You will get easily frustrated when making the wrong business moves because not only do you waste time, you also waste your customers’ money and effort. In fact, they’ll just regret choosing you. That’s why you should avoid common newbie e-commerce mistakes as an entrepreneur, especially when you’re starting out. We’ve seen these mistakes happen over and over again based on our experience of selling more than 60,000 e-commerce orders.

Our guide is going to help you out. Here a list of dropshipping pitfalls you definitely want to avoid:

1. Not Targeting the Right Customers

When you’re starting out, go where the people already are. Set up your online store on platforms that have a large pool of potential customers waiting for you. Think of running your online store the same way a local supermarket operates — they have hundreds of stalls and a sea of people checking out products as they stroll past them.

So, start your dropshipping store on platforms like eBay, Etsy, or Amazon. They already have massive traffic and people actively buying products. You can launch your own website, but it’s often difficult to get traffic and sales early on. You’ll also have thousands of online sellers competing for the same audience in a crowded marketplace. It’s smarter to begin with a popular platform, build traction there, and then branch off to your own website later.

These big platforms are great for validating your niche and products. You can experiment with features, test different bundles, and mix and match dropshipping items without committing to one specific niche or sales strategy. This helps you avoid a lot of unnecessary trial and error.

Once you start generating sales, growing revenue, and attracting loyal customers, you’ll have a business reputation to build on. When you’ve earned that reputation and established a strong customer base, you can start funneling them to your main store or website — separate from the big portals.

2. Paying for Ads Too Early

Another mistake we see all the time is paying for ads too early. Just because you pay for ads doesn’t mean the money will start rolling in. Don’t pay for ads at the beginning. If you can’t generate sales without ads, you shouldn’t invest in them yet. Give your business time to grow and build a solid foundation first. 

Learn by doing — see what works, collect customer feedback, run surveys, and improve your business policies and strategies based on real insights. It takes patience, hard work, and consistency. You don’t need to pour money into ads right away or throw cash into the void hoping for results. Many businesses succeed just as well using free social commerce platforms like TikTok and Instagram. Once you start gaining traction, you can think about running ads strategically.

Is your brand fun to engage with? Does it solve problems? Get those things down first. YouTube is also another great platform for doing collabs with other influencers. We recommend it because it makes it easy to build your brand and grow an audience online. Only splurge on ads if you have money to spend. If you are running on a tight budget, wait it out.

3. Not Understanding Your Product Market-Fit

Some products will require a different business approach because every business model is unique. You need to figure out what works best for your brand and products. For example, if you’re selling food products, your target market could range from older adults to students, busy professionals, or fitness enthusiasts. Some may want tiffins or lunchables, while others prefer meal plans for intermittent fasting. This shows just how diverse your target audience can be.

That’s just one example. If you’re selling furniture, you’ll need to narrow down your target group even more. Success depends on location, demand, and customer type. Are you selling to B2B or B2C companies? Or are you targeting local supermarkets that serve all kinds of customers from different age groups and lifestyles? You really have to think through these factors before diving in.

If you have a defined target audience, you don’t have to jump into any business blindly. Researching your audience is a necessary step. 

4. Poor Website Design and Navigation

Your website acts as your online storefront, and first impressions count. If your site looks unprofessional, loads slowly, or confuses visitors, you'll lose sales before customers even see your products. Poor website design includes cluttered layouts, confusing navigation, and sites that don't work on mobile devices.​

You need clean, intuitive navigation that makes it easy for customers to find products. If visitors can't figure out how to browse your store or complete a purchase, they'll leave for a competitor. Keep your main menu simple with 5-7 clear categories. Use descriptive labels like "Men's Shoes" instead of vague terms like "Discover" or "Explore".​​

Mobile optimization is crucial since most shoppers browse on their phones. Your checkout process should work smoothly on small screens with large, tappable buttons and minimal form fields. Test your site on different devices to make sure it loads fast and functions properly everywhere.​ If you need no-code AI web builders, you can try apps like Emergent and Hercules. They can get you set up and running in no time. With just a few prompts, you can build web app and navigation elements with them. Refine, tweak, and get working code right from natural language. It's not rocket science.

