BigCommerce is an e-commerce platform that lets you build and manage an online store. While it provides powerful tools for selling products, it does not include a built-in community forum or discussion feature.
That's where Website Toolbox comes in. You can embed a fully featured discussion forum directly into your BigCommerce site, or simply link to your forum from your site's navigation. Either way, you get user accounts, moderation tools, and real-time conversations.
This works really well for:
- Product discussion communities
- Customer support forums
- Buyer Q&A and reviews
- Brand community building
- Feedback and feature request boards
- Private member groups
- Coaching and course discussions
- SaaS product communities
This step-by-step guide walks you through the process:
Step-by-Step: Add Your Forum
Option A: Embed the Forum
- Visit bigcommerce.com and log in to your account. If you don't have one, click Request a Demo to get started.
- From your BigCommerce admin, go to Storefront → Pages.
- Click Create a Page.
- Enter Forum as the page title.
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Get your Website Toolbox embed code:
- Log in to your Website Toolbox account or create a new forum if you don't already have one.
- Go to Integrate Embed → Embed your forum and copy the embed code.
- In the BigCommerce page editor, open Page Builder and drag the HTML widget onto your page.
- Paste your Website Toolbox embed code into the HTML widget.
- Click Save, then click Preview and Publish.
- Copy the URL of your published Forum page.
- Go back to Website Toolbox and paste the URL into the Where is the forum embedded? field in your Embed settings.
Option B: Link to the Forum
- Visit bigcommerce.com and log in to your account. If you don't have one, click Request a Demo to get started.
- From your BigCommerce admin, go to Storefront → Navigation.
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Get your Website Toolbox forum URL:
- Log in to your Website Toolbox account or create a new forum if you don't already have one.
- Copy your forum URL from the browser address bar.
- Edit your main navigation menu and add a new item called Forum with your forum URL as the link.
- Click Save to apply your changes.
- Visit your website. A Forum link will appear in the navigation, opening your forum in a new tab.
Single Sign On
Website Toolbox offers a custom SSO integration service starting at $199.
How to purchase custom SSO integration:
- Log in to your Website Toolbox account.
- Go to Integrate → Single Sign On.
- Under Your Website Builder, select Other from the dropdown.
- Follow the prompts to complete your purchase.
What Your Members Can Do
Once your forum is connected, your members get a full-featured community experience. Website Toolbox includes many more features beyond what's listed here. Visit the Features Tour to see everything that's available.
For Members
- Create and reply to discussion threads
- Like posts
- Upload images and files
- Receive email notifications
- Customize their profile
For Admins
- Moderate posts and comments
- Ban users
- Create categories and pin topics
- Customize the forum's appearance
- Manage member permissions
Frequently Asked Questions
Does BigCommerce have a built-in forum feature?
No, BigCommerce does not include a native forum feature. However, you can easily add one using Website Toolbox, either by embedding the forum directly into a page or by linking to it from your navigation.
Should I embed the forum or link to it?
Both work well. Embedding keeps visitors on your BigCommerce site and integrates the forum seamlessly into your page layout. Linking is simpler to set up and opens the forum in its own page, which can be a better experience on mobile devices. Choose whichever fits your workflow.
Can I customize the look of my embedded forum?
Yes. Website Toolbox provides a theme editor with a variety of themes you can choose from to match your BigCommerce site's design. You can customize colors, fonts, layout settings, and more to create a seamless look.
Can I make the forum private or members-only?
Absolutely. You can restrict forum access to logged-in users, create invite-only communities, or charge for access with subscription plans. Combined with the SSO integration, you can seamlessly connect your BigCommerce site's user system with the forum.
Will the forum work on mobile devices?
Yes. Website Toolbox forums are fully responsive and work great on phones, tablets, and desktops. If you embed the forum, the iframe adapts to the container size automatically. Website Toolbox also offers a mobile app so your members can participate from their phones.