Transitioning from Gumroad to WordPress: A Smart Move for Your Online Business

If you are an online business owner seeking an alternative to Gumroad, consider making the switch to WordPress. With increasing fees and limited flexibility on Gumroad, WordPress offers a cost-effective and versatile platform for selling your products. In this comprehensive guide, we will walk you through the process of seamlessly transitioning from Gumroad to WordPress, empowering you to grow your online business without the burden of additional charges.

Why Should You Transition?

Gumroad is an eCommerce platform that allows creators to sell digital goods. However, recent fee hikes, now at 10% per transaction, along with additional charges for features like ‘Gumroad Discover’ and ‘Global Affiliates,’ have made it a less appealing option. On the other hand, WordPress is a free platform that gives you the freedom to sell anything online, including physical versions of your digital goods. With WordPress, you have complete control over payment gateways and marketing without any restrictions.

Getting Started: What You Will Need

Before making the switch, there are a few essential items you will need:

1. A Web Hosting Account: We recommend SiteGround, offering eCommerce-ready hosting from as low as $2.99 per month exclusively for WPBeginner users. Alternatively, you can consider hosting companies like Bluehost, Hostinger, or WP Engine.

2. A Domain Name: You can either register a new domain through SiteGround or use an existing one.

3. An SSL Certificate: SiteGround provides a free Let’s Encrypt SSL certificate with every plan, ensuring secure transactions on your website.

Now, let’s delve into the step-by-step process of purchasing a domain, web hosting, and setting up an SSL certificate.

Step 1: Purchase a Domain, Web Hosting, and SSL Certificate

1. Head over to the SiteGround website and select a hosting plan that suits your needs.

2. Enter your desired domain name or use an existing one. If you are unsure about selecting a domain name, refer to our extensive guide on choosing the best domain name.

3. Fill out the account information form and decide whether you want any optional extras. If you are uncertain, it is best to skip this step.

4. Make the payment and wait for an email from SiteGround with a link to log in to your hosting account control panel.

5. In the control panel, navigate to the websites tab and click on the WordPress Admin button next to your website. This will take you to the WordPress admin area of your website.

Step 2: Install and Set Up Easy Digital Downloads

While WordPress does not come with built-in eCommerce functionality, Easy Digital Downloads (EDD) will be automatically included if you sign up with SiteGround.

If you are using a different hosting provider, you will need to manually install the Easy Digital Downloads plugin. Follow these steps:

1. Install and activate the Easy Digital Downloads plugin. You can find detailed instructions in our comprehensive guide on how to install a WordPress plugin.

2. Once activated, go to the Downloads » Settings page in your WordPress admin area to configure your online store. Provide your business name, address, and country for tax purposes.

3. Switch to the ‘Currency’ tab and select the default currency for your store.

4. Select your preferred payment gateway provider. EDD defaults to supporting PayPal, Stripe, and Amazon payment gateways. You can also add support for additional gateways using add-ons.

Step 3: Transfer Your Products from Gumroad to Easy Digital Downloads

Unfortunately, transferring your product data from Gumroad to WordPress is not a straightforward process. You will need to manually migrate your products from Gumroad to Easy Digital Downloads.

1. To create your first digital product, go to the Downloads page and click on the ‘Add New’ button.

2. Add a name and detailed information about your product. Feel free to include images, videos, emoticons, and compelling descriptions. You can also copy and paste the description from your Gumroad product.

3. Set the price, download type, and upload your download file. Additionally, you can provide optional instructions or notes.

4. Click on the ‘Publish’ button to make your product available for purchase.

5. Repeat this process for all your products, ensuring a smooth transition from Gumroad to your WordPress website.

Step 4: Choose and Customize Your WordPress Theme

Themes determine the design and layout of your WordPress website. With thousands of free and paid options available, it is crucial to choose the right one. We recommend starting with our expert pick of the most popular WordPress themes. Here is how you can choose and customize your theme:

1. Install your chosen theme by following our beginner’s guide on installing a WordPress theme.

2. Personalize your theme to align with your brand. You can modify colors, layouts, add images, and upload your logo. For more advanced customization options, consider using a drag-and-drop page builder like SeedProd.

Step 5: Brand Your Email Communications

Easy Digital Downloads relies on emails to send purchase receipts, account information, and download instructions. To ensure a professional touch and consistent branding, follow these steps:

1. Go to the Downloads » Settings page and switch to the ‘Emails’ tab.

2. Upload a logo to be featured in your emails.

3. Specify a name and email address to ensure a professional sender’s name and address.

4. Install the WP Mail SMTP plugin to enhance email deliverability.

5. Customize the text of your emails by navigating to the ‘Purchase Receipts’ tab. Utilize tags to dynamically display customer names, downloads, and receipts.

Step 6: Scale Your Business on WordPress

One of the key advantages of transitioning from Gumroad to WordPress is the availability of free and paid tools to expand your online business. Here are some essential WordPress plugins that can help you maximize your download sales:

• SEO plugins like Yoast or Rank Math to optimize your website for search engines.
• Social media plugins to promote your downloads on social platforms.
• Email marketing plugins to build an email list and engage with your audience.
• Analytics plugins to track your website’s performance and make data-driven decisions.

By leveraging these plugins and adhering to WordPress best practices, you can take your online business to new heights.

Conclusion

Migrating from Gumroad to WordPress gives you complete control over your online business without the burden of excessive fees. By following the step-by-step process outlined in this guide, you can seamlessly transition to WordPress, unlocking the full potential of your digital offerings. Don’t forget to explore our ultimate WordPress SEO guide and subscribe to our YouTube Channel for more WordPress tutorials. Connect with us on Twitter and Facebook to stay updated on the latest developments.