5. Ignoring Customer Service

Customer service separates successful dropshippers from those who fail quickly. When you neglect customer support, you'll face angry customers, negative reviews, and damaged reputation. Remember, even though your supplier handles shipping, customers see you as responsible for their entire experience.​

Respond to inquiries promptly and professionally. Set up systems to handle common questions about shipping times, returns, and product details. Create a comprehensive FAQ section and provide multiple ways for customers to reach you - email, live chat, or phone support.​

When problems occur with orders, take ownership and work with your supplier to resolve them. Customers appreciate transparency about shipping delays or quality issues. Good customer service turns one-time buyers into repeat customers who recommend your store to others.​

If you’re running a dropshipping business, you should consider apps like Spocket. Because with Spocket, you get features like 24/7 VIP customer support, branded invoicing, and Print-on-demand customizations. Plus, you can source from the best US and EU suppliers worldwide and enjoy fast shipping.

6. Inadequate Product Descriptions and Images

Many dropshippers copy generic product descriptions directly from suppliers, which creates duplicate content problems and fails to connect with customers. Poor descriptions and low-quality images make your products look unprofessional and reduce conversion rates.​

Write unique, detailed descriptions that explain benefits, not just features. 

Answer the questions customers ask: How will this product help me? What size should I choose? How do I care for it? Include specific measurements, materials, and use cases.​

You can use an AI product description writer like Smartli to streamline your content creation process. Set up a few content briefs, set your brand voice and tone, mention your target keywords, audience, and you’ll be good to go. Polish your drafts with a human touch and just oversee before you post.

Use high-quality product images from multiple angles. If possible, add lifestyle photos showing the product in use. Images sell products online, so invest time in getting good visuals that showcase what customers will receive.​ You can use apps like Leonardo AI to generate product visuals for your e-commerce business. For brand logos, we recommend Logome. We also recommend learning to polish images and working with AI image editors, especially if you are uploading photos in bulk. You can use AI agents to build a custom image editing and creation pipeline. Do some research online and you’ll get a few ideas soon.

7. Neglecting SEO and Backlink Building

Without applying the best SEO practices, your store simply won’t be visible to the customers looking for you online. Many dropshippers ignore search engine optimization, missing out on free organic traffic that could drive consistent sales.​

Start with keyword research to understand what your target customers search for. Optimize your product pages with relevant keywords in titles, descriptions, and meta tags. Focus on long-tail keywords that match specific product searches rather than broad, competitive terms.​

Build quality backlinks from reputable websites in your niche. This improves your site's authority and helps you rank higher in search results. Guest posting, product reviews, and partnerships with other businesses can generate valuable backlinks. Don't neglect technical SEO either - ensure your site loads quickly, uses HTTPS, and has a clear structure that search engines can crawl easily.​ We recommend tools like SEMrush to help your SEO audits. If you are struggling and need help, hire an SEO expert on Fiverr. It will pay off big time.

8. Limited Payment Options and Checkout Problems

Complicated checkout processes kill conversions. If customers can't easily complete their purchase, they'll abandon their carts and shop elsewhere. This includes forcing account creation, having too many form fields, or not offering popular payment methods.​

Offer guest checkout options and multiple payment methods including credit cards, PayPal, and digital wallets like Apple Pay or Google Pay. These one-click payment options work especially well on mobile devices.​

Keep your checkout process simple with progress indicators showing customers how many steps remain. Remove unexpected fees by displaying shipping costs early in the process. Auto-fill customer information where possible and validate forms in real-time to prevent errors.​ You should also offer your customers the option to pay via crypto since many prefer using their crypto wallets to buy stuff these days.

9. Lack of Social Proof

Nothing turns away buyers than fake reviews or lack of social proof. You should use apps like ReviewsPro to pull in reviews from multiple platforms and display them on your store. Offer customers some rewards like cashback or special offers in exchange for sharing their opinion. Learn how to take constructive criticism and incorporate it. Don’t lash out, follow up, and be positive. If you are authentic and true to your mission as a business owner, your store will do well. Be vulnerable and willing to grow, because that’s a powerful trait every business owner eventually develops.

Conclusion

Avoiding these dropshipping pitfalls requires planning, attention to detail, and ongoing effort. Focus on building relationships with reliable suppliers, creating a professional website, and providing excellent customer service. You will succeed but it’s going to take some time. Remember, it’s not a get-rich-quick scheme. Take time to research your market, optimize for search engines, and continuously improve your customer experience. You’ll get there and nail it eventually.