The eCommerce boom is upon us. With online retail taking over our shopping habits and business plans, it’s inevitable for misinformation and misconceptions to get swirled into the mix. As the line between fact and fiction blurs, we remember that it’s a good thing that we brought our prescription-strength glasses. 

Last week, we covered seven outsourcing and fulfillment myths, and today we’re looking at the flipside of that same coin. By the time you’re done reading, you’ll be well on your way to becoming a logistics and eCommerce expert. Let’s get started!

#1. The Market Is Too Saturated

Is eCommerce a highly competitive field? Yes. Is there still a chance for your business to succeed? Also yes. The problem with the above statement is that it’s a broad assumption about an equally broad terrain. In order to properly gauge the market, you need to know what market you’re competing in, as they’re all very different. If you look hard enough, you’ll find nooks and crannies with your name on them.

#2. It’s More Profitable to Generalize Than to Specialize

By far, this is one of the biggest misconceptions about eCommerce, and one of the number one mistakes made by novice business owners. When you think about companies like Amazon and eBay, it’s important to recognize that they’re the outlier, not the norm.

It may seem counterintuitive, but selling to a select group of people is smarter and more profitable than attempting to sell to everyone, simply because the latter is literally impossible. When you zero in on an eCommerce niche, your marketing strategy almost writes itself. 

#3. Customers Favor Price Over Branding & Product Quality 

False! Sure, there are always the bargain hunters who consider cost and cost only. They’ll sacrifice bloated delivery times (in some cases, up to months!) and even quality just to obtain a product at its lowest possible price. That’s one type of customer, but they’re definitely not representative of everyone, especially now that expectations are at an all-time high. 

Aside from speedy shipping and top-notch service, customers are looking for personability and accessibility, which means that building a strong and memorable brand is more pressing than ever. Apple is a great example — their products aren’t the cheapest, but the Apple experience is one-of-a-kind.

#4. It’s Better to Focus on Only One Platform

Yes… at first. We recommend starting slow and building your way up, with “building your way up” being the emphasis here. The power of multichannel eCommerce simply cannot be underestimated, even if it seems more complicated (initially) to take on multiple platforms. Among other benefits, multichannel eCommerce can help increase brand exposure, reduce risks, and drive revenue — read more here!

#5. Organic Traffic Comes Automatically

Only lemonade stands have that kind of power! For online stores, organic traffic is either acquired by putting in some serious marketing elbow grease (SEO, anyone?) or through having an established name that effortlessly drives shoppers to your site. Basically, if you do nothing, the only traffic you’ll see will be in the form of pixelated tumbleweeds.

#6. The Customer Journey Is Always Straightforward

Customers visit your website, see something they like, and place their order. Right? Wrong! Although it sure would be nice if that were the case, the customer journey is filled with twists and turns. 

Maybe a potential shopper hears about your brand but is only ready to make a purchase six months down the line. Maybe they’re all about your products, but get swept up by a competitor at the last minute. Whatever the case, it’s these complexities that keep digital marketers booked and busy!

#7. Running an Online Business Is Easy

If you’ve been around the block long enough, then you know that eCommerce is anything but a get-rich-quick scheme. As we’ve already learned, there are quite a few factors that make eCommerce challenging, such as stiff competition and changing customer demands. Ask any dedicated business owner and they’ll tell you that the recipe for success is paved with blood, sweat, tears, and lots of eye strain. 

#8. You Have to Do Everything Yourself

Entrepreneurs are a rare breed. After all, it takes tremendous drive and determination to break the mold and turn your dreams into reality. As it turns out, that mindset does come with some side effects — namely, the tendency to add too much to a plate that’s already full. 

When you’ve spent immeasurable time and effort on a project, handing it off to someone else often feels like the end of the world. We totally get that! Unfortunately for the lone wolves out there, a helping hand (or several) can be the missing puzzle piece for longevity and sustainable growth. Whether you’re hiring new staff or partnering up with a 3PL, eCommerce is a game best played with a winning team.  

And there you have it! eCommerce myths, defrosted and debunked. We hope you enjoyed your time here, and we’ll see you next week!

Questions? Comments? We want to hear from you! Shoot us a line and we’ll respond ASAP.

P.S. Thirsty for more juicy tidbits? Everything you need to know about eCommerce and fulfillment is over on the ShipMonk blog. Subscribe today!