Getting Started with Commerce Connect

Choose Your Path

Select the installation path that matches your situation:

Path A: Quick Setup (New Store)

Best for:

• Starting a new Commerce Connect store
• Testing Commerce Connect features
• No existing WooCommerce store to migrate

What you’ll do:

• Install plugin on existing WP Engine site
• Connect to BigCommerce
• Sync products
• Add product blocks to pages
• Test checkout

Jump to Quick Setup →

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Path B: Production Migration (WooCommerce)

Best for:

• Migrating existing WooCommerce store to Commerce Connect
• Production site requiring careful transition
• Need DNS cutover planning

What you’ll do:

• Create site copy on WP Engine (never work on production)
• Complete migration workflow
• Configure checkout domains with DNS
• Register webhooks
• Full testing before cutover

Jump to Production Migration →

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Quick Setup

Get a working storefront quickly. This path walks you through essential steps to display products and test checkout on an existing WP Engine site.

What You’ll Accomplish

• ✅ Commerce Connect plugin installed and activated
• ✅ BigCommerce store connected
• ✅ Products synced and displayed on your site
• ✅ Working checkout flow verified

Prerequisites

• WP Engine WordPress site (Full Site Editor theme required)
• BigCommerce account (free trial available during setup)
• Admin access to WordPress

Don’t Have BigCommerce Yet?

Commerce Connect guides you through creating a free BigCommerce trial account directly from WordPress. No separate signup needed.

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Step 1: Install Commerce Connect

1. Log into your WordPress admin
2. Navigate to Plugins → Add New Plugin
3. Search for “Commerce Connect”
4. Click Install Now, then Activate

Result: Commerce Connect menu appears in WordPress sidebar.

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Step 2: Connect to BigCommerce

1. In WordPress admin, click Commerce Connect → Connect
2. Click Continue to start the connection flow
3. New window opens with BigCommerce signup form:
   • Enter your business name
   • Enter your email and password
   • Click Create Store
4. Copy the authorization code displayed
5. Paste the code in the BigCommerce authorization window
6. Click Authorize

Result: You now have a BigCommerce store automatically connected to WordPress.

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Step 3: Sync Your Products

Option A: Add Products in BigCommerce (New Store)

If starting fresh:

1. Open BigCommerce admin (use credentials from Step 2)
2. Navigate to Products → Add
3. Fill in product details:
   • Product name
   • Price
   • Upload image
   • Description
4. Click Save
5. Return to WordPress admin
6. Navigate to Commerce Connect → Settings → Data
7. Click Sync Products Now

Result: Products from BigCommerce appear in WordPress.

Option B: Import from WooCommerce (Migrating)

If you’re moving from WooCommerce:

1. Log into BigCommerce admin
2. Navigate to Products → Import
3. Select WooCommerce as import source
4. Follow BigCommerce’s migration wizard
5. Return to WordPress admin
6. Navigate to Commerce Connect → Settings → Data
7. Click Sync Products Now

Result: All WooCommerce products copied to BigCommerce and synced to WordPress.

For detailed migration guidance: See WooCommerce Migration Guide

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Step 4: Add Products to a Page

Now display products on your WordPress site:

1. In WordPress admin, navigate to Pages → Add New Page
2. Page Title: “Shop” (or “Store”, “Products”, etc.)
3. Click the + button to add a block
4. Search for “Commerce Connect Products”
5. Insert the Commerce Connect Products Grid block
6. Configure block settings (right sidebar):
   • Columns (Desktop): 3
   • Products Per Page: 12
   • Show Image: ✓
   • Show Price: ✓
7. Click Publish

Result: Products display in a grid layout with images and prices.

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Step 5: Test Checkout

Verify the complete shopping experience:

1. Click View Page to see your shop page
2. Click Add to Cart on any product
3. Click Checkout or View Cart
4. You’re redirected to your checkout domain (e.g., checkout.yourdomain.com)
5. Verify BigCommerce checkout page loads correctly
6. Verify product appears in cart with:
   • Correct image
   • Correct title
   • Correct price

Don’t Complete Purchase

You don’t need to complete a test purchase. Confirming the checkout loads correctly is sufficient verification.

Result: If checkout loads and displays your product, Commerce Connect is working!

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Quick Setup: What’s Next?

