1. Taking Shortcuts.
There are no shortcuts in business, and the same applies to an online store. It takes time and dedication to build it correctly. The more time you spend on properly setting up the foundations of what you're making, the better off you will be as you grow.
2. Not Thinking about the Business Process First.
I can't stress enough how important it is to figure out the business process before you start applying the technology. Make sure you have a thorough understanding of how things are supposed to work in your business and then find the technology that's going to fit, not the other way around.
3. Installing every App You Can Possibly Think of Inside the App Store.
This situation is an extension of the previous one: just because you're installing an app doesn't mean that you're going to be creating less work for yourself. You need to find the right app for the problem you're trying to solve; otherwise, apps can cause more work and excess cost in the long run. Do thorough research first to see if there's an app to address your current business problem and if you can't find one only then look into a custom solution.
4. Making Your Business too Complicated.
Making the business complicated for complication's sake is not a way to succeed. You want to be simplifying your business at every turn. Make it simple so that people can understand it quickly (think about what your elevator pitch is!). If you can't explain your business in two or three sentences, go back, rethink it, and come up with a better way of describing it. If you can't understand it yourself, how will anyone else?
5. Not Having a Budget for Code Refactoring.
Refactoring code is a part of an agile startup business. It is the process of restructuring computer code to improve the non-functional aspects of the software. Doing refactoring regularly maintains the health of your site and allows for new iterations to have a good foundation to build upon. You can think of the refactoring budget as an annual gym membership so your website can have regular workouts to maintain it's fitness.
That's it!
To receive updates, drop your email in the form below, and we will let you know each time we post a new blog.