you a lot from different problems.
The first thing you have to do is to consult with the marketing team.
#1 SEO/Marketing Team
Whether you have an in-house SEO team or outsource the SEO, make sure that they know all about the switch you are making.
The new platform has a different way of doing SEO, and doing all those changes; the marketing team has to prepare themselves too.
There are lots of tracking, conversion points, and tools marketing teams use, and when you make a switch, they have to migrate all those tools and settings to the new platform. Some of them even take a lot of time, but if the marketing team does not know about the migration, they may fail to save relevant data.
Also, the team running ads and doing paid advertisements, they have to change lots of links too.
Well, overall, your marketing team must be informed and given proper time before making the platform jump.
#2 Get Web Hosting
Shopify is an easy platform to use, and one can quickly make a store on it because you don’t have to worry about web hosting.
Web hosting is a space on the internet for the content your site has. Once you upload the content on the hosting, your site can start displaying it. Your website works as a frontend shop, while the hosting is content storage. This definition is in simplistic terms. Hosting does much more than this.
Shopify comes with the hosting, and you have to install the theme to begin.
WooCommerce don’t. Due to this, you have the option to choose the hosting you want. It gives you the freedom to customize the hosting according to the store,
There are many types of hosting – Shared Hosting, Dedicated Hosting, VPS, etc.
The Managed WordPress Hosting is the best option as they optimized the hosting specifically for WordPress. The tweaked hosting allows WordPress to perform at its full potential. At ServerGuy, our technical team guarantees the 3 seconds loading speed of the site.
Another thing to consider is to get the hosting that suits the site.
This is why talking to the marketing team is important before the switch, as they will tell you how many visitors the store is getting every day.
So you can have a hosting that can handle the visitors.
For example: If your site gets 10,000 visitors a day, having a hosting that allows 8,000 means loss of sales. And having a hosting that will enable up to 50,000 visitors a day is an extra expense.
However, most of the hosting companies let you scale the hosting with the traffic. ServerGuy scales up the hosting resources during the festival time and the traffic surge.
So, choosing the right hosting is a crucial decision for WooCommerce stores.
If you have any doubt, you can contact us for free advice.
#3 Security Concerns
Another thing Shopify takes care of its security.
With WooCommerce, you have to secure your site yourself. But there is nothing to worry about. There are several tools and services for the security of WordPress.
The first thing is to get the install the SSL certificate as soon as WordPress is installed on the hosting.
Then there are many security plugins and security firewalls that you can enable.
Moreover, the hosting providers also keep the sites secure with their in-house tools.
ServerGuy is a partner with Sucuri, the world leader when it comes to WordPress security,
Start with WordPress and WooCommerce
After getting the hosting, you have to install WordPress and WooCommerce on it.
Installing WordPress is quick and easy. Moreover, most of the WordPress hosting providers are offering one-click installation.
If you are taking WordPress hosting from ServerGuy, you can request us to install the WordPress on the hosting. Our technical team will gladly do it, and also tweak the CMS and hosting to work efficiently for the eCommerce work.
Once WordPress is done, you have to install the Theme.
#1 Theme Installation
Installing themes on WordPress is super quick.
Though you have to decide which theme you want to install, there are many WooCommerce themes available in the market, both free and paid.
Chances are you can find the theme identical to the one you were using at the Shopify.
It is better to keep the same look as before because your user might have become comfortable with the look, and changing it might send a negative signal.
However, migrating from Shopify to WooCommerce also offers a fantastic option to create a fresh design. To have a better structure and attractive look.
But it all depends on you whether you want to have a new look or to go with the design similar to the last one.
You can hire a WordPress development agency to make a custom theme for you, or you can buy an already made theme. Page builders are also great options.
#2 WooCommerce Installation
The next step is to install the WooCommerce plugin. The plugin that will enable online selling on WordPress.
As you know, WooCommerce is the most popular eCommerce plugin. And it is free.
Install it and follow the setup wizard.
The setup will take you through each step. From setting up your location for tax charges, and the shipping preferences, and payment methods. And more.
This is the primary setting, and you can always change them later. You don’t have to worry about them.
Once the setup is complete, a WooCOmmerce tab will start appearing in the navigation panel. You can tweak WooCommerce more with the various settings, such as shipping, checkout, product, and information related to the business.
