Common Mistakes Of Ecommerce Start-ups

Doing business online is absolutely potential, and it has been never easy with everyone, especially with new comers. However, if you are going to launch your ecommerce start-ups with great ideas for the first time, it doesn’t mean you have to make first-time mistakes. There is a famous saying that “Only a fool learns from his own mistakes. The wise man learns from the mistakes of others.”

There is a high possibility that you might encounter following mistakes. Take a look at those and prepare for not making them!

1.      Unbalanced budget

According to NetCraft and Internet Live Stats, counting to July 2014, there were 96, 8882, 453 websites all around the world. Take a second to think about that. Your new website will make up for a drop in an ocean. How can you do to attract visitors?

Since the first moment, many owners decide to build an exclusively beautiful web design and that idea consumes a large budget proportion. However, building the most beautiful site and filling it with great products won’t make customers come. After launching websites, there should be an abundant budget for marketing plan because a marketing strategy is the life of every online business.

Source: NetCraft and Internet Live Stats (elaboration of data by Matthew Gray of MIT and Hobbes' Internet Timeline and Pingdom)

2.      Not choosing the right eCommerce platform

Choosing suitable e-Commerce platform should not be weighted light. It would be very helpful that you spend time to conduct a comprehensive research or ask some experts for advice especially when you are not a technical man. Understanding your own situation is most necessary. Platform should be right for your requirement, strengths, weakness, business goals, etc. For example, if you want a platform with flexible configuration and customization, you can go with some like Magento, Joomla, etc.

3.       Ignoring web analytics

Attracting visitors is the most concerning issue. However, monitoring their activities on your site is also important. If you ignore to use web analytics, you are losing your business. Seeing reports in web analytics helps you understand what customers view on your site, where they leave your page, which parts they click a lot, etc. From this data, you will have actions to improve situation. For example, show promotion message at the place that customers usually click on or try to direct them  at the page that they usually leave.

Google Analytics is one of the most effective tools right now. You definitely should take a look!

4.      Discounting without studying the impact

Offering discount is a common way to attract customers of new online stores. However, it should be taken in a short term because in longer term the result could be contrary. You might attract wrong targeted customers. They just come to you because of discount but after the discount ends they will never come back. Discount is a double edged sword and you must use it smartly.

5.      A lack of detailed product information and images

Online shopping is totaling different from traditional shopping. Customers can’t touch, see product physically so description and images of products are very important. The description helps customers understand products thoroughly without asking for assistant. The well taken images do not only provide detailed angles of product but beautiful images also motivate customers to purchase.

Bear in mind to have well – prepared product information and images.

6.      A long or confusing checkout process

You may have heard about this mistakes a lot, however, it is still essential to keep it in mind. Make checkout as simple as possible. Don’t create chance for customers to abandon cart by a long complicated checkout. They are tired of filling too much information and complete endless steps. One Page Checkout is a good idea that you should consider for your new online store.

 Conclusion

Building your own business is never easy, and it requires much effort from smallest things. However, no matter how hard the work is, you should spend time to have an overlook of your goals and making a detailed business plan.

Hope you have a successful business!