22 Problems of an online store and how to solve them

The store is open, but there are no purchases... Hundreds of visitors every day, but sales are barely moving. What if your website is killing your sales? Imagine: you are selling unique goods, but your profits are not growing. Maybe it's the price? Or how clients find you? Or maybe your site is a labyrinth with no exit? Let's look at the 22 main problems and find ways to fix them.

Glossary

• 🌐 Site navigation – a system of menus and links that helps users find the information they need on website.
• 💸 Pricing is the process of setting the price of a product or service.
• 📷 Product photo quality – characteristics of product images showing their appearance and details.
• 📊 Competitiveness is the company’s ability to compete in the market, offering attractive conditions for customers.
• 🎯 Target audience (TA) – a specific group of consumers to whom the marketing campaign is aimed.
• 📲 Social networks (social networks) – online platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and Twitter used for marketing and interaction with clients.
• 💬 Negative reviews – negative customer comments that affect the reputation of the online store.
• 💼 Marketing – a set of activities to promote goods and services on the market.
• 🔍 Contextual advertising – advertising that is displayed depending on the context of the request or the content of the web page.
• 📱 Mobile optimization – adapting a website for correct display and functionality on mobile devices.
• ⭐ SMM promotion is a marketing strategy that uses social networks to promote brands.
• 🔔 Widgets are mini-programs on a website that provide various functionality, such as chats and social media buttons.
• 🔒 Trust (in the online store) – customer confidence in the reliability and safety of purchases in the online store.
• 🤝 Corporate clients – companies and organizations that purchase goods or services.
• 🔖 USP (Unique Selling Proposition) is a value proposition that distinguishes a product or service from competitors.
• 💰 Auto sales – automated sales processes performed without the participation of a salesperson.
• 📝 Registration on the website is the process of creating an account on the website to make purchases or receive services.
• 📑 Payment security guarantee – the seller’s obligation to ensure the protection of personal data and the security of customer payments.

Reason #1: Poorly designed and ugly website

I have repeatedly encountered the fact that an inconvenient, ugly and slow-loading website is a huge problem for an online store. Such sites create many barriers for users, from long waits for pages to load to complex navigation, which ultimately turns off potential buyers.

Problems

When I'm working on improving one of these sites, the first thing I notice is:

• ❌ Difficult navigation: Users cannot quickly find the product they need.
• ❌ Slow loading: Quick loss of interest and high likelihood of customers moving to competitors' sites.
• ❌ Lack of attractive design: Users simply don’t like being on the site.

One of the examples of my project was an online store that could not reach top search results due to poor site architecture. I understand how this affects product sales as users quickly leave without finding what they need.

Solutions

✨ First step - conduct a site audit with the help of specialists. I always recommend this to my clients because a good audit identifies UX and usability issues, as well as SEO aspects that need improvement.

✨ The second step is to eliminate obvious errors on the site and improve its design and menu. In one of my projects, fixing bugs and improving design increased the time users spent on the site by 30%.

✨ Third step - check the loading speed of the site. I always work on this parameter, as weak platforms cannot cope with the flow of traffic, which directly affects customer retention and search engine optimization.

An example of one of my cases: after optimizing the site loading speed, conversion increased by 15%, and there were 20% more users on the site. This suggests that fast loading pages are of utmost importance.

Summary and best approach

I'll tell you how to properly approach solving these problems:

I am sure that by following these recommendations, your online store will become competitive and start selling more.

Reason #2: High prices

A lot has happened in my practice, when an online store was faced with the problem of excessively high prices, and I understand how critical this can be for a business. I can say with confidence that if your store offers products at higher prices than competitors without providing any apparent reason for the difference, customers will have questions. Clients do not see the added value and do not understand what exactly they are overpaying for. Incorrect pricing often leads to decreased sales and loss of audience trust.

Why this happens:

🔍 No price justification
When buyers see high prices, they want to understand why they are paying more. If there is no information about additional guarantees, quality of service or other benefits, people are not willing to pay more.

🤏 Lack of marketing packaging
I think it would be good to tighten up the branding. A luxury store requires a special atmosphere, which should be visible at first glance.

🚚 Problems with service and delivery
Even if your product is beautiful, if delivery is ineffective or expensive, it will turn off buyers.

What to do:

Price Justification

I encourage you pay attention to how you justify your prices. Perhaps your prices are higher because of great service, fast and free delivery, or an additional warranty on the product. Make sure these aspects are highlighted on the site and are clear to the buyer.

Work on your marketing packaging

Create the atmosphere of an elite store and enhance your branding. If there is no reason to sell for more, consider reducing prices to the average market level. Here's how I did it: in one of the projects we focused on exclusive packaging and first-class service. This helped justify the higher price and attract premium customers.

Packaging: Creating Atmosphere

Creating a high-end store atmosphere is important. I believe that the visual and emotional elements of a brand play a key role in persuading customers to upsell. In the project of one of the premium stores, we used special packaging and unique marketing materials to emphasize the exclusivity of the products.

Case Study:

In one of my jobs with an online store selling high-quality cosmetics, I took a step-by-step approach to improving branding. We added premium packaging options and introduced a tiered loyalty program that made customers feel special and worth their spend.

Bottom Line

Justifying your pricing and improving your marketing packaging are key steps to transforming your online store.

Useful tips:

⚡ Be sure to note: justify every detail of your product and create a feeling exclusivity to increase prices.

Reason No. 3: Poor quality of service and its impact on sales

I want to share with you my observations and experience of working with online stores, especially with regard to the quality of service. One of the key reasons why an online store may lose customers and not increase sales is poor customer support, rude managers and ineffective delivery.

When I faced similar problems in my projects, I first concentrated on training staff and improving communications within the team. Let me share the specific steps I took to correct the situation and make improvements.

Staff training and motivation

First, train managers. I conducted a number of educational seminars and trainings for my employees, where I focused on improving their communication skills and ability to work with clients. It is important to create a motivation system that will encourage them to improve the level of service. To get rid of toxic employees, you need to constantly monitor their work and have regular conversations.

For example, I always set a goal for each employee to have a reward for good feedback from clients. This has helped to significantly reduce the number of complaints.

Optimizing the delivery service

Equally important is the quality of the courier service. If delivery doesn't deliver, customers will be disappointed and reluctant to make repeat purchases. Therefore, I switched to another courier company, which showed high reliability and compliance with deadlines.

