Selling online looks easy until the returns, ad costs and low margins arrive. These two short videos share e-commerce tips and the mistakes that sink new stores. Below is a fuller checklist.
Tips for a healthy online store
- Know your numbers first. Product cost, packaging, shipping, marketplace or payment fees, ad cost per order and return losses. Our e-commerce profit calculator adds them up.
- Great product pages. Clear photos from several angles, honest descriptions, size charts and delivery times.
- Build trust. Reviews, a real contact number, clear return policies and secure payments.
- Make checkout easy. Guest checkout, UPI and cash on delivery where it makes sense, and few form fields.
- Bring customers back. Email and WhatsApp for reorders are cheaper than finding new buyers.
Common mistakes
- Pricing without counting all the costs, then losing money on every order.
- Spending heavily on ads before the product pages convert.
- Ignoring returns and cash-on-delivery refusals.
- Selling only on one marketplace and having no customer list of your own.
- Poor packaging that leads to damage and bad reviews.
Marketplace or own store?
Marketplaces bring ready traffic but take a commission; your own store keeps the margin and the customer data but needs marketing. Many brands do both. Compare fees with our marketplace commission calculator.
Watch: the mistakes to avoid
0:21Discover the secrets to ecommerce
Want the full picture? This article is part of Marketplace selling: the complete guide, our in-depth guide with everything in one place.
