It’s live. And it’s alive and kicking.
#CustomizeWoo, my flagship Advanced WooCommerce Online Course for designers and DIY store owners, is now live.
In this post, I’m about to show you why I invested 151hrs 39mins 1secs of my time to build #CustomizeWoo and another 50+ hours to publish the updated version in June 2019, who I’m willing to help, and what the course looks like from the “inside”.
So, here’s the story. Here’s why #CustomizeWoo was born.
What our WooCommerce Knowledge Looks Like
I’m sure you agree with me; our WooCommerce knowledge is like a 10,000 pieces puzzle that you’re just about to start playing with.
As WooCommerce designers, we have a fair idea of what makes the difference between a “WooCommerce Designer” and a “WooCommerce Expert” – but putting all those different pieces together, sorting them, organizing them by color (topic) and then completing the puzzle is quite a complex operation.
So, what is it that actually makes the difference between a WooCommerce Fan and a WooCommerce Expert?
In my opinion:
- WooCommerce Experts know where to look. They have full control over the instructions manual (documentation), the WooCommerce files (they’ve opened and studied how PHP template files are coded) and are aware of all the available support options.
- WooCommerce Experts know if “this_functionality_my_client_asked_for” is possible in WooCommerce. Or – at least – they know how to research, ask for, request or compare different solutions.
- WooCommerce Experts are able to estimate their working time & costs quite reliably (once, I spent over 16 weekend hours on a task I quoted 1 hour for. Needless to say, I also had to hire someone else to complete the job).
- WooCommerce Experts know when it’s time to ask for support and where to find it. It’s impossible to know everything, but it’s absolutely possible to have full control.
#CustomizeWoo: Take Control of WooCommerce
So, I’ve been working with the WooCommerce plugin since 2011. A little secret: I started using it by pure chance!
My first web design client happened to be a new dropshipping online retailer and I had no idea whatsoever on how to build an ecommerce website.
4 years later, I was a published author, the top WooCommerce seller on Fiverr (I’ve left that now to concentrate on client work), served 700+ WooCommerce clients worldwide, managed a 15,000 visitors/month WooCommerce blog, organized local WooCommerce Meetups and grew my private email community to almost 9,000 WooCommerce fans.
I spend quite a lot of time on the WooCommerce Help&Share FaceBook Group to support people like “myself when I knew nothing about WooCommerce“, for free. I love WooCommerce and love WooPeople!
So, given my experience, and based on the questions and blog comments I get on a daily basis, I organized the course in 5 modules:
- WooCommerce Foundation: understand Project Management, know where to look.
- WooCommerce Reverse-Engineering: from child theme creation to WooCommerce actions & filters. Customize WooCommerce pages, and learn about Endpoints and Conditional Logic.
- WooCommerce Customization: no matter if you’ve done this before or not, coding is fun and you can learn a lot by looking at the various examples! Some of these lessons feature beginner and advanced exercises that will help you master WooCommerce customization.
- WooCommerce Integration & Enhancements: understand that WooCommerce can’t go live without knowing SEO, payment processors, performance and tracking.
- WooCommerce Troubleshooting: a WooCommerce expert knows how to find the error. No matter whether this is in the settings, it’s a plugin conflict or a major bug, troubleshooting needs to be a top priority.
How #CustomizeWoo Works: From Purchase to Learning… in 5 Minutes
I’ve – of course – used the Sensei LMS plugin from WooCommerce to build the online course. Otherwise I wouldn’t be preaching what I practice 🙂
On the course sales page, you will find all the information, lessons, modules, what you will get, FAQ and the “Enroll Now” buttons: https://businessbloomer.com/customizewoo-master-woocommerce-online-course
If you wish to preview some of the video lessons, you can do so by subscribing to the FREE version, available on the same sales page.
And here’s a quick video to show you how:
What #CustomizeWoo Lessons Look Like
Getting back to #CustomizeWoo, and once checkout via PayPal or Stripe is completed, students can immediately access the lessons.
Here’s what a lesson page looks like:
I’ve spent a lot of time creating and crafting each video lesson. Videos are usually 10 minutes on average. Each lesson page has:
- One video that you can watch and rewatch how many times you like (course purchase gives you lifetime access)
- Relevant Links, resources, downloads
- Easy navigation menu @ right sidebar to jump to other modules/lessons
- Comment/Support box @ bottom
I believe the Comment area is the most important feature of the course.
