Innovations in technology have today allowed aspiring entrepreneurs the ability to open their very own online business. However, having access to this opportunity doesn’t necessarily translate to success. The following list describes three mistakes to avoid when growing your small e-commerce business site.
Over-Complicating Your Website
Bigger is better, right? When it comes to an e-commerce site, more is often not the way to go. Understandably, you want to make sure that your potential customers see you as a respectable and credible company. However, when they are constantly being bombarded with pop-up ads, automatic videos, and a hard-to-use navigational system, it can be a little too much. Most consumers shop through their mobile devices. As a result, it makes it rather easy for them to close your store’s window the minute they run into any sort of issue. If you must, consult with a web-page designer who can construct a sleek and easy-to-use website for you.
Improper Stocking
Seeing orders coming in, it can be easy to forget that you do have a limit on your inventory. Because of this possibility, it is essential that you keep track of your inventory. When customers are continuing to order products you don’t have in stock, this can cause major shipping woes. Even if you are waiting for an order, oftentimes, freight companies will take longer than expected to provide you with your inventory. So, if you see that you have run out of stock, place a Sold Out sign on your product page, or set your website to not show products that are out of stock. This will serve to not only make your product seem desirable, but you will also avoid the inevitable headache of customers asking where their orders are.
Lack of Social Media Presence
As a small business owner, you do have a million things to do. However, one of the most important aspects of a company that cannot be ignored is its marketing. In order to have a successful e-commerce site, you must have a social media presence. You might be saying to yourself, “I do have one, I just don’t use it.” Customers who are not familiar with a company will often turn to the company’s social media pages to confirm if the company is legitimate or not. Therefore, it is in your best interest to not only post regularly but also interact online with the very same people who are going to buy your products.
Setting up and stocking your e-commerce site is the easy part. To cement your success, you must work to fine-tune your process. Utilize the tips listed above to begin making sure that your small business starts out on the right foot.
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