Like most eCommerce retailers, you’re probably wondering why so many potential customers simply abandon their cart in the middle of a checkout. There are many reasons that this happens. The tips below will help you ensure a better shopping experience for your customers, so you can boost conversion and increase your sales.
Tip 1: Make logging in super easy
Fast, easy login is essential for boosting your online shop’s conversion rate. If your customer is already logged into their account, then all their information (delivery address, etc.) should already be filled out when they go to checkout. This saves your customer time, which makes it more likely that they will complete the purchase.
Tip 2: Allow customers to order as a guest
Consider allowing customers to place orders on your site without creating an account. Some users may prefer to order an item as a ‘guest’ without registering as a customer.
You can also include a fast, easy option that enables guest users to create an account if they wish.
It’s also a good idea to offer the option of logging in using social media accounts or a Google account, for example. This saves time, and many users prefer this login option.
Tip 3: Build trust
Building trust among potential customers is one of the most important things you can do to optimise your conversion rate. Be sure to inform your customers during the checkout process that your site is SSL-encrypted to protect their data. It’s also a great idea to display your ratings or certifications from online consumer trust agencies, such as:
Trusted Shops
Trustpilot
Shopper Approved.
Your store must undergo an audit in order to become certified by some online consumer trust agencies.
When displaying links to your shop’s trust ratings, be sure that these links work correctly and direct your customer to the relevant site. It will cause your customer to doubt the authenticity of your trust ratingIf these links do not work, or if they direct to the wrong page.
Another great way to instill trust is to display ratings and reviews from past customers. Also make sure your site uses a professional, easy-to-navigate design.
Always include the following elements:
An ‘About us’ page
A trustworthy introduction to your company
Easy-to-find contact information
Transparent pricing
Easily accessible information about shipping prices, returns and order cancellations.
Tip 4: Offer lots of payment options
All shoppers have a preference when it comes to payment options. That’s why you’ll want to offer as many different options as possible. This helps raise your conversion rate by making sure that no potential customer feels left out.
Of course, you’ll want to include the usual payment methods, such as credit card, bank transfer and PayPal. But remember to include popular new payment methods, such as Apple Pay too.
Mollie helps you to integrate all these various payment methods into your online shop, so you minimise the risk of customer abandonment during the payment process.
Tip 5: Fix technical problems
Technical problems can be another common driver behind cart abandonment and low checkout conversion rates. These problems may include broken links or errors when redirecting to the payment provider.
Continually check for these kinds of errors and always fix them as quickly as possible. You should also do everything you can to make sure your website loads fast. Improve your load speed by:
compressing images
minifying CSS files
reducing the number of redirects
Also, consider whether a Captcha question is absolutely necessary. Users often find this step annoying, and it might even prompt them to click away from your site.
Tip 6: Tweak your page design
You can also optimise your conversion rate by tweaking your product description pages. Be sure to include a detailed description of the benefits that each product offers your customers. Use high-quality images or even videos to show your products in action. Give your customers total peace of mind by offering them free shipping.
Your website should also be easy to navigate and visually appealing. Make sure that the text sizes and colours are easy to read and that the information is presented in a clutter-free way. Include buttons that help direct the customer towards placing an order. When designing buttons, remember to:
use contrasting, attention-grabbing colours
include clear labels (such as ‘Buy now’ or ‘Continue shopping’)
make them easily visible
position them strategically on the page.
See also our article on improving the user experience of your website.
Tip 7: Optimise the ordering process
There are plenty of options for optimising your checkout process even further to boost conversion. These include:
Tip 8: Save the shopping cart between sessions
Online shoppers often add items to a shopping cart and then navigate away from the page, only to return later and continue the purchase. If your shop does not save these items in the shopping cart, then your customer will have to start shopping all over again. That’s why saving customer preferences and items in the shopping cart between sessions helps boost your conversion rate.
Tip 9: Optimise for mobile devices
More and more people now shop online using their mobile devices. That’s why your entire website, including the checkout process, needs to be optimised for mobile viewing. You can adjust your page’s contents for viewing on a smartphone screen by:
using larger buttons.
keeping the checkout process as short as possible.
reducing page loading times.
replacing dropdown menus with mobile UI elements.
Tip 10: Boost repeat business
If a customer abandons their cart during the checkout process, try using sensible remarketing tactics to lure them back to your shop. For example, automatically email them a personalised cart abandonment notification after a certain period of time. This helps boost your conversion rate among customers who leave your site without completing an order the first time.
You can use these notifications to:
remind customers that there are items waiting for them in the shopping cart
offer them help in case they ran into any problems during checkout
encourage them once again to complete the purchase
successfully attract them back to your shop with call-to-action buttons.