Gone are the days when people would spend hours shopping in brick-and-mortar stores. In this fast-paced world, no one has got the time to hop from one store to another in search of that perfect dress or a handbag to go with that. With the availability of almost everything on the internet, people have long shunned the idea of shop hopping.
While the e-commerce websites are making fast bucks, the competition is also increasing with each passing second. Unfortunately, online retailers make several mistakes while selling their products and lose their customers.
If you are launching an e-commerce website or planning to revive your old website, here are the most common ecommerce mistakes that you must not commit.
Mistake #1: Selecting the wrong platform
A website building platform is the foundation of any e-commerce website, and going wrong with it can spoil everything. A platform determines the reach, performance, design, and appeal of an online store, hence, contributing to the success or failure of any online retail business.
Make sure you select the right platform for your e-commerce website. Select one that suits your requirements. You will have ample options at your disposal, including Shopify, BigCommerce, 3dcart, and more.
One more thing to consider here is selecting experienced web design services. They should be aware of your needs, business goals, and current trends in the industry. They should have expertise in building a website using different frameworks and platforms.
Check the credentials, portfolio, experience, and area of expertise of the website builder. If you are building a website on Spotify, hire a Spotify web developer who has worked on this platform and understands the nitty-gritty.
Mistake #2: Providing incorrect or inadequate contact information
Customers never trust anyone with their credit card information. Before handing over their bank details to anyone, they verify the authenticity and don’t trust the websites that hide their contact information. Unless they know you are a real company, they won’t go ahead with shopping. By not providing correct contact information, you kill your chance of growing your sales. Hence, make sure you provide adequate contact details to your customers.
The best place to put contact details is at the top of the sidebar, in your header or footer. Include your phone number, email address, mailing address, and other important information.
Mistake #3: Fewer product images
Unlike a brick-and-mortar store, customers don’t get a chance of touching and feeling the product. They make their decision solely by watching the images, and if you don’t provide them with proper product images, they may turn down their shopping plan.
Provide adequate product images to your customers to make them understand what they are buying. Capture pictures from different angles, and if a product has color options, include pictures of all the available options.
Mistake #4: Inadequate product description
Similarly, not providing sufficient product descriptions discourage the visitors from making a purchase. Due to the lack of physical interaction, the customers rely on product descriptions to understand the product. Hence, provide an adequate product description to help your visitors make a choice.
Right from the size, dimension, weight, to material and color options available, provide the essential information. Also, include care instructions and other such necessary details.
Mistake #5: Long checkout process
Having a long and tedious checkout process is one of the most detrimental mistakes that most e-commerce websites make. A long and confusing checkout process irritates the customers to the core. According to stats, 21% of online shoppers in the USA drop their cart due to a complicated checkout process. The brands lose around $18 billion in sales every year due to cart abandonment.
Always remember, the easier you make it for the clients to complete their order, the more customers you will get. The checkout process should include a single page for checking the order and providing the billing and shipping details.
The bottom line
Now that you are aware of the common mistakes that eat up a lot of business, make sure you avoid them while creating your website. If you already have a website, optimize it to provide a comprehensive shopping experience to your customers and eventually make more money!