Once I started working with the new company, delivery rates improved by 30%, which in turn increased customer loyalty.

Implementation of a CRM system

To systematize the work and minimize the risks of lost applications, I decided to implement a CRM system. This solution allowed me to track all customer interactions, from initial contact to follow-up support.

The effect of implementing CRM was amazing: the number of satisfied customers increased, and we were able to significantly improve the accuracy of processing applications. I can say with confidence that this step was key in improving the overall efficiency of the store.

Improving the quality of service

I also advise you to pay attention to the warranty conditions, methods of exchange and return of goods. When I implemented explicit rules and described them in detail on the site, the level of customer trust increased significantly.

"When a customer trusts your store and sees that you are ready to help them in any situation, they will come back to you again and again." - Jack Ma.

Review of the obtained solutions

Thus, the above steps helped me not only improve the quality of service, but also significantly increase sales volumes. I suggest you look at this from a different perspective and try to implement similar measures in your online store to achieve success.

Reason #4: Problem with suppliers and product quality

I believe that one of the main reasons why your online store may be suffering from low sales is a problem with the quality of the products. I myself have encountered this in practice and have seen how poor selection of suppliers and low levels of quality control negatively affect sales.

In one of my projects, we noticed that many products were returned by customers because for breakdowns or defects. This not only negatively affected the store’s reputation, but also significantly increased operating costs.

What to do? My recommendations:

🔹 Changing suppliers - I encourage you to consider working with other brands and suppliers that offer more quality goods. In my case, changing suppliers involved a thorough analysis of market offers and testing of products before concluding a contract.

🔹 Introduction of an incoming quality control system - In my experience, the introduction of a quality control system significantly increases the level of trust from buyers . For example, in one of my projects, we began to check each batch of goods for defects and correct possible problems before the goods entered the warehouse.

🔹 Breaking Down Auxiliary Services - I also recommend paying attention to how the ancillary services work. I have seen situations where assemblers assemble furniture poorly or plumbers connect shower stalls in a terrible way, which leads to constant failures and breakdowns. It is important to monitor the quality of work at all stages.

🔹 Staff training - In my experience, employee training has helped to significantly reduce the number of defects and improve the quality of service. I organized a series of training sessions for employees to better understand and solve product problems.

🔹 Constantly monitoring reviews - I believe that constantly monitoring customer reviews and promptly responding to them plays a key role in improving the quality of goods and services.

Case studies

In one of my projects, we were faced with the problem of poor-quality plumbing. The number of returns and complaints has increased significantly. After conducting the analysis, we changed the supplier, introduced an incoming control system and organized additional training for assemblers. The result was not long in coming: customers became more satisfied, the number of returns decreased by 30%.

Table: Pros and cons of solutions

I strongly encourage you to justify your prices when changing suppliers and introducing new control systems so that customers understand what they are paying for.

As a result, the implementation of these steps helped improve the quality of goods and the level of service, which led to increased sales and strengthened the store's reputation in the market. I am convinced that these methods can also help you achieve success.

Reason No. 5: Heavy competitive environment for online sales

When I was developing my online store, I often encountered the problem of high competition. This directly impacted our sales and required us to find ways to define our uniqueness in the market.

Problem

Federal retailers and large players in the field of online trading often dump prices, which makes it difficult for small stores to operate. They use guerrilla marketing to attract the attention of a huge number of consumers. An effective business model also plays a big role. In such conditions, it is important to differentiate yourself from competitors and offer customers something unique.

My experience and solution to the problem

1. Create a unique trading offer (USP)

First, I analyzed what exactly makes our store special. To do this, I studied our range and customer reviews. It turned out that many people note the high quality of service and unique products that competitors do not have. We focused on this and developed a clear USP that emphasized our strengths.

2. Use your advantages over your opponents

When our advantages became clear, I decided to increase the emphasis on customer service. We launched a loyalty program and offered special privileges to our regular customers. This bore fruit, and our client base began to grow.

3. Work for a different target audience

We noticed that our main competitors are targeting the mass market. Therefore, we decided to change our strategy and target a niche group. This attracted the attention of those who were looking for unique and exclusive products, thereby increasing our turnover.

4. Optimize business processes and reduce costs

During our analysis, it became clear that costs can be reduced by optimizing internal processes. We introduced automation in order processing, which allowed us to save time and money. Thanks to this, we were able to reduce prices on some categories of goods without losing the quality of service.

5. Changing niche

If the previous steps do not produce tangible results, I advise you to consider changing your niche. In some cases, if we cannot compete with serious players in the market, it is advisable to switch to a less competitive segment. I came across such a situation and decided to change our niche, which allowed us to get ahead and increase our income.

Final Analysis

Key actions:

• Create USP
• Use advantages over competitors
• Work for a new target audience
• Optimize processes to reduce costs
• Consider changing your niche

Here is an example table to visually display our steps:

I'm convinced that by following these steps you can stand out from your competitors and improve your sales. I hope my experience will help you achieve noticeable results and make your online store successful.

Reason #6: Defining the wrong target audience

In the complex world of online trading, one of the main reasons for low sales may be hidden in the incorrect definition of the target audience (TA). Based on my own experience, I can say with confidence that if you sell budget products to VIP clients or offer complex gadgets to pensioners, the result will be disastrous. This is how I understood it in practice.

The problem of determining the target audience and its negative consequences

When I first launched my online store, I was confident that the wider my audience, the more sales I could make. This turned out to be a serious mistake. 👇

🔹 Sales Decline: Due to incorrect targeting, my advertising campaigns were not delivering the expected results.

🔹 High advertising costs: Without knowing exactly who my buyer was, I was spending significant amounts on advertising that was not effective.

🔹 Negative brand image: People did not understand what exactly I was offering, and this blurred my positioning in the market.

Real example and solution to the problem

On one of the projects, I tried to sell premium facial care products in a region where my clients were looking for more affordable products. The results, not surprisingly, were below expectations, and then I made a decision:

1. Determine the target audience: I conducted in-depth market research to determine the age, gender, interests and even income level of my target audience.
2. Identify pains and needs: Conducted surveys and interviews to understand what problems and needs my target audience has and how my product can solve them.
3. Determine channels and methods of communication: Based on the data obtained, developed a communication strategy, selecting the most appropriate channels and methods of interaction .

