8 Common eCommerce Mistakes to Avoid in 2023

Artjoms Lanko
Magebit
Published in
4 min readFeb 15, 2023

In the world of online retail, success is often determined by the ability to avoid common pitfalls. With the growing competition, it is crucial to stay ahead of the curve and avoid mistakes that could harm your business.

Whether you are a seasoned online shop or just starting out, understanding the most common mistakes made by eCommerce businesses can help you stay on the right track and achieve success in 2023.

This blog post will outline 8 obvious yet constantly made eCommerce mistakes you should be aware of.

1. Poor quality product images

Using low-quality or outdated images often discourages customers from making a purchase. It is vital to use juicy, high-quality images (or even short videos) that accurately represent the product.

2. Lack of information about the product

Providing insufficient product information can lead to customer confusion and, ultimately, order cancelation and customer loss. Your job is to specify the product in as much detail as possible:

  • Brand & exact model name
  • Size & sizing charts
  • Material & color
  • Product features & advantages
  • What the product is best suitable for
  • Real-life customer reviews (ideally with pictures of delivered and unpacked products)

Highlight the product from every angle, so the customers wouldn’t have to seek more information on some other website.

3. Complicated navigation

As with most things in life, the key to success is simplicity.

A confusing or cluttered website can make it difficult for customers to find what they are looking for — and cause them to leave. Your website should be intuitive and easy to use for everyone, including non-tech-savvy shoppers.

4. Lack of trust signals

The business of eCommerce relies on trust between buyer and seller. One proven way to increase customer trust is through trust signals:

  • Customer testimonials
  • Payment security trust mark
  • Live chat
  • Clear shipping & return policies

A lack of trust signals can make buyers doubt the security of the website and discourage them from buying. Be sure to include these elements to boost buyer confidence in purchasing from you.

5. Slow loading times

As years of experience have shown, extreme speed and high quality are the principles by which customers choose their favorite online store. This is especially true for mobile shoppers. Slow loading times can frustrate customers and cause them to search for products on another website.

Pro tip: Optimize your website load time by compressing images and using a content delivery network (CDN).

6. Lack of mobile optimization

Official Shopify statistics show that more than 60% of purchases in 2022 were made on mobile.

Since more than half of all purchases are made by customers via their mobile devices, it is crucial to have a mobile-optimized website. If your online shop looks unprepossessing and is hard to navigate on pocket devices, your business is missing a whole segment of mobile sales.

7. Limited payment options

Offering limited payment options can be a major deterrent for customers. It is important to offer a variety of payment options such as credit/debit cards, e-wallets, net banking, and cash-on-delivery to meet different customer preferences.

8. Poor customer service

Neglecting customer service leads to dissatisfied customers and negative reviews. Prioritize customer satisfaction to maintain customer reputation and loyalty. It is important to have a dedicated customer service team that is responsive, helpful, and can assist customers with their questions and concerns in a timely manner.

Investing in a live chat feature or chatbot can also be an effective way to provide immediate customer service.

Boost your eCommerce growth

As the eCommerce arena becomes increasingly competitive, even small mistakes can have significant impacts. To ensure the prosperity of your online store, it is vital to educate yourself on the mistakes of others and steer clear of repeating them.

At Magebit, we can help your online store stay ahead of the competition, utilizing proven tactics for eCommerce success.

--

--