I hate online courses where no support is given, hence I give students the chance to contact me directly in relation to each lesson for questions, reviews, code snippets. Like a tutor.
This is the best way to hold students accountable.
#CustomizeWoo – What’s Next?
I want to make #CustomizeWoo the best possible learning platform for WooCommerce designers and the only way to achieve this is by getting feedback and adjust the direction.
Needless to say, I will continue to write blog content, publish snippets on a regular basis, write private newsletters to my Business Bloomer community and spend time helping people on Facebook and those who post comments on Business Bloomer.
If you missed my 18 WooCommerce snippets challenge for example, you will know I don’t only chase paid work and premium students. I want to help as many as possible. Well, here’s a quick recap of my challenge, feel free to use any of these snippets on any website you like:
- WooCommerce: Display Sales to Admin @ FrontEnd
- WooCommerce: Add Conversion Tracking Code to Thank You Page
- WooCommerce: Disable Free Shipping if Cart has Shipping Class
- WooCommerce: Add Shipping Fee for Non-Continental States
- WooCommerce: Disallow Shipping to PO BOX
- WooCommerce: Define a Minimum Order Amount
- WooCommerce: Edit “Add to Cart” Text by Product Category
- WooCommerce: Remove Product Tabs & Echo Long Description
- WooCommerce: Show Product Published Date
- WooCommerce: Show Unique Category @ Shop Page
- WooCommerce: Disable Link to Product @ Loop
- WooCommerce: Disable Payment Method for Specific Category
- WooCommerce: Add Billing First_name to Email Receipt
- WooCommerce: Disable Payment Gateway For Specific Shipping Method
- WooCommerce: Move Product Gallery Thumbnails
- WooCommerce: Exclude Category from Products Shortcode
- WooCommerce: Additional Acceptance Checkbox @ Checkout
- WooCommerce: Add Stock Quantity on Shop Page
…OK that took ages – next time I’ll just link you to https://businessbloomer.com/category/woocommerce-tips/ 🙂
As usual, blog comments are much appreciated so pick a snippet, try it out, and reach out if you need support.
For now, I leave you to your busy day.
And don’t forget – no matter how busy you are, #CustomizeWoo allows you to access the course for the rest of your life. No annoying recurring fees.
So, what’s holding you back to becoming a WooCommerce Expert?
What are your biggest WooCommerce issues?
Leave a comment below and let’s start the conversation 🙂
Excellent blog and very useful info on how to customize WooCommerce. thank you
Thanks!
Thanks, Rodolfo, This is a great work, comprehensive and well structured.
Thank you Bilal!
Hello Rodolfo!
As usual, your content is great and easy to read!
I am one of your students and love your course, but unfortunately still not finished it yet.
So far your course gave me a solid understanding of Woocommerce structure and how to troubleshoot things.
As you mentioned, the question “Can I do it without a plugin?” always comes up in my head, and I honestly want to complete the task without a plugin…
But then a rushing customer steps in and I use a plugin to finish the task. (And afterward, I feel guilty) :))
Looking forward to finish and mastering your course.
Thank you for the amazing insights about Woo!
Sincerely,
Excellent, thank you Marek!
Hey, Rodolfo! Such an awesome content!
I have to say, I am not an expert, barely a beginner coder, but following your posts and snippets I was able to understand and fix some problems with my woocommerce site.
You have that simple way to explain with examples that leads to understanding.
Thanks a lot for your time and efforts!
Kind regards!
Thank you!
Hey Rodolfo, I also got into Woo by chance. About 6 years ago I had an idea for a drop shipping eCommerce website, but no resources to allow for outsourcing. But I did have a lot of time. And a (very slow!) internet connection. My first Woo site had many, many variations and table rate shipping set up. Woo has been a passion of mine since!
I have been studying PHP at Treehouse as a prep for the new version of #CustomizeWoo. My understanding is that it’ll become available at the end of this month. I cannot wait to learn from one of the best 🙂 and take my Woo skills to the next level.
Probably what’s been holding me back to become a WooCommerce Expert was time, and struggling to choose what to learn. But once I read the announcement of #CustomizeWoo I made a concious descision to finally move forward on this. A lot of work that I do is white label, and the most requested of my skillset is Woo! So it just makes sense.
My biggest WooCommerce issue currently is that I am limited to plugins for adding functionality to the site. That results in a heavier site than needed. I feel that if I can custom-code solutions for my clients, I can offer lightweight solutions that just do what my client needs, and nothing more.
