How to Set Up a Weebly Ecommerce Store in 10 Steps
Elizabeth Kraus has more than a decade of first-hand experience building and growing a boutique digital marketing agency and double that in small and mid-size business marketing management. She provides expert answers to marketing questions related to branding, content marketing, web development, email, social media, and SEO.
Making a Weebly ecommerce store to sell online is simple. Weebly is specifically designed to make selling online easy and affordable—the online selling tools of Square Online are included in all plans, starting with the Free version. It only takes a few steps to set up a Weebly store, from creating a free account and designing your template to adding and optimizing products and launching your Weebly ecommerce site.
Follow our step-by-step guide showing how to make a store on Weebly:
1. Create a Weebly Account
To get started, go to Weebly and click “Create Your Website” (the blue button at the middle of the landing page). You’ll only need to enter your name and email address, create a password, and set your location. Then agree to all the terms and conditions, and choose “Continue” to head to the onboarding.
Keep in mind that when setting up your Weebly ecommerce site, you’ll actually choose the Square Online editor. This is because Weebly is owned by Square, so online stores built with Weebly have access to all of Square’s payment processing tools and point-of-sale features for ecommerce sites.
2. Select the Square Editor for Weebly Ecommerce Sites
A sample Weebly template from the classic editor
From here, choose the type of website you want to create. Creating a business website will direct you to the Square editor, while creating a personal site will direct you to the classic Weebly editor.
Create a business website if…
- You’re planning to sell products or services online
- You need to have a booking and appointment system
- You need to create a website that has your business’ branding
Create a personal website if…
- You want a portfolio
- You’re creating a blog
- You don’t need to accept payments
Though the classic editor has very outdated templates, the Weebly website builder does have a drag-and-drop editor that allows you to create a more customized website. On the other hand, the Square editor doesn’t give you access to a template library. Instead, it sets up your template based on your answers to onboarding questions and provides a section-based editor for easier, and quicker, website building.
If you’re curious about how the classic editor works, you can always start with it to test it out for yourself (and then switch to the Square editor afterward). Unfortunately, the opposite doesn’t work; to use the classic editor after creating a Square website, you’ll need to create a brand-new account.
3. Answer Questions to Create Your Online Store’s Template
Answer the onboarding questions about your store
To build a Weebly online store, click to create a business website to head to the Square editor. This will direct you to the second set of onboarding questions. Answering questions like how many employees you have and what products you sell will help Weebly determine what kind of website you’re trying to build.
4. Build Your Weebly Ecommerce Store
Follow this checklist to set up your Weebly store
Now that your Weebly store’s template has been created, you’ll see a dashboard with a checklist of what you need to do to set it up. The first step is to design your Weebly ecommerce store; to do this, click on “Edit site” at the top right corner of your screen.
On the next screen (the editing screen), the first thing you’ll see is a way to upload your logo. You can skip this step for now if you don’t have a logo ready to go. If you still need a logo, you can hire a designer on Fiverr to create one for you for as low as $5. Alternatively, there are paid and free sites for logo design you can use to create your own.
Then, the next few steps in designing your website layout involve picking a style (e.g., colors, fonts, and button shapes). These take effect across your whole site. Remember that the color affects your site’s buttons and footer (the bottom banner). You also have the option to pick a button style for your website. Press “Done” to head to the next step.
5. Get or Connect Your Domain Name
Connect a custom domain to your Weebly store (requires a plan upgrade)
Everything up until this point has been 100% free—and it still can be, but you’ll have to compromise on your website’s domain name and URL, and your site will display Weebly and Square branding. We don’t recommend this as a credible option for business use, but if you need a free way to build an online store, the free Weebly ecommerce plan is an option.
If you don’t already have a custom domain name, you can find and register a domain at this point. If you’d prefer to purchase a domain separately from your hosting and site builder plan from a top domain registrar like Google Domains or Domain.com, or you’ve already secured a domain, enter it in the second field.
Click the third option to continue setting up a free account. The caveat is that your URL will be a subdomain, and you will have Square branding displayed on your site—not a very professional look for a small business.
To register a domain through Weebly or to connect a domain, upgrade to one of Weebly’s paid plans starting at $12 per month. Weebly does have a Personal plan that lets you connect an already existing domain you own for only $6 per month, but it still has Square branding and is thus not appropriate for a professional website.
Did you know? .com domains are the most common but not the only option available for your Weebly online store. Find out more about how to choose a domain name, including options like .store that might be better for your online store.
6. Customize Your Template
Now you’ll have essentially a blank slate to customize and make uniquely yours. Changing images and text on each page is easy. You have two menus: one at the left of your screen, and the main editor. The menu to the left is how you navigate around your website—simply click on the drop-down up top to head to your pages.
