Running your small business is a complicated and demanding task. Operating and managing your eCommerce site at the same time compounds the issues that prevent you from doing the things you do best, creating and selling merchandise that delights your customers. As eCommerce begins to take the lead in generating new revenue for businesses of all sizes, small businesses in particular face challenges in cultivating that growth. It’s a harsh reality that decisions that were made when resources were scarce may become obstacles to generating the growth you need to compete and succeed into the future. Typically, these “growing pains” can be broken down into two main categories: 1) “I invested in tools and systems that I could afford and manage, but now they’re inadequate”, and/or 2) “I can see that I have to become more sophisticated about eCommerce practices, but I don’t know exactly what to do”. Let’s take a look at some of the questions you may ask to determine if it’s time to consider changes. If these issues describe your current position it may be time to seek answers and find help.
“Do my tools do what I expected, will they get me to where I want to go?”
You may have started out with one of the popular low-cost SaaS platforms like Shopify or BigCommerce, or an easy-to-implement open-source system like WooCommerce, and they were adequate for launching your site and supporting early growth. But now you’re experiencing limitations of flexibility, merchandising capabilities, and operational efficiency:
“Am I getting the consultative support I need?”
You’ve learned a lot about eCommerce through trial and error and meticulous research, your “baptism by fire”. But you’ve got a business to run and being a full time eCommerce guru is not an option:
“What happens if the unexpected happens?”
It can feel like eCommerce is one big minefield that has to be swept every day and constant vigilance is hard to sustain when you’re busy running a business:
“How do I afford everything I need to do”?
Resources are scarce. Growth is terrific but it has to balanced against investment which needs to be justified over time.
“How do I stay current”?
eCommerce is a constantly changing universe. Not only tools but strategies, providers, channels, and more are continually evolving. Navigating that shifting universe is a never-ending challenge:
There’s never been a better time to grow your eCommerce business with the tools and strategies available today. The challenge is to break through that invisible wall beyond which exponential growth is possible. You are probably ready to explore your alternatives if you’re asking yourself these questions. You deserve to find the answers from a source with a proven track record of eCommerce expertise and results.