Five Obvious Mistakes that Ecommerce Sites Make

Five Obvious Mistakes that Ecommerce Sites Make

Daniel Nelson | 13/01/2009

Your customer base is one of your greater assets. A solid foundation can take years to build. Unfortunately, it can be lost in an instant. In the past we’ve looked at numerous ways to both gain and retain customers but what practices drive customers away? Here are five proven ways to shirk your customer base at an alarming pace:

Not Taking Security Seriously
The number one concern users have in regard to online purchasing is the security of their personal and financial information. Yet many online retailers still don’t bother to learn about proper standards for securing data and encrypting transmissions. Companies that don’t guarantee the privacy of personal information also run the risk of being passed over.

Complicating the Process
If the main purpose of your online store is to sell products then shouldn’t your items be easy to locate through tools such as search and navigation menus? Beware of the extensive checkout process as well. Users are likely to get confused and impatient if your checkout process requires more than three steps.

Being Inaccessible
Even in an online store customers expect the ability to contact a representative for assistance. If this information is absent customers may assume your business isn’t reputable. If customers do contact you for sales assistance or customer service don’t forget to respond in a timely fashion.

Misrepresenting Your Merchandise
Customers expect honesty. If you intentionally misrepresent an item you are certain to lose business. Be careful of minor misrepresentations such as additional fees or product availability. Even the smallest discrepancy can ruin your representation in the eyes of the consumer.

Ignoring Competitive Practices
The Internet makes it possible to locate your website. Of course, it also makes it possible to locate every other website that sells the same products. Internet shoppers become better bargain hunters each day. You must engage in competitive practices such as product pricing or other incentives to give potential customers a clear reason for choosing your site over the competitions

tags: e-commerce ,  Business ,  Online Trends ,  Common Sense