This blog post has been authored by Stand Out Online Member Angela Froschl, Hot Mess Consulting

Before we dive in and start talking about where you might be going wrong with your eCommerce site, let me first say this: Well freaking done. 

If you’re reading this, you already have your own website, and that’s an achievement all by itself. Pat yourself on the back – you’re heading in the right direction!

Now – that said – there is still a huge difference between an okay store and a booming one, right? That’s why today, I’m diving into some of the most common website mistakes we see here at Hot Mess Consulting.

We hope you aren’t making these mistakes, but if you are – don’t worry! We’ve got some fixes and suggestions too!

#1 Choosing The Wrong Website Platform

Don’t just go with the first platform you find out there! Do a little research first because there are plenty of options, but they all have their little pros and cons. You need to consider the needs of your business before choosing a platform for your website. 

For example, if you’re already doing live sales, CommentSold would be a better option than Shopify – although you could also have both! 

#2 A Poor Meta Description

Your meta description is super valuable marketing space, but many biz owners don’t take full advantage of it! Take a little time to craft an SEO optimized page title and description. 

Make sure your description explains what the user will find on your site and include a call to action. Also, keep it short – aim for under 155 characters. 

#3 Low-Quality Product Images 

Pictures not only sell your products, but they also speak to the overall quality of your business. You don’t need studio-quality photos (although that’s an investment you won’t regret!) to be successful, but you have to make an effort. 

Users are immediately put off by blurry, pixelated, and stretched out photos, so just don’t do it! 

#4 No Sitemap (Or Sitemap Not Updated)

Around 38% of eCommerce sites do not have sitemaps. Is yours one of them? 

Here’s why it’s important to have a sitemap: they help search engines find your content and know when it’s updated. 

#5 Slow Loading Times

Ideally, a site needs to open in 3 – 5 seconds. If it takes too long to load, customers will bounce off and look for a faster option. So super-speedy loading times are vital!

There are many ways to speed up your store, including optimizing images and removing unneeded apps. Check out this article for more tips and tricks! 

#6 No Contact Information

Users are always on the lookout for credibility markers, and contact information is one of the basics. So make sure that you include at least one (preferably two) ways for clients to contact you, and don’t forget your social media links too! 

#7 Not Optimized For Mobile

Now more than ever, people are glued to their phones! That means it’s super important to make sure these users can easily navigate your site.

Here are a few simple changes to improve mobile performance: use a fixed navigation bar, minimize text on product pages, and place product photography front and center on all pages. 

Final Thoughts 

Remember, even if you are making mistakes now, you can always improve your website. Just keep learning and working on your biz and we know it will work for you!

If you need help optimizing your website (or giving your site a total make-over!), book a free consult call today, and let’s make it happen!

BIO:

At Hot Mess Consulting, we’re in a constant champagne state of mind!

We believe everyone deserves a little bubbly, and our team of experts offers a variety of brand and web design services to meet your needs. Whether you’re ready to launch a new eCommerce business, take your brick and mortar store online, or level up as you expand, our team is here to bring your dreams to life!

Our Services include:

⭐Sparkling or Champagne Brand Design Service

⭐Brand Design + Shopify or CommentSold Website Build

⭐Bubbly Brand Style + Website Setup Service

⭐And more!

We’ve helped over a thousand eCommerce friends build beautiful, successful, and profitable websites – and we’re ready to help you dazzle your customers with a website that makes you stop and say OMG!

Book a FREE call with us today, and we’ll chat about your dream store (and how to get there!) or check out all our other AH-MA-ZING services at HotMessHustle.com

At Hot Mess Consulting, we’re in a constant champagne state of mind!

We believe everyone deserves a little bubbly, and our team of experts offers a variety of brand and web design services to meet your needs. Whether you’re ready to launch a new eCommerce business, take your brick and mortar store online, or level up as you expand, our team is here to bring your dreams to life!

Our Services include:
⭐Sparkling or Champagne Brand Design Service
⭐Brand Design + Shopify or CommentSold Website Build
⭐Bubbly Brand Style + Website Setup Service
⭐And more!

We’ve helped over a thousand eCommerce friends build beautiful, successful, and profitable websites – and we’re ready to help you dazzle your customers with a website that makes you stop and say OMG!

Book a FREE call with us today, and we’ll chat about your dream store (and how to get there!) or check out all our other AH-MA-ZING services at HotMessHustle.com