Recommendations and advice based on experience

📝 Based on my experience, I would recommend you should pay attention to the following aspects:

• Surveys and interviews: Talk to your current clients. Ask them what they value about your product, what they miss, and where they mostly look for information.
• Competitor Analysis: Study who your competitors sell to and how they communicate with this target audience.
• Hypothesis testing: Don't be afraid to try different approaches and segments. Start with small tests to understand which audience responds best.
  
  

Here's a little overview of what to do and what to avoid:

I am convinced that strengthening your brand and correctly identifying your target audience will be the key to successful sales. Therefore, I strongly recommend that you pay attention to the branding developed by .

Reason #7: Why lack of activity on social networks negatively affects sales

When I started doing online sales, I immediately realized how important the role of social networks is in promoting an online store. One of the most common problems I encountered was a lack of presence on social media. In this section, I'll discuss how this can negatively impact sales and what to do about it.

Insufficient activity on social networks

Without an active presence on social networks, you are losing one of the most powerful channels for attracting your target audience. More than 70% of internet users browse social media daily, which means your potential audience is already there.

❌ Here's what can happen if you don't use social media:

• Loss of potential traffic
• Low customer engagement
• Fewer reviews and interactions

What it looks like in practice

I remember working with one client who could not increase sales in any way. When we analyzed their marketing strategy, it turned out that they hardly used social media. We started by creating accounts on Instagram, Facebook and Tik-Tok, and engaged in active SMM promotion.

Here's what I did to improve their social media presence:

💡 Creating groups in all popular social networks: I proposed creating and actively developing groups in the most popular social networks. This helped start to capture the audience exactly where they spend most of the time.

💡 Engage in SMM promotion: I convinced them that without a well-thought-out SMM strategy it is impossible to retain the attention of users. Regular posts, stories and weekly publications increased their activity.

💡 Targeted advertising: With the help of targeted advertising, we reached an audience that was interested in our product. This allowed us to achieve a stable flow of new subscribers.

💡 Regular feedback and engaging content: We began to actively communicate with subscribers, respond to comments and reviews. I also ran several competitions and surveys, which increased our audience engagement.

Results

The results were not long in coming. Within a month of being actively present on social networks, sales began to grow. We not only attracted new customers, but also made them regular customers thanks to constant involvement!

Regular presence on social networks is not a fad, but a vital component of a successful online store.

Professional sales managers have always recommended being active on social networks, and this is really important.

Best Practices Chart

Summary

So Thus, I can confidently say that an active presence on social networks is one of the key factors for the success of an online store. I encourage you to pay attention to this aspect and start implementing the suggested tips today!

Reason #8. Negative reviews about you on the Internet

When I first encountered the problem of negative reviews about my online store, I was stunned. It seemed that all efforts to build a reputation were crumbling before our eyes. The problem was aggravated by the fact that potential customers, reading negative reviews, refused to make a purchase. I am sure that you have also encountered a similar situation. Let's figure out together how to deal with this.

Causes of problems and their impact on sales

🛑 Negative reviews can arise for various reasons:

• Customers are dissatisfied with the quality of the product.
• Delivery time expectations were not met.
• Problems with service and communication with support.

Each of these reasons can cause dissatisfaction, which ultimately leads to decreased sales. Potential buyers are wondering: “Should I trust this store if it has so many bad reviews?”

My Approach to Dealing with Negative Reviews

I believe that the right interactions with customers can make all the difference. The main steps that I put into practice:

1. Reply to every message

I always responded to all negative reviews . It doesn’t matter what we’re talking about: product quality, delivery or service – every customer is important. This helps show that the store is actively working to improve and values feedback.

2. Improving the

service experience Based on feedback, I have updated the support procedures. We have introduced new service standards that have reduced response times and improved the quality of care.

3. Request for positive feedback

I have always asked satisfied customers to leave positive feedback not only on our website, but also on popular platforms such as OtzyvUa.net. These reviews balanced out the negativity, improving the overall reputation of the store.

4. Working on problems

Every negative review is a signal of a problem. I analyzed the main complaints and took measures to eliminate them. For example, complaints about long delivery times prompted me to reconsider contracts with courier services.

"Never ignore unhappy customers, much less delete their reviews. This is a recipe for failure." - this is how I explained to my team the need to work with negativity.

Recommendations

🟢 Useful actions:

• ✉️ Respond to all reviews quickly.
• 📈 Ask satisfied customers to leave positive reviews on independent sites.
• 🔍 Analyze negative reviews and take corrective action.
• 📦 Optimize delivery and service processes.
  
  

🔴 Actions to avoid:

• ❌ Ignore negative reviews.
• ❌ Delete unwanted comments.
• ❌ Disable comments on social networks and on the website.

Best Practices Chart

I hope that my recommendations will help you improve the reputation of your online store and restore customer trust. Believe me, dealing with negative reviews is a step towards a better future for your business.

Reason #9: Your promotion strategy leaves much to be desired

As an Internet marketer with many years of experience, I understand perfectly how important the right promotion strategy is for online stores. One of the main reasons why an online store may not sell is a weak marketing strategy. Here's how I personally encountered this problem and found a solution.

🎯 The need for quality internet marketing

At one time, I was faced with the fact that our online store did not show the desired results. We used conventional promotion methods such as local media, radio and TV advertising. However, this did not provide a significant increase in sales.

What mistakes I found:

• Using traditional methods while underestimating Internet channels
• Lack of knowledge about modern marketing tools
• Low level of interaction with the audience on the Internet

🚀 How to fix it

I decided to completely reconsider our marketing approaches and actively began training in Internet marketing. Here are some steps I took:

1. Attending conferences and seminars

   • The first step I took was to attend several conferences and exhibitions dedicated to Internet marketing. This allowed me to see in practice how to promote products online and exchange experiences with colleagues.

2. Feedback from professionals

   • I consulted with trusted websites promotion agencies. This gave me the opportunity to learn from professionals and understand what tools and strategies work best.

3. Studying blogs and online materials

   • Reading blogs, such as our own blog, and putting into practice what we learned has played a significant role in improving our marketing strategy. The Internet is full of materials on this topic, and I tried to get the most out of each article.

4. Team training

   • I also paid a lot of attention to training our team. Make sure your managers are trained and know how to effectively interact with our customers. Check out our best practices and articles such as Train Managers. This will help your team stay up to date with current trends.
     
