Setting up an e-commerce platform is an exciting one for anyone who is running a business. You get the benefits of operating on the online platform such as having access to a broad customer base. You also get to forget the costs of setting up a brick and mortar store, which can be a challenge to many new entrepreneurs. However, there are certain mistakes that you may inadvertently be making that could be costing you some serious business. We will explore seven of them and give you solutions that you can implement.
1. Not Having A Good Understanding of The Target Audience
Before you begin to sell any products, you must have a very clear understanding of your target audience. Develop a persona and consider all factors that may determine their purchasing habits. Take into consideration factors such as age, income, marital status, number of children, among other things, while developing a customer profile. Once you have a proper profile, you must understand what their point of need is. When you have a product that responds to a need, you will find success in the digital space.
2. Not Choosing the Correct Web Hosting Platform
Choosing the right web host provider is essential for the running of your online store. There is a lot of competition on the online platform, and you must ensure that the user experience on your website is excellent. One of the best ways to lose website visitors is by having slow loading pages. It is, therefore, critical that you get a reliable web hosting company. Some of the factors you need to have on your checklist include one that has enough bandwidth that can comfortably accommodate the amount of traffic you get to your site. You also need one that allows for scalability because the more your business grows, the more your requirements will be. You must also ensure that they have excellent customer support so that you do not experience any downtime while operating your online store. Make sure you read customer reviews and avoid those that are free or come at a very low price because you get what you pay for.
3. Not Installing an SSL Certificate
The online space is the breeding ground for hackers who will do all they can to get access to your website. You collect a lot of customer information, and it would be terrible if you were to lose it all to hackers. Installing an SSL certificate is, therefore, an essential step that you must pay keen attention to. If you are in search for green bar and highest validation of your business, you should consider investing in an EV SSL certificate.
If you are having multiple subdomains, the regular SSL certificate will only give you protection for one domain, meaning that you will have to purchase separate certificates for additional ones. It can be costly and managing the different certificates can be challenging. You are, therefore, better off installing the wildcard SSL certificate so that you get protection for all your subdomains and can easily manage them from one location.
4. Having A Poorly Designed Website and Ignoring SEO
You must ensure that your website has a good design that is attractive and easy to navigate. You can imagine the amount of information anyone on the online platform has available to them. Put yourself in the customer’s shoes and be honest about whether you would spend time on a poorly designed website. The user experience should be pleasant and fast so that it will decrease the bounce rate.
Optimize all your content for search engines. The use of the correct keywords, whether long tail or short tail, is essential because it makes your website visible in the search engines. It will determine your ranking, which is crucial for getting the right amount of traffic to your site.
5. You Have Not Optimized Your Online Store for Mobile
Statistics indicate that up to 80% of shoppers will use their mobile devices when shopping. Up to 80% of traffic to your website comes from mobile devices. 62% of consumers will use mobile phones to compare prices. You can therefore not afford to optimize your online store for mobile because that is where the business is. You should also note that platforms such as Google will penalize you if your website is not mobile-friendly.
6. You Have A Poor or Complicated Check Out Process
An estimated 87% online shoppers will abandon their carts if the Checkout process is too complicated. You may have come across some websites that require you to give so much detail that it becomes inconveniencing to do so. The easiest option for most people is to leave such sites and go to the ones that have a more straightforward, more efficient checkout process. Only collect relevant information and have a system that remembers repeat customers. It is also not a very good idea to force your customers to set up an account before they can complete a purchase. 34% of online shoppers will leave your online store without completing a purchase if you force them to do so.
7. Neglecting the Importance of Customer Service
Customer service is an essential component of running a business, whether you are operating online or offline. While technology is good, and you can automate most of the processes, you must spend time responding to any issues the customers may have. Do not ignore any complaints and ensure that the responses are prompt. Give your customers several ways of reaching you, including phone, email, and chat, among others.
Final Thoughts
We have shared seven common mistakes people make when they are operating on the online platform. It is essential that you have a website that has fast loading pages and is easy to navigate. Pay attention to the checkout process and give your customers an excellent experience every time they are on your online store. Neglecting some of these measures can lead to the loss of business for you.