If there is any problem that arises in setting up WooCommerce, you can leave your queries in the comments section.
#3 Install Additional Add-Ons
WooCommerce is only one plugin, but to enhance the functionality of the WooCommece, add more plugins.
This is one of the best parts of WooCommerce. For each function, you can add a different plugin and get the best of all the Worlds.
For example, you can install a different plugin for the checkout, and separate one for the payment.
How to Migrate to from Shopify to WooCommerce
There are three methods of migrating eCommerce store from Shopify to WooCommerce.
I am going to talk about all three of them. Then you can pick up the one that seems the best method to use for your eCommerce store.
#1 Manual Method of Migration
Doing it manually will be a time-consuming process, but the process is not that complicated.
- Export the CSV files for customers, orders, and products from Shopify.
- Navigate to WooCommerce → Products in your WordPress site.
- You can see the “Start Import” option. Click on it.
- Choose the file you exported from the Shopify, and import it to WooCommerce.
- Click “Continue.”
- On the next page, you will see the Column Mapping, which means WooCommerce automatically attempts to match the column name of your Shopify CSV file to WooCommerce product fields. Help the WooCommerce in arranging the columns.
- Click on “Run Importer,” and the migration will begin.
- You will get this message after the Import is done.
- Follow the same procedure with the Orders and Customers CSV too.
The next method is to use a plugin.
#2 Shopify to WooCommerce Migration Plugin
You will find many plugins that do the job of migrating the content from Shopify to WooCommerce.
One search will give you many results:
However, the best plugin to migrate Shopify stores to WooCommerce is the Cart2cart extension.
I am going to use the Cart2Cart extension here.
Step 1: Create an account on the Cart2Cart Extension.
Enter the email address, pick up an email, and sign up. You can also sign up with Facebook and Google accounts.
On the next page you will see the two options:
- Start Free Demo
- Get Assisted Migration
Select the Free Demo option.
Fill the information on the next page.
Source Cart Type: Shopify
Source Cart URL: https://bessipjonecovers.myshopify.com
API Password: *************************
You need an API Password that will find from your Shopify store.
Finding API Password:
Click on the “Apps” on your Shopify store.
Scroll down to find the “Manage Private Apps” button.
Create a New Private App.
On the next page, fill the information in the box.
Scroll down, and tick the “Allow this app to access your storefront data using the Storefront API”.
Click save and create the API.
Now you got your API Key and API password.
Begin the Migration
Fill the API Password and Target Cart Setup.
Target Cart: WooCommerce
WordPress Admin Url: Add the store URL
Admin Login: Username
Admin Password: Password
You will see the Download the Connection Bridge option. Click on it.
Extract the file to the root directory of your WooCommerce store.
After that you will see “Connection Bridge is successfully installed message”. It means your bridge setup is completed, and you can move on to the next step.
Now click on the Choose Entities Button.
On the next page, you get the option to select the entities (the data), you want to migrate to WooCommerce.
Click on the “Select All” entities. Free Demo Migration does not charge for any entity.
When everything is set up, click on the “Start Free Demo” button to begin the migration.
After the process is done, you will find all the categories, product orders, history, etc., in your WooCommerce store.
And that’s all.
This is how you can use cart2cart plugin to migrate the Shopify to WooCommerce.
The next method is to hire someone.
#3 Hiring Experts
If your store is large, and you do not want to risk losing any data by doing it yourself, don’t worry. You can hire experts to migrate your eCommerce store from Shopify to WooCommerce.
There are two ways to do this.
- Hire a Freelancer
- Hire an Agency
Work with Freelancer
You can find Shopify and WooCommerce experts quickly. Moreover, even the WordPress expert can migrate your store.
To find a freelancer, you can start with Fiverr.
Fiverr is like a marketplace for freelancers. You can search for people here for all types of projects.
Make an account, and search for the Shopify to WooCommerce Migration service.
And you will find freelancers in every price range.
The same is with other freelancers sites.
- Codeable
- Toptal
- WPMU DEV
- Upwork
- WPRiders
Pick anyone and start working with the freelancer.
Or else you can go with the agency.
Working with Agencies
Many agencies will migrate your store while keeping it live and secure.
Also, the WordPress development agency could do more than migration. They can build and design the theme for you. Or a custom plugin.
