Website Setup: Settings, Themes, Plugins, and E-commerce Integration

Posted on Jan 28, 2026 in Software Engineering

Website Configuration and Core Settings

Essential Site Settings Breakdown

This section covers fundamental administrative and display settings for your website:

  • General: Basic site information (title, tagline), admin email, timezone, date/time formats.
  • Writing: Default post category, format, email publishing, update services.
  • Reading: Homepage display (posts or static page), blog post display limits, syndication feeds.
  • Discussion: Comment settings (moderation, notifications, avatars).
  • Media: Image sizes (thumbnail, medium, large), upload organization.
  • Permalinks: URL structure for posts and pages (important for SEO).
  • Privacy: Page selection for your privacy policy.

Additionally, this area includes tools for Import and Export of website data, allowing you to add or modify content in bulk.

Managing Themes and Plugins

Theme Installation and Activation

A theme is the pre-designed template that controls the visual appearance and basic layout of your entire website. Only one theme can be active at a time.

  • Theme Installation: The process of adding a new design template to your website, typically by uploading theme files (often in ZIP format) through the administration panel.
  • Activate Theme: Once installed, you must activate the theme to make it the live design of your website.

Installing Themes from the Dashboard

This is the most common and user-friendly method. Within your admin dashboard, navigate to “Appearance” > “Themes” > “Add New”. Here, you can:

  • Search: Browse and install free themes directly from the official directory using keywords related to your desired style or features.

    Once you find a theme you like, click “Install,” and after successful installation, click “Activate” to apply it to your site.

Understanding Plugins and Activation

Plugins are add-ons that extend the functionality of your website, enabling specific capabilities like contact forms, SEO tools, or e-commerce features.

Plugin Installation and Activation Steps

  1. Downloading Plugins: Free plugins are typically downloaded directly from the official plugin repository through your admin dashboard.
  2. Installing Plugins via Dashboard: In your admin area, go to “Plugins” > “Add New.”
    • Free Plugins: Search for the plugin name, click “Install Now,” then “Activate.”
    • Activating Plugins: Once installed, you must click “Activate” on the “Plugins” page to enable its features and make them operational on your site.

Content Creation and Structure

Posts Versus Pages

Understanding the difference between posts and pages is crucial for site structure:

  • Posts: Timely, dynamic content (news, blog entries, updates). They are organized by date and categories/tags, typically appearing in reverse chronological order.
  • Pages: Static, timeless content (e.g., “About Us,” “Contact,” “Services”). They are hierarchical, meaning they can have parent and child pages.

Creating and Editing Content

  • Creating a Post: Go to Posts > Add New. Enter your title and content, add categories and tags, and click “Publish.”
  • Adding Hyperlinks: Select text or media, click the link icon (chain), and paste or search for the URL.
  • Playing with Media Content: Easily insert images, audio, and video into posts and pages using the “Add Media” button.
  • Previewing and Editing: Before publishing or updating, click “Preview” to see how your content will look.

Organizing Content with Categories and Tags

These tools help visitors navigate your site and improve SEO:

  • Categories: Broad topics used to group related posts (e.g., “Travel,” “Technology”). They organize content thematically.
  • Tags: Specific keywords describing the content of a post.

Page Templates and Hierarchy

Templates are the structural blueprints for how your website’s pages are displayed. Once a theme is active, its templates are automatically applied to relevant pages.

Page Hierarchy: You can organize pages in a hierarchical structure, creating parent and child pages. This helps structure your site’s navigation and content flow.

Advanced Functionality and E-commerce Setup

Designing Pages with Elementor

Elementor is a powerful tool used to create visually appealing and informative pages using a drag-and-drop interface.

Example Goal: Create a product page that encourages purchases.

  • Elementor Usage:
    • Layout: Utilize Elementor’s drag-and-drop interface to structure the page with sections for product images, descriptions, etc.
    • Widgets: Employ various Elementor widgets like “Image Gallery,” “Text Editor,” “Heading,” “Button,” and potentially WooCommerce-specific widgets.
  • Visual Appeal: Focus on high-quality product images, clear typography, and consistent branding using Elementor’s styling options.
  • Responsiveness: Ensure the page looks great on all devices (desktop, tablet, mobile) using Elementor’s responsive settings.

Implementing WooCommerce for E-commerce

WooCommerce is the essential plugin for adding e-commerce capabilities to your site.

Core E-commerce Functionality:

  • Product Listings: Displaying product details (name, description, images, pricing).
  • Add to Cart: Enabling users to add products to their shopping cart.
  • Shopping Cart: Allowing users to review and modify their selected items before checkout.

Integration with Elementor: While basic WooCommerce elements are often displayed automatically, Elementor allows for more visual customization of product pages and shop layouts.

Integrating Shipping and Payment Gateways

Shipping Solutions (Shiprocket / Instashipin)

Install and configure a dedicated plugin (e.g., Shiprocket or Instashipin). These plugins integrate your WooCommerce store with the chosen shipping platform to manage logistics.

Payment Gateways (PayU / Razorpay)

Install and configure the official WooCommerce plugin for either PayU or Razorpay. These plugins connect your website to the selected payment gateway, enabling secure online transactions.

Adding Communication Tools (WhatsApp Chat)

To enhance customer communication, utilize a dedicated “WhatsApp Chat” plugin (e.g., Join.chat, WP Social Chat).

Functionality: The plugin adds a floating WhatsApp button to the website, allowing visitors to initiate direct chats easily.