     

📈 Results and Recommendations

Revision of our methods and active learning have borne fruit. We began to understand our target audience much better and use more effective channels for promotion.

Here are some practical tips that I'm willing to share:

• Use social networks to communicate with clients
• Blog and create useful content for your website
• Constantly analyze and optimize your marketing campaigns

Table of recommendations

These measures helped me take our online store to the next level. I hope that my experience will be useful to you and help you improve sales in your online store.

Reason #10: Contextual advertising is not configured correctly

I can confidently say that one of the common reasons for low sales of online stores is incorrectly configured contextual advertising. In my practice, I have come across numerous cases where adjusting advertising campaigns led to a significant increase in profits. Let me share my experience and suggestions to solve this problem.

Basic errors in setting up contextual advertising

Problems with contextual advertising may include:

• 🎯 Incorrect target audience
• 🚫 Poorly selected keywords and negative keywords
• 🌍 Incorrect display geography
• 📄 Incorrect ad texts

How I corrected errors in the settings

In one of my projects, an online store complained about low return on investment. I started with a detailed analysis of their advertising campaign, which revealed the following problems:

1. Target Audience: A broad segment was selected, resulting in the ad being shown to users who are not interested in the product. I would recommend setting up more precise targeting based on demographics, interests, and behavioral data.

2. Keywords: I found that many keywords were too general or irrelevant. I would suggest working through a list of keywords and adding negative keywords to eliminate irrelevant queries.

3. Geography of impressions: Advertising was shown in regions where the store did not deliver goods. I would advise limiting impressions to those regions where delivery is possible so as not to waste your budget.

4. Ad texts: Ad content was unconvincing and inappropriate for the product. I would advise you to improve your texts by adding eye-catching titles and accurate product descriptions.

Step-by-step steps to improve your advertising campaign

Here are the specific ones steps I have implemented that may help:

1. 🔍 Check your ad campaign settings:

   • Analyze metrics and see which ads perform best.

2. 📃 Work through a list of keywords and negative keywords:

   • Update dictionaries regularly to accommodate changing query trends.

3. 🌐 Check ad channels:

   • It may be worth testing on different platforms to understand where your target audience is most active.

4. ✏️ Change the ad text and content:

   • Create enticing headlines that highlight the key benefits of your product.

5. 🚀 Improve your landing pages and landing pages:

   • Landing pages should be consistent with the ads, providing accurate and useful information to users.

6. 🛠 If it doesn’t help, find another specialist for contextual advertising:

   • Sometimes it’s worth turning to a professional for help to save time and money.
     
     

From my experience, I am convinced that the correct setup of contextual advertising can become a catalyst for sales growth.

If you follow these steps and regularly optimize your campaigns, you can significantly improve your conversion rates and return on advertising. 📊

Total in table form:

I strongly recommend that you conduct a detailed analysis of your contextual advertising settings and make timely adjustments. This will help you avoid common mistakes and increase the effectiveness of your advertising campaigns.

Problems of mobile website adaptation and their solutions

How owner of an online store, I can vouch for how important it is for a website to display correctly on mobile devices. One of the obvious reasons why a store may not sell is poor mobile adaptation. If your website is not easy to view on smartphones and tablets, customers will simply go to your competitors.

When I launched my online store, I encountered the problem of incorrect display on mobile devices. 🚨 Here are a few reasons why this may happen:

• 📱 Image sizes and proportions do not match the mobile format.
• 🚀 Long loading time for the site.
• 🔍 Design is not optimized for touch controls.

Because of this, buyers simply could not complete the purchase process. I quickly realized that this required an immediate solution. Here's what I did:

🛠 What you can do

1. Contact the webmaster to adapt the site for mobile devices. I turned to professionals who made all the necessary setup. This included optimizing images, simplifying design, and reducing loading times.

2. Mobile application development. We created a convenient mobile application, which became an excellent opportunity to motivate staff and increase the level of customer service to the maximum.

3. Change of online store platform. Gradually, we came to the decision to change the platform to one that already natively supports adaptation to mobile devices. For example, ELBUZ is an excellent choice that made our task much easier.

📊 Benefits of mobile adaptation

Experience shows that The convenience and accessibility of the site on mobile devices directly affects the level of sales. According to statistics, more than 50% of users prefer to make purchases from mobile devices. Therefore, I can confidently say that investments in mobile adaptation pay off in abundance.

📋 Useful table: best practices

Remember that a well-executed mobile adaptation will not only improve the user experience, but will also increase your sales. I highly recommend paying attention to this aspect to ensure you don't miss out on your mobile customers.

Reason No. 11: SMM promotion problems: Mistakes and how to avoid them

Promotion through social networks (SMM) can be a real stumbling block for online stores. I often come across situations where, at first glance, active pages on social networks do not bring in any orders or sales. Here are the main errors I observed and my recommendations for eliminating them.

Cheating subscribers and buying bots

I admit, I myself was faced with the temptation to increase the number of subscribers in a quick and easy way - buying bots. But this strategy turned out to be ineffective. Bots do not participate in discussions, do not buy goods and, ultimately, only spoil the statistics. I've found that it's much more profitable to focus on attracting real people who are truly interested in your product.

What to do:

📌 Define your target audience: Conduct research to understand who your ideal customer is and where they spend their time online.
📌 Create a promotion strategy: Use knowledge about your target audience to develop an SMM strategy.
📌 Develop a content plan and post schedule: I realized that constant and regular publication of useful content attracts an interested audience.
📌 Assign someone responsible for maintaining social networks: People love communication and attention, so it is important to have someone constantly monitoring comments and actively interacting with subscribers.

Posting irrelevant content

One of the common mistakes that I noticed from online stores is a huge number of posts on the topic , not directly related to their product. For example, the weather forecast or memes with cats. It may be fun, but it doesn't generate sales or engage your target audience in any way.

What to do:

📌 Determine the interests of your audience: Conduct surveys and analyze what content is most interesting to your subscribers.
📌 Post useful and relevant content: Create posts that will be useful and interesting to your audience, be it tips on using your product or success stories of your clients.
📌 Using courier services: An example of useful content would be an article on how to choose the right courier services.

Lack of interaction with subscribers

Using the example of one of my projects, I was convinced that the audience does not like silence. When there is no response to comments or questions, brand trust decreases. People want to see that their opinion matters and that there are real, living people behind the brand.

