8 non-obvious mistakes when creating an online store and tips for avoiding them

Your online store is full of potential. Your ideas radiate enthusiasm. You are ready to conquer the online market and achieve success. But what if I told you that there are unobvious mistakes that can become an obstacle to your dream? Mistakes that can quietly derail your efforts, stall your business, and lead to frustration? Do you want to know about them? Then keep reading. In this article, we will tell you about 8 non-obvious mistakes when creating an online store and provide you with effective ways to avoid them. Are you ready to deal with all the details to ensure a successful start for your business?

Glossary

• Online store: a web platform that allows entrepreneurs to sell goods and services online.
• Error: an incorrect action or decision that leads to undesirable consequences.
• Efficient: achieving a desired result or goal with minimal effort.
• Platform: The framework or underlying system on which the online store runs.
• Site type: classification of websites according to their functionality and purpose of use.
• Sales Focus: A strategy that focuses on driving purchases and increasing conversions.
• Registration: The process of creating a user account on a website with personal information.
• Catalog: A structured list or collection of products featured on a website.
• Search: A feature on a website that allows users to find specific products or information.
• Filters: Tools on a website that allow the user to narrow down the selection of products based on certain parameters.
• Legal errors: violations of legal norms or requirements related to the online store.
• Mobile optimization: adapting the website for easy display on smartphones and tablets.
• Contextual Advertising: Ads displayed to users based on the context of their search queries.

Note: Avoid the following non-obvious mistakes when creating an online store to increase your efficiency and achieve business success.

1. Wrong choice of platform or site type

When creating an online store, one One of the most important decisions you need to make is choosing a platform or type of site. Currently, there are several main ways to create a website: from scratch, using a website builder or using a CMS (content management system).

Each of these approaches has its own advantages and disadvantages. Let's take a closer look at them.

1. Creating a website from scratch

The first option is to create a website completely from scratch or with the help of a programmer. This method may be attractive to those who want a unique, individually designed resource.

However, keep in mind that this approach requires a significant investment of time and money. If you have a large project with significant investments and requirements, then creating a website from scratch may be worthwhile.

2. Using the constructor

The second option is to use the constructor. Website builders provide templates and a user-friendly interface for creating a website without the need for programming knowledge. They allow you to quickly and easily create attractive and functional online stores.

However, these platforms may have limitations in functionality or customization capabilities. For small online stores where the main emphasis is on visual appeal and ease of use, using a website builder may be the best choice.

3. Using a CMS

The third way is to use a CMS (content management system) such as WordPress and Opencart. CMS offer flexible functionality and the ability to expand the site using additional plugins and modules.

They allow you to create websites of medium and high complexity with a wide range of functions. For online stores that need various integrations and additional features, using a CMS may be the preferred option.

Errors and recommendations

Choosing the wrong platform or site type can lead to various problems. For example, using a complex and expensive method of creating a website may be too time-consuming for a new entrepreneur. Or, using a builder with limited capabilities may limit the growth and development of your online store.

To avoid these mistakes and choose the right platform or site type, it is recommended to follow some guidelines:

• Initially, determine your basic requirements and goals. Consider the functionality, integrations, and ease of use you need.
• Research the market and analyze popular platforms and site types to choose the most suitable option for your online store.
• Consider the possibility of scaling and growing your business. Think ahead and choose a platform that can handle increased sales and new features.
• Contact a specialist or consultant for professional advice and assistance in choosing a platform or site type.
  
  

So, choosing the right platform or site type is a key step to successfully launching an online store. Don't rush into a decision, do your analysis and take your needs and goals into account. Only then will you be able to create an effective and profitable online store.

“It doesn’t matter which method you choose to create an online store, as long as it meets your needs and is ready to scale” - Ron Powell, Amazon expert.

To successfully create an online store, it is important to conduct a thorough analysis and choose the appropriate platform or type of site. Contact specialists for professional advice and assistance. And remember that the right choice of platform or type of site is the key to the successful start of your business.

