What are some non-negotiables for ecommerce performance? Traditional marketing forms like SEO, pay-per-click (PPC), email, and affiliate marketing remain effective. SEO involves optimizing website content so it reaches more people and PPC allows marketers to place ads strategically and pay only when someone clicks on them. Email marketing involves sending personalized emails to share content and promote products, and affiliate marketing leverages partnerships with other platforms or influencers for promotion-related aims.
User-generated content (UGC), a keystone of modern ecommerce marketing, includes reviews, photos, testimonials, videos, and social media posts created voluntarily. As of 2025, 93% of marketers who use UGC marketing say that it performs far better than traditional forms. UGC also includes unboxing videos, where customers unpack and show products for the first time, giving prospective buyers a real look at what to expect.
Reliable hosting
There are different types of hosting for WordPress for ecommerce needs, such as shared hosting for new online stores, managed hosting for growing ecommerce stores, VPS hosting for medium-sized ecommerce platforms, and more. Features like caching, automatic updates, and CDNs improve reliability and speed, while security measures such as firewalls and SSL certificates protect against cyber threats. Website speed is among the most crucial factors that influence ecommerce performance and conversion rates. If a website takes too long to load, the visitor is likely to navigate away from it.
Effective and efficient support
Almost 50% of consumers say they shop more often with retailers who make an effort to personalize their offerings. The support team is the brand’s human face, but you can’t hire just anyone. Non-negotiables here include patience, empathy, and the desire to solve problems. Staff must be highly motivated because customer-facing jobs come with an elevated burnout risk. A recent survey indicated that 59% of contact center employees were at risk of burnout, and 87% reported experiencing significant work-related stress.
Alternatively, you might consider AI-powered support. 74% of respondents in a 2024 survey reported that AI improved their shopping experience, 21% said it didn’t have an impact, and only 6% felt it made their experience worse. Companies that implement AI strategies report a revenue increase of 10% on average and expect profit gains of 59% by 2035. AI is predicted to be behind 95% of customer interactions by the end of 2025. Amazon’s AI-powered recommendation engine contributes more than a third (35%) to its annual sales.
Tracking ecommerce metrics is non-negotiable
The conversion rate or CVR equals the number of purchases divided by the number of sessions and multiplied by 100 to arrive at a percentage. The percentage of people who add a product to their cart is always higher than those who click Checkout, and those who follow through with the purchase are always fewer. However, they shouldn’t be much fewer. If only 1% of the 25% of shoppers who reached Checkout converted, it could be due to a complicated checkout process or an error. The CVR should increase or at least remain steady over time. A major decline should prompt an inspection.
The average order value or AOV shows how much your customers are spending on average at one time. It equals the total revenue divided by the total order number. For example, you need to bring in 222 customers in one month if you want $10,000 in sales, and the average order value is $45. On the subject of revenue, personalized product recommendations lead to a 150% rise in conversion rates, a 300% revenue increase, and a 50% increase in average order values.
Final thoughts
Non-negotiables for ecommerce performance include fast load times, secure and seamless checkout experiences, real-time analytics, and reliable web hosting and customer support. They are the foundation for customer trust, retention, and conversion. Prioritizing these core elements ensures your store performs well and stays competitive.
For those who want to boost their online shops, check out our post, “The 20 Best eCommerce Platforms for Your Online Store in 2025.”