If you want to start your own online shop, then you should know that a high percentage of them fail. If you don’t want your company to be yet another failed statistic, then there are a few things you can do to try and help yourself. If you want to find out more then take a look below.
Not Having a Marketing Plan
Owning an online shop isn’t just about building a website and having people flood to buy from you. You need to promote it and you also need to adopt different marketing strategies.
It’s also important to plan your marketing strategies as well. Think about the platforms they are going to use, whether it is Facebook, TikTok or anything else of the sort. If you can do this then you will find it easier to connect with people, which is crucial to the success of your business.
Bad Website Design
Website design will affect the impressions that customers have of you. If your site is incoherent or if it is messy, then this will make it hard for you to get the result you are looking for. \
It is important for you to use the same colour scheme and font for every page, so you can solidify your brand. If you are using a theme to design your store, then don’t overlook customisation. The last thing you want is for your site to look like every other site out there, because if it does then your customers may lose trust in you.
Mobile design is also imperative, because if your site doesn’t look great on mobile then this will work against you. A lot of people prefer to buy products using their phones in this day and age, so make sure that your site is mobile-centric. If it’s not then it could be worth investing in a mobile app, so you can keep it separate while also making sure that you are meeting your customer needs. This is a great way for you to ensure the longevity and success of your business.
Clunky Checkout Process
If your checkout process is somewhat clunky then this will make it harder for your customers to buy from you. If you aren’t making sales then you will be losing out on money and this is the last thing you want. If you want to do something about this, then take the time to find out what payment methods your customers want to use.
It’s very easy to do this if you simply sit down and talk to them. Find out what payment your competitors are offering and then try and make the effort to go one step further. If you can do this then you will soon find that it is easier to get the result you want.
If you want to make sure that your payments are secure and that you are meeting all of the right regulations then one thing you can do is look into how to handle transactions for online businesses. That way, you can make sure that you are protecting your customer data while also safeguarding the money your business is being sent.
Shipping And Returns
Shipping is yet another important part of doing business. It’s how customers get their product.
Having a clear shipping and returns policy is vital, because if you have a clear policy then this will help your customers to trust your business. If you want to make your customers feel as though they are paying for a lower shipping cost, then give them free postage.
Instead of pricing your product at $35 and having $10 postage, price your product at $45 and offer free postage. Your customers will feel as though they are getting a better deal as half of their money isn’t going on shipping. Even though they are paying the same price, this can make a huge difference to their mindset.
Lacking a CTA
If you don’t have a CTA then this is a huge mistake. You have to make sure that you have a solid CTA because if you don’t then your customers will never know what action you want them to take. You need to tell them that you want them to get in touch with you, and you also need to explain that you want them to buy a specific product in the sale. By making your intentions clear, you can make it easier for them.
Why not look at your business process today, so you can try and stop your company from failing?