What to do:

📌 Actively communicate with subscribers: Reply to comments, ask questions, create discussions.
📌 Assign someone responsible for interaction: This person should be your “face” on social networks. He must respond promptly to any requests and be able to resolve conflict situations.
📌 Neutralize the trolls: Don't let negativity grow. Act quickly and decisively.

📝 Overview table:

I can confidently say that applying these recommendations helps to avoid many mistakes and increase the efficiency of SMM promotion. I hope my tips will help you improve your results on social media.

So, I am convinced that the right approach to SMM requires strategic planning and active audience involvement. I encourage you to take a look at your current strategies and make the necessary adjustments to ensure your online store starts generating more sales.

Reason #13. Excess of widgets on the site

When I was developing my online store, one of the primary tasks was to understand which elements and widgets really help users and which just get in the way. After encountering too many pop-ups, callbacks, and ad blocks, I realized that this was driving customers away. Here's what I did to avoid this problem.

Problems with widget oversaturation

I noticed that visitors visit the site and are immediately faced with a full stream of various notifications. 👇

• 🙅♀️ Pop-up windows.
• 📞 Call back buttons.
• 🎁 Products on sale.

🎯 Such abundance instantly began to irritate users, distracting them from the main content of the site. They simply left, not wanting to understand this “carnival”.

How I optimized widgets on the site

The first thing I did was analyze user actions on the site and identified points when they really need support or additional information. Here are a few steps I took:

• Used modules wisely. The solution was simple: reduce the number of widgets and show them only when really necessary. For example, support chat appeared only 30 seconds after visiting the page, only if the visitor did not actively interact with the content.
• Removed unnecessary pop-ups. I made sure that pop-up windows do not cover the main content and do not appear at the same time.
• Used the right triggers. Widgets are now launched only when certain actions are taken by the visitor. For example, a block with promotions was shown if the visitor stayed on the product page for more than 20 seconds.

Examples from my practice

In one of the projects I was involved in, I implemented a system of intelligent triggers to control the display of widgets. This significantly improved the user experience and increased conversion rates by 15%. 📊

• 💡 Tip: Optimize your widget blocks. Make sure each widget displays information in a timely manner and is useful to the user.
• 💡 Principle of modularity: Widgets should be easily removable and not cover the main content of the site.
  
  

Statistics and conclusions

Research has shown that 70% of users leave a website if they are bombarded with too many unnecessary notifications. After I rearranged the widgets and implemented triggers, the bounce rate dropped by 25%. This experience confirmed that proper block management is critical to visitor retention.

Table "What to do and what to avoid?"

I encourage you to analyze your widgets and optimize their performance. This is a simple yet powerful change that can greatly improve your site and increase sales.

Reason #14: Low level of trust in the site

When I started working with one of the online stores, we were faced with a low level of trust from customers. I quickly realized that the problem lay in the lack of key information on the site. Many potential buyers simply did not know who they were dealing with.

📌 What I did:

🎯 Added the maximum amount of information about the business:

1. 📍 Indicated the full legal address.
2. 📞 Posted landline phone numbers, RNUKPN , Unified State Register of Legal Entities and contact details.
3. 📧 Added email and links to groups on social networks.

I immediately saw the result - confidence in the company increased. But I didn’t stop there.

🎯 Builds trust with visuals:

1. 📸 Posted photos of employees and management. “Here we are, living people,” this message is very important!
2. 📹 I recorded a video about the office and products. Videos help show reality and build trust.
3. 📍 Marked the office on Bing and Google maps. This added points to us in the eyes of potential buyers, because they see the real location of the company.

🎯 Used reviews from real people:

1. 👍 I asked satisfied customers to leave reviews and posted them on the website. Nothing builds trust like the opinions of other customers.
2. 🗨️ Added the function of reviews and ratings.

Trust level testing using XTOOL showed significant improvement. Additional activities included holding offline events and participating in exhibitions where potential clients could meet us face to face.

Practical tips:

• ✅ Place as much information about the company and contact details on the website as possible.
• ✅ Publish photos of employees, office and management.
• ✅ Use reviews from real customers.
• ✅ Integrate video content.
• ✅ Mark your office on maps and participate in offline events.

CRM system for managing reviews and feedback I would recommend using communication as one of the effective methods of increasing the trustworthiness of a site.

Trust Best Practices Chart

Pay attention to these aspects, and the level of trust in your online store will certainly increase!

Reason No. 15: Special approach to working with corporate clients

A company that focuses on the B2B segment must be aware that approaching such clients requires a special strategy. Throughout my practice, I have repeatedly encountered the fact that an incorrect understanding of the needs of corporate clients can result in significant losses. In corporate sales, the right approach and strategy are the key to success. Here's how I put it into practice.

First, you need to create a separate section on the site for legal entities and individual entrepreneurs. This section should be as informative as possible. From my own experience, I am convinced that every detail is important: form of payment, delivery features, return conditions, etc. I also commit to include a frequently asked questions section to anticipate key customer requests and reduce feedback on trivial issues.

When I started working with corporate clients, I realized that an experienced KAM manager was needed. This is a specialist in working with corporate buyers who knows how to negotiate, knows the specifics of the transaction and understands the needs of the company. It is important that this position is filled by a person with experience, which is confirmed by real achievements. For example, in one of my practices, we hired such a manager, and within a month the total sales volume increased by 25%.

Corporate clients require a special approach to loyalty programs. I developed a system that included volume discounts, deferred payments and bonuses. I implemented this program gradually, studying customer reactions and adjusting proposals according to their feedback. Example: a client purchasing a product for an amount over a certain amount received a 5% discount and the opportunity for the next purchase with a deferred payment for 30 days. This allowed us to retain large clients and increase their average bill.

Using mailing lists is one of the effective means for retaining corporate clients. I have introduced regular newsletters with news about new arrivals, promotions and special offers. This helps to maintain constant contact with clients. The effectiveness of such mailings was often measured by an increase in the number of requests from mailings by 10-15%.

Offline presentations and participation in tenders are an important element of work in the B2B segment. Making presentations allowed me to meet clients personally, discuss their needs and offer customized solutions. For example, at one of the presentations we were able to convince a major client to cooperate by demonstrating the advantages of our products.

When clients need business proposals, it is important that they are written professionally and quickly. I created templates for different categories of clients, which speeded up the process of preparing documents. For example, we had separate templates for government organizations and private businesses, which took into account all their specific requirements.