Customize Your Store

Enhance your storefront with additional blocks:

• Products Filters - Let customers filter by category, price, attributes
• Products Search Box - Add search functionality
• Cart Icon - Display cart status in header

Explore all blocks: Block Catalog

Create Product Detail Pages

Build individual product pages:

1. Create a new page or template
2. Add single product blocks:
   • Product Title
   • Product Images
   • Product Description
   • Product Pricing
   • Buy Button

Learn more: Adding Your First Blocks

Configure Your Store

Fine-tune your Commerce Connect settings:

• Product sync settings - Control how products sync
• Checkout domain configuration - Set custom checkout subdomain
• Webhook registration - Enable automatic product sync

Track Performance

Monitor your store’s success:

• Set up Google Analytics 4
• Configure Google Tag Manager
• Enable conversion tracking

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Production Migration

Recommended Workflow

We recommend installing Commerce Connect on a non-production WP Engine site first. This allows you to configure, test, and verify everything before making it your live site.

Complete Migration Workflow

Follow this exact sequence for successful Commerce Connect migration:

Phase 1: Create Site Copy
Phase 2: Install & Connect Plugin
Phase 3: Add Products
Phase 4: Configure Checkout
Phase 5: Setup Webhooks & Theme
Phase 6: Test & Verify

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Phase 1: Create Site Copy

Step 1: Create Backup of Production Site

1. Log into WP Engine User Portal
2. Locate your production site
3. Navigate to Backups
4. Click Create Backup
   • Backup Name: “Commerce Connect Migration”
   • Email: Enter notification email
5. Click Create Backup
6. Wait for email confirming backup completion

Step 2: Copy Environment from Backup

1. In WP Engine User Portal, click Sites → Add Site
2. Select Copy or Move an Environment
3. Click Get Started
4. Select I will own it
5. Choose your production site as source
6. Select the backup you just created
7. New Site Name: Enter name for new environment (e.g., “mystore-new”)
8. Click Add Site
9. Wait for email confirming environment is ready

Result: You now have an exact copy of your production site where all Commerce Connect work will be performed.

Step 3: Configure Domain for New Site

Why needed: Commerce Connect requires a domain to enable checkout functionality.

1. In WP Engine User Portal, open your new site
2. Navigate to Domains
3. Add Domain:
   • Domain: new.yourdomain.com (or similar subdomain)
   • ☑ Enable Full Page Caching
4. Click Add and Setup Domain

Step 4: Update DNS Records

Option A: Automatic (Cloudflare users)

1. Click Entry Connect button
2. Authorize with Cloudflare
3. DNS updates automatically
4. Wait for status to change to “DNS Pointed”

Option B: Manual

1. Follow DNS instructions provided by WP Engine
2. Create required CNAME or A record in your DNS provider
3. Wait for DNS propagation
4. Verify status shows “DNS Pointed”

Verify: Visit new.yourdomain.com - you should see your site.

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Phase 2: Install and Connect Plugin

Step 5: Update WordPress Settings

1. Log into WordPress admin on your NEW site (new.yourdomain.com/wp-admin)
2. Navigate to Settings → General
3. Update both URLs to your new domain:
   • WordPress Address (URL): https://new.yourdomain.com
   • Site Address (URL): https://new.yourdomain.com
4. Click Save Changes

Step 6: Install Commerce Connect Plugin

1. Navigate to Plugins → Add New Plugin
2. Click Upload Plugin
3. Choose the Commerce Connect ZIP file provided by WP Engine
4. Click Install Now
5. Click Activate

Result: Commerce Connect appears in your WordPress admin sidebar.

Step 7: Create BigCommerce Trial Account

1. Navigate to Commerce Connect → Connect
2. Click Continue
3. New window opens - fill out BigCommerce signup:
   • First Name, Last Name, Email
   • Store Name (matches your business)
   • Password
4. Click Create Store
5. Copy the authorization code displayed
6. In BigCommerce window, paste the code
7. Click Authorize

Result: Commerce Connect Connect tab now shows:

• Store Name
• Connected status

You can now log into BigCommerce admin with the credentials you created.

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Phase 3: Add Products

Option A: Migrate from WooCommerce

If you have an existing WooCommerce store:

Follow the complete WooCommerce to BigCommerce migration guide → for data migration, product sync, and theme transition.

Option B: Start Fresh (No Existing Store)

If starting a new store:

1. Log into your BigCommerce admin
2. Navigate to Products → Add
3. Create your first products manually
4. Return to WordPress and click Commerce Connect → Settings → Data → Sync Products
5. Verify products appear in Commerce Connect → Products

Once products are synced to Commerce Connect, continue to Phase 4 below.

