Many ambitious folks jump into the world of eCommerce without a second thought. They see someone else’s business take off and think, “I can do that, too!”. While it’s undoubtedly true that everyone can make it big, it’s also important to remember that success rarely comes overnight, and relying on good luck is unwise. Understanding the common mistakes that new eCommerce owners make early on helps you avoid doing the same yourself. Here is what you’re likely getting wrong for those who have just opened their eCommerce stores online.
1: Doing the Manual Tasks Yourself
Many eCommerce newbies assume they must take on all the challenges because they don’t have a team yet. Luckily, that’s not the case. In reality, it’s better to hand off some of the more manual tasks to other people so that you can focus more on the creative side of the business. Take order fulfillment as an excellent example. Using an order fulfillment company offers you more time and space to build your eCommerce brand. Plus, the professionalism of the shipping experts means that you can rely on their service to store inventory and send customer orders on time. Trying to figure out where to start looking? Red Stag is a leading order fulfillment provider to handle picking, packing, shipping, and returns.
2: Weak Marketing
As a newbie to eCommerce, it’s understandable to be hesitant to pour your finances into marketing. You are still determining if it will work. Plus, you might not know how much marketing is necessary to get your brand’s name out there. The good news is that you don’t need to spend your entire budget on marketing for success. However, you still need strong marketing to reel in customers, which takes some work. Avoid weak marketing by assessing analytics, looking at your competition, and thinking like the customer. Marketing might include trial and error in the early days, but you can learn from this and do better the next time.
3: Ignoring Customer Reviews
Customer reviews matter to all eCommerce businesses. That’s because your entire brand is online, meaning anyone looking for your store will see previous customer reviews. Not replying or acknowledging those reviews could harm your business. So, instead of letting reviews build over time without consideration, actively respond both to the good and the bad. It will show you care about what the customer thinks. Plus, in cases where a customer has left a bad review, you can attempt to rectify the situation.
4: Zero Use of SEO
Most businesses use search engine optimization in one form or another, so not doing so will instantly put you behind the competition. Still, so many new eCommerce store owners neglect to put thought into it. Maybe because they don’t think it’ll work, or they don’t want to waste money on it. Don’t be like them. Instead, invest time into an SEO strategy that directs organic traffic to your site. Adjustments like targeted keywords and link building will make your eCommerce site more findable.