Use the menu to the left to navigate your website
Once you’re on the page you want to edit, simply click on the element on the editor and add your content. You also have the option to change elements from the left menu.
For example, to change an image on your home page, just click on where it is on the editor. The left-side menu will allow you to upload your own images, or you can get free images for website use from sites like VistaCreate and Pixabay.
Click on the main editor to edit your content
Learn how to customize each element of your template:
Add Pages
Add a page template to your website
There are two ways to add a page when you make a store on Weebly. One is to click on the drop-down menu at the top left, and then click “+ Add page.” There are a few standard options to choose from, including “About,” “Contact us,” and “Gallery.” It’s a bit quicker to click the button to the right of the drop-down menu that looks like “+.” Choose “Page,” and you’ll get to the same menu.
If you don’t have one already, include a shop page on your Weebly ecommerce website. This will be the storefront of your online store.
Remove Pages
Deleting a page is just as easy as adding one to a Weebly online store and website. Hover over the page you want to remove on the page menu, and then click on the trash icon just to the right of the page’s name.
Customize Header & Footer
Your header and footer reflect across your website
Click on the header in the editor (the section at the very top of the page) to bring up the options on the left menu. You can choose a darker or lighter color that fits your palette, or stick to the default. The layout of your header is also customizable. You can shift your logo to the center, split your menus to either side of the logo, or center your navigation below your logo.
Similarly, you can click on the footer (the section at the very bottom of the page) to change any element there. Click on a button to the left to turn something on or off, including a social media menu, email subscription field, and your logo. Both the header and footer will show across your entire website and are essential for overall branding and usability.
Important things to place on your header are your logo, company name, phone number or a link to your contact page, and the site’s navigation menu. On your footer, place your contact information, store location (if you have a physical store as well), hours of operation (or when customer support is available), social media widgets, and other pertinent information like copyright notices and email sign-up forms.
Edit Navigation
Edit SEO Settings on Each Page
Fix your SEO settings for each page
Square provides built-in SEO settings—separate from your product’s SEO settings—that you can edit to help your Weebly ecommerce store rank higher on Google. To access a page’s SEO, go to the page menu, hover over the page in question, click the “…” icon beside the page, and then on “View page settings.”
Open the SEO tab in the pop-up to see the SEO page title and description box. Fill these out—these are what potential customers will see on search results, and Google uses the information to index your site. This helps Google determine whether to include a page in search results when a relevant query is entered in an online search.
To optimize your pages even further, use relevant keywords so that the right people can find your content. Find them through free or paid keyword search tools, and insert them organically into your content and SEO fields.
7. Add Products & Set Up Your Store
The next step in how to make a store on Weebly is to add your products. For this, you’ll need quality images of your products, descriptions, pricing, and information required to calculate shipping rates.
How to Add Products to a Weebly Store
Add a product to your site
To add products to your Weebly ecommerce website, click on the page drop-down menu and then on “+ Add item.” Start filling in the details, including the name of a product, description, price, and one or more product photos. Below this section, you’ll choose fulfillment options, such as shipping, pickup, or local delivery.
Click on “More options” in the upper right corner of the pop-up to see fields like “Sale Price.” Include the shipping weight too, as well as the inventory or item number (SKU) and any variations.
Finally, scroll down to the bottom to edit each product’s SEO fields. Create a permalink for each item, add a unique title that potential customers will see in search results, and enter a description of your item that includes relevant keywords. Note that you can also opt to use item reviews, gift cards, and marketing features that require upgrading your plan, but you can do this when you’re ready.
Set Up Shipping
Leave the editor to see the dashboard
Next, get your shipping rates ready for customers. Click on the “Exit editor” button on the upper left corner of your editor to head to the Weebly online store’s dashboard. The dashboard is where you can see all of your products and any necessary information about fulfillment and taxes.
Click to see your shipping information
Under “Fulfillment” are the different options your customers can choose. Click on “Shipping” to see your store’s shipping information, then add a “ship from” address, which is the physical address of your store or warehouse. Then, set up carrier accounts with UPS, USPS, FedEx, or DHL to purchase shipping labels directly through Square (you don’t need to use all the carriers).
Under “Add shipping rate,” you can add a flat rate per item or order. You can also create a rule for free shipping, if you’d like, such as free shipping for orders over $50.
To get real-rate shipping prices based on ZIP codes, you’ll have to upgrade from the Free plan. Square also offers a pickup and delivery option via Square couriers—simply set it up in the “Pickup & Delivery” tab, which is right above “Shipping” in your main dashboard.
