Issue #136 Loop WP

Hi, friend. 👋

Welcome to Issue #136 of Loop WP!

Last week, we looked at a niche WooCommerce topic…taxes! In a special edition of the Weekly WordPress News & Tips, I included some Black Friday/Cyber Monday deals.

(Some offers are still on, so check them out.)

This week, we continue looking at WooCommerce as we discuss “Shipping,” something you should consider before setting up your store.

Let’s go! 👇

A bit of context...Shipping Hell

This week, I am ranting about shipping.

✅ If you sell physical products online, a shipping policy for your website is not only best practice (and required by some services like Google Merchant Centre) but also a legal requirement.

In case you didn't know, I build WordPress, particularly WooCommerce websites, so I am very familiar with shipping and shipping policies.

⚡️ (I'm also a Shopify Partner and consultant, which I do pretty well, too.)

You may not know that I live in Northern Ireland (unless you read last week’s newsletter), which is both inside and outside the EU because of Brexit.

It isn't very easy, I know. Try living here and dealing with the politics. 🤣

This is probably the case where you live, friend; indeed, within Europe, we have frequent news about:

• Shipping delays

• Logistics pricing increases

• A lack of drivers, all of which have been blamed on:

  • COVID

  • Brexit

  • Low wages

  • The continual increase in online shopping

🚨 A Shipping Policy is a legal requirement in the UK and the EU for an eCommerce website.

⚠️ If your business isn’t based in the UK or the EU but serves those customers, you must have a shipping policy.

Doing it Better!

Shipping can be super complex for some companies.

⚠️ Other companies over-complicate shipping.

If you fall into one of these categories, listen up! No matter how complex your logistics are behind the scenes, it should be:

1. Simple for your customers

2. Transparent

3. Accessible

💡 My first point goes without explanation, but let’s look at the other two points in more detail.

Transparency:

• Don't surprise customers with hidden fees.

• Show your shipping pricing on the cart (not just at checkout).

Accessible:

• A shipping policy that is easy to find should be on your website.

• It should be easy to understand.

• Bonus - Optimise it for SERPs.

🧠 A good shipping process and dedicated policy page will help:

• Reduce returns and refunds,

• Reduce customer service queries.

• Increase sales (this will happen, especially if your competitors' shipping sucks).

Shipping is a Differentiator

🚚 Shipping is a differentiator for many stores and customers. It can be a positive or negative differentiator.

🥳 Hopefully, you have understood by now that your website's shipping experience should be not just good but the best it can be.

Communication is key throughout the process, so once the order is shipped:

• You tell the customer! (lots of businesses don't do this)

• Provide tracking information

• Update customers on any delays that might happen

• Reassure customers if delays happen that, you are in control,l and they can relax

Third-Party Platforms

🚨 WooCommerce has its own solution, but it’s limited to the US and has limited support for mobile devices and printers (there are carrier limitations, too). 

✅ Your shipping can be easily managed and automated with a 3rd Party platform and then integrated into your store, whether WooCommerce or Shopify.

You should check out these providers:

• ShipStation

• Shippo

• Parcel2Go

• ShipTheory

• ShipMate

(There are other providers out there, but these are examples that I have experience with, my clients have used, or I have tested.)

💡 If your shipping is simple and you only use one courier, then that courier might have its own integration for WooCommerce (most major couriers do).

That’s it for this week 👋

⏩ The next few weeks for this newsletter will be slightly different due to the Holiday season.

• Next week - The final regular newsletter of the year.

• Wednesday 18th - A Special Edition

• Wednesday 25th - No newsletter (Christmas Day) 🎅 🎄

• Wednesday, January 1st - No newsletter (New Year’s Day) 🎊 🍾

• Wednesday, January 8th - regular newsletter service resumes.

Sponsorship Opportunities

🚨 The Google Doc contains all the details if you’re interested in sponsoring the Loop WP Newsletter.

🎉 Slots are sold out before Christmas, but I am now taking bookings for the New Year.

Weekly WordPress News, Tips & Black Friday Deals

This week's excellent and insightful WordPress News & Tips:

• Calling All - WordCamp Europe 2025 is Looking for Speakers and Sponsors. (WP Tavern)

• “Incredible Results” - Action Scheduler Warning: WooCommerce Black Friday Disaster Avoided. This would work for any traffic/transactional heavy stores. (Rocket.net)

• Feedback - Modernizing WooCommerce Emails: We Need Your Feedback! (WooCommerce)

• CSS Frameworks - Stop Overcomplicating CSS Frameworks - Build Your Own with Ease! (WP Tuts)

• “Power by:” - From Setback to Success: Publishing My First Figma Community Project (Devin Walker)

• “More in Core” - Next up is "Back in Stock Notifications", but which extension would you want to see in the core (WooCommerce) after that? (James Kemp)

• Checkin’ it Twice - The Last WordPress Security Checklist You’ll Ever Read. (patchstack)

• Tips & Advice - “Coding with AI For Noobs”, a conversation with Mark Szymanski. (The WP Minute)

• Bridging the Gap - Hybrid themes. (WordPress Developer Blog)

• “per Matt“ - DreamHost Removed from WordPress.org’s Recommended Hosting Page. (WP Tavern)

If you have a question about this email or WordPress, reply, and I will answer you as soon as possible.

👋 Until next time,