Are you making these mistakes in your e-commerce company? Maybe you are embarking on your own e-commerce journey and want to get your company up and running. We have all heard the common myths surrounding starting your own company, but how do you know what is true and what is actually a misconception?
Starting a new business venture is exciting, but it does take a lot of hard work and dedication in order to succeed. With so many different opinions floating around the business world it’s easy to get caught up in the hype, without really considering how legitimate these pieces of advice are. Here we have decided to share the biggest mistakes people make in their e-commerce business, in the hope of guiding you to a successful company.
So what mistakes are ruining other people’s e-commerce ventures?
Weak Page Optimization
Mistake: Just because you have launched your e-commerce site and it's beautiful and elegant does not mean that customers will suddenly come swarming to your website. Let’s think about this. There are over 1 billion websites in the world at the moment. New websites are being launched every second. How will anyone be able to find your site?
The Answer: They can’t. Visitors will need to find your page among the sea of your competitors. Launching your e-commerce website is definitely a positive step towards reaching your goal of a successful business. But without the necessary leg work and optimization to your page, it will be hidden.
SEO, social media promotion, and incredible content are all essential to optimize your site and bring it out of the shadows. Use free keyword tools like AnswerThePublic and Ubersuggest to conduct keyword research in order to optimize your site and move towards getting noticed.
Avoiding Customer Service
Mistake: Just because you are running your business online doesn't mean that you don’t need to handle your customers.
The Answer: Because you are not necessarily customer facing, you still need to build and maintain virtual relationships with your customers to increase loyal customers who continue to return to your site. You can do this via social media, online chat, and email and also on the phone. Make sure you’re available to your customers – here’s how.
Handling customers on a daily basis is the difference between consistently making sales and failing miserably. Monitor your social media accounts on a daily basis and engage with customers to yield better results.
Unspecified Niche
Mistake: Once you’ve decided upon your niche and products, more often than not there will be at least one other company selling the same product. Not working on your value proposition is dangerous.
The Answer: So what differentiates your business from every other company? After you’ve found your niche area – look for a gap in the market for you to squeeze into.
It doesn’t always have to be selling different products, offering information and better content than your competitors is another great way to fill a gap in the market because it doesn't cost as much. You could also up your game with better branding and better customer service.
Take the time to research your specific niche area and find out as much as you can about your competitors.
Neglecting the Maths
Mistake: While using an online platform is cheaper than paying a down-payment on a physical storefront, it still costs time and money to maintain an online store. Be lean and keep a handle on all outgoings.
The Answer: Opening a store online is less expensive than opening an actual store, but it still costs money and more importantly time on your part to get everything set up and to maintain the website. Especially if you are thinking of designing the website yourself, or passing it onto a website designer to make it for you. Both these things cost time and your time is a huge sacrifice for a new business.
Cut the setup time by using an e-commerce platform like Shopify to get your online store up and running faster. You have the option to pay monthly on your website so there are no initial costs. Also, it saves you money on expensive web design and keeps you in control of your own website.
Alternatively, some people open their e-commerce store on Amazon and eBay. This can be good because it can increase online visibility and increase sales, but you will have to pay marketplace fees to sell on their websites. Find out how to open your e-commerce store on Amazon.
No Solid Business Plan
Mistake: You wouldn’t go ahead and open up a shop with no solid business plan, so why would you open your e-commerce store without one?
The Answer: Sculpting a foolproof business plan for your ecommerce business is crucial when starting up your own e-commerce company. It will allow you to see outside of your day-to-day workload and uncover other marketing avenues for your company to explore. It enables you to piece together a strategic course for growth in the future.
Avoid the mistakes that so many other e-commerce owners are making to increase sales and build your company into a real success. Whatever niche your company is in, take the time to consider if you could improve the way you run your company and if there is anything more you can do?
Is there anything that we missed out? Let me know in the comments below.
Want to write a guest post for the Extensiv blog? Email rtrindade@extensiv.com
