Author: Laura

2. Setting Up WordPress For WooCommerce

Posted on | by Laura

Before we install WooCommerce, there are a few pages we should set up first:

Step 1: Setting Up Relevant Pages

  1. About Page: Share your story with your customers. ( see example )
  2. Contact Page: Provide a way for customers to reach you. ( see example )

Step 2: Disabling Comments on Pages

In WordPress, pages are for static content like “About Us” or “Contact” pages, which typically remain unchanged over time. Posts, on the other hand, are for dynamic content like blog entries or news updates, which are organized chronologically and can be tagged and categorized. Comments are great for blog posts but don’t always make sense on pages. Let’s turn them off:

  1. Go to the Admin Dashboard.
  2. Navigate to Pages.
  3. Select all your pages.
  4. Go to Bulk Actions, choose Edit, and click Apply.
  5. Under Comments, select Do not allow.
  6. Click Update.

Now, when you revisit your About page and scroll down, you should no longer see the comments box, making it more “page-like”.

Step 3: Setting Up Permalinks

Permalinks in WordPress are the permanent URLs of your posts, pages, categories, and other archive pages on your website. These URLs are designed to be permanent and should not be changed, hence the name “permalink.” They help create a URL structure that is easy for both humans and search engines to understand and share.

Pretty Permalinks: These are SEO-friendly and attractive, usually containing words such as the title of the post or page, post category, or tag name. For example: http://example.com/2012/post-name/

Pretty permalinks are SEO-friendly because they include keywords from the post title or category, making URLs more descriptive and relevant to search engines. This helps improve search engine rankings and provides a better user experience by creating readable and memorable URLs.

To create prettier permalinks:

  1. Go to the Admin Dashboard.
  2. Navigate to Settings > Permalinks.
  3. Choose any option other than Plain (e.g., Day and name, Month and name, Numeric, Post name). Personally, I’m a fan of Day and name.
  4. Click Save Changes.

Return to your About page and refresh it to see the updated permalink. This will apply to your About page, Contact page, and future Product pages.

1.Why Use WordPress WooCommerce?

Posted on | by Laura

If you’re considering starting an online store, WooCommerce offers a robust and flexible platform to build your business. It is a popular e-commerce plugin for WordPress, and it’s a great choice for several reasons:

  1. User-Friendly: It’s relatively easy to set up and use, even if you don’t have a lot of technical expertise.
  2. Customizable: It offers a high degree of customization, with a plethora of themes and plugins to tailor your online store to your exact specifications.
  3. Cost-Effective: The core plugin is free, and while there are paid extensions available, you can start selling online without significant upfront costs.
  4. SEO-Friendly: WooCommerce is built on WordPress, which is known for its strong SEO capabilities, helping your store rank better in search engines.
  5. Community Support: There is a large community of developers and users, which means you can find plenty of resources and support if you run into any issues.
  6. Secure: Regular updates and a focus on security help protect your online store from potential threats.
  7. Integration: It integrates seamlessly with many other services and platforms, including payment gateways, shipping services, and marketing tools.

SEO Tips For Etsy Sellers

Posted on | by Laura

SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization, and it’s the practice of enhancing the visibility of a website or a web page in a search engine’s organic results. In simpler terms, it’s about making your site more attractive to search engines like Google, Bing, and even Etsy’s internal search, so that you appear higher in search results. :

The importance of keywords in SEO can not be over stated. Keywords are the terms and phrases that users enter into search engines when looking for specific information, products, or services. They’re like the secret sauce of search engine optimization (SEO).

Here’s why keywords are important:

  1. Visibility: Using relevant keywords helps your content appear in search engine results, making it more likely that people will find your website.
  2. Relevance: Keywords help search engines understand the topic and content of your webpage, ensuring it shows up for the right searches.
  3. Audience Targeting: By choosing the right keywords, you can attract your target audience, who are already interested in what you offer.
  4. Competitive Edge: Analyzing and using the right keywords can help you stay ahead of competitors in search results.
  5. Improved User Experience: Good keyword usage can lead to more relevant search results for users, enhancing their experience.

For instance, if you have a blog about healthy recipes, keywords like “easy vegan recipes,” “gluten-free desserts,” and “low-carb meals” can help your content reach those who are specifically looking for these types of recipes.

Here are some Etsy seller SEO Tips:

Shop Optimization

  1. Shop Title: Use a clear and descriptive shop title that includes relevant keywords.
  2. Shop Description: Write a detailed shop description that highlights what makes your shop unique and includes important keywords.
  3. About Section: Share your story and what inspires your creations. This can help build a connection with potential buyers.
  4. Shop Policies: Clearly outline your shop policies to build trust with customers.
  5. Shop Reviews: Encourage satisfied customers to leave positive reviews, as they can boost your shop’s credibility.

Listing Optimization

  1. Listing Titles: Use descriptive and keyword-rich titles for your listings.
  2. Listing Descriptions: Write detailed descriptions that include relevant keywords and highlight the unique features of your products.
  3. Listing Photos: Use high-quality photos that showcase your products from different angles.
  4. Listing Prices: Set competitive prices that reflect the value of your products.
  5. Listing Categories: Choose the most relevant categories for your listings to help buyers find your products.
  6. Listing Attributes: Fill out all available attributes to provide more information about your products.
  7. Listing Tags: Use all available tags and include relevant keywords to improve your listings’ visibility.

Additional Tips

  1. Keywords: Think like a shopper and use keywords that potential buyers would search for.
  2. Conversion Rates: Focus on improving your listings’ conversion rates by providing excellent customer service and high-quality products.
  3. Recency: Regularly update your listings to keep them fresh and relevant.

GnuCash For Etsy Seller’s Tutorials

Posted on | by Laura

Using GnuCash as an Etsy seller can help you efficiently manage your shop’s finances, track income and expenses, and generate reports for tax purposes. In this course we’re going to explore the business model of a handmade crafts and jewelry shop known as Handmade Haven Creations. Handmade Haven Creations specializes in creating unique, handcrafted items, which includes: Handmade Bracelets. Handmade Necklaces and Home Decor. All the products are listed and sold on Etsy, Etsy handles all sales transactions and payment processing. By understanding the various components of the Handmade Haven Creations’ business model, you can see how a small handmade crafts shop can efficiently manage its finances with Gnucash Free Accounting software. Let’s begin!

Before you begin you should
1. Install GnuCash
2. Download the Etsy Chart of Accounts



How To Link Receipts To Transactions

Posted on | by Laura
GnuCash 5.0: How to link Documents to transactions

In GnuCash, “adding a file” refers to the action of attaching an external file, like a scanned receipt or invoice image, to a specific transaction within your financial record, essentially linking a physical document to a digital transaction for easier reference and audit purposes.

How To Add A Notes Field To A Simple Transaction In GnuCash

Posted on | by Laura
How to Add A Notes Field to Simple Transactions In Gnucash

In GnuCash, users can add additional information or details about a specific transaction, essentially acting as a memo or comment section to provide context beyond the basic transaction details; this note field is accessible for every transaction entered in GnuCash.

Generate The 3 Essential Financial Reports

Posted on | by Laura
Gnucash Tutorials: How To Generate The 3 Essential Financial Reports

In this tutorial we will go over how to generate and edit the 3 essential end of year Financial Reports, used to evaluate the businesses performance over a given period of time. Each one provides a window into the company’s finances and is useful for completing your IRS business taxes.