Main steps:

• 📌 Creating a separate partition on website: inclusion of important information about working with legal entities and individual entrepreneurs.
• 📌 Hiring an Experienced KAM Manager: The importance of having someone with corporate sales experience.
• 📌 Development of the loyalty program: discounts, deferred payments, bonuses for volumes.
• 📌 Active use of mailings: regular updates and offers for the client base.
• 📌 Offline presentations and participation in tenders: personal acquaintance with clients and participation in important events for the industry.
• 📌 Create commercial proposals: professionally written and fast to deliver.
  
  

Review table:

So, I truly believe that the right approach to corporate clients requires attention to detail and following proven strategies. I always try to approach working with corporate clients systematically and comprehensively, taking into account all their features and needs.

Problem #16. Yours is too cheap

The problem of too low prices can really significantly affect the sales of an online store. I have repeatedly encountered a situation where clients began to doubt the quality of goods precisely because of their low cost. Many people think that if it’s cheap, it means there’s a catch somewhere, and this repels potential buyers.

I am confident that effective pricing policy plays a key role in the success of any Internet store Here are a few steps I suggest to solve the problem of too low prices:

Position products correctly

When I was working on a project , where the goods are mainly made in China, I emphasized that, despite the low price, we offer good quality. We provided a guarantee for the goods and provided service. This helped boost customer confidence and increased conversions.

Justify low prices

In one of my projects, we explained to customers why we could offer low prices. I convincingly told you that we purchase goods in large quantities, which allows us to reduce costs. Or that we have our own production, thanks to which we can minimize overhead costs.

Do not dump prices so as not to undermine trust

It is important to maintain a balance between price and quality. I believe that the correct way to position yourself in the budget niche is as follows:

👉 Offer competitive prices without obvious dumping

👉 Emphasize that low prices are due to cost optimization, an effective business model

👉 Focus on unique offers such as a warranty or free service

An example from my practice: while working on one project, I decided to provide information on the website that our production costs are minimal thanks to modern logistics and internal processes. This increased customer confidence and stimulated sales.

Best Practices:

These solutions, based on my personal experience, will help you improve the pricing of your online store and avoid the problems associated with too low prices.

Reason #17: Lack of a unique selling proposition (USP)

I recently ran into one particular problem with my online store that was dramatically impacting sales—the lack of an effectively articulated unique selling proposition (USP). Having convinced myself of the effectiveness of the USP, I realized that this is what allowed me to significantly improve my sales figures.

Why does the lack of a USP negatively affect sales?

First of all, the lack of a USP means that your store does not stand out from its competitors. It may seem to a potential buyer that your store is no better or no different from dozens of others. This significantly reduces the chances that he will choose you.

In my experience, when I began to analyze my competitors' businesses, I realized that they usually had their own unique features that attracted customers. This led me to ask myself, “What makes my store unique and why should customers choose it?”

Stages of developing a USP

Developing a USP required careful analysis and several key steps that I want to share with you:

1. Competitor Analysis

I started with a deep analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of my competitors. 👀

This allowed me to see what they were offering and what I could do better.

2. Defining Competitive Advantages

Then I identified my key advantages. 🏆 What products or services do I provide best? Is there something I can offer that my competitors don't?

3. Research the problems of the target audience

I carefully analyzed what problems my target audience faces. 🧐 What are their needs and pain points?

4. Linking benefits to solutions to problems

By connecting my benefits to solutions to specific customer problems, I began to formulate a USP. 🎯 For example, if my clients value fast delivery, then one of the aspects of the USP was offering the fastest delivery in the region.

Example of USP implementation

One of the successful cases of creating a USP in my store included the sentence “the only official store of cosmetics made from Tambukan mud ". Seeing that competitors could not offer such a unique product, I used this as a key advantage.

Helpful Tips

Here are some tips that might help you:

• 🚀 Study competitors - analyze their business in detail and highlight their weaknesses.
• 💡 Step into the shoes of the client - understand what is important to your target audience.
• 🛠️ Formulate offers that solve specific customer problems - this way you can attract more customers.

Mistakes to avoid

• ❌ Vague or general sentences - such as "fast, high quality, inexpensive."
• ❌ Ignoring competitor research - this can lead to loss of market position.
• ❌ Unexplored audience pain points - customers won’t see you as a solution to their problems.
  
  

Best practices

I highly recommend that online store owners, e-commerce specialists and marketers pay attention to the importance of a unique selling proposition. This will not only help you stand out from your competitors, but will also significantly increase your sales.

Reason #18: Home page does not attract attention to sales

The home page of an online store is often the first contact a potential buyer has with your brand. You may have experienced that when you went to someone’s website, you immediately lost interest because of an incorrectly designed home page. I went through this too. The best home page should actively attract attention and convince visitors to make a purchase. How to do it?

Personal experience in overcoming the problem

On one of my online store projects, we initially made a mistake in the design of the main page. It was overloaded with information about the company, history, achievements, etc., which was of no interest to buyers. I realized that signs like “Buy Now!” are more important. or “New items of the month!” should occupy a central place.

Solutions I used

1. Emphases on hot offers: I replaced employee photos and “about us” information with bright banners with images of popular products and discounts. This immediately caught the attention of our customers.

2. CTA (Call To Action) elements: I placed “Buy Now” and “Learn More” call-to-action buttons that helped guide customers through the buyer’s journey.

3. Navigation optimization: The menu has been simplified, categories have been added products and site search, which significantly improved the user experience.

Examples and proofs

On one of the projects, where this strategy was applied, conversions increased by 20% in just the first month. For example:

“We saw a significant increase in traffic and sales after implementing this approach,” shared one of our partners.

Simple steps to implement

🟢 Place shares and discounts on the main page

🔵 Update product photos to better ones

🔴 Enable CTA buttons right on your homepage

🟡 Make sure the navigation menu is intuitive and easy to use

My recommendations for improvement

Your home page is your storefront. I strongly recommend that online store owners pay maximum attention to its design. Properly placed sales emphasis can significantly increase conversion and overall store profit.

Examples of my work and personal advice

One of my most successful projects was the relaunch of an online electronics store. First of all, I revised the design of the main page, removing all unnecessary information and adding sections with popular and promotional products. The result was not long in coming: thanks to improved navigation and proper distribution of emphasis on selling elements, the sales level increased by 30%.

