My First Business Milestone: 50 Million IDR in Monthly Revenue
Friday, 6th June 2025. I’m proud to share a significant milestone in my entrepreneurial journey: in May 2025, my e-commerce shop—which specializes in flooring accessories—generated between 50 to 55 million IDR in monthly revenue.
This achievement didn’t happen overnight. It’s the result of consistent learning, adapting, and refining strategies over time. In this article, I want to break down two key lessons that helped me reach this level, and hopefully, they’ll guide others looking to grow their own online businesses.
1. Play Ball: Embrace Platform Features and Programs
One of the most important lessons I’ve learned is to "play ball"—in other words, actively participate in the programs and tools offered by your e-commerce platform.
Take, for example, the free shipping program. Opting out might seem like a smart way to preserve your margins. After all, sellers often have to cover a portion of the shipping discount, which can cost around 3% per product. On top of that, the platform already deducts approximately 8% in fees, so you might feel tempted to protect what's left of your profit.
But here's the catch: data shows that nearly 60% of my customers use free shipping promotions. Removing that perk not only makes your listings less appealing to buyers but also negatively impacts your search ranking on the platform. Sales slow down, visibility drops, and you lose the algorithm’s momentum—which is much harder to regain later.
Playing along with the platform’s ecosystem—even when it seems costly in the short term—can lead to higher visibility, stronger conversion rates, and long-term growth.
2. SEO + Momentum: The Power Duo for E-Commerce Growth
If there’s one thing that consistently drives more revenue, it’s the combination of strong search engine optimization (SEO) and platform momentum.
No matter how good your product is, it won’t sell if no one can find it. That’s why your product listings must appear at or near the top of search results. To achieve this, you need to optimize everything:
- Use eye-catching and relevant images (consider hiring a designer if needed).
- Add a product video that demonstrates use, quality, or differentiation.
- Write clear, concise, and keyword-rich titles and descriptions.
- Grind for reviews—these not only build credibility but also push your ranking up.
- Run paid ads within the platform to jumpstart visibility.
Remember, platform algorithms reward activity and consistency. The more you sell, the better your ranking; the better your ranking, the more you sell. It's a compound effect, for better or worse.
One of the easiest mistakes to make is letting your shop go inactive, even for a short while. Dropping off the top search results can take weeks or months to recover from.
🚀 Conclusion: Focus on Leverage and Compound Growth
Reaching 50+ million IDR in monthly revenue was not a matter of luck—it was the result of strategic leverage and disciplined consistency.
The key takeaways are simple but powerful:
- Lean into the system rather than trying to fight it.
- Optimize your presence relentlessly—your listings are your digital storefront.
- Build momentum, and protect it like it's your most valuable asset.
E-commerce success is about making dozens of small, smart decisions every day. Over time, those decisions add up and compound—just like interest on interest—turning a modest store into a thriving business.
Here’s to more milestones ahead.