Great Traits & Red Flags – What to look for (and avoid) in an eCommerce agency

Whether you’re an eCommerce manager, owner, or CEO – choosing the right eCommerce agency to work with is a critical decision that can make all the difference in the success of your business. With the ever-evolving technology landscape, an experienced agency is a great asset to drive online revenue growth and boost your long-term viability. But how do you identify whether a specific organization is proper for your needs? And on the flip side, can you recognize potential red flags when making this critical decision? In this blog post, we dive into great traits and red flags – what exactly should you look for (and stay away from) in an eCommerce agency? Let’s get started!

A Proven Track Record

You can’t afford to have a rookie team when the playoffs start. You need veteran players and managers to handle the pressure. When selecting an eCommerce agency to be your business partner, experience with Adobe Commerce, BigCommerce, Shopify, and WordPress should be the top priority. Demanding that your eCommerce partner has a proven sales and maintenance track record on one of these major platforms may sound straightforward, but it is essential for your project’s long-term success. By vetting an agency on their knowledge base and past performance with any of these popular solutions, you can determine whether they are the best solution to execute your vision. If you want to build and maintain a high level of sales and ensure that your site will function properly at peak times, then you must pick an agency that has accomplished this and multiple times over.

Accessible

Speed is of the essence – especially when it comes to eCommerce. This is why partnering with an eCommerce agency that encourages an open line of communication and accessibility is essential. When a crisis arises, you should have quick and easy access to your account manager so they can solve those issues in the timeliest manner possible. Waiting for someone on the other side of the world to begin their day and addressing your ticket cannot be your only option. If your eCommerce store goes down, that means fulfillments aren’t being made – every moment matters, so finding an agency that is reliable and reachable can genuinely make all the difference.

Speak Your Language

Your ideal eCommerce agency also needs to speak your language and we’re talking the language of business as each business and industry comes with its own unique customs, language, and lingo. If your partner agency is unable to understand or convey that language effectively, then this could prove problematic not just to the health of your working relationship but also your desired target audience. Simply put: you can’t sell car parts to car people if you don’t understand the world of cars. And that approach can be applied to any industry or vertical. Make sure to research and ask very specific, pointed questions before signing with an eCommerce agency; look for one that understands not only the technical aspects but also communicates within the language of your industry.

Specialize, Not Generalize

We strongly believe, “if you’re a master of all, then you are the master of none.” No matter what type of projects may be in your pipeline – your partner agency needs to possess that particular expertise and experience. Seeking an eCommerce agency specializing in your needs can make all the difference between getting a professional job done or one with lackluster results. If you need video work, find a video agency. If you need development work, that’s the type of agency you need to target. Your project will invariably reap much more substantial rewards by targeting an agency with years of practice and complementary capabilities!

Red Flags

Too Eager to Close – Before entering into a business relationship with an eCommerce agency, it’s critical to consider their approach and intentions. Are they focused on providing quality client interactions and results, or are they simply interested in amassing a more extensive client list? If an agency appears too eager to close the deal and bring you onboard without taking the time to understand your needs as an eCommerce customer, this is a huge red flag that should not be ignored. Investing in researching agencies can help ensure that you enter into agreements with vendors who will provide good service for years to come.