2. Mistakes when creating an online store: lack of emphasis on sales

Your online store is designed for to sell. This is his main task, and everything should be set up in such a way that the purchase is made as quickly and easily as possible. When a visitor lands on your site, he should immediately understand that this is where he can make a purchase. But, unfortunately, many online store owners make the mistake of not paying enough attention to sales.

Often on the home page you will see a lot of blocks of information that may have nothing to do with sales. There may be an “About Us” block, a “Our Faces” section, information about the management, as well as a list of all kinds of awards and regalia. All this, of course, is important information about the company, but it should not occupy the main place on the main page.

A visitor to your site is looking for products to buy, rather than wanting to learn about your company. He wants to immediately see bestsellers, promotional items, and also receive brief information about the terms of payment and delivery. If you choose not to put a sales focus on your home page, you risk losing a lot of potential customers without even understanding why.

To avoid this mistake, place bestsellers and promotional items on the main page in a large and bright manner. Also provide brief information about payment and delivery terms. Here it is important to display only the best-selling products and promotions in order to interest the visitor and motivate him to action.

All information about the company, its achievements and other social proof should be moved to a separate menu item. Anyone who wants can open this information and get acquainted with it. But the homepage should be sales-oriented and offer the best deals to the potential customer to grab their attention and keep them on your site.

💡 Expert advice: Alexey Klimenko, an experienced online store owner: “Pay special attention to the main page of your online store. Place the best offers on it, brief information about the terms of delivery and payment. Don’t forget that your site is intended for sales, so focus the attention of visitors on this."

"When creating an online store, it is important to remember that the main page should be sales-oriented. Move information about the company to a separate menu item, and on the main page highlight best sellers, products promotions and information about the terms of payment and delivery. This way you will attract more customers and increase the conversion of your online store." - Giles Lester, eBay expert.

📊 Review: It is important to pay special attention to the main page of the online store. Don't let blocks of non-sales-related information take up the bulk of your home page. Place the emphasis on sales by highlighting bestsellers and promotional items. Brief information about the terms of payment and delivery should also be visible. Use the option of a separate menu item for information about the company.

3. Error when registering on the online store website and how to avoid problems

If you think that registration on the website of an online store this is something mandatory and increases the likelihood of purchasing goods, then you are very mistaken. The number of payment refusals, the number of abandoned carts and purchases that were not picked up from the pickup point are the same for both registered and unregistered customers. It all comes down to one simple truth: if a person needs a product, he will buy it, and if he doesn’t need it, he will not make a purchase. Believing that simply having a client's email automatically guarantees a deal would be too naive.

However, it is very easy to lose customers due to the lack of the ability to buy without registration. There are several main reasons for this. Firstly, some potential buyers will turn away as soon as they are asked to register before making a purchase. They will simply go to a site that does not require mandatory registration. However, there is a more dangerous consequence.

Imagine the following situation. A client visits the website of an online auto parts store. He needs to purchase a dozen or one and a half products of different categories. He spends a lot of time and effort searching for the right SKUs, selecting budget replacements for each item, and adding them to the cart. A person does a great job when selecting auto parts. However, at the last moment, when he is finally ready to place an order, the message “You must register to place an order” appears on the screen. At this point, the customer may experience disappointment and irritation, since he spent a lot of time and energy choosing products, but the system turned out to be inconvenient for making a purchase without prior registration. The customer may lose interest in the products, and even if they return to the site another time, they will be much less likely to make a purchase.

This is just one of the non-obvious mistakes that many business owners make when creating an online store. It is important to realize that the simplicity of the purchasing process without registration is a key component of the effectiveness of online trading. Offer your customers the opportunity to make a purchase without registering, and then, after a successful order, invite them to register. This approach will help increase the number of transactions and retain customers.

