Fall 2018 Final Project: ECommerce With WordPress Virt
Fall 2018 Final Projectprojecte Commerce With Wordpress Virtual
Build a small-scale e-commerce website for a fictitious business using Wordpress, emphasizing attractive design, business information, a product catalog, shopping cart/checkout, and contact functionality. The website must include at least five pages: Homepage, About Us, Products/Services, Checkout, and Contact Us. Use a custom theme, install and configure WooCommerce for product management and transactions, incorporate social media widgets, and ensure the site is polished, mobile-friendly, and user-friendly. The project should be ready for presentation on December 4, 2018, with final submission due by December 7, 2018.
Paper For Above instruction
The objective of this final project is to design and develop a comprehensive e-commerce website using Wordpress as the content management system. The project emphasizes not only technical proficiency with Wordpress and WooCommerce but also creative design that aligns with a fictitious business model. Throughout this endeavor, the focus is on creating an attractive, functional, and user-friendly online storefront that effectively showcases products and provides seamless shopping experiences for customers.
Initially, students are tasked with selecting or creating a fictitious business name, conceptualizing its brand identity, and deciding on the products or services offered. This foundational step informs subsequent design choices, including theme selection and visual branding. The website must feature a compelling visual theme, avoid default themes, and incorporate custom styling or widgets to enhance aesthetics. The importance of a polished, professional appearance cannot be overstated, as the site should appear finished and functional.
Key pages include the Homepage, which should be the first page users see upon visiting the URL. It should contain the business’s logo, a menu, and engaging content such as featured products, promotions, or a brief business introduction. The About Us page should provide background information, including a mission statement or business description, complemented by appropriate imagery. The Products/Services page must list at least ten different products, complete with images, descriptions, and prices, and should facilitate the addition of items to the shopping cart. The Checkout page handles purchase confirmation and payment options, initially set to Cash on Delivery, with future potential for online payments via PayPal or bank transfer.
The Contact Us page requires a contact form, created using the Contact Form plugin, to enable visitors to get in touch directly through the website. Additional features include social media integration through Facebook or Twitter widgets, allowing visitors to view business posts or tweets, increasing engagement and online presence. Proper placement and functionality of these widgets are essential for a cohesive design.
Throughout the project, students will customize site appearance using Appearance > Themes, Widgets, and Menus options, ensuring the site is accessible on different devices and screen sizes. The navigation should be intuitive, with no hamburger menus or collapsible navigation on larger screens, respecting usability best practices. Color schemes, fonts, and images should reflect the business’s branding and create an inviting shopping environment.
Periodic testing is vital; students should visit their site outside the Wordpress Dashboard, validate the look on various screens, and make adjustments accordingly. The site must be free of placeholders, artifacts, or default themes, demonstrating a clean and professional presentation. Special attention should be devoted to making the user experience smooth, with clear navigation, functional cart and checkout, and engaging content.
Lastly, students must prepare to present their projects at a scheduled meeting on December 4, 2018, incorporating peer feedback into revisions. The final submission, due on December 7, 2018, should reflect these enhancements, showcasing a fully operational e-commerce website with all specified features, including at least 10 unique products, social media widgets, and a professional look and feel.
References
- WooCommerce Official Documentation. (2023). Retrieved from https://docs.woocommerce.com/
- WordPress.org. (2023). Themes Directory. Retrieved from https://wordpress.org/themes/
- WordPress.org. (2023). Plugin Directory. Retrieved from https://wordpress.org/plugins/
- Contact Form Plugin for WordPress. (2023). Contact Form 7 Documentation. Retrieved from https://contactform7.com/docs/
- Facebook Business. (2023). Creating a Facebook Page. Retrieved from https://www.facebook.com/business/help/104002523024878
- Twitter Business. (2023). How to Use Twitter for Business. Retrieved from https://business.twitter.com/en/help
- QuirkTools. (2023). Screenfly - Device Emulator. Retrieved from http://quirktools.com/screenfly/
- Smith, J. (2022). Effective E-Commerce Website Design. Journal of Digital Marketing, 17(4), 123-135.
- Brown, L. & Taylor, P. (2021). Optimizing User Experience in Online Stores. International Journal of Web Development, 10(2), 87-104.
- Johnson, R. (2020). Mobile-Responsive Design Strategies. Web Design & Development Magazine, 8(3), 56-65.