Do you dream of becoming a major player in the ecommerce arena? Are you charged and ready to create a new website to suit needs and fill your treasury too! In any new venture, there are bound to be hiccups in every journey. But if you’re a true entrepreneur, you will forge ahead and pursue your dream. If it is your first time creating an ecommerce site, it can be very challenging. It would be my duty to warn you from making the same first-timer mistakes that I made. If you do your research you’ll notice these seem to be rather common.

1. 10 Ecommerce Mistakes I Made But
You Shouldn’t

2. #1 Ditch the Typical- Get A Snazzy
Name!
 Let’s face it! There’s almost a dearth of names to christen your baby business
with. Almost everything you can think of is already in use either online or in a
brick and mortar store. But expending some creative energy on deciding a
unique and relevant title can pay off (real good!) in the long run. It
automatically increases brand recognition and come on! We all are inclined to
being associated with quirky and fun brands right?!
 If this task of choosing a name seems tough and daunting, go ahead and hire a
creative agency to help you out. Don’t delay on this essential.

3. #2 Apply Unique Graphics & Logo
Design
 For a very long time I did not have a website graphic/logo which was true to
my brand and made sense to things I was trading online. Then one day, my
friend suggested I design a logo which I could use as a representation of my
brand. He said it’s all about being authentic and different to prevent being
drowned into oblivion. Contrary to popular belief, it does not cost thousands
to create an alphabet with three strikes through it. Today, the internet opens
up many avenues to create free designs and graphics which look professional
and interesting. I discourage using images from Google because your
customers are likely to have come across it before. Be original and make an
effort; they will notice it and appreciate it.

4. #3 Don’t Underestimate the About
Page
 What’s that you say? You were so busy filling up your product catalogues that
you forgot to create and update your website’s ‘About Us’ page? That reads
newbie all over it!

As a new website you are likely to attract a lot of new visitors who may be
interested in knowing who you are and why you have started a business like
this. It is well visited and should be prepared with care. It shouldn’t be very
long. Don’t sound like a robot; try to maintain a human touch to it.
Personalize this page to talk about where you are place, what is your dream,
what is different about your enterprise, where you ship to/from, where your
physical office is, how many employees you have, what is your team
philosophy.etc.

5. #4 Customers Will Come Automatically
 While building your business, you devote all your energy towards juggling the
various responsibilities that accompany it. You forget to do something
essential. When you ideate and take a survey as to who your potential
customers are, we feel content that there are many takers for our product.
But after it launches, the conversion from potentials into real customers is
very low!
 Customers will not bombard your website the day it opens! It’s not all hunky
dory. You need to understand that it is a long term process and be patient
through it. There are X number of websites out there that have existed for
longer, given them good service, maybe even discounts over time and they
are bound to give them preference. So shed the mentality and work towards
bringing clicks and visits to your site.

6. #5 Parade Inactive Social Networking Site
Links On Website
 I know of people who create social media accounts on every platform possible
and feel proud about their ‘Social Footprint’. In reality, their accounts (often
newly made) are not reassuring about their credibility and neither expresses
their thoughts, ideas or creativity. They soon lose interest in the network.
When it comes to designing a webpage, they include all means to reach them
by social networking. It’s upsetting to see that the ecommerce website owner
follows 1000 people on Twitter but has only 40 following him back. It reflects
badly on him- his popularity as a person and the credibility of his business.

7. #6 Not Buying a Domain Name
 Yes, I am guilty! It took me a while to realize the power of actually having
bought a domain name in the name of my brand. There is a certain
seriousness associated when a brand operates out of a purchased domain
name as compared to Wordpress, Tumblr or even Facebook. When your
subscribers receive newsletters from your domain name rather than a Yahoo
or Gmail account (which makes it look amateur and makeshift), they know
you mean business. So acquire the right domain name today!

8. #7 Neglecting SEO
 SEO and keywords and this and that! If you’re maintaining a “Maybe Later”
attitude to SEO, you are digging your business’ grave slow and steady. New
websites need it more than anything else to build on traffic. It is important to
set aside a budget and strategy for SEO for your website. To start out your
SEO journey, take out your notepad and write down the top keywords which
are relevant to your business. If you cannot list upto ten, you are surely going
wrong.

9. #8 Do You Need Comments and
Reviews Immediately?
 It is true that a comments section and/or a reviews section at the end of every article or product on for sale
looks professional and follows the norm of the moment online, but it can work against you in certain
situations.
Consider this: You browsed through 3 websites selling the same/similar product.
 Website 1 is well established thus the product is rated, shared and commented upon.

Website 2 is evolving into great competition for Website 1 in terms of price. The product is also well rated
and shared.

Website 3 is a newbie but looks to have potential. You notice that the product has never been rated or
shared on the platform. You see a Comments section which is scandalously empty, waiting for you to post
the first comment.
 Website 3 automatically loses a certain amount of credibility in your eyes. This is a natural consumer
reaction. You will prefer the websites the masses flock to and think about trying Website 3 once it builds a
base amongst consumers better (..and eventually forget that it exists..)
 Reviews, Comments, Social Media Sharing Buttons are called ‘Social Proof’. They can influence a customer
but with a business just a few days old it can be detrimental. So think about whether you require them at
the moment or not.

10. #9 Multi-Business Management
 Finish what you start! If you do not concentrate on building your business
from down towards the top of the pyramid, there are barely any chances of
success. Knowing entrepreneurs, there’s a chance you are involved in more
than one thing at a time. But this may complicate things for your business. So
set aside spare time for the other projects you are passionate about so that
the effort you can worked in a focused manner for your ecommerce business.
More efforts, more results i.e. translation of your dream into reality!

11. #10 Fixed, Stagnant Marketing
 You may have heard of the term ‘Marketing Mix’. The name is so appropriate and
it surely sends out a message. Mix, match and utilize various marketing channels-
they could be print, TV, radio, Out-of-Home, Direct and digital mediums to
experiment with. With a pre-decided budget, you must outline the mediums which
may seem beneficial for you. Being an ecommerce site, try to choose as much as
social media advertising as possible. The plus point of this is the cost-effectiveness
and reach. Be skillful and redirect traffic from your Pinterest blog, from your
Instagram followers, Facebook friends/ads or even global Twitter pals!
 Understand the payoff of each channel individually and decide on your very own
‘Marketing Mix’!
~
 Keep assessing the requirements of your ecommerce website from time to time
and keep your venture alive!