To sum it up: What to do and what not to do

Regardless of whether you are already the owner of an online store or are just planning to open your business in the online sphere, you should remember that the simplicity of the purchasing process for customers is one of the main components of a successful online store. Be attentive to your customers' needs and consider their opinions when developing your site's registration policies. This will help you avoid one of the unobvious mistakes and create a convenient space for online shopping.

At the end of the day, the success of your online store depends on how satisfied your customers are with your service. Don't forget to analyze and optimize the purchasing process on your site based on their needs and expectations. This is the only way your business can thrive and compete successfully in today's online market.

Don't forget to visit our article about rules for promotions in the online store. This will help you make purchases even more profitable and get promotional items.

"Giving customers the opportunity to make a purchase without having to register is one of the key factors in turning your website visitors into loyal customers" - Mei Zen, Internet Marketing Expert at AliExpress.

Don't forget that every detail is important in creating a successful online store. Be professional, informative and reliable and you will secure your place in the online business.

4. Error in grouping products in the catalog and its impact on conversion

In the world of online stores, there are many errors that can seriously affect the conversion and success of your business. One of these non-obvious mistakes is the incorrect grouping of products in the catalog. In this section, we'll go into detail about why such a mistake can negatively impact your sales and how to avoid it.

Grouping products in the catalog: the client's view of the world

Before we get started To analyze the error, consider an example to better understand its essence. Let's say you sell vacuum cleaners. One of the aspects you decide to focus on when grouping products is their capacity. Do you think that dividing vacuum cleaners into subgroups depending on their power is a logical solution. Therefore, luxury vacuum cleaners with a power of 1700 watts are placed next to inexpensive vacuum cleaners with a power of 1800 watts, and so on.

Now imagine yourself as a simple housewife who came to your site looking for a vacuum cleaner. She has no concept of power and is not interested in the details of technical specifications. She is looking for an affordable vacuum cleaner from a popular brand, such as Philips. However, she is unlikely to be able to quickly find what she needs in your catalog. Instead, she will be faced with mixed brands of vacuum cleaners of different capacities and will spend more time searching.

Product grouping in the customer's world: best practices

To successfully group products in a catalog, it is important to be guided by customer expectations and needs. Here are some best practices to help you avoid product grouping mistakes:

1. Find out how customers search for products. Research the behavior of your target audience and understand what criteria they use when choosing a product. For example, as we already mentioned, a housewife may be interested in price and brand, rather than technical characteristics.

2. Use categories and subcategories. Create a logical catalog structure that separates products into categories and subcategories. For example, the category "Irons" may include subcategories "Automatic irons", "Steam irons", etc.
   
   

3. Set up product filters. Filters are a powerful tool for simplifying the product selection process. Allow customers to filter products based on various parameters such as brand, price, features, etc. This will help them find the products they need quickly.

4. Study competitors' websites. Sometimes the best way to avoid mistakes is to watch how others do it and learn from their experiences. Study the websites of competitors, especially large ones, and pay attention to their grouping of products in the catalog.

Summary

Grouping products in a catalog is an important aspect of creating an effective online store. A grouping error can negatively impact conversions and the success of your business. Consider customer needs, highlight categories and subcategories, set up filters and study the experience of competitors. This is the only way you can create a convenient and understandable catalog that will help customers quickly find and purchase products.

Give your customers convenience and choice. Start by grouping products in the customer's world!

"Grouping products in your catalog is a key step in creating a user-friendly online store. Consider customer needs and follow best grouping practices to achieve maximum conversion and satisfaction needs of your target audience." - Margarita Vorontsova, Internet marketing expert at ELBUZ.

Share this information with other entrepreneurs to help them avoid mistakes in product grouping in online stores. Encourage them to register on the site to get full access to exclusive content and tips for running a successful business!

