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ADVANCED GUIDE TO WOOCOMMERCE SETUP AND MANAGEMENT


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1) Access to the panel and “where to touch each thing”


1.1 Accessing the panel

  1. Go to: yourdomain.com/wp-admin

  2. Enter username/password.

  3. You will see the WordPress sidebar menu.


What you should know from day one

  • WooCommerce is the "shop" part (orders, products, settings).

  • Divi is the "design" part (how your website looks).

  • To configure the store you will almost always go to:


    • WooCommerce → Settings

    • WooCommerce → Products

    • WooCommerce → Orders


SC Comunicació Tip: Before making any important adjustments, open a second tab with your store (frontend) to see the impact of any changes.

2) General settings: the foundation of your store (it is mandatory to do this correctly)


Path: WooCommerce → Settings → General


2.1 Business direction (very important)

Fill in:

  • Address

  • City

  • Country/Region

  • Zip code


Why is it critical?

WooCommerce uses this address for:


  • Calculate taxes (according to country and rules)

  • Determine shipments (by zone)

  • Display data on invoices (depending on the plugin)

  • Legal compliance (visible/registrable company data)

Typical mistake: Entering the address incorrectly or incompletely causes incorrect taxes and billing problems.

2.2 Countries where you sell / ship

In the same section you will find:

  • Sales location(s)

  • Shipping location(s)


How to decide (examples)


  • If you ONLY sell in Spain: select Spain.

  • If you sell in Spain and Andorra: select both.

  • If you sell throughout Europe: select “Sell to all EU countries” (if applicable).


Why it's a good idea to limit countries

The more countries you allow:


  • higher chance of tax/shipping errors,

  • More rare cases at checkout,

  • More customer inquiries for unserved countries.

SC Comunicació's recommendation: Define your actual target markets precisely. It's better to expand later than to open up to "the whole world" from the start.

2.3 Currency and price format

Configure:

  • Currency: EUR (€)

  • Position: before or after

  • Separators

  • Decimals (usually 2)


Why does it matter so much?


  • Avoid confusion: €1,000.00 vs €1,000.00

  • It helps build confidence in the purchase (UX)

  • Reduce shopping cart abandonment due to "unusual prices"


3) Taxes (VAT): step-by-step configuration


3.1 Activate taxes

Path: WooCommerce → Settings → General


✔ Activate: “Activate taxes”

Save changes.


The tab "Taxes" will appear .


3.2 Understanding how VAT works in WooCommerce (key concept)

WooCommerce calculates VAT based on:


  • your tax address (the store's address)

  • the customer's address (billing or shipping, depending on the configuration)

  • the tax rules that you have created

This means: if you sell to different areas with different VAT rates, you need rules per country/area.

3.3 General tax adjustments (what to choose and why)

Path: WooCommerce → Settings → Taxes

a) “Prices including taxes”


This option defines how you enter prices into the administration:


  • Yes, I will enter prices including taxes.

    Example: if you enter €121 and the VAT is 21%, WooCommerce understands that the base price is €100 + VAT.

  • No, I will enter prices excluding tax.

    Example: You enter €100 and WooCommerce adds the VAT at the end (the customer will see €121 if applicable).


✅ Usual recommendation (B2C stores): prices include taxes (the customer usually expects the final price).


Important: If you change it when there are already products, check prices, because it may visually mess them up.

b) “Calculate taxes according to…”

You typically have:

  • Customer shipping address (most commonly used in ecommerce)

  • Customer billing address (if you sell services or invoice)

  • Store base address (not recommended if you sell to multiple countries)


✅ SC Communication Recommendation: according to shipping address , unless your manager tells you otherwise.


c) Display prices in store and shopping cart

Options:

  • Show prices including tax

  • Show prices excluding tax


✅ B2C Recommendation: Always display prices including taxes to avoid surprises at checkout.


