Debunking the Most Common eCommerce Myths

When it comes to eCommerce web development, web users and prospective e-shop owners are often led to believe a number of different myths. eCommerce development is not about leading the consumer astray, though. That's why these misconceptions need to be debunked before web users are forced to make decisions that they might regret.

eCommerce development myths are also the enemy of future progress. The more that web users know about the true realities of eCommerce web development, the easier it is to make well-informed decisions. The perpetuation of online store fallacies is also harmful to the growth and development of various online businesses.

The time has come for a closer look at the most common myths and how they have been debunked. Those who wish to remain ahead of the game would do well to read on.

1. Online Businesses Do Not Offer a Strong Source of Income

There seems to be somewhat of an 'all or nothing' mentality that takes root when these conversations are had. Discussion about eCommerce always seems to center around two central ideas: a lack of income and an inability to get the most out of these types of ecommerce platforms.

In reality, the time is now. Starting an online store is a great way to tap into a growing revenue stream and position a company for future success. While these types of businesses will require an upfront investment, they also provide a strong source of income once they have been established.

2. Branding Is All About the Logo and Color Scheme

One of the more common mistakes that’s made during eCommerce development is a refusal to acknowledge the complexities of personal branding. Web users are always going to trust an eCommerce business that pays close attention to detail. It takes more than a cool logo and a snazzy color scheme to establish a top notch personal branding.

This is something to be aware of during the eCommerce development process. Personal branding is about more than just the tangibles. It’s about creating a feeling that is more abstract in nature. Customers (namely online shoppers) need to instinctively understand the brand and what they are trying to accomplish.

3. On-Page Content Must Be Kept to a Minimum

Web development companies that work alongside prospective eCommerce businesses will always recommend doing the exact opposite. The idea that on-page content must be kept to a minimum is a pure myth that needed to be debunked yesterday. How else is the brand supposed to tell their story, unless they are able to provide on-page content?

Keeping it simple is great, but there is such a thing as keeping it too simple. If your eCommerce website isn’t able to provide the necessary information, eCommerce development objectives cannot be reached. People still want to read, and prospective customers shouldn’t be treated as if they’re unable to take in the right content when it’s provided in the right manner.

4. Revenue is the Only Way to Measure Progress

Sure, revenues are a great metric and there’s nothing wrong with considering this data point. However, eCommerce is about more than the bottom line. If a campaign doesn’t lead to the necessary level of conversions, there are a number of areas that need to be examined.

Don't make the mistake of using revenue as an be-all-end-all metric for judging progress. The goals that are being set should be specific to the medium; marketing does not always work in a set pattern. Looking to go from Point A to Point B? Revenue is not the only way to measure results. For example, Google Analytics is an important tool in this regard.

5. Past Successes Point to Future Successes

The world of eCommerce web development is not kind to those who are looking to rest on their past laurels. Success in the past is not going to guarantee success in the future, especially for those who have yet to establish a strong presence in the eCommerce community.

Past experiences are certainly helpful, but they’re not going to be truly informative. The business world changes every day and the eCommerce sector is no different. The way that things were done in the past is simply not as important online.

6. Lower Prices are the Best Bet

Lower prices are not going to provide the sort of edge that you might. The modern web user is too sophisticated for these types of tactics to work. An eCommerce plan should be centered around the idea of charging a price that makes sense with the goods and services provided.

Low prices often signal that an inferior product is being provided which, in turn, can devalue the entire industry. It’s a lazy form of marketing, and someone is always going to find a way to outdo your price.

7. Passion for the Product can Carry the Day

This is the sort of myth that can be tough to untangle because there’s at least some small measure of truth to it. If an online customer can see that your eCommerce business is passionate about their product, that can help the mobile app development company get the ball rolling.

On the other hand, passion for the product isn’t going to carry the company going forward. If your goods and services are not of the highest quality, even the best first impressions aren’t going to be able to save the day.

Advancement of eCommerce Using the Web

Drive through any city in America and you’ll notice empty storefronts, businesses leaving the area, and a lack of the small Mom and Pop stores that we used to see. What’s happened to all these businesses? Where are all the owners? Most haven’t left the business of commerce; they’ve just changed the way they do business.

The advancement of technology and the World Wide Web has made drastic changes to how business is done. Whether it’s due to the economy or lack of hired employees that want to work, eCommerce has flared up and is becoming the way of the future, the way of selling products, and the way of owning a business.

Many corporations, small businesses, and virtually all companies have had to downsize, lay off employees, or restructure the way they operate in the trades business. For this reason, the majority turn to eCommerce. The building and creation of online shopping is becoming mainstream. There are benefits and downfalls to the idea, as in most ways of trade. But, the business owner knows what is best for them and their company, so following a path of growth online is certainly the favorite plan for many companies regardless of size.

When selling your products, having a rapport with your customers and, for many, saving money by working from home is ideal. At launch, most business owners prefer to run the business themselves, saving on paying wages and insurance. As the online business grows, merchants may need to hire virtual assistants (at a lower cost than physical employees).

eCommerce involves work, like any business, but luckily there are top web development companies that have a system ready for you to begin building your own virtual storefront. Many of these use an open source platform. Magento is an eCommerce platform that gives the merchant the ability to create a virtual storefront with a user friendly and mobile friendly system for the consumer. Using one of these platforms, a merchant is able to operate multiple stores, use multiple languages available, allow many different types of currencies as payment, and allow a wide variety of global shipping.

eCommerce software has enabled the merchant and the consumer to reduce costs. The high quality integrations help reduce business expenditures, offer affordable solutions, and aid in content, advertising, and analytics. The merchant is now able to produce business reports with ease, tracking all income and output. Using any number of available options, an owner can also garner attention and increase their customer base by including links to gather email addresses, accept reviews, and make a memorable and easy shopping experience for their customers.

There’s a variety of advantages to eCommerce. First and foremost, there’s lower startup costs. Now there’s no need to pay thousands to rent a storefront, have neon signs made, purchase quantities of inventory and sales equipment. By using the internet, a merchant has eliminated most, if not all, of those costs. The advantage of being open for business at anytime of the day or night creates a higher customer base, higher sales, and less money spent on employment.

Using a physical store and having a customer overseas or across the country often entails higher shipping costs, as opposed to having an online business. With eCommerce, you can price goods competitively to allow for global shipping. Your online store will never visually run out of product, since it’s picture based inventory. You’re able to showcase your most popular items all of the time.

By linking your eCommerce business to social pages across the web, you build a higher customer base. You can also have easier access to gain return customers by utilizing email, asking for reviews, and re-targeting virtual shoppers who didn’t purchase during their visit.

As your business and volume increase, you need only to scale your virtual store. There’s no need to drive around looking for a larger building. Also, the customers who stop and shop can shop in peace with no annoying sales pitch or intrusive sales person hounding them. There’s also less risk of anyone stealing credit card information. Most eCommerce platforms utilize the highest security platforms available.

The increased demand for shopping online has shown that it’s now the only way many people will shop. Having an eCommerce store allows the merchant to add products or discontinue products that do not sell, simply by adding photographs or other pictures of the products. A virtual business allows for customers to shop at their pace, on their terms, and in the comfort of their homes. eCommerce has become the way of the world and it’s time to take advantage of its benefits. eCommerce allows for automation, saving big money for most merchants, the ability to control their costs, and ease of garnering more of a customer base using the internet.