Switching from Gumroad to WordPress: The Complete Guide for Creators
As a web developer who has built and managed WordPress sites for over 15 years, I‘ve seen firsthand how empowering it can be for creators to take control of their online business using WordPress.
So when Gumroad recently raised their fees to an unsustainable 10%, I knew many creators would be looking for alternatives.
While it takes some effort, migrating to an inexpensive, customizable WordPress ecommerce store is one of the best moves you can make.
In this comprehensive guide, I‘ll share my WordPress expertise to help you seamlessly switch from Gumroad to WordPress. You‘ll discover:
- Why WordPress beats Gumroad for creators
- Step-by-step instructions to migrate your store
- Tips to customize, promote, and manage your new site
Let‘s get started!
Why I Highly Recommend Switching to WordPress
Over 43% of all websites now run on WordPress, making it the world‘s most popular web platform.
I‘ve personally relied on WordPress to run my web design business for over 15 years. Managing WordPress sites for clients, I‘ve seen firsthand the benefits:
Low Cost
WordPress is 100% free open source software. You only pay hosting fees ($5-$15 per month typically) and payment processing fees (2-3% on transactions).
With Gumroad‘s recent fee hike to 10%, creators hand over a huge chunk of revenues. Just for the privilege of using someone else‘s platform!
Full Customization
WordPress offers unlimited design flexibility. You can customize everything about your storefront to match your brand, from colors and fonts to layout and homepage design.
No more rigid Gumroad templates restricting your branding.
Room to Grow
While Gumroad works fine for selling some digital downloads, it‘s limited. WordPress gives you room to grow your business over time.
You can add physical products, membership programs, courses, events, and more. The possibilities are endless!
Powerful Marketing and Analytics
WordPress grants access to thousands of free marketing apps to boost sales. From email newsletters to SEO optimization to affiliate programs and beyond.
You also get access to analytics tools like Google Analytics to gain insights into traffic and conversions.
Future-Proof Your Business
With your own WordPress site, you don‘t risk sudden changes from third-party platforms. You control the future of your online business.
You can tell I‘m passionate about WordPress! Below I‘ll guide you step-by-step through a smooth migration from Gumroad.
Step 1: Get WordPress Hosting and Domain
Since WordPress is a self-hosted platform, the first step is getting hosting and a custom domain name for your new online store.
Some top WordPress hosting providers I recommend checking out:
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Bluehost – One of the most popular starter hosts, owned by WordPress themselves. Plans start from $2.75/month.
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SiteGround – Fast performance and great support. Plans from $3.95/month. My preferred host for most small businesses.
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Kinsta – A premium managed WordPress host. Plans from $30/month. Great for busy creators who want a hands-off experience.
For most creators, I suggest SiteGround or Bluehost to start. SiteGround‘s startup plan is just $3.95/month for one site and includes a free domain name registration.
Once you’ve chosen a host, sign up for an account, register your domain, and install WordPress. The whole process takes only a few minutes. Your host will guide you through each step.
Tip: Choosing the right domain name is key for any online business. I suggest picking a .com name that matches your personal brand or store name. Check domain name availability to find good options.
Step 2: Install the WooCommerce Plugin
With your new WordPress site setup, it‘s time to add ecommerce functionality.
The easiest way is by installing the WooCommerce plugin. It transforms WordPress into a powerful online store builder completely free.
In your WordPress dashboard, go to Plugins » Add New. Search for ‘WooCommerce‘ and click Install Now. After installation finishes, click Activate.
WooCommerce brings everything you need to start selling. I‘ve used it on dozens of online stores with great success.
Step 3: Set Up Payments in WooCommerce
Before you can start accepting orders, you need to configure payments in WooCommerce.
Under WooCommerce » Settings » Payments, you can connect payment gateways like Stripe, PayPal, and others. They securely process credit card transactions on your store.
I recommend Stripe for creators building a global audience, as it supports payments in over 135 currencies.
Simply sign up for a Stripe account (free), then connect it to WooCommerce with your API credentials.
Stripe will handle everything from safely handling customer payment details to transferring funds to your bank account.
Step 4: Import Products From Gumroad
Now for the fun part – importing your products from Gumroad into your WordPress store.
While Gumroad doesn‘t offer product export tools, you can manually move products over:
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Recreate each product in WooCommerce using the same name, description, and images as your Gumroad listing.
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Upload your digital download file(s) or link to hosted files.
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Match the pricing and purchase options like your Gumroad product.
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Assign products to WooCommerce‘s built-in product categories to organize your store.
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Don‘t forget to hit Publish once each product is ready.
For stores with 50+ products, importing can take a couple hours. But it‘s a straightforward process.
The Import Products to WooCommerce plugin ($49) can also speed up imports from any platform.
Step 5: Move Memberships or Subscriptions
If you sell memberships or subscriptions on Gumroad, WooCommerce offers two excellent options:
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WooCommerce Subscriptions – This free extension lets you sell recurring subscriptions for physical/digital products.
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MemberPress – A paid plugin ideal for selling digital memberships with dripped content.
Both integrate smoothly with WooCommerce. I have tutorials showing how to setup membership sites with WordPress if you need a hand.
Step 6: Customize Your WordPress Theme
One of my favorite parts of WordPress is the ability to customize your store‘s design.
In your WordPress dashboard, go to Appearance » Themes to browse free and paid store themes. Find one matching your brand and install it.
You can tailor your theme design by changing:
- Colors
- Fonts
- Logos
- Menu layout
- Homepage design
- And more
Take the time to get your store‘s look just right. No more rigid Gumroad templates!
Pro Tip: Install a theme customizer plugin like Customify to enable easy design changes without coding.
Step 7: Configure Email and Marketing Tools
With your products and payments set up, just a few more store administrative tasks:
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Configure automated order emails using WooCommerce‘s customizable email settings.
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Install marketing plugins like Mailchimp for email newsletters, MonsterInsights for Google Analytics, and others. WordPress has thousands of amazing free tools.
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Set up an affiliate program with AffiliateWP to tap into affiliate marketing, one of the best sales channels.
With these essentials covered, you‘ll be ready to start driving traffic and sales to your new WordPress store!
Launch Your WordPress Store!
After following the steps above, you‘ll have successfully migrated from Gumroad to your own customizable, cost-effective WordPress ecommerce store.
Here are a few final tips for a smooth launch:
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Redirect your Gumroad URL to the new store so you don’t lose traffic.
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Announce the move on social media and email lists to spread the word.
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Run a launch sale/promotion to attract customers to the new store.
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Monitor analytics over the first few weeks to see how traffic and revenue respond.
Change is hard, but migrating to WordPress sets your business up for long-term flexibility and independence. The effort you put in upfront is well worth it.
I hope this guide helps make your transition from Gumroad to WordPress smooth and successful! Let me know if you have any other questions.