The table below shows the main recommendations for successful grouping of products in the catalog:

Now you have all the knowledge you need to successfully group products in your catalog and avoid mistakes that can negatively impact your online store. Continue to improve your business and satisfy your customers' needs!

5. Incorrectly configured filters and search

Imagine that you are looking for an iron in an online store. You need a simple and clear way to find the product you are interested in. However, many entrepreneurs make the fatal mistake of complicating the search process for buyers.

How to create effective filters and searches?

1. Group products correctly

   Group products by basic characteristics, such as price, brand and functionality. For example, when searching for an iron, a user can select filters by price and availability of a steam function. This will help customers find what they need quickly and effortlessly.
   
   

2. Avoid unnecessary filters and complex options

   Don't overload the search engine and filters with unnecessary and confusing options. Filters like “best price guarantee” or “additional offers” often do not inspire confidence among buyers and can discourage them from purchasing. Remember that the main goal of filters and search is to make the search process easier for buyers, not to complicate it.

3. Relevant search results

   The search should return products that are relevant to the user's query. If a customer is searching for irons, the search engine should show a page of irons, not related products such as ironing boards or ski irons. Be attentive to the relevance of search results and do not overload them with unnecessary information.

How to avoid these mistakes?

• Do a user test

  Ask real users to test your online store and evaluate the usability of filters and search. Their feedback will help you identify weaknesses and make the necessary changes.

• Turn to the Experts

  Consult with experienced e-commerce specialists or UX designers. They will be able to provide useful tips on optimizing filters and search, as well as share some insights based on their professional experience.
  
  

Don't forget that a convenient and effective filter and search is a guarantee of satisfied customers and successful development of your online store.

6. Legal restrictions when creating an online store

Developing and launching your own online store is exciting and a promising enterprise. However, in addition to many unobvious mistakes, there are also legal restrictions that can affect the success of your business. In this section, we'll look at some important laws to consider when setting up an online store and demonstrate effective ways to avoid unpleasant consequences.

Advertising Law and its significance for an online store

Advertising Law is one of the key legislative documents regulating advertising activities on the Internet. Correct understanding and compliance with this law are of great importance for the successful development of your online store.

Rules for mailings and SMS notifications

According to the law, you do not have the right to make advertising mailings without the express consent of each person. This applies to both email newsletters and SMS notifications. If you start sending promotional emails to everyone registered on your site, you risk facing significant fines and problems with regulatory authorities.

A reminder for your online store:

• Always obtain customer consent before sending any advertising.
• To obtain consent to subscribe, use a clear and understandable order form.
• Do not use purchased databases for mailings - this violates the law and may lead to negative consequences.

Restrictions on the use of certain terms

The second aspect of advertising law that you should pay attention to is the restrictions on the use of certain terms, especially in relation to competitors. To protect consumers and prevent unfair competition, the law prohibits the use of certain expressions and terms in advertising materials.

For example, you cannot use false information about competitors' services or products in a negative way. You should also avoid using insults, derogatory language and lies towards competitors.

Law on the processing of personal data and its significance

Another important aspect that online store owners should not ignore is the law on the processing of personal data. Successfully complying with this law can help you avoid significant fines and customer problems.

The main provisions of the law are related to the mandatory consent of the client to the processing of his personal data. Any information you collect from customers, such as email addresses, names, phone numbers, etc., requires prior consent from users.

A reminder for your online store:

• Always be explicit the purpose of collecting personal data and seek consent from the client.
• Ensure the security of storage and processing of personal data to prevent information leaks.
• When requesting data, indicate which data is mandatory and which is optional.

Effective ways to avoid problems

In order to avoid troubles and protect your online stores, we recommend taking the following precautions:

1. Carefully study the legislation and rules governing the operation of an online store. If you are not confident in your knowledge, seek advice from a specialist.
2. Create a clear and accessible privacy policy and mailing policy on your website. Be clear about what information you collect and how you will process it.
3. Pay attention to automation tools that will help you transparently and efficiently collect and process customer personal data.
4. Monitor changes in legislation and update your policies and procedures as required.

