Opening your online business is an exciting time that’s full of activities. But while you may be focusing on what you should do to establish a successful ecommerce site, it’s equally important to know what you shouldn’t do. Check out today’s episode to learn 5 pitfalls you should avoid.

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Getting started with your online store comes with a big to-do list that’s full of action items. From setting up your shipping to designing your site, there are a lot of exciting details to cover. As you embark on this exciting journey, you’re probably focused on what you should do and when to accomplish them.

But have you taken the time to think about what you shouldn’t be doing?

If not, never fear – today’s episode is chock full of 5 common mistakes you should avoid when opening your new online business.

Happy selling!
-Matt Winn, Volusion

 

Here’s the transcript if you’d like to read along: 

Hi, everybody! My name is Matt and I’m the Social Media Manager here at Volusion. Welcome to Two Minute Tuesdays, where we give you two minutes of ecommerce advice to bolster your online success.

Opening an online store is definitely a very exciting process, and it’s really easy to jump the gun and try to get as much done as possible. Well, I want to help you avoid this mistake by making sure that you keep these 5 Don’ts in mind to keep your online business on the right track.

First and foremost, don’t try to do everything at once. There are a lot of tasks involved in building your online store, whether it’s adding products, working on your web design, setting up taxes and shipping, or the whole nine yards. All of the work can become really overwhelming if you try to do it all at once.

Instead, set measurable milestones and try to knock one thing out at a time. It will make things a lot easier for you.

Secondly, don’t dismiss the details. Like I just mentioned, there’s a ton to do when you’re getting started, so it’s really easy for you to overlook a few things. But don’t do that, because that can really trip you up in the long term. So pay attention to grammar and punctuation on your site. Pay attention to any rates that you’re looking for with credit card processing and shipping. Again, your due diligence will give you a lot more long-term success.

Third on our list, don’t skimp on investments upfront. Now, I’ll admit it might be very tempting to go find a web designer or marketer on Craigslist or from your local community college, but avoid that temptation, because in all honesty, you get what you pay for. So ensure success in the long term by investing big in the short term.

Fourthly, don’t take things too seriously. Yes, you are opening a business, and that’s usually a serious business. But sit back and enjoy the ride. It will make things a lot better for you. You’ll keep your focus, your desire and, most importantly, that creativity and drive to make yourself successful.

And last, but definitely not least, and this is my best piece of advice for you, don’t expect sales overnight. Whenever you open your doors, it’s definitely a very exciting time and you should be very proud of yourself. But you might be setting yourself up for disappointment if you’re expecting to make millions in a day or even a week. It can take months and even years to get your presence out there. So be patient and the benefits will come.

Keep these five tidbits in mind as you’re opening that online store. They’ll help you keep yourself on the path to success while keeping your sanity in check, and that’s always a good thing.

If you have any questions, just leave me a comment in the box below. I’ll get right back to you.

From me to you, happy selling!