This guide walks you through installing WooCommerce on your HOSTDOG WordPress site. You will add the plugin, run the setup wizard, configure basic store settings, and verify that your shop is ready for products and orders.
Prerequisites
- A WordPress installation on your HOSTDOG hosting account
- An SSL certificate active on your domain — required for secure checkout (HOSTDOG provides free SSL certificates)
- SMTP email configured for reliable order notification delivery
Install WooCommerce
Log in to your WordPress dashboard. Go to Plugins → Add New. Search for WooCommerce. Click Install Now on the official WooCommerce plugin (by Automattic), then click Activate.
Alternatively, you can install WooCommerce via Softaculous — search for WooCommerce in the E-Commerce category and it installs WordPress + WooCommerce together.
After activation, WooCommerce launches a setup wizard. Complete these sections:
- Store details — your business address, country, currency (select EUR for Greece)
- Industry — select your store's industry
- Product types — physical products, digital downloads, or both
- Business details — approximate number of products and whether you sell elsewhere
- Theme — keep your current theme or install a WooCommerce-compatible one
WooCommerce supports multiple payment gateways. Common options for Greek businesses include:
- PayPal — built into WooCommerce, easy to set up
- Stripe — credit/debit card payments, requires the free Stripe plugin
- Bank transfer — manual payments via bank deposit
- Cash on delivery — popular in Greece for physical products
Go to WooCommerce → Settings → Payments to enable and configure each method.
Under WooCommerce → Settings, configure:
- Shipping zones — add zones for Greece, EU, and international with rates for each
- Tax — enable taxes and set the Greek VAT rate (24% standard). WooCommerce can calculate taxes automatically based on the customer's location
Go to Products → Add New. Enter the product name, description, price, and images. Set the product type (Simple, Variable, Grouped, or Virtual/Downloadable). Click Publish when ready.
Performance considerations
WooCommerce is more resource-intensive than a standard WordPress blog. For a smooth shopping experience:
- Use HOSTDOG's Business Shared Hosting or higher — Personal plans may be too limited for busy stores
- Enable caching (see How to speed up your WordPress site) but exclude cart and checkout pages from caching
- Use the latest PHP version for best performance
- Optimize product images before uploading