Running an e-commerce business isn’t just about getting traffic—it’s about turning visitors into buyers and keeping them coming back. But what if I told you that you could be losing thousands in revenue every month without even realising it?
We’ve worked with countless e-commerce brands, and time and time again, we’ve spotted three common mistakes that quietly drain profits. The good news? They’re all fixable!
If you want to stop losing money and start maximising your sales, read on to make sure you’re not falling into these traps.
🚨 Mistake #1: Poor Conversion Rate Optimisation (CRO)
The problem:
You’ve spent money driving traffic to your site, but most visitors leave without buying anything. That means you’re paying for ads and SEO, but not getting the return on investment (ROI) you should.
Signs this is happening to you:
- High traffic, but low sales.
- Visitors abandon checkout before completing their purchase.
- Low add-to-cart rates despite good product views.
How to fix it:
✅ Simplify your checkout process – Reduce the number of steps, offer guest checkout, and make payment options clear.
✅ Add trust signals – Display reviews, testimonials, security badges, and money-back guarantees.
✅ Use high-quality product images and videos – Make sure they showcase the product clearly and build buyer confidence.
✅ Improve page load speed – A slow website kills sales; use tools like Google PageSpeed Insights to optimise it.
✅ Leverage urgency and scarcity – Display low-stock alerts and limited-time offers to encourage faster purchases.
🛒 Mistake #2: Weak Abandoned Cart Recovery Strategy
The problem:
On average, 7 out of 10 shoppers abandon their carts before completing a purchase. That’s a huge chunk of lost revenue. The worst part? Many e-commerce brands don’t have a solid cart recovery strategy in place, or they’re sending bland, ineffective emails.
Signs this is happening to you:
- You send cart recovery emails, but no one completes their purchase.
- You only send one abandoned cart email (instead of a series).
- You’re not using urgency or offering incentives in follow-ups.
How to fix it:
✅ Send a 3-email sequence – Don’t stop at one email! Use a follow-up sequence:
- Email 1 (1 hour after abandonment): Friendly reminder.
- Email 2 (24 hours later): Create urgency (e.g., “Your cart is about to expire!”).
- Email 3 (48 hours later): Offer a small discount or free shipping to close the deal.
✅ Personalise the emails – Use their name and show them exactly what they left in their cart.
✅ Use compelling subject lines – Examples:
“Oops! You forgot something…”
“Your cart is expiring soon – don’t miss out!”
“Still thinking it over? Here’s a special discount.”
✅ Enable push notifications – Cart abandonment pop-ups and browser notifications can also recover sales in real-time.
💰 Mistake #3: Relying Too Much on Paid Ads Without a Retention Strategy
The problem:
Paid ads (Google, Facebook, Instagram) are great for bringing in new customers, but they’re expensive and only getting more costly. If you’re constantly spending money to acquire new customers but not focusing on retention, you’re leaving money on the table.
Signs this is happening to you:
- You have a high cost per acquisition (CPA) and struggle to turn a profit.
- Customers buy once and never return.
- You’re not leveraging email marketing or loyalty programs.
How to fix it:
✅ Focus on email marketing – Set up post-purchase flows to keep customers engaged.
✅ Offer a loyalty or rewards program – Give repeat buyers discounts, points, or exclusive offers.
✅ Upsell and cross-sell – Use personalised product recommendations post-purchase.
✅ Improve customer experience – Provide top-notch customer service and ensure seamless delivery. ✅ Encourage referrals – Word-of-mouth marketing is powerful; offer incentives for customers who refer friends.
🚀 Conclusion: Stop Losing Profits—Fix These Mistakes Now!
If you’re making any of these mistakes, don’t panic—just take action!
✅ Optimise your conversions so more visitors become paying customers.
✅ Fix your abandoned cart strategy to recover lost sales.
✅ Prioritise retention so you don’t waste money on one-time buyers.