3.4 Creating VAT rules (detailed example)

Path: WooCommerce → Settings → Taxes → Standard Rates


How to read each column


  • Country : ES, AD, FR…

  • Postal code : used for taxes by region/code (optional)

  • City : if a tax applies only to one city (rare)

  • Rate : the % (e.g., 21)

  • Name : label you will see on orders/invoices (“VAT 21%”)

  • Priority : if there are several rules, which one takes precedence

  • Shipping : If shipping also includes VAT (often it does)

  • Compound : taxes on taxes (almost never)


Practical example (Spain VAT 21%)

  • Country: ES

  • Rate: 21.0000

  • Name: VAT 21%

  • Shipping: ✅

  • Compound: ❌

  • Priority: 1


Save changes.


SC Communication Tip: Create a rule per country/zone and test an order with an address from that country.

4) Shipping: the “engine” that determines how much the customer pays for transport

Path: WooCommerce → Settings → Shipping


4.1 Key concept: “Shipping zones”

WooCommerce works like this:

  1. You create zones (e.g., mainland Spain, Andorra)

  2. Within each zone you define methods (flat rate, free, collection)


Important Order:


  • WooCommerce applies the first zone that matches the customer's address.

Typical mistake: putting a zone called "Europe" at the top and then "Spain" at the bottom. Result: Spain falls under Europe and is applied incorrectly.

4.2 Creating a Zone (Full Explanation)

  1. In Shipping , go to Shipping Zones

  2. Click on Add zone

  3. Give it a clear name: “Peninsular Spain”

  4. Select regions: “Spain (peninsula)”, or the corresponding criterion

  5. Add shipping methods


How to name them to avoid problems


  • “Peninsular Spain”

  • “Spain Balearic Islands”

  • “Andorra”

  • “Local Pickup – Store”


SC Comunicació Advice: If you work with a carrier, reflect their actual logic (real cost zones).

4.3 Shipping methods (and how to configure them properly)


A) Flat rate

It is used to collect a fixed amount.

  • Example: €6 per order


Configure it like this:


  1. Add “Flat Rate”

  2. Edit cost: 6

  3. Optional: cost per item (if applicable)


When is it convenient


  • If your average shipping cost is stable

  • If you want simplicity


When it is NOT advisable


  • If you sell products with very different weights (you might need rules by weight: plugin)


B) Free shipping (very useful for selling more)

You can demand:

  • a minimum (recommended) amount

  • a coupon

  • both


Example:

  • Free shipping on orders over €80


Benefit:

  • The average ticket price is increasing (people are adding extra items to reach the minimum).


SC Comunicació Advice: Define the threshold based on margin logic. If your average margin is 30%, don't set a minimum so low that you essentially "give away" the margin on shipping.

C) Local collection

For in-store/warehouse pickup.

  • It's usually free

  • Reduce logistics costs


Make sure to:


  • Please indicate at checkout how and where the item will be picked up.

  • Add a note to the order email (if applicable)


4.4 Shipping taxes

If your shipment includes VAT, make sure to:


  • In tax rules: check “Shipping” ✅

  • In shipping methods: check that they are not configured as "tax-free" (depends on the setup)


5) Weights and measures: essential if shipping depends on the product

Path: WooCommerce → Settings → Products

Configure:


  • Unit of weight: kg

  • Unit of dimensions: cm


What happens if you don't put in pesos?


  • You will not be able to calculate shipments by weight (if enabled)

  • Your logistics will be "by eye"

  • Risk of overcharging for transport


SC Comunicació recommendation: define an internal standard: all physical products with real weight (even if approximate).

6) Products: how to create them well (and optimized for SEO)


Path: Products → Add new

6.1 Perfect product structure (checklist)

Product Name (SEO + Clarity)

  • You must describe what it is and the main variant.

  • Example: “Decorative linen cushion 45x45 – Beige”


Short description (the one that converts the most)

  • 3–6 lines

  • Benefit + materials + use

  • Easy to read


Long description (SEO)

Includes:

  • Characteristics

  • Materials

  • Measures

  • Care

  • Shipping/Returns (if applicable)

  • Frequently Asked Questions

SC Comunicació Advice: A long description is key to ranking. Google needs useful text, not just photos.

