5 Mistakes to avoid when setting up an ecommerce store

So you have a business idea, you may have already started trading and now it’s time to set up your ecommerce website to capture your digital audience. Starting and running an online store requires a lot of planning and strategy, and if you want your site to be a success, you should avoid some common and easy-to-make mistakes. Here are 5 of the most common mistakes to avoid in order to ensure all your efforts aren’t going to waste.

1. Choosing the wrong platform:

Choosing the wrong platform will not only cost you more money, but it will also limit your business’ growth potential. There are essentially two options here – you can either launch your own website or use an existing ecommerce platform. Start by comparing the most popular host websites - from Shopify to Squarespace - to decide what works best for your business.

2. Non SEO-Friendly content:

You may be surprised to hear that SEO has the highest ROI of any ecommerce marketing campaign, as very few online stores take this into consideration as they build their store. Adding blogs to your site and using key search terms in the copy across your site not only drives organic traffic to your store, but this type of content positions you as a subject matter expert.

3. Complicated Checkout Process:

Checkout should be simple, with a few payment options, clear delivery details and a guest checkout option, but the most common cause for abandoned checkouts is surprise fees. Of course, this isn’t to say that you need to take on the responsibility of taxes or delivery fees, however you should provide all of this information well before your visitors reach the checkout page.

4. Poor Website design:

It isn’t necessary to have all the trimmings and features of some of the larger e-commerce stores who have teams of people to do this, but there are some fundamental requirements to avoid a poorly designed website. Your website should be easy to navigate - whether on mobile or on desktop - with good product images, clear descriptions and easily categorised products.

5. No product reviews:

Product reviews are important for building trust in your brand and proving the quality of your products. This is even more important for new businesses who have not yet built a loyal following or community

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