• Showcase: the main emphasis is on products, promotions and new products.
• Selling elements: banners, “Buy now”, “Learn more” buttons.
• Navigation: maximum simplicity and convenience.

Where errors come from and what to do:
❌ Error: Too much information about the company on the main page.
✅ Solution: Focus on products and promotional offers.*

❌ Error: Missing selling elements.
✅ Solution: Add a call to action and CTA buttons.*

Only in this way can you differentiate yourself from competitors and increase the efficiency of your online store. I strongly recommend urgently reviewing the design of your home page and making the necessary changes to increase sales.

Reason No. 19. Problems with positioning

When I started working with online stores, I often encountered problems related to incorrect positioning. 🧐

Why is positioning so important?

Positioning is a combination of a correctly chosen niche , targeting a specific target audience , unique selling proposition (USP) and matching product. All this must work together to attract interesting and paying customers. If one of these links is weak, sales can suffer greatly.

Problems faced by online stores:

• 🤷♀️ Lack of a clear understanding of your niche
• ❌ Undefined target audience
• 😞 Weak or generic unique selling proposition
• 🛍️ Incorrect selection of assortment

My experience and solutions

Lack of a clear understanding of my niche: When I worked with " CoolGadgets", their range was scattered across various categories - from kitchen utensils to car accessories. I encouraged them to focus on technology innovation, which allowed them to better understand their customers and increase conversions.

Tip: Find a niche to work on. As I've learned, a scattered approach rarely works.

Unspecified target audience: I worked with a store called FashionHouse that was trying to sell everything to everyone. After careful analysis, we found out that their main audience is women 25-35 years old who are interested in fashion. Focusing on this audience led to a significant increase in sales. 🏆

Tip: Determine your target audience and select a product that will be of interest to them. This is critical.

Weak USP: While working with EcoHome, I noticed that their USP did not stand out from their competitors. We analyzed competitors and identified the strengths of "EcoHome" - environmental friendliness and natural materials. This became our USP, which allowed us to improve our position. 🌱

Tip: Emphasize your advantages. In my experience, this always brings results.

Incorrect product selection: When I worked with BestGifts, they offered a huge number of products that did not correspond to their core audience. I helped them reorganize their assortment, strengthening it with the most popular and in-demand products.

Tip: Set yourself apart from your competitors and choose a product that will be of interest to your audience. ✨

Results

I am convinced that correct positioning is the basis of a successful online store. Identifying my niche, understanding and purposefully working with the audience, creating a unique offer and choosing the right assortment is what helps me achieve success every time.

“Positioning is not what you do with a product. It's what you do in the mind of your client." — Al Ries, author of Positioning: The Battle for Your Mind.

Useful tips and practice:

I am confident that following these simple recommendations will help improve the sales performance of your online store.

Reason number 20. Don't use auto funnels to increase conversion

When I first encountered the problem of low sales in my online store, I quickly realized that automating the customer interaction process could make a significant difference. And this is where auto sales funnels come to the rescue. Auto funnels help avoid customer loss, bring back former customers and remind them of abandoned carts. All this creates a continuous flow of customers and significantly increases conversion.

Why are sales funnels so important?

Firstly, properly configured auto funnels mean that the client will always be surrounded by attention. I noticed how a simple trigger system works: a website visitor adds an item to the cart, but does not complete the purchase. A few hours later, he receives an email reminding him that the item is still in his cart and he shouldn’t lose sight of it.

Secondly, automated emails are great for keeping in touch with customers. For example, a week after a purchase, you can send an email with an offer for an additional product that may be of interest based on the customer's previous purchases.

📈 Real example in my practice:

When I started implementing auto funnels into my store, the results were impressive. I developed sales scripts, set up automatic mailings, and hired specialists to develop personalized triggers. My goal was simple - to create a system that would automatically respond to visitors' actions. And it worked! Our conversion increased by 25% in just three months!

How can you implement auto funnels?

I can confidently say that successful auto funnels require careful setup and constant testing. Here's what I did:

Preparation and development of sales scripts

When I was working on the scripts, I studied my target audience so that understand which messages resonate best with customers. Use exclusively personalized scripts that take into account the behavior and preferences of your customers.

Setting up automatic mailings

⚙️ Connect services such as MailChimp or GetResponse that will allow you to automate email marketing. I set up email series to welcome new customers, cart abandonment reminders, and product recommendations based on purchases.

Implementation of conversion increasing services and triggers

🛠️ Launch a system of triggers relevant to the actions of visitors on the site. This could be a pop-up with a personalized offer or a discount on your first order.

Summary and Recommendations

At the end of the day, I can convince you that using auto funnels is truly worth your time and effort. Here's a quick chart of what's useful and what not to do:

I insist that every action should be personalized and tailored to your needs and your goals audience. By using these methods, I was able to transform my online store from a loss-making business to a thriving business, and I wholeheartedly encourage you to try the same approach!

Reason #21: Simple registration is the key to successful sales

When I analyzed the reasons why online stores lose customers, I noticed one of the biggest problems - mandatory registration before purchasing. An example from one of my cases showed how this can negatively affect sales. One of the online stores I worked with was losing a significant part of its customers at the registration stage. Many users simply left, not wanting to fill out the lengthy registration form.

Why is this happening?

🧩 Consumer psychology: Working in online commerce, I noticed that users strive for simplicity and speed of ordering . The complex and lengthy registration procedure makes them irritated and desire to find a store where everything is much faster and more convenient.

🧩 Simplifying the registration form: A simple and fast registration process can significantly improve conversions. I advise you to ensure that the registration form includes the minimum number of fields required to place an order. In my project, I reduced the form to two main fields: email and password. This helped increase the number of completed orders by 30%.

My recommendations

🔍 Registration notice: I I recommend that you always notify customers about the need to register already at the video card and cart stages. This avoids the disappointment of a customer suddenly discovering they need to register before purchasing.

📋 Simplifying the Process: You want to make the registration process as simple and convenient as possible. Ideally, the form should take no more than 2-3 minutes. Better yet, invite customers to check out as a guest. This way they can complete the order without creating an account.

⏳ "Place a purchase without registration" option: One of the key aspects that I advise you to implement is the ability make a purchase without registration. This option is especially attractive to impulsive buyers who do not want to waste time entering unnecessary information.

