How to Integrate Magento and WordPress for a Completely Customized Checkout Experience
WordPress and Magento are two of the most popular Content Management Systems (CMSs) in use today. Each system was built with the shopping experience in mind, and each one can be customized to fit any business’ needs.
Despite their popularity, integrating these two CMSs is not without its challenges. Both platforms use their own peculiar ways of doing things, so it is far from a simple task to stitch them together. Still, you can find tutorials online to help you get started, and even experienced developers recommend using a tool to make the process more manageable. There are several tools available for Magento and WordPress integration, with some offering added-value features that can assist you in the design process.
The Advantages Of A Tool
With a few clicks of the mouse, you can have an entire storefront up and running on your site in no time flat. All it takes is a bit of know-how and a generous stash of patience. However, even then, you will not be able to avoid some trial and error.
An integral part of this process is taking the time to learn each CMS’s quirks. While you will eventually get the hang of things, it would be best to take the time to learn a little bit about how each CMS functions. That way, when you do encounter an issue that you cannot seem to solve on your own, you will know precisely where to look for help.
As a last resort, you can always contact the support team of each CMS and await their assistance. This is, however, not the preferred option as you will be forced to spend a great deal of time waiting for a reply; in some cases, this can even take a couple of days. In the meantime, your shop will still be functioning, offering dissatisfied customers no alternative but to leave a bad review. You certainly don’t want that.
The Challenges Of Integrating WordPress And Magento
Although WordPress and Magento have their undeniable perks, they are not built for each other. The former is a content-managed platform, while the latter was designed for eCommerce. Still, you can technically integrate these two platforms together, but you will have to make some major changes to get the most out of it.
For starters, WordPress is a bit more open-ended than Magento in terms of storefront styling. With Magento, you have a very limited number of predefined templates to choose from, which are mostly focused on product views and simple checkout flows. On the other hand, WordPress allows for a very high level of customization and has a large community willing to help you with any question you might have. (For more information, read our guide to the best WordPress themes or visit the official WordPress website.)
Another challenge you will face is product import. While you can automate most of the process with a little bit of coding, you will still have to spend a lot of time going through each product and adding it to your store. If you are running short on time, there are several tools that can assist you in this process. One of the more efficient solutions is Shopify’s integration with Magento. With this tool, you can easily import your products from Magento to Shopify. Simply click the “import” button and follow the prompts. (For more information, read our guide to the best Magento importers or visit the official Magento website.)
If your store is functioning, but you are unhappy with the way it looks, you can use Magento’s theme editor to make changes. (For more information, read our guide to the best Magento themes or visit the official Magento website.) However, bear in mind that once you make a change, you will have to rebuild and redeploy your store. This is a tedious process and can take several hours to complete. Still, it is well worth it if you are seriously intent on making your store look the way you want it to.
Selecting The Right Integration Tool
If you have decided to go the DIY route and integrate WordPress and Magento yourself, be sure to pick a tool that is suited for the purpose. As touched upon previously, both platforms use their own unique ways of doing things. While this might be convenient for you as you will not have to learn any different, it can cause a great deal of pain later on. (For more information, read our guide to the best WordPress plugins or visit the official WordPress website.)
If possible, it is best to avoid using a tool that is built for other CMSs as these will most likely not serve your purposes. Instead, look for a tool that is designed specifically for WordPress and Magento integration. Several tools offer added-value features that can assist you in the design process, keeping things organized and easy to follow. When selecting such a tool, it is important to keep in mind the way you want your end product to function. If this is your first time integrating these platforms, start small and simply test out the waters. Only then, if you are completely satisfied with the results, move on to the next step.