Set Up Taxes
Don’t forget to set up your item’s taxes
After shipping, head back to your dashboard to fix the taxes. Under “Items” (on the left), click on “Site Items” and select the item you want. Then, click “Edit” on the upper right of the screen and then on “Charge sales tax.” Depending on the fulfillment of the item and the shipping location, Square will automatically calculate and add the taxes you’ll need to charge based on your location.
Set Up Online Payments
Accept online payments
Before your Weebly ecommerce website is up and running, make sure you’re set up to accept online payments. Click on “Settings” on the left menu of the dashboard (at the very bottom), and then on “Checkout.”
Verify your identity by signing into your Square account, and then choose the other ways you’d like to accept payment, like Apple Pay and Google Pay. PayPal is another option, but it won’t be available until you upgrade to a paid plan.
8. Expand Functionality With Weebly Store Apps
Browse the app marketplace to integrate free or paid third-party apps
As is, your website and online store are ready to start accepting orders now, but you can make it even better with apps. In the Square App Marketplace, you’ll find applications (i.e., plugins) that you add to make your site and store more functional. Some of these include top email marketing software integrations as well as other marketing apps, advanced inventory, and label printing tools.
Connecting an app to your online store will require you to create an account with each app you want, and then follow the instructions to log into both your store and the app account. You’ll need to allow permissions for the integration to work, and you’ll be able to manage your apps from the dashboard.
Here are a few of the most popular (and most useful) apps for Weebly ecommerce stores:
- Mailchimp: This popular email marketing platform makes it easy for you to send out customer newsletters, automate welcome messages, and send out special offers. You can also create landing pages to sell a specific product, service, or membership. It allows you to add your Weebly store’s products to the landing page so that visitors can purchase directly from that page.
- SKU IQ: Selling from various points of sale (POS) can be a pain, but SKU IQ consolidates all your data across channels. This makes omnichannel selling much easier and prevents the risk of entering wrong or duplicate data.
- CommentSold: Sell live and reach your customers where they are online: social media. Buyers can simply comment “Sold” on a post, and the item will get added to their cart for processing via Square Payments.
- Pointy: This Google-owned app can be used for free. It ensures your products can appear in Google search results and your Google Business Profile. It’s a great way to boost your Weebly ecommerce store’s search engine optimization (SEO).
- Ecwid: Planning to sell on Facebook and Instagram? This Weebly ecommerce app is a must—it allows you to sell from Facebook, Instagram, Amazon, in-person, and more, simultaneously, and from any device.
There are tons of apps to choose from. Chances are, there are some apps from providers you’re already using, as well as apps that you will likely want to use to help sell more effectively through your Weebly online store.
9. Choose a Plan
When you’re ready to launch your store, select one of Weebly’s premium plans by clicking “Upgrade” on the top right corner of your dashboard. There are five Weebly ecommerce pricing plans, and all are relatively affordable compared to competitors.
If you pay annually, the highest-priced plan tops out at $72 per month. The higher up you go with a pricing plan, the more functionality you get. All plans, except the most expensive, are subject to Square’s ecommerce transaction fee, which is 2.9% plus 30 cents per order. The $72 per month plan charges 2.6% plus 30 cents per order.
For businesses just testing the waters, the Free plan may suffice to get you started. However, to give your brand credibility with an online store on a custom domain, remove Square’s third-party ads, and get a free domain name and unlimited storage, start with the Professional plan for $12 per month.
To learn more about the available plans, click the tabs below.
Free
A free Weebly ecommerce store has everything you need to start selling online. Your site will be secure with an SSL certificate, so customers can shop knowing their information is safe. You get a shopping cart, unlimited items, basic inventory management, and a few marketing features.
However, your site will be on a subdomain with Square branding. You will also only have access to chat and email support. If you want to use the Free version to set your site up, make sure you plan to upgrade to the Professional plan, at least when launching your site. This will give your website more credibility with shoppers and help you build your brand’s presence online.
Personal
For $6 per month (if paid annually), you can connect your own domain. This is the plan you’ll need to upgrade to if you want to sell digital products. Plus, you’ll get a shipping calculator and pop-up notifications to help drive sales. Although you’ll be able to use your own domain, you’ll still have Square branding at this level—and you’ll have to purchase a domain as you don’t get one for free.
Professional (Minimum Plan Recommended)
For a more professional brand identity, upgrade to the $12 per month plan. This plan gives you a free unique domain and removes Square branding. You’ll get all the other features from the Personal and Free plans, and you’ll now have access to phone support from Square.
Performance
At $26 per month, this plan builds on the other plans with more SEO, in-depth analytics, and additional marketing tools to help you grow your business. You’ll now be able to accept PayPal payments too. Upgrading to this plan lets you show off item reviews from customers, and send abandoned cart emails. Priority support is also available at this level.
