Building an e-commerce store can be a daunting task, but with the right knowledge and preparation, it can be a successful venture. In this blog post, we will discuss some 8 common mistakes to stay clear of when creating your online store.
1. Not having a clear target audience:
Understanding who your customer is, how they search your website and what type of information they need is vital.
If you intend on selling computers, you may come across 2 different types of buyers,
a. Person A who has little knowledge of computers and needs a computer to perform basic tasks.
b. Person B who understands very technical aspects of the computer. This person may prefer to be able to customize every aspect of his computer and need more technical information.
While your website may sell to everyone, the appearance and information provided should be customized to each person
Other examples could be a high-end fashion store vs a low-end store. The design and information will differ significantly.

Notice the difference in the fonts, imagery, empty space (Empty space creates an impression of luxury) between Cartier and Mr Price. Both websites clearly communicate their brand value to their respective customers.
Take the time to research your target audience and understand their needs and preferences.
This will help you create a website that is tailored to the needs of your customer and will increase your chances of success.
2. Not having a mobile-friendly website:
With more and more people using their smartphones to browse the internet, it’s crucial to have a mobile-friendly website.
On our client’s websites we have found that mobile traffic usually makes up about 80% of all visitors. This means mobile version of the website more important than the computer version.
A mobile-friendly website is one that is easy to navigate and read on a small screen. If your website is not mobile-friendly, you may lose potential customers who are unable to navigate your website on their phones.
3. Not having a clear and easy checkout process:
This is pretty obvious, if a customer cannot easily figure out where to pay, quite often they just leave the site.
Thankfully, CMS systems such as Shopify and WooCommerce already make it simple to checkout.
A complicated checkout process can lead to abandoned carts and lost sales. Make sure the checkout process is clear, easy to follow, and secure.
One of the features that make Amazon.com the most-successful e-commerce store in the world is their one-click checkout process.
4. Not having a clear refund and return policy:
Having a clear refund and return policy is important for building trust with your customers. Customers want to know that they can return a product if they are not satisfied with it.
A clear and easy-to-understand refund and return policy will give customers peace of mind and encourage them to buy from you.
A policy that acts in the interest of the customer usually serves to improve the conversion rate of your website.
5. Not having a clear privacy policy:
A clear privacy policy is important for ensuring that customers feel safe and secure when making a purchase.
A privacy policy should explain how you will use customer data, how you will protect it, and what customers can expect in terms of data security. A clear privacy policy will build trust with your customers and encourage them to make a purchase.
6. Not having enough product information:
It’s important to have enough information about your products. Customers want to know as much as possible about the products they are considering purchasing.
Make sure that your website has detailed product descriptions, high-quality images, and accurate pricing information.
Remember having more images of a product, reduces the anxiety a person faces when making a buying decision.
7. Not having good customer service:
Good customer service is crucial for any business, and it’s especially important for e-commerce stores. Customers may have questions about products, shipping, and returns, and it’s important that you are able to provide them with the information they need. A good customer service team can help to build trust with your customers and encourage repeat business.
This is especially important when you consider the fact that it is typically 10 times cheaper to get an old customer to buy from you again, than it is to get a new customer to buy from you for the first time.
Good customer service is essential in your customer retention strategy.
8. Not having a clear and compelling call to action:
A call to action is an instruction that prompts the user to take a specific action. It’s important to have a clear and compelling call to action on your website to encourage customers to make a buy. This could be a button that says “Add to Cart” or “Buy Now.” Make sure that your call to action is prominent and easy to find.
If you look at Takealot.com, you’ll notice that their add-to-cart button is always clearly visible to encourage you to add to cart.
Conclusion
In conclusion, building an e-commerce store can be a challenging task, but with the right knowledge and preparation, it can be a successful venture.
By avoiding the mistakes discussed in this blog post, you can increase your chances of success and build a website that appeals to your target audience and generates sales.