wordpress google checkout
Posted on December 2, 2008
Filed Under code, mechanic |
How to integrate Google Checkout with WordPress? A simple enough question!
I decided to test the two obvious routes for flexibility, time, and complexity. Route 1 - using the Instinct eCommerce WordPress Plugin, Route 2 - a custom application of the checkout code to a raw WordPress install.
My hunch is that the Google Checkout code is now advanced enough that it should compete pretty well with the Instinct plugin for smaller shops - and should give better flexibility.
In this first post I’ll discuss step by step how I get from no website to an operational WordPress shopping cart with Google Checkout fulfillment in place.Â
11:40am - Install WordPress
Here I cheat slightly and use my hosts 1Click WordPress installer to do this for me in the background. I pick a test URL and set it off. Should take 5 minutes. Time to make a coffee.
11:45 - Download eCommerce plugin
The plugin is available here - I used version 3.6.8 rc1 which was the recommended release today. As with any decent plugin, you just upload and activate the plugin. For such a complex plugin this is commendable, as many would have resorted to a small config file to avoid a lot of work on the interface. I know I probably would! Lazy WPGuy.
11:52 - WP Installed
Finally WP is installed on the server. I complete the setup (title, admin etc…), download a backup, and upload the plugin. The snow must be slowing my broadband… gives me something to watch as I wait though!
12:10 - Activate & Basic setup of plugin
Activating the plugin is a snap - I now need to setup the basics of my checkout account, email addresses etc… All setup is on a new top level tab labelled ‘eCommerce’ - so no hunting around under Settings and Plugins for the admin pages. I’m going for the default in most cases.Â
12:15 - Add some example products
I make up a couple of categories, and some example products and add them using the admin forms. This takes no time, and the front end site allows me to add them to the basket, and then check basket contents.
12:18 - Setup google checkout
Create google checkout account. Simple 2 minute process at Google. You will need a credit card in order to prove you are real entity. You will now have an ID and a key for Google Checkout Merchant.
12:20 - Set up in WordPress
Now add these to the plugin. Simply copy and paste into place, and return to Google to set the callback URL. This has to be an https address - which may be an issue on your host. Or may not. I also selected ’sandbox’ to allow us to put through test transactions.
12:27 - Test
Add to backet, view basket (or ‘verify your order’ as it says - need to change that!) and click on the Google Checkout button. Sure enough - I’m at Google Checkout, it lists my basket contents perfectly, handles the shipping options and recognises my usual Google Checkout payment options. Bingo!
Results
Now, I haven’t worked on the theme, or added all the products I need to yet - but that was a definition of painless. Despite waiting for my FTP client for at least 10 - 15 minutes during the install we have a working eCommerce website based on WordPress up and running and taking sandbox transactions within 50 minutes.Â
Another hour to create more products and apply a more appropriate theme and I think you could have a passable web shop.
Next… the direct approach.
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4 Responses to “wordpress google checkout”
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I wish it were that easy! We have a Wordpress theme that supposedly came with everything ready to use Google Checkout or Paypal. Got a Google Merchant account, entered the info — all we get is an “oops! null” when we test the page. Very frustrating!
thanks a lot… I’m going to give this a shot.
I take it you’ve heard that Google Checkout have increased their fees to be the same as Paypal. Bit of a downer