E-commerce mistakes small businesses should avoid
To succeed in e-commerce requires the constant improvement of your platform. Consumer behaviour changes at breakneck speeds and small businesses need to stay competitive with larger online stores. Don't add to the difficulty of running a business by committing these typical yet catastrophic e-commerce blunders.
Here are the most common mistakes that small businesses make with their e-commerce websites:
Mistake 1: Choosing the incorrect platform
Your online store can make or break you. Your e-commerce platform has a significant impact on how you attract potential customers. If something doesn't feel right to them, they will (very certainly) close the tab and do their business elsewhere. You need a platform that's easy to navigate and guides the user through the buying process. Not all e-commerce platforms are made equal so take your time to find one that suits your budget, level of functionality and growth strategy.
What should it look like?
Ideally, your e-commerce site should be the same as your website with the same appearance. The design must be precise. Use the same company that created your website to design your e-commerce store to ensure brand continuity.
Mistake 2: Not using content marketing
Your platform is now live. So you can sit back and relax, right? Nope. Prospective customers won't simply find your e-commerce site out of nowhere.
Businesses frequently make the mistake of believing that content marketing will be too challenging or ineffective for them. There will always be instructional knowledge you can offer potential customers, no matter your industry. The more informed and engaged your audience is, the more likely they are to become consumers.
Mistake 3: Thinking that everyone is a good writer
Small businesses often opt to create their own content to save expenses, but it's easy to use too many words when you're really enthusiastic about your offering. Regrettably, this doesn’t work. Online visitors do not have the time to wade through a never-ending flood of text.
Because of this, good UX writing is essential. When it comes to online purchases, the process needs to be as simple as possible for consumers to complete. A UX writer will know the exact words to string together to ensure that the user is led in the right direction. Invest in quality writing for your e-commerce site. Your work is done once it's on there, and you can let it do its thing.
Mistake 4: Giving users too much or too little
A successful e-commerce site is straightforward. If your product descriptions are very vague, or if the buying process is overly complicated, your audience will move on. There's a sweet spot for the quantity of material, design components and website functionality you use, and a UX specialist will help you find it.
Are you ready to take the next step toward improved e-commerce? Chat to Koola.