📊 Statistics analysis: In my case, the use of analytics helped to highlight that more than 40% of users left the site at the filling out the registration form. Use analytics to track at what stage your customers are losing and make changes accordingly.

What it looks like in practice

An example from one of my clients confirmed that simplified registration has a positive effect on sales. We've reduced the form to basic fields and added a purchase option without registering. As a result, the percentage of completed purchases increased by 25%, and the number of new customers registered after purchase increased by 15%.

I want to emphasize that the main thing in this matter is convenience and simplicity for the client. Nobody wants to waste time filling out unnecessary fields. Pay attention to this aspect and you will see how it will positively affect your sales.

Table Overview: What to Do and What to Avoid

I am convinced that by following these recommendations, you can significantly increase customer loyalty and increase your sales. I urge you to review your current registration procedures and implement more convenient and faster solutions for your customers.

Reason #22: Payment security: How to get rid of buyer doubts

In my practice, I have more than once encountered potential buyers leaving their cart without completing payment due to doubts about the security of transactions. Security is a key factor in the success of an online store. Lack of trust in payment systems can significantly discourage customers, leading to decreased conversions and loss of income.

Why is this important?

Of course, every buyer wants to be sure that his money will not go to waste and his personal data will not be stolen. Therefore, if a client does not understand where and to whom he is sending his funds, there is a high probability that he will simply leave your site and go to competitors.

What did I do in practice?

1. 🌐 Verified payment systems First of all, I have introduced the use of only proven and popular payment systems (for example, PayPal, Stripe, etc.). I've found that familiar logos on the checkout page make customers feel more confident.

2. 🔐 Using a secure connection Switching to a secure connection (HTTPS) was a necessary step. The use of SSL certificates ensured data encryption, which increased customer confidence. Once I did this, the number of successful transactions increased significantly.

3. 📜 Transparent payment terms It turned out to be important for me clearly and in detail explain the terms of payment, returns and exchanges. Every step of the payment process should be transparent and understandable to the buyer.

4. 🆘 Informative customer support In addition, I introduced instant notifications about order status and individual stages of the transaction. In case of questions, customers could contact 24/7 support.

Recommendations

I am absolutely confident in the effectiveness of the following recommendations :

• ✔️ Implement proven payment systems
  • As I already mentioned, this is one of the fastest solutions to increase the credibility of your store.
• ✔️ Use HTTPS
  • A secure connection not only prevents data theft, but also has a positive impact on SEO.
• ✔️ Inform buyers
  • I always try to provide as much information as possible about the payment and delivery processes, which significantly reduces the level of anxiety among clients.
• ✔️ Technical support
  • After introducing 24/7 support, I noticed an improvement in customer satisfaction and a decrease in cart abandonment.
    
    

How to make the process as transparent as possible

• 🌟 Install an SSL certificate and make sure the entire site uses a secure connection.
• 🌟 Use payment logos that customers recognize.
• 🌟 Create detailed, clear payment and return instructions.
• 🌟 Provide ongoing customer support.

Real example

We collaborated with a small Internet a store specializing in the sale of electronic equipment. The main problem was the high cart abandonment rate at the checkout stage. After implementing the above recommendations, conversion increased by 25%, and the number of completed purchases increased by 30%.

Conclusion: By following these recommendations, you will not only increase customer confidence in your Internet -store, but also improve the financial component of your business.

Best Practices Overview Table

By following these steps, I am confident that you will be able to significantly improve the performance of your online store and gain the trust of your customers.

Roca Expertise

Detailed description of the client, their business and goals

Roca is a leading global manufacturer and distributor of bathroom products, present in more than 170 countries. The company's mission is to provide high quality solutions with innovative designs that meet the needs of the modern consumer. The company's main goal is not only to maintain its leading position in the market, but also to continue expansion by increasing sales and strengthening customer confidence.

Identification of main goals and objectives

Key project goals include:

• Increase online sales by 25 % over the next 12 months.
• Improving the quality of user experience on the site.
• Increasing the conversion rate of visitors into buyers.

Statement of the main problem

One of the main problems of the Roca online store turned out to be low sales conversions . Despite high traffic, a large number of users left the site without making a purchase.

Description of the characteristics and interests of the target audience

The company's target audience includes a wide range of consumers, from private homeowners to large construction companies. Key Features:

• 💼 Private Buyers: looking for stylish and durable bathroom solutions .
• 🏗 Professional developers: demand reliable and cost-effective products.

The target audience is also interested in design trends and new technologies in the plumbing industry.

Key points that may be of interest to potential clients

• 🌟 Quality and reliability: All Roca products undergo strict quality control.
• 🚀 Innovative Design: Modern designs that follow the latest trends.
• 💰 Cost: Competitive pricing with an emphasis on quality.
• 🔧 After-sales service: Wide network of service centers and access to spare parts.

Facts, figures and specific results of the project

To solve the problems of the online store, the following activities:

• 🔄 Optimization of site navigation: Simplification of the structure, improvement of product search by categories and the introduction of interactive elements.
• 📱 Adaptation for mobile devices: Now the site is fully adapted for easy use on smartphones and tablets.
• 📸 Improved content quality: High-quality product images and detailed descriptions.
• 📊 Data collection and analysis: Regular use of analytical tools to improve user experience.

“In the first six months after the implementation of new solutions, website conversion increased by 17 % , which helped increase sales by 12%. Negative reviews decreased by 40%, and customer trust increased by 25%.” - Emanuel Javier, representative of Roca.

The Roca company successfully coped with the challenges thanks to an integrated approach to improving the online store, which allowed it to strengthen its position in the market and achieve its goals.

Frequently asked questions on the topic: 22 Online store problems and how to solve them

Thank you for reading and for becoming more experienced 🎉

Are you surprised at how professional you are now? I was glad to share my knowledge about the main problems of online stores. Now that you know about the key points such as incorrect pricing , poor site navigation and low quality product photos , you are ready to transform your online business into a real performance choreography.

By applying these tips, you will not only improve your online store, but also significantly increase your sales. Don't forget: my experience in the field of trading automation is magic, which I have tried on numerous projects and which works wonders.

🎁 I'd love to hear your thoughts and comments below - I always appreciate feedback!

Anna Voloshko, independent expert “Elbuz”

"I transform the chaos of online trading into the choreography of efficiency. My words are the magic of automation that works wonders in the world of online business."