Tables of Contents
Intro
eCommerce has become a prevalent form of business in the past decade. With the constant increase in technology and development of online platforms, many businesses have branched to the internet to establish their brands. eCommerce businesses are not only popular to buy from, but also to create. Many eCommerce platforms such as Shopify and BigCommerce, for a fee, allow you to have your very own eCommerce site to run your business. Despite how relatively easy it is to launch your own eCommerce business, there are many mistakes that newcomers make.
This blog will list 6 common mistakes that newcomers make when launching their eCommerce business
Choosing The Wrong Platform
Another common mistake people make when launching an eCommerce business is choosing the wrong platform. Depending on the product you wish to sell or the industry you are a part of, the right platform will make all the difference.
Additionally, platforms can be more complex than they appear to be. Certain eCommerce platforms require you to have specific plug-ins in order to function effectively. In some cases, you may need extensive technical expertise to operate sites that other platforms provide for you. Fortunately, platforms such as Getshop Today have a more simplified interface that doesn’t require you to be a tech whizz to set up and operate effectively. With Getshop Today, it is possible to set up and run your eCommerce business with ease without much difficulty.
Because of these factors, it is key that you choose the right platform to launch your eCommerce business from. A major downside to dealing with sites that require plug-ins are that they can sometimes become expensive as well as a security risk. This can cause unnecessary hassle that could otherwise be avoided having chosen a platform that doesn’t need complicated plug-ins. Oftentimes these plug-ins can become abandoned by developers if they need extensive maintenance.
Not Optimising Your Site For Mobile Users
As an eCommerce business you cannot neglect the accessibility of your site for mobile users. In today’s world the mobile phone has transcended its original purpose - making calls. Now, the mobile phone has become almost a mini computer, with many of us using it as a core part of our everyday lives. The stats don’t lie either with regards to how much commerce is done through mobile phones, with over 50% of consumers on average making purchases through them.
For these reasons, it is vital that you have your eCommerce site optimised for mobile users. It is commonplace for newcomers to eCommerce to neglect mobile users as potential customers. The problem with this is it greatly diminishes the potential profit and business expansion you could have. Lack of accessibility is also a pet peeve for many mobile shoppers, and failing to optimise your site can greatly limit your consumer pool.
Poor Product Descriptions
A mistake some eCommerce business owners make is failing to have effective product descriptions on their product pages. Customers want to be assured that they are buying what is being described. Because of this, it is important that your product descriptions are effective and have accompanying images as well.
Images cannot be underestimated in their relevance to converting sales. Visual confirmation trumps written and verbal. Poor product descriptions do nothing to build a customer’s trust in your business, it does the exact opposite.
Neglecting Customer Service
The customer is the source of your profit and whose spending you need to keep yourself in business. Because of this, it is very important that you don’t neglect their well-being and concerns. A common mistake people make when starting their eCommerce business is to heavily focus on making profit at the expense of communication with customers.
Furthermore, customers strongly value great service and is a key component in retaining their interest. Establishing ways to have clear and easy communication with customers is essential as an eCommerce business. This is more so a reason since you cannot physically be present for a customer as you would in a brick-and-mortar store for example.
Good news is there are easy and effective ways to have great customer service. Email marketing for example is a simple and useful way to communicate with customers. You can give product recommendations and answer FAQ’s through email.
No SEO or Marketing Strategy for Your eCommerce Business
Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) is a fundamental part of gaining the exposure and customers your business needs. This is all about improving your eCommerce site’ ranking in search results. It’s clearly understood that the sooner your URL appears in a person’s browsing, the more likely they are to visit that site. As a result, it is key that you optimise your site’s SEO to maximise visitors. From choosing relevant keywords in your product descriptions to even using paid ads, there are many ways to effectively boost your SEO.
Lack Of Social Proof
Customers strongly value the credibility of the businesses they wish to shop with. Social proof helps convince customers that you are worth their investment. Moreover, social proof attests to the quality that your brand proposes it offers with its products. Information such as reviews and customer testimonials all contribute to strengthening your social proof. This is as customers are more likely to purchase products that already have positive reviews and feedback on them. You cannot genuinely earn customer trust in your business or products without it.
In Conclusion
There are many common mistakes that newcomers make when setting up their eCommerce business. It is vital that factors such as customer service, marketing strategies and social proof are not neglected.
If you want a prosperous and profitable eCommerce business, these are some common mistakes that you should avoid.