And remember, compliance with legal requirements is not just a formality, but the key to the successful development of your online store.

Expert Comment:

"Legal restrictions are one of the important aspects to consider when creating an online store. Failure to comply with laws can lead to significant fines and problems with regulatory authorities. Therefore, online store owners need to be aware of current requirements and apply appropriate precautions." - Svyatoslav Kostenko, e-commerce expert at Prom.

Your online store can undoubtedly become successful business if you take into account and comply with the rules established by law. Be professional, follow the law and build trust with your clients.

Don't forget to read our article on creating a working email database from scratch for more details on collection and use of email addresses.

The information presented in this text does not constitute legal advice. Therefore, it is recommended that you consult with an attorney or subject matter expert to ensure compliance with specific legal requirements.

7. The site is not optimized for mobile devices

Avoid a mistake that can greatly affect the success of your online store. When your site looks great on a desktop computer but is poorly responsive on mobile devices, it can turn off visitors. Blocks may be placed unattractively, labels may break off, and various modules may cover each other. This kind of user experience can cause users to leave your site forever.

Moreover, you should remember that some categories of your target audience, for example, young people, prefer to make purchases from mobile devices. If you don't want to miss out on these customers, you should create an online store website that will work adequately on any gadget.

In order for your website to display correctly on mobile devices, it is important to choose the right platform for developing an online store. There are many designers and CMSs that are initially adapted for creating mobile-friendly websites. If you are developing a website yourself from scratch, be sure to pay attention to this aspect.

In addition to choosing the right platform, you should pay attention to the following points to ensure that the mobile version of your site displays correctly:

1. Responsive Design: Use responsive design, which allows your site to automatically adjust to the user's device screen size. This way, the site will look attractive and work great on any device.

2. Image optimization: Make loading images fast and efficient by optimizing file sizes and using image formats that which guarantee quality at a minimum size.

3. Easy Navigation: Make sure site navigation is easy and intuitive for mobile device users. Avoid complex menus and make key sections and functions accessible from one screen.

4. Fast Page Loading: Optimize your site's page loading speed. Slow loading times can turn off visitors and increase purchase abandonment.

5. Testing and Analysis: Regularly test your site on various mobile devices to ensure it works correctly . Analyze visitor data and user behavior to identify weaknesses and make improvements.

Bottom line, creating a mobile-friendly online store is an integral part of a successful business. Remember that users may visit your site from different devices, and their satisfaction and usability of your site play an important role in their purchasing decision.

To learn more about increasing conversion rates in your online store, check out our article "What is conversion and how to increase it?". This will give you valuable tips and tricks to increase the efficiency of your business.

"Mobile optimization is not just a trend, but a prerequisite for a successful online store. These days, more and more people are shopping on mobile devices, and the user experience plays a role in this key role. Don't miss the opportunity to improve the customer experience and get closer to your audience" - Anna Dovzhko, e-commerce expert at Epicenter.

Review:

8. Contextual advertising settings errors

When you run an advertising campaign in Yahoo Gemini Ads or Google Adwords, you need to take into account one important detail - your link from the ad unit should not lead directly to your website. It sounds strange, but let us explain why this is so. Instead, for advertising to be effective, you need to create a special landing page called Landing page. It is a separate portal intended exclusively for selling goods or collecting contact information. The purpose of this page is to sell and nothing else. Thus, the link from the contextual advertising block should lead the user directly to the product card or section where the desired product is sold, and not to the main page of the online electronics store, where the user will still have to look for the required product.

The client should be able to buy the product in a couple of clicks after clicking on the advertising link. If he is interested in buying an iron, then he should immediately go to the page with the iron product card or, alternatively, a section dedicated to the sale of irons. If the ad unit leads the user directly to the main page of the online store, where the product still needs to be searched for, the ad will not work effectively.

