Technology has taken the whole world by storm, and it has transformed every sector of the industry. The same applies to the case of auctions where there’s a shift from traditional in-person auctioning to e-auctioning. Wider audience reach, 24*7 availability, and greater convenience have resulted in people opting for online auctions compared to traditional ones.
In such a scenario, auction businesses need a digital presence on the web. That’s where the role of website development comes into the picture. You must build an auction website allowing users to bid and purchase the products they like. There are a couple of ways to build an auction website – (i) developing a custom solution and (ii) using a ready-made solution like any CMS.
In this blog, we’ll explore the second option and provide you with a step-by-step guide on how to build an auction website with WordPress. So, let’s get things moving now.
Steps to build an auction website with WordPress
Step 1: Setting up a domain name and a web hosting account
The first thing is to ensure you’re using the right website platform. There are two types of software as far as WordPress goes – WordPress.com and WordPress.org. While WordPress.com is a hosting platform, WordPress.org is a self-hosted website.
We recommend you opt for WordPress.org, which allows you to access all the major WordPress features. After that, you’ll require a domain name and web hosting account. However, you need to look for a web hosting provider with support for hosting e-commerce websites.
Generally, a domain name may cost you around $12-$15 per year, website hosting around $6-$8 per month, and an SSL certificate around $65-$70 per year. However, if you’re starting, you can opt for BlueHost as your web hosting provider.
It supports WordPress and WooCommerce-based websites and provides users with a free domain, free SSL, and a hefty discount on cloud hosting. You can run your website for around $3-$4 monthly. At the end of this step, you’ll have a WordPress website ready with WooCommerce installed for e-commerce business.
Step 2: Turn the e-commerce store into an auction website
By default, WooCommerce doesn’t allow you to add products for auction on your website. You must install and activate the YITH WooCommerce Auctions plugin for that purpose. It’s a WooCommerce plugin that may cost you around $86.
After activating the plugin, visit YITH Plugins » License Activation page to enter your license key.
Lastly, head to YITH Plugins » Auctions to configure its settings.
Step 3: Add an auction item
Add an auction item by visiting the Products » Add New page.
You should enter the auction item details like name, size, color, auction date, etc., and complete the title. Lastly, upload a high-resolution picture of the auction item.
After that, select the ‘Auction’ next to the Product Data option. You’ll see several options for the auction item.
You can set an auction starting price, bid up, minimum increment amount, reserve price, and buy-now price. You can also select the auction date and time.
Once you fill in these details, click on publish button, and you’ll see these products appearing on your WooCommmerce shop page.
Step 4: Manage your auctions
You can add auction items anytime, and they’ll be displayed on the e-commerce storefront straightaway. However, the auction will not begin before the auction time provided by you. It allows you to publish the products and promote them.
Once the auction begins, the registered users can place bids on them. The plugin will display the auction time and current highest bid next to a particular item.
You can also access the previous bid with encrypted usernames:
You can remove any bid that violates the rules or procedures of the auction. The end of the auction will depend on the auction settings you’ve configured. If the auction time ends, the current highest bid will get access to the product. If any user decides to offer the buy-now price, the auction may end there. It all depends on the type of auction you want.
All the users participating in the auction will get an email notification about new bids, auction grace time, auction end, etc. One final email will also get sent to the winner, informing them when they can start the payment process.
In a nutshell
Auction website development has become the need of today’s day and age. People are interested in placing bids and purchasing products from the comfort of their drawing rooms. That’s where an online auction website can help you.
WordPress is easier to use and understand for many non-technical people, so developing an auction website with it is convenient. Considering that aspect, this article provides a step-by-step guide on how to build an online auction website with WordPress. We hope it will help you set up your online auction website and do profitable business.