Starting your own small business is an exciting time, and you’re likely focused on what you should do. However, as you learn the dos of being a business leader, you must also learn the don’ts to avoid if you want to find success.  

So before you make another move in your business, you need to know the most common missteps that leaders are making so you can learn from their failures rather than needing to learn from your own. Know these critical mistakes to avoid when running your small business so you can avoid the pitfalls and create a stronger future for your company.

1. Using the Wrong Platform

Before you make your first sale, you’ll need to choose the right platform for your business. Using additional support like Magento services is the best way to get the most of the online space you manage. This will help you make sure your products reach your target audience online.  

However, you need to be on the right platform. Choosing the wrong one can set you up for failure early. It’s more difficult to set up shop somewhere else after one or more mistakes, and each mistake can cost a significant amount of money in fees and lost income. Stick to well-known hosts and services, and avoid anything that seems suspicious. 

2. Skimping on Advertising for Your Small Business

Marketing is expensive, especially over time, but advertising is necessary to reach potential clients–without it, most of them would never know your shop exists. While cutting the marketing budget boosts your profits in the short term, it inhibits your growth and can actually hurt your chances of long-term rewards. You don’t have to bust out the big bucks for a TV commercial — you just need to get your name out there. 

Effective marketing also builds trust in your brand. Increasing your brand awareness goes a long way in helping your customers pick your store over the competition and provides more reassurance that you aren’t selling a scam. Having a personable presence on social media tied to your brand helps a lot. 

3. Not Investing in Security

Strong security is vital to protect both yourself and your customers. Bad actors can access high-risk personal information, like bank card numbers, passwords, addresses, and contact information.  

In the wrong hands, a hacker could use this to steal money, steal someone’s identity, or threaten their safety. While many businesses have insurance for store losses, most personal consumers do not. It only takes one security incident for customers to lose trust in your store and decide to shop somewhere safer.  

4. Overpricing or Underpricing

It should be obvious that charging too much for products and services results in lower sales. Even a price slightly higher than the rest of your competitors can drive customers away. The convenience of the Internet means that another online store is a browser search away, so you have to work twice as hard to keep your clients. 

On the other end of the spectrum, underpricing your merchandise may seem like less of a problem. In fact, undercutting competition is a valid business strategy and a result of healthy competition.  

However, setting your prices too low can cause you to lose money, especially with the rising costs of production. Additionally, setting prices at a level too low below the market average can scare customers away since it may seem like the products are poor quality or the deal is a scam. 

Stay the Course to Success for Your Small Business

Now that you know the most common mistakes small business leaders make, you can avoid them with ease and focus on strengthening your brand and the company’s foundation. Use this to stay on track to a beautiful future in business.