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Phase 4: Configure Checkout

Step 12: Set Custom Checkout Domain

Default: checkout.new.yourdomain.com
Recommended: Custom subdomain like secure.new.yourdomain.com

1. Navigate to Commerce Connect → Settings
2. Note current checkout domain
3. Click Manage Domains (opens BigCommerce)
4. In BigCommerce:
   • Disconnect current checkout domain
   • Click Connect Custom Domain
   • Enter: secure.new.yourdomain.com
   • Click Next
   • Select Add SSL Later
5. Complete setup

Step 13: Configure DNS for Checkout Domain

1. Log into your DNS provider (e.g., Cloudflare)
2. Add CNAME record:
   • Type: CNAME
   • Name: secure.new (subdomain only)
   • Value: BigCommerce URL provided (e.g., [hash].mybigcommerce.com)
   • Proxy: DNS Only (not proxied)
3. Save record

Wait for propagation:

• Use dnschecker.org to verify
• Search: secure.new.yourdomain.com
• Type: CNAME

Verify in plugin:

• Return to Commerce Connect → Settings
• Refresh page
• Checkout domain should show custom domain
• Status should be “Connected”

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Phase 5: Setup Webhooks and Theme

Step 14: Register Webhooks

Purpose: Sync BigCommerce changes automatically to WordPress

1. Navigate to Commerce Connect → Settings → Webhooks
2. Click Register Webhooks
3. Wait for confirmation: “Webhooks successfully registered”

Result: Product updates, inventory changes, and price changes in BigCommerce now automatically sync to WordPress.

Step 15: Activate Full Site Editor Theme

Requirement: Commerce Connect requires a Full Site Editor (block) theme.

1. Navigate to Appearance → Themes
2. Activate a Full Site Editor theme
   • Recommended: Frost, or any modern block theme
   • Not compatible: Classic WordPress themes
3. Preview site to confirm theme active

Optional: Update site title in Settings → General to distinguish from production (e.g., add “NEW” prefix).

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Phase 6: Test and Verify

Step 16: Create Store Page and Test Checkout

Create store page:

1. Navigate to Pages → Add New Page
2. Title: Store
3. Add block: Search for “Commerce Connect Products”
4. Insert Commerce Connect Products Block
5. Click Publish

Test complete shopping flow:

1. Visit store page: new.yourdomain.com/store
2. Verify: Products display correctly
3. Click Add to Cart on a product
4. Click Checkout
5. Verify redirect: Should go to secure.new.yourdomain.com
6. Verify: BigCommerce checkout loads correctly

Critical checks before going live:

• ✅ Products display with images, prices, descriptions
• ✅ Add to Cart works
• ✅ Checkout redirect functions
• ✅ Custom checkout domain loads
• ✅ Checkout form displays

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Production Migration: Next Steps

After completing installation:

1. Test thoroughly → - Verify all functionality
2. Add product blocks → - Create store pages
3. Configure analytics → - Set up tracking
4. Plan DNS cutover - Schedule go-live

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Prerequisites

Before starting, ensure you have:

• WordPress 6.5+ (supports WordPress 7.0)
• PHP 8.2+
• WP Engine hosting
• Full Site Editor theme (block-based theme)
• WooCommerce site to migrate from (if applicable)
• Domain access to update DNS records

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Troubleshooting

Products Not Showing in Grid

Solution: Trigger product sync at Commerce Connect → Settings → Data → Sync Products Now. Wait for sync to complete, then reload page.

Images Missing

Solution:

1. Check Commerce Connect → Products - do images show there?
2. If yes: Clear WordPress cache
3. If no: Go to Commerce Connect → Settings → Data and click Sync Products

Checkout Doesn’t Load

Solution: DNS not configured for checkout domain.

1. Verify DNS at dnschecker.org
2. Search for your checkout domain (e.g., secure.yourdomain.com)
3. Type: CNAME
4. If DNS not propagated, check DNS provider settings

Plugin Won’t Activate

Check: PHP and WordPress version requirements met

Solution: Upgrade PHP to 8.2+ or WordPress to 6.5+ in WP Engine User Portal

Can’t Create Site Copy (WP Engine)

Check: WP Engine subscription allows additional environments

Solution: Contact WP Engine support to add environment capacity

DNS Not Propagating

Check: Correct record type (CNAME, not A record)

Solution: Use dnschecker.org to monitor, can take up to 48 hours (usually resolves within minutes)

Checkout Domain Won’t Connect

Check: DNS record set to “DNS Only” not “Proxied” (Cloudflare)

Solution: Change proxy status to DNS only, wait for propagation

Migration Fails

Check: BigCommerce store created successfully

Solution: Review error messages in migration tool, contact support with specific errors

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Support

If you encounter issues:

1. Check Commerce Connect → Settings → Status for errors
2. Verify DNS propagation at dnschecker.org
3. Confirm webhooks registered: Commerce Connect → Settings → Webhooks
4. Test in incognito/private browsing (rules out caching)
5. Contact WP Engine support with error details

More help: Common Issues

Have questions? Visit our support center →