Looking forward to learning from you!
Sounds all great to me, thank you Noelle (and welcome to #CustomizeWoo indeed)!
Hi Rodolfo
Thank you so much for sharing! Today was the day I decided on the biggest investment I have ever done in my career as a beginner going on to intermediate level WooCommerce explorer/designer (actually in all of my 7 years of working with WordPress). I used the Black Friday code and purchased the #CustomizeWoo Pro course.
Regarding your story. Perhaps 5-6 years ago I meet the WooCommerce team. One of the founders is Norwegian like myself. I was also at the time in contact with them planning on going through the docs and give feedback etc. It just did not happen. Fast forward to March/April 2017. A nonprofit that I admire needed WordPress and specifically WooCommerce help. I volunteered to help out. They gradually gave me the requirements and the deeper into the rabbit hole I went. I have no idea how to do most of the things they have asked for. I am learning by a lot of research. I came across your site and it helped me a lot. Progress is going very slow as I am helping them in my spare time. They are impatient thinking that I am stalling. Maybe I am. As I am helping the nonprofit two other WooCommerce jobs have also come up. What one focus on one gets.. I am here. I signed up and am looking forward to learning and giving feedback. I am also looking forward to either dropping out of helping the nonprofit or even better actually being able to accomplish what they need to get done.
Paul, your story is very interesting and I’m delighted you’ve decided to take a step further. I hope #CustomizeWoo can help you fill those “gaps” you’re missing to become a complete WooCommerce developer. Hopefully you’ll realise it’s not rocket science and that, depending on the time you have available, customization and troubleshooting can be learned quit easily.
I’m excited for you, and hopefully the course can save you months and months of research by giving you the “full picture”. Make sure to use the lesson comment areas to interact with me!
Thank you again 🙂
Great content and most importantly there’s not a place who have this much resources on WooCommerce on a single place.
Thanks so much Kazi 🙂
Thanks for all.
🙂
Rodolfo! You are absolutely crushing it! This is all just amazing value.
I’m a provider of WordPress websites and your site is the first resource I turn to when clients ask if something can be “customized”. I’ve been building WordPress websites for more then 10 years and, after finding your site, realize just how much I have yet to learn! And i’m OK with that, life-long learning is my thing.
Thank you!! Keep it up!
Really appreciate this Jeffrey!
Rodolfo helped me get the ‘Big Picture’ of woocommerce! I’m always going back to check out the videos and pick up new information! Great resource! Thanks Rodolfo!
Monica
Thanks a million Monica!
You’re a great guy
Thank you Mehdi!!!!
Rodolfo,
thanks once again for providing an immense value to all of us with less than average WooCommerce knowledge. I cannot count the number of times I searched for a problem related to WooCommerce and found the answer on your Business Bloomer.
Thank you so much Miroslav!
Rodolfo, I just want to say that you’re doing an awesome job helping people with very little technical knowledge (like me) understand WooCommerce and design great sites! Can’t say thank you enough for all of the help and tremendous value you have provided!
Greg, thank you SO SO SO MUCH! Have a great day 🙂
You are the hero for most of woo users. Keep it up!
Thanks a lot rodolfo
Thomas, thank you so much!
I’ve said it before and I have to say it again. Rodolfo, your businessbloomer website is a treasure trove of information and helpful snippets. Thank you so much for your dedication and your selflessness in sharing your knowledge with us mere mortals. Thank you. Thank you!
Thank you so much for your lovely feedback 🙂 Go Woo!
The Business Bloomer blog is indeed the place to go for any WooCommerce beginner. This is the best website out on the web for WooCommerce help. I have checked around and this works best for me. saving up to do the course! Can’t wait 😀
Keep up the great work Rudolfo and take care, you are an inspiration!
Wow Conrad, thanks so much! Looking forward to helping you 🙂
Very useful resources – thanks Rodolfo 🙂
Much appreciated Steve! Keep enjoying contents while they last (just kidding!) 🙂
Thanks Rodolfo, i’m finding your blog really, really useful. Keep up the good work!
Thank you so much Noelle!
Hi Rodolfo
I have followed (and implemented) the lessons on your blog and you demystified Woocommerce for me.
You opened my eyes to how easy it can be to make amazing changes to Woocommerce and how simple it can be – If you know how or where to look.
Your course is absolutely amazing, and a must have – I would have no problem recommending it to anyone.
Wow Paul, I really appreciate your feedback 🙂 Keep up with the good Woo-work!