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Where it used to be that in order to get into the retail industry, you’d need a physical brick and mortar store – today, online e-commerce seems to have taken over. E-commerce has made it possible for anyone, anywhere to open a virtual store and start selling products to customers around the world. A physical location is no longer necessary for all retail ventures, which also means you can reach a broader customer base without limitations.

If you’ve been eyeing the possibility of open your first online store but are still feeling a bit apprehensive, it’s always wise to do a little research in advance. Here’s a look at the top four mistakes you’ll want to avoid when launching your first online store, which will save you from a lot of stress and potentially costly decisions. 

Proceeding without a Business Plan

Forging ahead without any sort of business plan is one of the top mistakes that people can make when opening an online store. Just because your store exists only in the virtual realm, it doesn’t mean it should be approached any differently than a brick-and-mortar store. You still need to have a formal business plan that addresses such things as the products or services you will be offering, future plans for growth, shipping, production, etc. 

Of course, the plan also needs to address finances, meaning how much start-up cash you have, what the operating costs are, and how long you can run with the cash you’ve got.

Not Giving Customer Service the Attention It Needs

Another pitfall an online store can run into is not giving customer service the attention it needs. When you are operating a physical store and you are dealing with customers face-to-face, it’s easy to be aware of just how important the customer service experience is. It’s important to remind yourself that just because interactions and transactions are taking place online, it doesn’t make them any less important. 

Customer service should always be a top priority. This means providing a smooth and simple shopping experience, giving customers a way to connect with you to ask questions, responding to customers in a timely manner, and giving them a secure check-out experience.

Don’t Fool Yourself into Thinking You are a Jack of All Trades

It’s also important to recognize when something is outside your realm of knowledge and experience. When it comes to opening your first online store, you may know your product inside out, and feel extremely confident in its success, but that doesn’t mean you know how to open, build a marketing campaign, and manage the campaign. These are very specific tasks that take experience and knowledge, which is why it can be wise to bring in the professionals.

Companies such as Search Scientists can help with managing multiple campaign types along with all kinds of other services. This can be exactly what your store needs to be successful.

Not Having a Reliable Webhost

Then there is your web host, which plays a very important role in the success of your store. If you have a web host that isn’t reliable, constantly crashing, and just can’t handle the amount of traffic you throw at it, your sales will suffer. Customers aren’t going to want to stick around while you wait and get your problems sorted out.

Setting Your Store Up for Success

By avoiding these common mistakes, you will, in fact, be setting your new online store up for success. Sure, you may still run into challenges, but as long as you can recognize them quickly, and respond, your business shouldn’t suffer.