5 Mistakes to Avoid on Shopify
Building an ecommerce store on Shopify can be an exciting journey, full of endless possibilities. With the right tactics and strategies, you can transform your small online store into a lucrative business. However, a few common mistakes often stand between Shopify store owners and their success.
The beauty of ecommerce platforms like Shopify lies in their accessibility. Anyone with a product to sell can start a store; no technical expertise required. But, an effective, high-converting ecommerce store is more than just uploading products and setting prices. It requires careful planning, strategic execution, and constant monitoring and iterations.
In this article, we’ll discuss five common mistakes that Shopify store owners often make. Avoiding these missteps can make the difference between a thriving ecommerce business and a failed venture. Let's unpack these problems and learn how to sidestep them together.
Basic Concepts and Key Terms

Before diving in, let’s first understand some basic concepts and key terms associated with Shopify and ecommerce in general:
- Conversion Rate: This is the percentage of visitors to your store who make a purchase.
- SEO (Search Engine Optimization): A set of strategies used to improve your store's visibility on search engines like Google.
- UX (User Experience): The overall experience a shopper has while navigating and interacting with your online store.
A Step-by-step Guide to Avoiding Common Mistakes
1. Not Paying Attention to SEO: An ecommerce store is only as good as its visibility. If your target customers can’t find you online, you’ve already lost the game. Invest in SEO strategies like keyword research, quality content, and backlink generation to improve your store’s search engine rankings.
2. Ignoring Mobile Users: More than half of all ecommerce transactions take place on mobile devices. If your Shopify store isn’t optimized for mobile, you’re missing out on a significant chunk of potential sales. Ensure a seamless mobile experience for your customers.
3. Complicated Checkout Process: A complicated or lengthy checkout process is one of the biggest reasons for cart abandonment. Simplify your checkout process as much as possible, ensuring a smooth and quick transaction for your customers.
Tips and Best Practices
- Focus on customer service, offer excellent after-sales support and return policies.
- Encourage user reviews and feedback to foster trust and increase conversion rates.
- Run regular A/B testing to understand what works and what doesn’t for your Shopify store.
Mistakes to Avoid
- Not taking SEO seriously.
- Ignoring mobile optimization.
- Complicated checkout process.
- Ignoring customer service.
- Not utilizing user reviews and feedback.
In conclusion, the road to Shopify success is filled with potential pitfalls. By paying attention to SEO, optimizing for mobile, simplifying the checkout process, focusing on customer service, and utilizing customer feedback, you can avoid common mistakes and set your store up for success.