As, you do not only need to migrate the data, but also the design and look. And the look of the Shopify store cannot be migrated, as Shopify is not open-source software.
Best WordPress agencies that can work for you are:
#1 DevriX
DevriX is a popular WordPress development agency, founded in 2010. The team has experienced WordPress developers, and authority in the field.
#2 WisdmLabs
Founded in 2012, WisdmLabs is a certified WooCommerce expert company. With a team of 100+ members, you can trust them with your store.
#3 Tribe
Modern Tribe builds custom solutions for websites, such as plugins, themes, and platforms. They can do more than migration.
#4 WebDev Studios
The main purpose of WebDevStudios is to design your site. However, they can migrate your store too.
Check and evaluate the agencies. Pick anyone to start working.
Transfer Your Domain from Shopify to WordPress Hosting
The domain of your eCommerce store might be from Shopify or any other domain provider.
If the domain is not from Shopify, then you have to go to the domain provider and change the name server.
However, if you bought the domain name from Shopify itself, then there are few extra steps.
I mean, if you want to keep the same domain name for the store, then you have to transfer the domain from Shopify to another registrar.
Shopify uses the OpenSRS domain provider. To make the changes regarding the domain, you have to open the OpenSRS domain manager.
Task 1: Prepare the domain for transfer
- Login to your OpenSRS account
- Go to “Domain Locking” and unlock it by disabling it. By unlocking the domain, you are releasing the domain from the clutches of openSRS.
- Get the domain authorization code from the “Domain Extras” tab. Keep it save somewhere.
Task 2: Transferring to the New Host
- Login to your hosting account, and navigate to the Domain settings
- Find the “Transfer” option and enter your domain into it
- Enter the domain authorization code that you got from task 1
- Follow the instruction by the hosting provider
The Most popular Domain Registrar:
- GoDaddy
- Namecheap
- Namesilo
- Dynadot
- BigRock
Task 3: Redirect the DNS Servers to the New Host
When your store was on Shopify, the DNS was pointing to OpenSRS.
Now the domain registrar and hosting have changed. So to display the store setup on the WooCommerce, you have to change the DNS.
- Login to your hosting account
- Find the domain setting
- Open the Advanced settings to add the new record
- Add “A Record” and the IP address the hosting company provides you.
- Add the domain you are pointing to
- Save your changes
- Check DNS Checker to verify it works
NOTE: This is the general method. The domain providers and hosting providers have different ways of managing the domain name and DNS. This method may not work for every domain hosting platform.
Cancel Shopify
Now you are on WooCommerce, so you are not going back to Shopify.
It is essential to cancel it all, or else Shopify will keep charging you for the extensions and plan.
Task 1: Unsubscribe or uninstall all the apps
Shopify supports many apps, and all these apps are paid. These apps enhance the functionality of the platform and give the store an extra edge.
So unsubscribe from all of them. Uninstall them and remove them from your account.
Task 2: Remove the domain name
The new web host has taken over the domain, but it is still on the Shopify. Just remove it in a few steps. You will avoid the domain-related complication by transferring the domain form the Shopify.
- Go to the Shopify Admin Panel
- Click on “Online Store”
- Click on the “Domains”
- Find the button that says “Delete Domain.”
- Click and confirm the action
Task 3: Close it Down
Finally, shut down the store.
Login to your admin panel, and open the setting option.
Find the “Account” and then “Store Status.” It will open up the closure page.
Click on Close Store and authorize your action with a password.
And we are done.
FAQs
Can I use Shopify with WooCommerce?
Shopify and WooCommerce are two different platforms. But you can connect them with the Shopify Connect for WooCommerce Plugin.
How do I migrate from Shopify to WooCommerce?
You can migrate from Shopify to WooCommerce manually, or you can use the Cart2cart extension. Also, you can hire WordPress experts and outsource the project.
Which is better: Shopify or WooCommerce?
WooCommerce powers nearly 30% of all online stores. It is easy to use and has lots of resources. The community behind WooCommerce is highly active, and the possibilities are limitless.
On the other hand, Shopify is a software that makes starting an online store super easy. But it is restrictive, and added features require paid apps.
Final Words
If you follow this post, you can quickly transfer your store from Shopify to WooCommerce.
I hope you understand each step clearly.
If there is any issue or problem in any step, leave it in the comment box.
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