E-commerce, like a traditional business, is an uphill battle. There will be many obstacles along the way and you’ll need determination, expertise, and the right tools to get around them. If you want your online businesses to succeed in the long run, you need to avoid making these mistakes:
1. Selling On The Wrong Platform
Whether you are new to the eCommerce world or have been in the industry for a while, the success of your business depends on the platform you are using to sell. From product display to customer service, almost all important features of your business are dependent on your eCommerce platform. It also plays a giant role in how you attract new customers and how you expand your business over time.
Choosing the right eCommerce platform means greater revenue, more traffic, and higher conversions. There are many important factors to consider while choosing an eCommerce platform, including the cost of ownership, themes and user experience, speed and scalability, store functionality and ease of use, and platform security.
2. Not Defining Your Target Market
Having a well-structured business plan and a well-designed website is not enough to excel or even survive in eCommerce. One of the biggest mistakes that online businesses make is not defining and understanding their target market. You’ll need to conduct thorough market research to understand what makes your customers tick.
Whether you run a B2B business or a B2C business, you need to learn your customers’ pain points in order to be able to better address them. Creating a profile of your ideal customer can help you understand the values that are important for your customers and figure out the best way to engage them.
3. Poor User Experience Or Complex Navigation
Your eCommerce website should offer a perfect blend of design and functionality. While a great-looking website helps attract traffic, it cannot convert users into paying customers without good functionality.
Undiscoverable features, lack of adherence to relevant psychology principles, failed usability and accessibility, and a confusing onboarding flow can frustrate the user and prevent conversions. Gambling sites like betFIRST Casino use specific dark UX patterns to maximize customer engagement.
Working with a UX expert can help you avoid this common mistake. Good functionality means smooth navigation and a pleasant user experience, both of which are crucial for conversions.
4. Not Using SEO-Friendly Content
The content of your website should be CRO- or SEO-friendly, especially if your business relies on organic traffic to attract customers. Treating the website content as an afterthought can cost your business a lot in the long run. Each piece of content must be optimized for search engine traffic, from your landing page to product descriptions.
Startups working on a small budget are often hesitant to invest in content creation. This is one of the biggest mistakes you can make as an online business owner. Whether you choose to do it yourself or hire an SEO or content marketing agency, content creation is worth investing in. Taking the DIY route may be counterproductive if you have no experience in content creation.
Avoiding these critical eCommerce mistakes can help grow your business exponentially even if you don’t have a lot of resources at your disposal.
