20 Unique Problems With Ecommerce Websites in Detail

After the pandemic hit the world, many e-commerce businesses bloomed to immense success. The reason was a high increase in demand for online products and services. It is no doubt that managing an online business is easier and more efficient than a break-and-mortar store. That is why online repair stores use online presence management services to grow their business even after the world routine is back to normal.

But what should you do if you are entirely new to the e-commerce market and don’t know the hurdles you might face? Well, for your ease, we have listed 20 unique problems with ecommerce websites that will prepare you for the road ahead.

What Is Meant by E-commerce Website Design?

An e-commerce website is a virtual store where you can purchase and sell online products. Setting up an online store for your e-commerce website with the right features and design components is known as e-commerce website design. We are all familiar with e-commerce giants in the industry, like Amazon and Alibaba.

Making a visually appealing and user-friendly interface for your web design is the most crucial part of the success of an e-commerce store. Otherwise, you can face many unique problems with ecommerce websites. As they say, “first impression is the last impression”. When a user scans your website, it takes 2 seconds to judge whether it is worth their attention. Therefore, you need to be aware of the problems with ecommerce websites that could risk your ecommerce website design.

20 Unique Problems With Ecommerce Websites

Developing an e-commerce website design is more complex than you might imagine. The difficulties of operating an online store can impact sales, result in losses, and damage the business’s image. Furthermore, these difficulties are just the tip of the iceberg.

Let’s get straight to the problems with ecommerce websites that you might face while setting up an online store. Here is a list of 20 unique problems with ecommerce websites and solutions to how you can overcome them:

• Building Trust
• Accessibility
• Optimizing for Mobile
• Too Many Ads
• Failed Security
• Easy Payment System
• Spammy Copywriting
• Smooth Shipping Experience
• Keeping Stock Updates
• Negative Product Reviews
• Easy Navigation
• Abandoned Purchases
• Simple Design Layout
• Visual Appeal
• Search Engine Optimization for Traffic
• Site’s Own Search Engine
• High Bounce Rates
• Alt Text for Images
• Misleading Advertising
• Slow Shopping Cart Experience

1) Building Trust

The first one of the problems with ecommerce websites on our list is “building customer trust”.

For your business to be successful, you will always have to earn customer loyalty and build trust. It is not the easiest part of running an online startup. But many vendors forget that their website is crucial in building customer trust. The website design is responsible for building credibility among users. Consumers need to provide a lot of personal information, including their address, phone number, and other details, to make a purchase; as a result, they will only shop from a trustworthy website.

Website credibility can be built in the following ways:

1. Greet your users with a clean and simple design layout.
2. Add customer testimonials on your site page.
3. Write SEO-optimized content copy of all your site pages.
4. Make your address and contact information prominent.
5. Use high-resolution images but make sure they load quickly.

Read this article on Important Tips On How To Make Your Online Store Stand Out.

2) Accessibility

Next one of the problems with ecommerce websites is “Accessiblity”. Why is website accessibility important? Making your website accessible will ensure that all of your potential users—including those who are disabled—have a positive browsing experience and can quickly access your content. You may make the site more user-friendly for everyone by applying accessibility guidelines.

Overlooking website accessibility can be a huge one of problems with ecommerce websites for you. Here are the detailed reasons why website accessibility is an important factor in your website design:

1. Legal Compliance: Website accessibility is a legal requirement under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and similar laws in other countries.
2. Improved User Experience: Making a website accessible ensures that all users, including those with disabilities, can navigate and use it effectively.
3. Increased Reach: An accessible website can reach a larger audience, including users with disabilities who may not have been able to access the site otherwise.
4. Better SEO: Accessibility guidelines often overlap with search engine optimization (SEO) best practices, which can improve a site’s ranking on search engines.
5. Enhanced Reputation: Providing an accessible website can positively impact a business’s reputation and demonstrate its commitment to inclusivity and diversity.
6. Cost Savings: Addressing accessibility issues early in the design process can save time and money compared to retroactively fixing them later.

3) Optimzing for Mobile

Undoubtedly, mobile-friendly design for websites is crucial for growth and increased accessibility. If you have overlooked this part, you will have to face many other problems with ecommerce websites, such as high bounce rates, increased retention, etc. Optimizing your website for mobile is necessary for countless reasons, such as:

1. Mobile Dominance: With over half of all web traffic coming from mobile devices, optimizing a website for mobile is essential to reach a large and growing audience.
2. Improved User Experience: A mobile-optimized website provides a better user experience by displaying content in a user-friendly format on smaller screens.
3. Increased Conversion Rates: A mobile-friendly website can increase conversion rates by providing a seamless user experience on mobile devices.
4. Better SEO: Google and other search engines favor mobile-optimized websites in their search results, which can improve a site’s visibility and drive more organic traffic.
5. Decreased Bounce Rates: A poorly designed mobile website can lead to high bounce rates, as users quickly abandon the site due to frustration or a lack of functionality.
6. Lost Revenue: A website that is not mobile-optimized may alienate potential customers, leading to lost sales and revenue.
7. Decreased Brand Reputation: A subpar mobile experience can damage a brand’s reputation and negatively impact customer loyalty and trust.

