eCommerce has been a godsend to many people who wanted to start their own business but who simply did not have the resources to go the brick-and-mortar route. However, while there are success stories of businesses who leveraged the Internet to rise above the competition, there are just as many stories about companies who set up shop online, and then sold absolutely nothing. Let’s explore The Real Reasons Why eCommerce Businesses Fail.
If you’re worried your business plan will fall into the latter category, as roughly 80 per cent of e-commerce businesses do according to Practical eCommerce, it’s important for you to understand the real reasons that e-commerce attempts fail.
5 Reasons Why eCommerce Businesses Fail
Reason #1: No Real Investment
It seems easy; you open a website, use a basic storefront design, and wait for the money to roll in. A bare-bones set-up can be made for anywhere from zero, to a hundred dollars and change. However, most of the time, an ecommerce endeavour requires more investment than that. You need to have a website designer, an IT troubleshooter, an easy-to-find name, and it has to be constantly updated to be sure your customers can see what you have available.
It costs money to make money, and an e-commerce site is not a shortcut into making more while spending less time, effort, and capital.
Reason #2: No Traffic
If a website goes up on the Internet, but no one is around to see it or hear it, is it actually there? eCommerce stores, just like regular, brick-and-mortar businesses, need to have a steady stream of shoppers to come along, make purchases, and to spread word of mouth. Site owners should invest in a marketing campaign, use social media, and even offer special deals as a way to garner interest among a customer base.
Without traffic, your site may as well not exist.
Reason #3: Lack of Long-Term Planning
eCommerce is less of a sprint to the finish line, and more of an endurance course. Businesses take time to grow, and even if they manage to strike a chord with their audience, businesses have to keep providing what people want in order to remain successful over the long-term. It isn’t enough to figure out how to set up a business, what you’re selling, and what it will cost to buy a website for a few months; you need to think in terms of quarters and years in order to make sure your business stays afloat.
Reason #4: Cash Flow Issues
Again, it takes money to make money. A business with no cash to deal with expenses (whether it’s paying the rental fee for a server, buying new inventory, etc.) is likely to experience serious problems right out of the gate. It’s important to look at what your operating expenses are going to be, and to make sure you’ll have the capital on hand to meet them without any trouble. Delays in payments, or dry spells in re-stocking your inventory, can be deadly for ecommerce businesses.
Reason #5: Too Much Competition
There’s always going to be competition, but for your ecommerce business to succeed you need to be able to keep up, if not surpass them. Sometimes, though, there’s simply too many people trying to provide the same service or product that you’re trying to provide. Often they’ve been providing it longer, and they can provide it at a lower cost.
If you can’t compete in one area, switch your focus into another where you can. If there are thousands of other dealers selling discount gaming platforms, then perhaps you could focus on used gaming accessories and games instead as a way to take a sidestep into a different niche, while still remaining in the sphere your business was originally geared toward.
For more help making sure your ecommerce endeavour doesn’t fall into the 80 percent category, simply contact us today!
Take your online store business to the next level with a Pixel Fish Ecommerce Website.
More Reading
How to Build Multiple Email Lists for Your Business from your Website
How to Build the Perfect E-Commerce Checkout Experience
Reinvent Your Website Lead Generation Strategy with Engaging Content
5 Reasons to Customise Your Social Media Strategy for Every Channel
7 Unbeatable Business Digital Marketing Trends
10 Must-Have E-Commerce Product Page Elements
