In today’s world, with rising prices and uncertain job markets, it’s becoming harder for many people to stay financially stable. Bills stack up. Incomes don’t always stretch far enough. That’s why making money online is one of the smartest moves you can make right now.
The good news is: it’s easier than ever to start an online business and earn from the comfort of your home.
You don’t need to be a tech expert. You don’t need a ton of money. You just need the right mindset and a clear path forward.
It’s a real way to earn extra income – without needing to quit your job or invest a ton of time.
But here’s the honest truth: a lot of people fail at the start. Not because they aren’t smart. Not because they didn’t try hard. But because they made mistakes that could have easily been avoided.
This article is going to walk through the 10 most common (and totally avoidable) mistakes that new ecommerce entrepreneurs make – and more importantly, how you can avoid them. Think of this as your step-by-step checklist to launch with confidence and get sales instantly!
Let’s begin.
Mistake #1: Waiting too long to start
Many people delay starting their store because they want everything to be perfect.
They get caught up in the small stuff – obsessing over a logo, spending days choosing the perfect name, or researching every possible niche. They think they need to have all the answers before they launch.
But the truth is, waiting can quietly kill your motivation. The longer you wait, the more doubt creeps in. You start asking yourself, “What if it doesn’t work?” or “What if I fail?” Before you know it, months have passed and your store is still just an idea.
Here’s what most successful entrepreneurs know: momentum is everything.
The sooner you take that first step, the sooner you start learning, adjusting, and getting closer to your first sale.
You don’t need perfection – you need to take action.
Mistake #2: Building a website from scratch
It’s easy to think that building a website from scratch gives you full control – but for beginners, it’s often a fast way to get stuck. Between buying a domain, finding reliable hosting, choosing a design theme, installing apps, connecting payment systems, and optimizing for mobile… things can get overwhelming very quickly.
Even if you manage to piece it all together, it’s hard to know what works unless you’ve tested and refined every page. And every hour you spend fiddling with tech is time you’re not using to grow your business or attract customers.
Many beginners waste weeks – even months – trying to build the “perfect” website. The problem? While you’re tweaking settings and customizing pages, others are already making sales with turnkey solutions.
That’s why using a pre-built, optimized store like Sellvia’s makes so much sense. It removes the guesswork and gets you up and running in record time:
- Skip the DIY stress and start with a ready-to-launch Sellvia store
- Enjoy a professionally designed website that’s mobile-friendly
With Sellvia, your store is ready the moment you are. No coding, no confusion, no wasted time – just a beautiful, fully functional ecommerce website built to start making sales right away.
Mistake #3: Choosing the wrong products
If your products don’t solve a problem or catch attention, you’ll struggle to get sales.
This is where a lot of beginners go wrong – they pick items based on personal taste, not market demand. It’s easy to assume that if you like a product, others will too. But ecommerce success isn’t about what you think is cool. It’s about what customers are already looking for.
Think of it like this: people shop online to fix a problem or get something they really want. If your store doesn’t help with either, they’ll just scroll right by.
Another mistake? Choosing products that are too generic or saturated. For example, phone cases or plain T-shirts without a unique twist won’t help your store stand out. You need items that grab attention, offer value, and fit a specific audience.
The good news is that you don’t have to guess.
Mistake #4: Ignoring marketing completely
Just launching a store won’t bring customers. This might be one of the biggest surprises for beginners – they expect that once their site is live, people will magically start buying. But no matter how amazing your product is, if no one sees it, it won’t sell.
Think of marketing as the bridge between your store and your customers. Without it, you’re just another unknown website floating around the internet. Unfortunately, many new store owners either avoid marketing altogether or assume it’s too expensive or complicated.
The reality? You don’t need a massive budget or a degree in digital marketing to get results. In fact, some of the simplest, low-cost strategies can bring in your first visitors and sales – fast.
What matters most is getting your products in front of the right people.
Sellvia makes it even easier with our powerful Auto-promotion feature that puts your ads in front of the right audience instantly. With just a few clicks, your products can appear on the top 5 online platforms – Amazon, Google, Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram.
Mistake #5: Overcomplicating your website
Some new store owners load up their websites with pop-ups, unnecessary pages, flashy effects, and endless menu items. They think that adding more features makes the store look more professional. But in reality, it just creates confusion.
Online shoppers move fast. If they land on your website and it’s hard to navigate, takes too long to load, or overwhelms them with too many choices, they’ll leave within seconds.
Simplicity is what works best – especially when you’re just starting out.
Your store should be easy to browse, easy to understand, and most importantly, easy to buy from. That means clear product pages, a visible “Add to Cart” button, and a checkout process that’s smooth from start to finish.
