Common Mistakes to Avoid When Running a WooCommerce Website

Craig Kahl, President and CEO, Adventure Web Interactive

The WooCommerce ecosystem is booming. People enjoy the platform that provides them control over their online store and lets them sell whatever they desire to whomever they want. While there are numerous reasons to opt for this WordPress e-commerce platform, some common mistakes you may make as a business owner can hinder your site’s success.

Having Poor Customer Service Skills

There are many skills required to run an e-commerce business successfully, including excellent customer service. A good product or service isn’t enough – you also need impressive customer service to inspire shoppers to return. Therefore, you must follow up with customers who have left their contact information on the order forms.

Also, make sure to receive your customer’s approval for sending a follow-up email during checkout. In addition, you can send an abandoned cart recovery email as a follow-up email to have them return to your WooCommerce store. Listen carefully to what your customers want and how you can utilize their feedback as an opportunity for improvement. There are numerous ways to enhance a product or service without breaking your bank account.

Neglecting SEO Basics

One of the common WooCommerce errors is not optimizing your store for search engines. For instance, you must include keywords like tableware in your product titles if you have a home goods store. Fortunately, getting started with SEO is easier than you may think. Just make sure your product pages contain meta descriptions and title tags. That way, your website will appear at or close to the top of search results when someone seeks your products online.

Another helpful tip is determining that each website page contains at least one internal link. Internal links are vital because they help search engines better understand what content is most critical on your website.

Your Website’s Speed is Slow

One of the smartest moves WooCommerce stores can make is paying close attention to their website’s speed. Speed is imperative for e-commerce businesses where possible customers require instant access to prices and products. Also, confirm that you have equipped your site with a fast host that helps maximize loading times.

Failing to Invest in Shopping Cart Platforms

Although it’s the least of your priority, your website needs a shopping cart system. The best shopping cart software systems can assist your company by adding features that enable you to personalize your site, manage inventory, receive payment processing, and more.

Another common mistake in WooCommerce sites is opting for a shipping method that doesn’t complement their customer base. You must also have the right and reasonable shipping strategies if you offer worldwide shipping.

If a website isn’t simple to use and navigate, customers will leave and not return. It’s particularly true for e-commerce sites selling products that are complicated or have high price tags. For instance, if your website is confusing to navigate, you may lose potential buyers before they can reach the checkout process. Consider hiring a professional web designer, such as Adventure Web Interactive, who specializes in creating attractive and functional business websites.

Store owners make general mistakes in WooCommerce, especially when new to the platform. The good news is that collaborating with an accomplished e-commerce web design company can help you avoid many of these WooCommerce store mistakes.

Craig Kahl is the President and CEO of Adventure Web Interactive. AWI has been recognized as Baltimore’s Top Web Design Firm by The Daily Record and named one of Silicon Review Magazine’s Top 50 Most Admired Companies in the country. Before founding Adventure Web Interactive in 1997, he was VP of Operations for Campus Concepts, Inc., and the youngest division head in history for Pitney Bowes at age 24. He has a Bachelor of Science in Management Information Systems from the University of Maryland and a Master of Business Administration in Finance from Loyola University. Craig is a member of the International CEO Club and Rolling Road Golf Club and loves spending time outdoors with his wife and son.