6.2 Product Images

Minimum recommendation:

  • 1 main image (clean background)

  • 2–4 extra images (detail, context)

  • If applicable: an image with measurements


Good practices:


  • Same lighting/style throughout the catalog

  • Consistent size

  • File name with keywords: linen-cushion-beige-45x45.jpg


6.3 Price

Indicates:

  • Regular price

  • Reduced price (if there is a sale)


Advice:


  • Avoid permanent offers (they reduce credibility)

  • Use timely and well-communicated offers


6.4 Inventory / Stock (very clear explanation)

In the “Product Details” box → Inventory tab :

  • SKU (internal reference): recommended

  • Manage stock: activate

  • Amount

  • Allow reservations: normally NO

  • Low stock threshold: in general adjustments


Why use stock


  • You avoid selling without availability.

  • Customer service improvements

  • You can schedule restocks


6.5 Shipping (weight and dimensions per product)

Shipping tab :

  • Weight

  • Dimensions


Even if you don't use it now:


  • Put at least the weight

  • This will be useful for future scaling.


6.6 Variable products (sizes/colors)

If a product has options:

  • Color: Beige / Gray / Green

  • Size: S / M / L


It is created as a variable product :


  1. Create attributes (Color, Size)

  2. Generate variations

  3. Assign price/stock per variation


SC Communication Tip: If each variation has different stock, configure it per variation (avoid confusion).


7) Invoices (actual operations and control)

WooCommerce uses a billing plugin (already installed).


7.1 Business tax information

Make sure you have:

  • Company name

  • VAT No.

  • Tax address

  • Email and/or phone


7.2 Invoice numbering

Check:

  • Prefixes (if applicable)

  • Annual series (if applicable)

  • Consecutive numbering (legally important)


7.3 Recommended flow

  • Order enters → “Processing”

  • Prepare/deliver → “Completed”

  • Invoice is issued (automatically or manually depending on configuration)




8) WooCommerce emails (so that the customer receives clear information)

Path: WooCommerce → Settings → Emails


8.1 What emails exist and what they mean

  • New order (for you)

  • Processing (for customer: order received)

  • Completed (customer: sent/delivered)

  • Cancelled / failed (alert)



8.2 Recommended minimum customization

  • Sender name (your brand)

  • Correct sender email

  • Clear text in each email

  • Email footer with contact information and customer service details


SC Communication Tip: A clear email reduces tickets and "where is my order?"

9) Order management: your daily control panel

Path: WooCommerce → Orders


9.1 How to read an order

In each order you will see:


  • Products purchased

  • Shipping and billing address

  • Shipping method

  • Order status

  • Grades


9.2 States and when to use them

  • Pending : not confirmed (usually payment pending)

  • Processing : confirmed and in preparation

  • Completed : Sent/Delivered (depending on your operating procedures)


Typical flow:


  1. Order received → Processing

  2. You prepare the package

  3. You send

  4. Marks completed


SC Communication Tip: Be consistent. If "Completed" means "Sent," always use it that way.

9.3 Order Notes

You can add:

  • Private note (just for you)

  • Note to customer (sent by email)


Example customer note:


  • "Your order will be shipped out today with the carrier. Thank you."


10) Clients and database

Path: WooCommerce → Customers


What you can do:


  • View contact details

  • Review previous orders

  • Identify recurring customers



Recommended use:


  • Identify VIPs (they buy a lot)

  • Detect recurring incidents

  • Improve customer service


11) Coupons and promotions (explained to sell more)

Path: Marketing / WooCommerce → Coupons (depending on version)


11.1 Types of coupons

  • Percentage (10%)

  • Fixed amount (€5)

  • Free shipping


11.2 Recommended rules

  • Expiration date (avoid perpetual coupons)

  • Maximum usage per user

  • Minimum purchase amount

  • Exclude products on sale


Example of a properly configured coupon:


  • WELCOME10

  • 10%

  • Expires in 30 days

  • Minimum €30

  • 1 use per user


Contact

SC Comunicació

Telephone: +376 65 00 54

Optimize your online store with us. We're here to help you grow!

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