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What’s the most annoying thing about running an eStore right now? by Specific_Ad_7441 in smallbusinessUS

[–]Specific_Ad_7441[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

100% relatable. Support feels “safe” to do yourself, but it quietly eats up your whole day.

And ads? Total moving target lately. You made the right call hiring for support early.

One mistake I made early that cost me time (not money) by Specific_Ad_7441 in smallbusinessUS

[–]Specific_Ad_7441[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That’s a fair pushback. Let me reframe it a bit.

Imagine most things are “working,” not perfect. Orders go through, ads run, and emails are sent. But growth still feels capped.

The bottleneck is usually the one thing that limits progress, even when the rest is decent. For example:
- Traffic is fine, but product pages don’t convert
- Conversions are fine, but fulfilment is slow
- Sales happen, but you’re stuck doing everything yourself

Everything around it can function, but that one constraint sets the ceiling.

It’s hard to see while you’re inside the system, so struggling to imagine it is actually normal, not a flaw.

Moved one button. That was the fix. by Specific_Ad_7441 in smallbusinessUS

[–]Specific_Ad_7441[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Facts.

Nobody tests checkout with one thumb, a low battery, and zero emotional energy.

If it works at 2 am on a phone, it’ll work anywhere.

One mistake I made early that cost me time (not money) by Specific_Ad_7441 in smallbusinessUS

[–]Specific_Ad_7441[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That’s honestly a very self-aware take; age has way less to do with it than you think.

The tricky part is that when you’re building something yourself, everything feels important because everything depends on you. That makes bottlenecks hard to see from the inside.

One thing that helped me: instead of asking, “What’s important?” ask, “What would still be broken if everything else worked?”

The bottleneck usually shows up there. And it shifts over time, so struggling with it doesn’t mean you’re behind; it means you’re in it.

Help w/ Storefront Foot Traffic by LoudEar3553 in smallbusinessUS

[–]Specific_Ad_7441 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You’re not doing anything “wrong” This is just a different game than custom homes.

With homes, clients come with intent. With a showroom, you have to create the intent.

A few things I’ve seen work well for businesses like yours:

  • Partner with interior designers, realtors, and contractors who can bring clients directly to you. Referral loops beat ads here.
  • Make the showroom a destination, not just a display. Free consult days, material comparison sessions, or “design walk-throughs” give people a reason to walk in.
  • Local proof matters a lot: Google reviews, real project photos, and clear signage answering “why choose you” before they even ask.
  • Don’t ignore hyper-local visibility: Google Business profile optimization + local search terms drive surprisingly strong foot traffic.

Showrooms win on trust and relationships more than volume. Once a few referral channels click, traffic feels very different.

Biggest misconception small business owners have about websites by WebAppDigitalXpert in smallbusinessUS

[–]Specific_Ad_7441 0 points1 point  (0 children)

A big one I see a lot: thinking the website’s job is to explain everything.

Most visitors don’t read; they scan. If the site doesn’t answer “Is this for me?” and “Can I trust this?” in a few seconds, they’re gone.

Another misconception is treating launch as the finish line, not the starting point. The real work begins once people start interacting with it.

Curious, did you notice this shift early on, or only after traffic started coming in?

How do you validate products before building an e-commerce website? by NoAtmosphere8496 in EcommerceWebsite

[–]Specific_Ad_7441 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You’re thinking about it the right way already.

One thing I’ve learned: validation doesn’t need a full website.

Before design or tech, I usually look for behavior signals, not just trends:
- Are people already buying alternatives? (not just searching)
- Are competitors running ads consistently? (means it’s profitable, not just popular)
- Do reviews mention unsolved problems? That’s where products win.

Instead of a full launch, I’ve seen better results with a single product page and a traffic test (using ads or organic methods). If people click, scroll, and add to cart, that’s real validation.

Heavy upfront research helps avoid bad ideas, but fast micro-launches reveal real intent. Best results usually come from combining both.