Getting to know the Woo Marketplace: A developer’s look

This article is the first part of a two-part series designed to guide you through the process of submitting your product to the Woo Marketplace. In this post, we’ll cover the basics—understanding the marketplace, preparing your product, and navigating the submission process. In Part 2, coming next week, we’ll take a deep dive into the tools and criteria used during the review process, including the Quality Insights Toolkit (QIT).

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What is the Woo Marketplace?

The Woo Marketplace is a curated platform where developers like you can list extensions, themes, and other products that enhance the functionality of WooCommerce stores. It’s a trusted destination for merchants looking for high-quality solutions to grow their businesses.

By listing your product on the marketplace, you gain:

• Exposure: Reach WooCommerce users worldwide.
• Credibility: Being part of the marketplace signals trust and quality.
• Revenue potential: Earn income through product sales while reaching a global audience.

The Woo Marketplace is a partnership between you and WooCommerce. While they provide the platform and visibility, you retain control over your product’s development, maintenance, and support.

Preparing your product for submission

Before you hit that “Submit” button, there are a few things you need to do to ensure your product is ready for the marketplace. Here’s a step-by-step guide:

1. Check the eligibility requirements

WooCommerce has a set of guidelines to ensure all products on the marketplace meet their standards. Some key requirements include:

• Your product must be compatible with the latest two versions of WordPress and WooCommerce.
• It should not violate the GPL license or include any spammy or malicious code.
• Your product must provide real value to WooCommerce users.

Checkout the Pre-submission checklist for more details on what to keep an eye on when building a product for the marketplace.

2. Follow development best practices

Quality matters. Here are some tips to ensure your product is up to par:

• Write clean, well-documented code.
• Prioritize security by validating and sanitizing data.
• Make sure your product is intuitive and easy to use.
• Ensure your product can pass our battery of Quality Insights Toolkit(QIT) tests.

3. Create thorough documentation

Merchants and developers love clear and detailed documentation. Be prepared to include:

• Setup and configuration instructions
• Use cases, comparisons, and video tutorials
• Developer documentation for seamless integrations

Find more information in this guide about how to write clear and useful information for your product.

4. Test your product

WooCommerce provides a powerful tool called the Quality Insights Toolkit(QIT) to help you test your extension. (We’ll dive deeper into QIT in Part 2 of this series!) Use it to catch any issues before submitting your product.

The submission process

Once your product is ready, it’s time to submit it! Here’s how the process works:

1. Create a WooCommerce.com Account: If you don’t already have one, sign up for a WooCommerce.com account.
2. Submit your product: Navigate to Submissions > Submit Product. Fill out the submission form, providing details about your product, its features, and any supporting documentation.
3. Wait for review: The WooCommerce team will review your product to ensure it meets their standards. This process typically takes up to 30 days.
4. Address feedback: If the review team finds any issues, they’ll provide feedback. Make the necessary changes for the submission team to review.
5. Get approved: Once your product is approved, it will be listed on the Woo Marketplace!

Tips for success

• Start small: Focus on creating a high-quality, niche product rather than something overly complex.
• Engage with the community: Join the Woo Community Slack to get involved with other developers and get feedback and support.
• Stay updated: Keep an eye on WooCommerce’s latest features and sign up for our developer newsletter to ensure you have all the information to keep your product compatible. 

What’s next?

Stay tuned for part 2 of this series, where we’ll explore the tools and criteria used to evaluate your product, including the Quality Insights Toolkit (QIT). You’ll learn more about QIT to catch issues early and ensure your product meets WooCommerce’s high standards. Have questions about the submission process? Drop them in the comments below, or join the Woo Community Slack and head over to the #marketplace channel.