I’m Done with Fake E-commerce Gurus
Look, I’ve been in this game for over two decades. I’ve seen it all. The trends, the fads, the so-called experts who think they’ve got it all figured out. I’m over it. So, I’m gonna tell you the truth about e-commerce. The messy, unfiltered, sometimes embarrassing truth. (And yes, I’m gonna make mistakes. Deal with it.)
Back in 2003, I started my first online store. It was a disaster. I mean, a completeley disaster. I didn’t know what I was doing. I just thought, ‘Hey, I can sell stuff online and make millions!’ Spoiler: I didn’t make millions. I barely made $87 in the first three months. But I learned. Oh, did I learn.
Why Most Online Stores Fail
Let’s talk about why most online stores fail. It’s not just because they don’t have a good product. It’s not just because they don’t have enough traffic. It’s because they don’t understand the basics. The fundamentals. The stuff that doesn’t get talked about enough because it’s not sexy.
I was having coffee with my friend Marcus last Tuesday. He’s been trying to start an online store for about three months now. He’s got a great product, a cool website, but he’s not making any sales. I asked him, ‘Have you done your committment to customer service?’ He looked at me like I had two heads. ‘What’s that?’ he said. I told him, ‘It’s the promise you make to your customers. It’s the thing that makes them come back.’
Marcus didn’t get it. And that’s the problem. Most people don’t get it. They think it’s all about the product. It’s not. It’s about the experience. The whole experience. From the moment someone lands on your site to the moment they receive their package and beyond.
The One Thing That Changed Everything
About three years ago, I made a change. One simple change that completely transformed my business. I started focusing on the customer. Like, really focusing on the customer. I’m talking about knowing their names, their birthdays, their favorite colors. I’m talking about sending them handwritten notes. I’m talking about calling them up just to say hi.
I know what you’re thinking. ‘That’s crazy. That’s too much work.’ Maybe it is. But it works. It’s the reason I’m still in business today. It’s the reason I have customers who have been with me since day one.
I remember this one time, I had a customer named Dave. He ordered something from me, and it was the wrong size. I could have just sent him a replacement. But I didn’t. I called him up. I apologized. I asked him what he wanted to do. He was so surprised. He told me, ‘No one’s ever done that before.’ And that’s when it hit me. That’s the difference. That’s what makes a business succeed.
Let’s Talk About Verification
Now, I’m gonna get a bit technical here. But it’s important. Verification. It’s a pain, right? But it’s necessary. You gotta make sure your customers are who they say they are. And sometimes, that means using europe virtual numbers for sms verification. I know, it’s not the most exciting topic. But it’s important. Trust me.
I remember when I first started using verification services. I was so frustrated. It was 11:30pm, and I was still trying to figure it out. But once I did, it was a game-changer. It made my life so much easier. And it made my customers’ lives easier too. So, don’t skip this step. It’s worth it.
A Tangent: Why I Hate Black Friday
Okay, I’m gonna go off on a tangent here. Black Friday. Ugh. I hate it. I hate the crowds, the chaos, the commercialism. But you know what I hate more? The way it’s seeped into online shopping. It’s not just one day anymore. It’s a whole week. A whole month. It’s completley out of hand.
I remember last year, I was at a conference in Austin. Everyone was talking about Black Friday. How they were gonna prepare for it. How they were gonna make the most of it. I just sat there, shaking my head. ‘It’s too much,’ I said. ‘It’s too much.’ And honestly, nobody listened. They just kept talking about their sales and their discounts and their promotions. It was exhausting.
But you know what? I’m not gonna rant about it anymore. It’s not worth it. Let’s move on.
Final Thoughts (Not Really Final, I Just Ran Out of Steam)
Look, I could go on and on. But I won’t. I’m tired. And honestly, I think you’ve heard enough. The point is, e-commerce is hard. It’s messy. It’s not for the faint of heart. But it’s also incredibly rewarding. If you’re willing to put in the work. If you’re willing to focus on the customer. If you’re willing to do the things that no one else is doing.
So, that’s it. That’s my truth. Take it or leave it. I don’t care. I’m gonna go have a drink now.
About the Author
Sarah Jenkins has been a senior magazine editor for over 20 years. She’s written for major publications, started her own e-commerce business, and has a strong opinion on just about everything. She lives in New York with her cat, Mr. Whiskers, and spends her free time complaining about the state of the world on Twitter.