Premium
To see a more in-depth look at each of the plans, read our full Weebly review.
10. Launch Your Weebly Store
At this point, you should have a great-looking website thanks to the easy-to-use website builder. You’ve learned how to make a store on Weebly, set up payment processing with Square, added your products, and chosen the apps you need most, and now it’s time to launch your online store and start selling on Weebly.
Set Your Weebly Ecommerce Store Up for Success
Just because your Weebly ecommerce store is online doesn’t ensure that customers will come. Now it’s time to market your business to drive traffic to your website. There are several website marketing tactics you can use to help grow your business, including SEO, social media marketing, contests, and selling on multiple channels.
- Blog for SEO: Blogging is a great way to regularly provide content for your audience, incorporate keywords into your website, and link back from informational articles to products. Regularly adding quality content for your audience will help build your website’s authority for search engines. It provides more ways your site can be found in online search, and the internal links help to boost the authority of your product pages.
- Social media: Every business should find the best social media marketing platforms to use based on their target audience. You can also create targeted social media ads to ensure your products and services get in front of your target audience.
- Multichannel selling: Square integrates with Google, Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok for social selling and with others (including Amazon and Etsy) through Square apps.
- Contests: You can use contests and giveaways to attract more visitors and build your email list for marketing campaigns. Create a contest that challenges customers to share a photo of your products. Or build your social media presence with a “like and share” contest. Use relevant hashtags and boost your campaign with paid ads to ensure your contest reaches people in your target audience.
3 Examples of Stores Using Weebly for Ecommerce
Weebly (and thus Square Online) is one of the best ecommerce platforms available for small businesses. Not only is it more affordable for online sellers than most of its competitors, but it’s easy to use, and you can make a store on Weebly in just a few hours. It also has features that will help your business grow and scale.
Here are some examples of stores built on Weebly/Square:
1. Beauty Marked Vintage
A large banner and a button straight on the landing page easily directs your audience to your shop
A retail store based in Chicago, Beauty Marked Vintage sells online domestically and internationally. They have a simple homepage with a huge banner image and a button directing you to the store. The store is categorized, making it easy to shop around. Don’t forget to add categories to your products as well to make it easy to sort and manage your shop.
2. The DashBar
Multiple banners make it easy to book the services you want
The DashBar is a beauty salon and spa located in Miami. It offers many beauty services you can access directly from the main page. Clicking on one leads you to the appointment booking system integrated within the website. For additional information and to enhance the customer experience, they also incorporated a chatbot on their site. You can easily do this with an app from the marketplace.
3. The Funny Farm
Make ordering online quick and easy
The Funny Farm is a restaurant based in California. They make it easy for customers to order online with a custom menu. When you click to order online, a pop-up asks whether you want the food to be delivered or if it’s for pick-up. Like The Funny Farm, you can integrate Square for Restaurants, or the popular free GloriaFood restaurant app. Find out more about why Weebly is our top pick for best restaurant website builder.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is Weebly ecommerce free?
Yes. Unlike most other site builders, Weebly ecommerce is completely free. However, for your brand to look professional (i.e., a site hosted on a custom domain with no third-party ads), you’ll need to purchase at least the Professional plan ($12 per month). As a bonus, this plan also gives you more advanced analytics, unlimited storage and bandwidth, and marketing tools to help your online retail business grow.
Which is better: Shopify or Square?
Shopify and Square both offer an online and in-person point-of-sale (POS) solutions. Square’s POS and online store are free to use (albeit on a subdomain with ads), but Shopify plans start at $29 monthly. Transaction fees differ between the two, as do many of the features. Square is better for those just starting and small operations, while Shopify is the best choice for large, serious ecommerce operations. Decide for yourself in our write-up of Shopify vs Square.
How much does it cost to sell on Weebly?
Using Weebly for ecommerce is free, but you still have to pay transaction fees for each product you sell. On every plan, it’s 2.9% plus 30 cents per order except for the highest-tier Premium plan, which charges 2.6% plus 30 cents per order.
Bottom Line
A Weebly ecommerce website and store includes all the benefits of Square Online, including payment processing and apps. You can create an online store and start selling products and services within hours. Build your store on Weebly with the free plan, then upgrade to a paid plan when you’re ready to launch.
You Might Also Like…
- Not sure Weebly is the best option for your online store? Check out some of the best Weebly alternatives instead.
- Check out our quick guide on how to create a business website.
- Whether building a site from scratch or wanting to get more out of your existing website, download our free website basics checklist to make sure your site is set up for success.