4) Too Many Ads

Too many ads on a web design page are one of the problems with ecommerce websites for several reasons. Firstly, excessive ads can create a cluttered and overwhelming user experience, distracting visitors from the products or services and potentially driving them away. Additionally, ads can slow down page load times, leading to a poor user experience and potentially affecting search engine rankings.

Furthermore, too many ads can reduce the credibility and trustworthiness of a website, as visitors may associate a site with being spammy or unprofessional. Finally, excessive ads can also detract from the overall design aesthetic, impacting the visual appeal and branding of the website. By balancing revenue-generating ads and a positive user experience, ecommerce businesses can optimize their websites for customers and conversion rates.

5) Failed Security

Another one of the problems with ecommerce websites is bad or failed security. Failed security can cause serious problems with ecommerce websites, putting the business and its customers at risk. An ecommerce site that lacks proper security measures is vulnerable to hacking, data breaches, and other forms of cybercrime.

This can result in a leak of sensitive customer information, such as payment details and personal data, stolen or compromised. This can harm the business’s reputation, causing customers to lose trust and confidence in the site. Furthermore, failed security can result in financial losses for the business, as it may have to pay for damage control and compensation for affected customers.

Furthermore, a security breach can also lead to legal liability, as the business may be held responsible for failing to protect customer data. Ensuring a secure ecommerce website is an essential component of a successful online business, as it protects the business and its customers from potential harm.

6) Easy Payment System

An ecommerce website needs an easy payment system or gateway to provide customers with a seamless and hassle-free shopping experience. A smooth and efficient payment process can increase the likelihood of a successful transaction and help build customer trust. A complex or difficult-to-use payment system can result in abandoned carts and lost sales. To create a hassle-free payment system for an online store, the following steps can be taken:

1. Offer multiple payment options: Provide customers with multiple payment options, including credit/debit cards, PayPal, and other popular methods.
2. Ensure security: Implement industry-standard security measures, such as SSL encryption, to protect sensitive customer information and prevent fraud.
3. Streamline checkout process: Keep the checkout process simple, minimizing the number of steps and reducing the risk of confusion.
4. Provide clear payment instructions: Clearly explain the payment process, including any fees and expected processing times, to set customer expectations and reduce confusion.
5. Test and refine the system: Regularly test the payment system and gather customer feedback to identify and resolve any issues and improve the overall user experience.

By implementing these best practices, an ecommerce website can provide a hassle-free payment system that helps increase conversions and build customer trust.

7) Spammy Copywriting

Spammy copywriting refers to using manipulative or excessive language in website content designed to trick search engines or deceive visitors. This type of writing is characterized by repetitive keywords, over-the-top promises, and other tactics intended to manipulate search engines or influence customer behavior.

In an ecommerce context, spammy copywriting can negatively affect website design in several ways. Firstly, it can make the site appear unprofessional and untrustworthy, as visitors may associate spammy copywriting with low-quality products or services.

Secondly, spammy copywriting can also detract from the overall design aesthetic, impacting the visual appeal and branding of the website.

Search engines may penalize websites that use spammy copywriting, reducing their visibility in search results and hurting their search engine optimization (SEO) efforts. To ensure a positive user experience and maintain a professional image, ecommerce businesses need to avoid spammy copywriting and focus on creating high-quality, relevant, and valuable content for their customers.

8) Smooth Shipping Experience

Ecommerce businesses should ensure a smooth shipping experience for their customers through website design to increase customer satisfaction and foster long-term customer loyalty. A seamless shipping experience can greatly impact the overall customer experience, as customers expect their orders to arrive quickly and in good condition. A well-designed shipping process, including clear shipping information and tracking, can help build trust and confidence in the brand.

On the other hand, a confusing or difficult shipping process can lead to customer frustration and disappointment, potentially damaging the business’s reputation. To ensure a smooth shipping experience, ecommerce businesses can take steps such as clearly displaying shipping information and options, providing real-time tracking updates, and offering convenient shipping methods.

