The Top Common Struggles E-commerce Businesses Face

The e-commerce industry is continuously growing. In retail e-commerce sales growth, the industry has reached 5.5 trillion dollars in 2022. And the forecast shows it could reach 7.4 trillion dollars by 2025.

Yet, as it grows exponentially, more challenges arise for e-commerce business owners. Competition is high and access to products is unlimited. 

Plus, e-commerce owners must consider optimizing their websites to create better customer experiences and connect with audiences.

To achieve your business goals online, it helps to understand the common struggles that e-commerce businesses face and how to overcome them.

1. Customer Attraction

Online shopping has changed significantly over the years. Today, consumers use Amazon to search for products. They use Google to search for brands and read product reviews. Furthermore, customers go on social media to ask for product recommendations. 

Since the internet has changed the way people consume content and communicate with each other, it’s easy for them to get distracted. 

However, online retailers can reach their audiences by figuring out where they like to hang out online and researching their needs. Efficiently taking action will help e-commerce businesses stay within their marketing budgets.

2. More Competition

Many e-commerce businesses struggle to compete online. The market is saturated in the e-commerce space, so it’s becoming challenging to stand out online. One way to differentiate yourself from the competition is by offering a unique product with customized packaging.

You can use branding colors to distinguish your products and your business from competitors clearly. And if pricing concerns you, consider creating a unique value proposition to attract more customers to your business. 

3. Customer Experience

E-commerce businesses may find it difficult to offer the same experience as a brick-and-mortar store. Since you’re conducting business online, it’s important to meet customer expectations successfully.

To offer a better customer experience, this may require you to provide clarity on product offerings, loyalty programs, pricing and more.

Customers expect the same treatment online as they do in person. If you make it difficult for them to find a price or a product, they may get frustrated and go elsewhere.

4. Website Traffic and Conversions

Creating and running an e-commerce website is complex. However, generating traffic and conversions is also more challenging. 

Online retailers should consider omnichannel marketing to drive traffic to their stores. Search engine optimization, pay-per-click ads, display ads, retargeting, email, social media, etc., are needed to drive quality traffic to online stores. 

To successfully convert customers, e-commerce owners should have a clean, user-friendly website to build trust with their audiences. 

Yet, understanding your audience is the first step. You must know where your audience is paying attention, what channels they use and have a website that resonates with them to drive traffic and convert.

5. Long-Term Profitable Growth

Of course, increasing sales is one way to grow your business online. However, online retailers must consider a way to keep their business growing long-term. 

To keep your business profitable, you may need to find ways to control it to help you save money in the long run. For instance, it helps to figure out how you can reduce shipping costs and manage buyer returns. A return policy that communicates expectations can help create a hassle-free experience and minimize product returns.

Other ways may include cutting inventory costs, reducing overhead and improving marketing efforts to increase efficiency.

Use E-Commerce Struggles as Opportunities

In a world of fierce competition and high customer expectations, e-commerce businesses must make careful preparations. Consider addressing the common problems you face in an online market and focus on creating a customer-centric culture.

Doing so is essential to providing a high-end online experience and achieving success in the e-commerce space.