Most new sellers make the same online business mistakes which can slow down your growth.
The good news? These pitfalls are easy to avoid, especially when you’re using Little Big Shop. We’re the best ecommerce platform for Aussie small businesses wanting an affordable, simple and powerful way to sell online.
Let’s break down the most common mistakes shop owners make, and how you can steer clear of them by using Australia’s best ecommerce platform, Little Big Shop.
Forgetting to optimise product photos
Blurry, inconsistent or poorly lit images are one of the most common online business mistakes. Great photos build trust instantly.
Avoid it with Little Big Shop:
Upload multiple product images, add zoom functionality and create clean, consistent photo layouts that make your store look professional from day one.
Not keeping up with bookkeeping
A major online business mistake new store owners make is letting bookkeeping pile up. When orders start rolling in, it’s easy to lose track of expenses and invoices, leading to a very stressful tax time.
Avoid it with Little Big Shop:
Little Big Shop integrates seamlessly with Xero and MYOB Business, helping you streamline your small business accounting. Your sales, invoices and financial data sync automatically, keeping everything organised and up to date. No more manual entry. No more end-of-month panic. Just clean, accurate bookkeeping that grows with your business.
Find out more about Little Big Shop’s integrations here.
Enabling only one payment method
One of the most common online business mistakes new store owners make is offering too few payment options. Customers want convenience, and if they can’t pay the way they prefer, they often abandon their cart. Forgetting to enable key payment methods (or not knowing which ones your platform supports) can lead to lost sales.
Avoid it with Little Big Shop:
Little Big Shop makes it easy to offer a wide range of payment options so your customers can pay however they like. In just a few clicks, you can enable:
- PayPal: Accept payments instantly using your business email.
- Credit cards: Choose from supported providers Stripe and Eway to process card payments securely.
- PayID: Let customers pay you instantly, directly into your bank account.
- BPAY: Offer a trusted and widely used bill-payment option within Australia.
- Bank transfer: Accept payments straight into your bank account for simple, low-fee transactions.
By enabling multiple payment methods, you create a seamless checkout experience and reduce friction, making it more likely your customers complete their purchase.
You can easily edit the way customers can pay on your website by navigating from your Dashboard > Accept payments.
Neglecting customer management
Without a good system to manage customers and their history, it’s easy to lose track of past orders, miss follow-ups, or take too long to respond to queries. That kind of oversight can turn a one-time sale into a lost customer.
Avoid it with Little Big Shop:
With Little Big Shop you get built-in customer management tools that keep every bit of customer info.
✅ What this means for you
- You can quickly search and find any customer by name, email, or order. No spreadsheets needed.
- Customers can create an account during checkout, they then have their own profile where they can see past orders, download invoices, and manage their info.
- You can manage newsletters and promotions for customers, helping you stay connected and communicate more personally.
- When someone reaches out with a question or request, you have all their order history and contact info at your fingertips, so you can respond quickly and knowledgeably.
Because Little Big Shop is built for small Aussie businesses, this kind of customer management doesn’t require extra plugins or complicated setups. Everything is integrated and easy to access.
Launching without clear messaging
A common online business mistake is launching a store without clear, consistent messaging. When customers can’t instantly understand who you are, what you sell, or why your products matter, they’re less likely to buy. Strong messaging builds trust, vague messaging creates confusion.
Avoid it with Little Big Shop:
Little Big Shop makes it easy to communicate clearly across your entire store. With customisable website templates, you can showcase your brand story. Every page becomes a chance to communicate who you are and why customers should choose you. Consider sharing your brand story and express your organisation’s values on your about page, to grow a connection with your shoppers.
Building an online business comes with a learning curve, but avoiding these common mistakes can save you time, money and frustration. With the right tools, clear systems and a platform built for small business owners, growth becomes far more achievable. Little Big Shop is here to help you set up smarter, sell with confidence and focus on what matters most, growing your business.
