Our First 90 Days with a New E-Commerce Client: What Actually Moves the Needle (and What Doesn’t)

The first 90 days working with a new e-commerce client are crucial. This initial period sets the tone for the future, helping us understand the brand's current standing, identify opportunities for growth, and implement strategies that drive meaningful results.

As we move beyond the typical strategy talk and planning stages, we start executing tactics that can truly move the needle;increasing traffic, improving conversion rates, and maximizing ROI. However, not all strategies yield immediate results. Some strategies provide quick wins, while others require more time to build momentum.

In this article, we’ll walk you through the first 90 days with a new e-commerce client, discussing the actions that make a significant impact on growth and the ones that are often overrated or ineffective in the short term.

Before diving into what actually works, let’s establish the key focus areas we prioritize in the first 90 days of working with a new e-commerce client:

• Understanding the Business: Deep diving into the business goals, target audience, product offerings, and competition.

• Audit and Analysis: Conducting a comprehensive SEO audit, reviewing analytics, and understanding current performance metrics.

• Quick Wins and Long-Term Strategy: Implementing changes that drive immediate results while also setting up sustainable growth strategies for the future.

  With these areas in mind, we start implementing actions that drive both short-term wins and long-term success.

Website speed is one of the quickest ways to impact user experience and conversion rates. Consumers expect fast-loading websites;especially in the e-commerce space. According to Google, 53% of mobile users will leave a site that takes longer than 3 seconds to load. Even a few seconds of delay can increase bounce rates and reduce sales.

Action: We implement speed optimizations such as image compression, caching, and minimizing JavaScript to ensure the site loads quickly across all devices.

Result: Improving site speed leads to better user experience, increased engagement, and higher conversion rates, especially for mobile users.

Quick Win: In many cases, improving load time can immediately reduce bounce rates and lead to an instant improvement in conversion rates.

Product pages are the heart of any e-commerce website. If they are not properly optimized for conversions, even the best marketing strategies won’t yield great results.

Action: We focus on compelling product descriptions, high-quality images, clear CTAs, and trust-building elements like customer reviews, shipping details, and product availability. Additionally, we add schema markup to ensure product details are displayed in rich snippets.

Result: By enhancing product pages with persuasive copy, social proof, and easy-to-read layouts, we increase the likelihood of a visitor converting into a buyer.

Quick Win: Improved product page optimization often leads to an immediate increase in conversion rates since it directly influences the final step of the purchase process.

Email marketing is one of the most powerful tools in an e-commerce marketer’s arsenal. During the first 90 days, we implement email automation to start building a relationship with the customer, including abandoned cart reminders, welcome sequences, and post-purchase emails.

Action: We use segmentation to target customers based on behavior and preferences. For example, cart abandonment emails with a personalized subject line and a limited-time discount tend to perform well.

Result: With an optimized email flow, customers are more likely to engage with the brand again, and sales recover from abandoned carts, which is often a major revenue driver.

Quick Win: Abandoned cart emails alone can result in a significant increase in sales within the first few weeks after setup, making it one of the most effective early tactics.

User experience is the backbone of an e-commerce website’s success. If users cannot navigate the site easily or face obstacles during the checkout process, they are likely to abandon the purchase.

Action: We conduct a UX audit and fix issues such as cluttered navigation, complex checkout processes, and unresponsive mobile design.

Result: A simplified and intuitive user experience results in increased time on site, lower bounce rates, and higher conversion rates.

Quick Win: Immediate improvements to the checkout process and site navigation can lead to instant increases in conversions.

Paid media campaigns (PPC and social ads) can deliver immediate traffic and generate leads when done right. In the first 90 days, we optimize Google Ads, Facebook/Instagram ads, and retargeting ads to maximize visibility and conversions.

Action: We focus on conversion tracking, remarketing, and hyper-targeted audience segmentation to ensure that ad dollars are spent efficiently. Additionally, we use A/B testing for ads to identify the best-performing creatives.

Result: Paid media drives highly targeted traffic, increases brand awareness, and brings in immediate sales, especially when optimized effectively.

Quick Win: A well-targeted PPC campaign can quickly drive qualified traffic to the site, leading to immediate sales and brand recognition.

While certain strategies can drive quick wins, some long-term strategies take time to show results. Here are a few things that might not move the needle as quickly as expected:

Building a solid backlink profile is crucial for SEO success, but it’s a long-term strategy. In the first 90 days, the focus is often on improving on-page SEO and site speed, rather than spending significant time building backlinks.

Result: While backlinks help with domain authority and rankings, it takes time to see improvements in organic search traffic as a result of link-building efforts.

Long-Term Play: We start laying the foundation for quality backlinks, but it may take several months to see the full benefits of this strategy.

While content marketing is crucial for driving organic traffic, it’s typically a slow burn when it comes to seeing immediate results. In the first 90 days, building a content strategy and seeing immediate traffic increases is often a longer-term effort.

Result: Blogging and content marketing are great for SEO and organic traffic in the long run, but they often require a consistent effort over several months before you see a significant impact.

Long-Term Play: We begin creating blog posts, infographics, and optimized content, but the traffic generated from content marketing typically ramps up over a period of 6-12 months.

In the first 90 days with a new e-commerce client, it’s essential to focus on strategies that drive immediate results while also laying the groundwork for long-term growth. The actions that move the needle quickly, like website performance optimization, product page improvements, email marketing, and PPC campaigns, deliver the kind of immediate ROI needed to show tangible progress.

However, building sustainable traffic, authority, and brand presence takes time, and strategies like backlink building and content marketing should be part of the long-term growth plan.

By focusing on what truly drives results in the early stages and setting up a foundation for longer-term strategies, businesses can achieve both short-term success and sustainable growth. The key is balance: quick wins paired with strategic planning for future growth.