By prioritizing the shipping experience in their website design, ecommerce businesses can create a positive customer experience, increase customer satisfaction, and drive repeat business.

9) Keeping Stock Updates

Not keeping track of stocks is also one of those unique problems with ecommerce websites, as it can result in overselling, stockouts, and customer disappointment. When an ecommerce store does not accurately track its inventory, it may sell products that are not actually in stock, leading to frustrated customers and potential damage to the store’s reputation.

Additionally, stockouts can lead to lost sales and reduced customer loyalty. To overcome this issue, ecommerce stores should implement a robust inventory management system that accurately tracks stock levels in real time.

This can be done through the use of manual or automated systems, such as barcoding, QR codes, or software-based inventory management systems. Keeping accurate and up-to-date stock information is essential for the success of an ecommerce store and helps to ensure a positive customer experience. Regularly reviewing and updating inventory information can help to identify trends and make informed decisions about future stock levels and ordering.

10) Negative Product Reviews

Negative product reviews can be a problem for ecommerce websites as they can negatively impact customer trust and perception of the product and the brand. Negative reviews can discourage potential customers from purchasing and lead to lost sales.

Ecommerce websites should have a plan in place for handling negative product reviews so that they can respond to and resolve them promptly and professionally.

This can entail getting in touch with the client to resolve any problems they might have had and to address any issues they might have brought up in the evaluation. Ecommerce websites may show that they value their consumers and care about the quality of their goods and services by committing to customer happiness and aggressively resolving unpleasant situations. Maintaining a positive reputation and fostering trust with current and new consumers can also be accomplished by aggressively controlling bad reviews.

11) Easy Navigation

Not having easy navigation on a web design can be a major problem for ecommerce websites as it can lead to a poor user experience and result in lost sales. When a website is difficult to navigate, customers may have trouble finding what they are looking for, leading to frustration and a higher likelihood of leaving the site without making a purchase. To resolve this issue, ecommerce websites should prioritize clear and intuitive navigation in their design.

This can be achieved by using clear and concise labeling, consistent navigation elements, and an easy-to-use menu structure. By making the website easy to navigate, ecommerce businesses can provide a better user experience, increase customer satisfaction, and drive more sales. Regularly reviewing and testing the website’s navigation can help identify any areas for improvement and ensure that the website remains user-friendly over time.

12) Abandoned Purchases

Approximately 70% of online shoppers abandon their shopping carts, and many users only browse ecommerce websites without completing a purchase. To overcome this problem, it’s important to be strategic in following up with users who leave items in their carts.

Some best practices include making it easy for users to opt out of email notifications, showcasing your company’s personality in follow-up emails, avoiding overwhelming customers with too many emails, offering coupons or discounts, A/B testing your email campaigns, providing a responsive solution for mobile users, and making it easy for users to find answers to their questions on your website. A tactful and effective approach can help increase the chances of users completing their purchases.

13) Simple Design Layout

A complicated design layout can negatively impact the user experience on an ecommerce website, leading to increased bounce rates and decreased conversions. A simple and intuitive design layout makes it easier for customers to find what they’re looking for, navigate the website, and make a purchase.

The design layout can be improved by using clear and consistent typography, minimalistic and clean layouts, organizing the content into categories and subcategories, having high-quality product images, and providing clear calls-to-action.

Additionally, conducting user testing and analyzing website data can help identify areas that need improvement and inform design decisions. You can use basic web design tools like Figma and Sketch to design a good website interface easily.

14) Visual Appeal

Now for the most important and common problem with ecommerce websites, we have ‘visual appeal’. Visual appeal is crucial for ecommerce websites as it directly affects the user’s first impression of the brand and their perception of the product.

A visually appealing design can increase the level of trust, credibility, and motivation to make a purchase. On the other hand, if the design is not visually appealing, it can have negative effects such as decreased engagement, increased bounce rates, and lower conversions.

Poor visual design can make the website look outdated and unprofessional and discourage potential customers from staying on the site and purchasing. Therefore, ensuring a visually appealing design is essential for creating a positive user experience and driving sales for an ecommerce website.

15) Search Engine Optimization for Traffic

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is crucial for ecommerce stores as it helps improve the visibility and ranking of their website in search engines such as Google, which drives organic traffic to their site. The higher the website ranks for relevant keywords, the more likely it is to attract potential customers actively searching for products and services the store offers.

This can lead to increased website traffic and a higher volume of potential customers, which can drive sales and revenue for the business. SEO helps to build trust and credibility for the brand, as appearing at the top of search results signals to users that the website is authoritative and relevant to their search query. By investing in SEO, ecommerce stores can improve their online visibility and attract more high-quality traffic, which can significantly impact their overall success.

