The First 90 Days of Your eCommerce Business: What to Focus On for Success
Published
05 May, 2024
4 min read
Launching an eCommerce business is exciting, but those first 90 days are critical. This window sets the tone for your store’s reputation, visibility, and customer traction. It’s also when many new entrepreneurs get overwhelmed and spread themselves too thin. Instead of trying to do everything at once, focus on what truly moves the needle. Here's how to make those first three months count.
By the time you launch, you should already have your niche and initial products. Now’s the time to tighten your value proposition. Ask:
Focus on solving a specific problem or fulfilling a clear desire. If your product is for everyone, it’s for no one.
Pick a platform that fits your skill level, budget, and goals. Shopify is great for beginners who want an all-in-one solution. WooCommerce works well if you're comfortable with WordPress and want full control. Don’t waste weeks trying out multiple platforms—choose one and move forward.
Resist the urge to perfect every page. Instead, focus on a clean home page, product pages that convert, and a simple checkout. You can (and should) improve later. The goal is to get live, start selling, and gather feedback quickly.
From day one, install Google Analytics and connect your store to tools like Facebook Pixel or GA4. Knowing where your traffic comes from and how people interact with your site is gold.
Instead of dabbling in five channels, master one. If your audience hangs out on Instagram, start there. If they're searching on Google, start learning SEO or run basic PPC campaigns. Avoid burnout by focusing your efforts.
Use a pop-up or banner to offer a discount or lead magnet in exchange for an email address. Start building a list from day one. Send a simple welcome email and consider a basic 3-email automation: welcome > product highlight > social proof.
Ask your first customers for reviews. Offer them a small incentive or just thank them personally. You can also send free samples to micro-influencers or niche bloggers who may be willing to post about your product.
Make sure orders go out on time. Respond quickly to questions. Fix pain points in your checkout flow. First impressions matter—especially if your customers are taking a chance on a brand they just discovered.
Review your analytics: Which pages convert? Where are people bouncing? Which products are selling—and which aren’t?
Use this data to make smart adjustments. Maybe one ad is performing better than others. Double down. Maybe a product isn’t moving—replace or reframe it.
At this stage, you’ve likely built up some traffic. Start using retargeting ads to bring back people who visited but didn’t buy. It’s one of the highest ROI marketing moves you can make early on.
Improve your product descriptions, photos, and calls to action. Add more user-generated content if possible. Make it obvious why someone should click "buy now."
Don’t just chase new customers—think about how to get repeat business. Add post-purchase emails, offer reorder discounts, or launch a loyalty program. It’s easier (and cheaper) to sell to someone who’s already bought from you.
The first 90 days aren’t about going viral or hitting huge revenue goals—they’re about building a strong foundation. Focus on getting clear about your value, attracting your first customers, and learning from real data. If you treat your eCommerce store like a business from day one—test, iterate, and optimize—you’ll be well on your way to long-term success.
