Fixing up poorly performing eCommerce SIte with content? First things first..

[ddktt]

I had a small site that was performing well enough for me for 6 years--nice source of extra family income. It was a very out of date platform (1990's) and I moved it to Big Commerce in December. Since then visits and sales have just plummeted. It has died and I am sad.

I want to remain positive. It's a viable niche product line, I have tons of quality inventory, my site platform is current. I am a good writer and am willing to add content if it will help. From what I can determine apart from technical issues I may not know about I think I suffer from THIN CONTENT.

I want to pretend I'm opening a new business and start over in today's environment. I have had bad experiences with two SEO consultants (one ripped me off financially, the other gave me advice that hurt me) so I have no choice but to educate myself. I got started in ecommerce back in 1998 with the help of  many wonderful kind people on forums so I'm turning to this resource once again.

What would you do first if you were me especially to get some revenue flowing asap? I need help. I need to know if there is hope or if I should liquidate at the nearest swap meet Thanks!

decorativedishes.net

[ddktt]

Thanks a million. Very to the point and useful.

[EGOL]

Perhaps going back to eBay (shudder) or Etsy is the way to go again...

I used to be an eBay powerseller and walked away from that when I saw how much more efficient and inexpensive it was to sell on a website.   I walked away from a successful store.  I was tired of paypay, tired  of bidders who did not pay and tired of the work that it took to do relistings, etc.

Are small e-commerce sites doomed? Does Google even want them?

No.  If you are selling niche products and have a site with lots of useful information such as articles on how to select, how to use, how to maintain the products that you sell, sites like that are succeeding.  I own a few of them.  I have great rankings and beat ebay, amazon, manufacturers and just about everyone. To do that we have two people working all day every day on improvements and new content.    That might be enough to hold positions in our niches.

Do they want retailers on Google shopping and out of the organic search results? Has that shipped sailed?

They want sites who earn their positions.  If you have a great informative site that is one of the best in your niche I think that you have a great chance to succeed.

But, if you want to toss up a product site and expect it to rank without earning popularity then I would not be betting on you in the long term - or even in the short term.

That's why I came here. I need to know more about what I don't know.

Start reading questions that are similar to yours.  See who answers, who gives good advice, who has a style that you like.  That's how I have found every person who has ever worked on one of my websites.

[ddktt]

"get you back in the money with your new platform  - if that is possible."

Thank you. Excellent answer.

The POSSIBILITY of re-establishing myself is what I want to ascertain. The damage is done from the conversion because it was not done properly. The "expert" who was helping me did not warn me of the ramifications of the move.

I am not opposed to putting money out for help, if it's the right help. I don't want to spend $5000 only to be led down the primrose path. In my day job I get 5 calls a day from SEO sales people. I've been burned twice. That's why I came here. I need to know more about what I don't know.

Are small e-commerce sites doomed? Does Google even want them? Do they want retailers on Google shopping and out of the organic search results? Has that shipped sailed?

Perhaps going back to eBay (shudder) or Etsy is the way to go again...

I would like to get some feedback from credible people like yourself before I move forward so I thank you.

[EGOL]

What would you do first if you were me especially to get some revenue flowing asap?

I don't know your level of expertise and if you understand how to move a site from one platform to another, performing all of the  redirects and .htaccess writing that is needed.  If those jobs are not done properly rankings will tank - sometimes temporarily, sometime for a very long time, maybe never recovering the original power that was lost.  That could be your problem, maybe not.

You said ASAP.  If that is what you want then you need an expert who can diagnose right away, perform corrections and get you back in the money with your new platform  - if that is possible.

I am not saying that to solicit business because I don't work on other people's websites.  I am saying that because lots of people ask for help in forums then fart around for weeks or months trying to recover a site by applying guesses offered by people who have not spent enough to diving deep into the site to determine exactly what is wrong.

So, if you want out fast, hire someone who knows what they are doing.

If you have lots of time, no budget, or the loss of income isn't that important then you can see what advice you get here.  It might be an easy fix and it is at least worth a day or two while this question is visible to see what you get.