16) Site’s Own Search Engine

Having a website’s search engine is crucial for website success, especially for ecommerce stores, as it provides users with an easy and convenient way to find what they are looking for on the site. A well-designed search engine allows users to quickly and easily search for products, categories, and other content on the website, without having to navigate through multiple pages or menus. This can greatly improve the user experience and increase the likelihood of a sale.

A website’s search engine can provide valuable data on what customers are searching for, what products are popular, and which keywords generate the most traffic, which can inform marketing and sales strategies. Having a website search engine also enhances the overall functionality and usability of the site, making it easier for customers to find what they are looking for, which can help to increase customer satisfaction and loyalty.

In short, having a website’s search engine can help ecommerce stores drive traffic, increase conversions, and improve the overall customer experience, which are all key components of website success.

17) High Bounce Rates

Another one of the main problems with ecommerce websites is high bounce rates. A high bounce rate is an issue for websites because visitors leave the site quickly after arriving without engaging with the content or taking any actions they desire, such as making a purchase or filling out a survey form. This can be a sign of poor user experience, as visitors are not finding the information they need or encountering obstacles preventing them from interacting with the site. High bounce rates can also lower a website’s search engine ranking, as search engines consider the time visitors spend on a site as a signal of its relevance and quality.

In turn, this can reduce the site’s visibility and make it more difficult for potential customers to find it. High bounce rates can also negatively impact the website’s conversion rate and overall performance, as fewer visitors engage with the site and take desired actions. To avoid a high bounce rate, websites should focus on improving the user experience, ensuring that the content is relevant and engaging, and removing any obstacles that may be hindering user engagement.

18) Alt Text for Images

Using image alt text is a crucial aspect of website design and functionality. It serves a dual purpose: first, it describes the image on the page while it is loading, which helps to provide context to the user and improve the overall user experience. Second, it can assist visually impaired individuals who use screen-reading tools to understand the content on the page, including descriptions of products.

In addition to its accessibility benefits, image alt text plays a key role in search engine optimization. Properly optimizing image alt text can help improve your products’ visibility on Google image search results. When done correctly, this can significantly increase traffic and potential customers who find your site through image searches. In other words, using image alt text can be an effective way to drive leads and boost the overall performance of your ecommerce store.

19) Misleading Advertising

Let’s talk about another one of the problems with ecommerce websites in this list. That is misleading advertising!

Misleading advertising can be a major issue for ecommerce websites as it can damage the reputation and credibility of the brand, and erode consumer trust. False or exaggerated claims about products and services can lead to disappointment and frustration among customers, who may feel misled or deceived. This can result in negative reviews, loss of business, and legal and regulatory consequences for the website.

Misleading advertising can also impact search engine optimization, as search engines may penalize websites that engage in deceptive practices. This can reduce the website’s visibility in search results, making it harder for potential customers to find it.

In the long run, misleading advertising can harm the success of an ecommerce website, as customers are more likely to choose brands they trust and believe to be transparent and honest. To avoid these negative consequences, ecommerce websites should strive to be truthful and accurate in their advertising and marketing efforts and avoid making false or exaggerated claims.

Read this article to Learn How to Market a Repair Business Online?

20) Slow Shopping Cart Experience

Now the last one out of the 20 main problems with ecommerce websites is having a slow shopping cart experience.

A slow shopping cart experience can be a major issue for online stores, leading to frustration, loss of interest, and abandoned purchases. Visitors expect a fast, smooth, and seamless shopping experience, and a slow or unresponsive shopping cart can negatively impact the overall user experience. This can result in lower conversion rates and a decline in sales for the online store.

To resolve slow shopping cart experiences, it is important to identify and address the root causes. This may include optimizing website and database performance, improving website design, reducing the number of steps in the checkout process, or incorporating faster payment methods. Additionally, implementing load testing and performance monitoring tools can help to identify and resolve potential performance bottlenecks, ensuring that the shopping cart experience remains fast and responsive for visitors.

By taking steps to improve the shopping cart experience, online stores can provide a more positive and engaging user experience, increase conversion rates, and drive sales and revenue.

Summary

You might feel overwhelmed when setting up an online store as a beginner. You will face many challenges in designing an ecommerce website, just like in any other business. But if you are wise enough, then you will prepare yourself ahead for any unique problems with ecommerce websites.

If you’ve thoroughly read this article, then you will not have to worry about how to solve problems with ecommerce websites. As long as you are aware of the challenges might be, you will be able to find solutions beforehand. We hope that this article enlightened you about the most unique e commerce problems and solutions to them.

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