Think about the last product you bought online. What was it? What factors influenced your buying decision? What was the overall experience like?
These simple questions can help you evaluate the customer journey of your online store — and find ways to improve it. Here are four tips to help you boost your online sales.
1. Provide an Omnichannel Shopping Experience
If you maintain a brick-and-mortar retail location, don’t attempt to pivot your key sales to your online platform. Data reveals that 84% of sales still happen in stores, with 46% of consumers enjoying the face-to-face interaction they get when buying goods from sellers.
You can work to create an omnichannel experience, linking your physical store to your e-commerce platform. For instance, you might offer a buy online, pick up in-store option or allow online shoppers to make returns at your physical location.
Customers who leverage these omnichannel options spend roughly 20% more money than those who only shop online, demonstrating how your physical and online stores can feed one another.
2. Feature Product Reviews and Testimonials
On the one hand, small businesses offer unique, one-of-a-kind items. On the other hand, this exclusivity makes you an unknown entity. Consumers may feel reluctant to complete their purchases if they can’t determine the quality of your products.
Give these customers a nudge by providing reviews for each product. Globe Newswire reports that 95% of consumers read online reviews before completing a purchase, and 58% of shoppers are willing to spend more on an item if it’s received positive reviews.
Offering reviews can encourage more customers to complete their purchases. Reviews can also make for great content to include in your marketing materials.
3. Offer a Fast Online Checkout Option
When it comes to online shopping, speed is king. Customers expect to be able to add products to their cart, then check out quickly.
The easiest way to help customers quickly order online is to offer a guest checkout option. Some online retailers try desperately to get their customers to register for an account, but many customers find the process cumbersome and time-consuming, leading to cart abandonment.
If you need help creating a frictionless customer experience, connect with the Simpay team today. We provide total business solutions for small to midsize businesses and can provide you with the tools you need to ensure your e-commerce platform thrives.
4. Make It Safe
According to research from Feedvisor, a division of Amazon, 89% of online shoppers prefer buying from the corporate giant over companies they don’t know.
Customers like to have a safety net, so to speak. First-time customers look at your checkout process and wonder if it’s safe and whether they can return their orders. You can assuage their concerns in two ways.
The first is to offer guaranteed safe checkout options, displaying security badges to assure customers of their online safety. The second is to provide a clear, hassle-free returns policy. Customers may be more willing to make a buying commitment if they have the option to return items they’re dissatisfied with.
Stay Resilient
The face of e-commerce is changing every day. These simple tips can help you improve your current sales, but your long-term success depends on your ability to adapt.
With the right business tools at your disposal, you’re guaranteed to stay resilient and profitable for years to come.
