Setting up an online business is an attractive option for many people today as a way of earning an additional income or even working full-time. However, many of these business models fail when it comes to implementation – especially when it comes to using store and content management systems correctly. The reason: most guides and manuals focus almost exclusively on marketing, with technical and design aspects of the project often being underrepresented.
Certain functionalities are crucial for a successful online store:
- Product and category management:
A clear structure for managing products and categories is essential. - Shopping cart and checkout:
An efficient checkout process is important for the checkout process. - Search function:
A search function makes it easier for customers to search for specific products. - Payment and shipping options:
A wide selection of payment options and shipping methods meets various customer expectations. - Customer accounts and order history:
Customers should be able to view and manage their orders and data themselves. - Reviews:
Product reviews strengthen trust and help other customers make purchasing decisions. - Security and data protection:
A secure payment system and data protection functions are essential to gain the trust of customers. - Marketing tools:
Discount campaigns, vouchers and upselling options boost sales. - Analytics and reporting:
Analysis tools help to track and improve store performance. - Support and help:
Customer support by email, phone or chat is important for building a good customer relationship.
Common causes of a poorly performing online store
In addition to the above-mentioned functionalities, other factors play a role in the success or failure of an online business.
Use of unsuitable store and content management systems
A common mistake is to use inferior or insufficiently configurable systems or to rely on a poor hosting platform. Poor store and content management solutions or faulty plugins can limit the functionality of the website and cause security risks. Slow hosting platforms also often lead to a poor user experience, which can deter potential customers.
Missing target group approach
Online businesses often fail to focus clearly on a specific target group and specialize in a niche. An unclear target group approach makes it difficult to build a strong brand identity and attract the right customers. A specific target group also makes it easier to design content and select suitable marketing channels.
Inadequate website design
Another factor is neglecting the design and user-friendliness of the website. A confusing and unappealing website can deter potential customers and reduce trust in the offer. The site should be clearly structured and easy to navigate in order to provide a pleasant user experience.
Lack of knowledge in search engine optimization (SEO)
SEO is often underestimated, which results in the website ranking poorly in search engines and reaching fewer visitors. A solid SEO strategy improves findability and ensures more traffic in the long term.
Lack of technical understanding
A common reason for the failure of online business ideas is a lack of technical know-how. Although marketing and sales are crucial, the technical basis must not be neglected. It is important to understand the technical aspects and choose the right hosting and plugin solutions for WooCommerce or other systems. This ensures a positive user experience and helps to build the business sustainably.
Excessive operating costs of the online store
A successful online store requires investments that should be in a healthy proportion to revenue. High operating costs that eat into profits can quickly make an online business unprofitable. Often, the creation and initial costs of the store tie up so many resources that there are hardly any funds left for ongoing operations. It therefore makes sense to opt for a scalable and cost-effective solution from the outset that provides all the basic functions for the start.
Our solutions for a successful online business
With our preconfigured and documented WordPress and WooCommerce solutions, in particular with the ready-to-use installer packages from get-started.online, we are closing the gap between website builders and fully-fledged WordPress content management systems. So you can benefit from great flexibility, infinite extensibility and ease of use without bringing a high level of expertise. Our offers are also of interest to web designers and advertising agencies, and provide an easy introduction to the more complex world of WordPress and WooCommerce. With the WooCommerce Installer Packages, you as a web designer can, for example, offer your customers a complex WooCommerce online shop – even if it is your first time.
