You’ve spent hours, days, weeks, and even months perfecting your online product. You’ve got the perfect name, the perfect price point, and the perfect target audience. The only thing left to do is promote it. Are you thinking about setting up an online store? Or maybe you already have one, but it’s not performing as well as you’d like. Either way, many store owners make a few common mistakes that can lead to underwhelming sales and unhappy customers. You ought to put in a little effort to ensure as many people see your product as possible. Are you having trouble making your online store a success? You’re not alone. Many business owners make common mistakes that can hurt their sales and reduce profits. This blog post will concern 9 of the most common mistakes online store owners make. We’ll provide tips on how to avoid these mistakes and improve your business’s bottom line.

Not Putting Enough Time or Effort Into the Planning Stage 

When setting up an online store, the planning stage is crucial. This is where you’ll decide what products to sell, what platforms to use, your budget, and more. Many store owners rush through this stage or skip it altogether because they’re anxious to start selling. But if you don’t take the time to plan things out properly, it will come back to bite you later on. So take your time, research, and make sure you have a solid plan before moving on to the next step. For example, area rugs are a popular item to sell online but make sure you know the exact cost of materials and shipping before selling them.

Not Focusing on the Customer Experience 

Your online store should be designed with the customer experience in mind. Everything from the site’s layout to the copy on the product pages should be focused on making it easy and enjoyable for customers to shop with you. If your store is hard to navigate or your product descriptions are boring or confusing, customers will quickly become frustrated and look elsewhere. For example, make sure you have a clear and simple checkout process with clearly labeled payment options and detailed product descriptions that help customers make an informed purchase decision.

Choosing the Wrong Platform 

Many different platforms are available for setting up an online store these days. And while they all have their pros and cons, not all of them will be a good fit for your specific business. So before choosing a platform, take some time to compare your options and find one that satisfactorily suits your needs in terms of features, price, ease of use, etc. For example, if you want to offer customers a wide selection of products and services, Shopify may be your best choice.

Not Investing in Good Quality Product Photos 

A picture is worth a thousand words, especially regarding product photos. Poor-quality product photos will make your items look cheap and unappealing, discouraging customers from buying them. On the other hand, high-quality photos will show off your products in their best light and give potential customers a better idea of what they’re getting for their money. So if you want people to buy from your online store, ensure you’re investing in good-quality product photos. For example, RugKnots offers the best quality product photography and videography services.

Not Having Competitive Prices 

One mistake many store owners make is not having competitive prices for their products. Potential customers will be discouraged from buying from you if your prices are too high relative to what other stores are charging for similar items. But if your prices are too low relative to competitors’, people may suspect something wrong with your products. So do some pricing research before setting yours to strike a balance between being competitive and making a profit. For example, take advantage of bulk discounts or negotiate better shipping rates.

Not Using Quality Product Photography and Videography Services

When customers visit your store, they want to see what they’re buying in detail. Investing in quality product photography and videography services is so important. Professional images and videos are an excellent way to show off the features of your products and give buyers a clearer idea of what they’re getting. Include multiple angles, different colors and sizes, and close-ups that allow customers to zoom in on product features. For example, a seller offers a wide variety of Coral Rugs with detailed images and videos to give customers an accurate representation of what they’re buying.

Not Providing Product Reviews

Product reviews are a great way for potential customers to make informed decisions about your store and products. Online shoppers look to product reviews to help them decide whether or not they should buy something, so you must provide this information in an accessible and easy-to-read format. Don’t hesitate to encourage customer feedback and reviews; this can be a great way to build trust and encourage sales.

Not Offering Discounts & Promotions

Offering discounts is an effective way of increasing your customer base and boosting sales. If you have any limited-time offers or special deals, make sure that customers know about them. This could be through discount codes, newsletters, or social media posts. Letting your customers know that you’re offering discounts can incentivize them to purchase from your store. For example, a 10% off coupon could be the difference between a customer making their purchase or looking elsewhere.

Not Having a Clear Refund Policy

Lastly, having a clear and concise refund policy is essential for any online store. This ensures that customers know what to expect regarding how long refunds take and the circumstances under which they can be initiated. Ensure your refund policy is prominently displayed on your website so customers can easily access it when necessary. For example, do you offer a full refund if the item doesn’t fit, or do you only offer store credit? Knowing this before they purchase helps customers make an informed decision.

Conclusion: 

These are just some mistakes many online store owners make that can lead to lackluster sales figures and unhappy customers. If you can avoid making these mistakes yourself, you’ll be well on setting up a successful online store that meets customer expectations and drives sales. Do you need help setting up or optimizing your online store? Contact us today for a free consultation.