With Sellvia, your store is professionally designed to be clean and conversion-focused right from the beginning. No need to build pages from scratch or worry about layouts – everything is already optimized to guide your visitors toward making a purchase.
Mistake #6: Not working with your customers throughout their journey
A lot of new store owners put all their energy into attracting their customers. And while that’s exciting, the real opportunity lies in what comes after. If you’re not continuing to work with your customers after they come to your online store – you’re missing out.
Successful ecommerce businesses don’t just think about a single sale – they think in terms of the entire customer journey. This includes the moment a shopper discovers your brand, the point of purchase, and every interaction that follows.
When you keep in touch, recommend related products, and show you understand their needs, you turn casual buyers into loyal repeat customers. These repeat customers are more likely to spend more, come back often, and even recommend your store to others.
Increase the value of every order while giving your customers even more of what they want.
For example, let’s say someone buys a phone holder for their car. You could offer them a bundle that includes a matching USB charger and a cleaning wipe set. It’s convenient for them, adds value, and gives you a bigger sale.
Don’t just sell – improve every step along the way. Create an experience your customers want to come back to
Mistake #7: Long purchasing journey
Today’s online shoppers are impatient. They expect quick, seamless experiences – especially when it comes to buying. If your purchasing journey is too long, confusing, or full of unnecessary steps, you’re going to lose sales. Plain and simple.
Beginners often make the mistake of unintentionally slowing down the process. Maybe they add too many pages, too many pop-ups, or ask customers to fill out too much information before checkout. Every extra click or delay increases the chance that someone will leave without buying.
Think about it: when was the last time you happily went through a 5-step checkout? Or stuck around when a site was slow or hard to navigate? Probably never.
The best stores keep it simple – product, cart, checkout, done. Fast loading, mobile-friendly, and friction-free.
Mistake #8: Giving up too soon
This one is more common than you think. Many new store owners come in excited, motivated, and ready to hustle. But after a few days or a week – if they don’t see instant sales or explosive growth – they start to lose hope.
The problem is, most people compare their Day 1 to someone else’s Year 2.
They look at successful stores and forget that those businesses had to go through slow starts, testing, and learning curves too.
Building an online business is like planting seeds. You don’t get fruit overnight – but with consistent effort, you absolutely can grow something amazing. The people who succeed are usually the ones who simply didn’t stop.
The key is to stay consistent, stay curious, and keep moving forward – even when progress feels slow.
Every store that’s now making thousands per month once had zero sales, too.
Success doesn’t always show up on day one – unless you’re working with Sellvia.
Mistake #9: Trying to do everything alone
A lot of first-time entrepreneurs fall into the trap of thinking they have to do it all themselves.
They try to design their store, research products, write ads, run promotions, answer customer emails, and learn tech tools – all at once. It’s no wonder so many of them burn out before they ever see results.
There’s nothing wrong with being ambitious. But trying to wear every hat in your business is a fast track to frustration. It slows you down and keeps you from focusing on the parts that actually grow your store – like choosing great products and attracting the right audience.
The most successful online store owners know how to use tools, systems, and support to make their journey easier. You don’t need to know everything. You just need to know where to get help – and that’s exactly what Sellvia was built for.
From day one, you’ll have a personal manager to guide you through launching and growing your store – helping with everything from products to marketing. And if you ever run into technical issues, our friendly 24/7 support team is just a message away, ready to help so you can stay focused on growing your business.
Mistake #10: Not believing you can succeed
This might be the most silent mistake of all – and the one that stops the most people before they even start. Self-doubt. It’s that little voice that says, “This won’t work for me,” or “I’m not cut out for this.” And the more you listen to it, the easier it becomes to give up before you’ve even really tried.
But here’s the truth: successful business owners aren’t special. They’re not all tech geniuses or marketing pros. Most of them started out just like you – with no experience, a lot of questions, and a strong desire to change their life.
Believing in yourself isn’t just motivation talk. It’s the foundation of everything you’re about to build. If you don’t believe you can do this, you won’t take action. But if you show up, stay curious, and keep moving forward – you’ll learn, grow, and succeed faster than you think.
And you’re not doing it alone. With Sellvia, you’ve got the tools, the team, and the support to help you every step of the way. Whether it’s launching your first ad or making your first sale, we’re here to make it happen together.
Your future is in your hands – and it starts with believing that yes, you can do this.
You’ve got this!
Starting an online business doesn’t require a tech degree, big budget, or special skills. It just takes action, consistency, and the right tools.
Sellvia gives you everything you need to start fast: trending products, ready-to-go store templates, proven ad materials, and expert support.
Now that you know what mistakes to avoid, you’re already ahead of most beginners. Stay focused, stay curious, and don’t be afraid to start. Your first sale is closer than you think. Ready to build your business with a $100 welcome gift? Let’s go.