Of course, there are various variations and exceptions. If your goal is to attract new customers, you can use a different strategy and redirect them to a general product offer page or the most popular section of your store. However, in most cases, to achieve the best results, it is better to use special landing pages that will direct the user directly to the product that interested him in the advertising unit.

Thus, correct setup of contextual advertising, use of special landing pages and selection of the most suitable links for advertising units will lead to an increase in conversion and a successful advertising campaign.

Examples of using contextual advertising:

1. Online store structure: how to properly distribute products in the catalog?

In this article you will find information on how to properly organize the structure of an online store and place products in the catalog.

8 non-obvious mistakes when creating an online store and how to avoid them

Conclusion: guaranteed ways to create a successful online store store

Let's draw conclusions. So, when opening an online store, take care of the following:

1. Choose a reliable platform to create an online store. For example, the ELBUZ platform provides reliability, protection against DDoS attacks, technical support and all the necessary functionality for the successful start of your business. Link to ten tips on how to beat your competitors in online trading: competitors.

2. Emphasize the selling component of the site. Create a high-quality, user-friendly interface that clearly demonstrates the benefits of your products or services. Use attractive images, selling descriptions and easy navigation.

3. Be careful when registering on the website. Don't make it mandatory, but give the client the right to choose. Simplify and speed up the registration process. Allow you to log in to the site through social networks or offer to make a purchase without registration.

4. Create a catalog of goods and services taking into account the interests of the client. Divide products into categories that will be understandable to your target audience. Use clear and accurate category and subcategory names so that the customer can quickly find the product they need.

5. Create convenient filters and a search function for the site. Pay attention to ease of navigation and the ability to quickly search through the product catalog. Develop convenient filters that allow customers to select products based on various parameters.

6. Comply with advertising and privacy laws. This is critical to building trust with clients. Check the current laws and regulations and make sure your online store complies with them.

7. Optimize your online store for mobile devices. In the modern world, most users make purchases through mobile devices. Make sure your site displays and works well on a variety of devices.

8. Set up contextual advertising correctly. Use strategies that are specific to your business. Determine your keywords and audience to achieve the best results.

It is important to understand that creating a successful online store takes time and effort. However, using the approaches and recommendations discussed above, you can avoid many of the mistakes that are often encountered when starting a new business.

Don't forget that a successful online store is the result of constant optimization and improvement. Follow the recommendations and guidance of experts in the field, and soon your online store will become a thriving enterprise.

Entrust your business to a reliable platform, pay attention to the wishes of the client, comply with the laws, and do not forget about advertising. Your online store is doomed to success!

Frequently asked questions on the topic: 8 non-obvious mistakes when creating an online store and effective ways to avoid them:

1. How to choose the right platform or type of website for an online store?

2. Why is the focus on sales so important for an online store website?

3. Is it possible to allow customers to buy goods without registering on the site?

4. What to do if an online store has an inconvenient catalog?

5. How to set up effective search and filters on an online store website?

6. How to avoid legal mistakes when creating an online store?

7. How to optimize an online store website for mobile devices?

8. What contextual advertising settings are considered incorrect for an online store?

Conclusion: What are 8 non-obvious mistakes when creating an online store and effective ways to avoid them

🎉 Thanks for reading! You are becoming a professional! 🚀

Now that you have mastered the knowledge of 8 non-obvious mistakes when creating an online store and effective ways to avoid them, you are a true expert in this field! 🌟

With this information, you can confidently begin creating your own online store and avoid potential problems that arise at the initial stage.

Remember this forever: building a successful business is a combination of creativity, analysis and skill. Use your skills to attract, engage and satisfy your clients, and the results will follow!

So get ready for your journey into the world of e-commerce where your dreams will turn into reality, your business will flourish and your name will become known in the world of e-commerce. Good luck to you and may your sales always be at their best! 💰💼

Best wishes 🤝