More often than not these days we are asked to consult and design e-commerce sites for our clients. These are either existing clients with sale conversion issues, like a lengthy or confusing checkout process, or first timers to the online retail arena, who want to take their brick-and-mortar store online. Here are some tips and tricks to consider before the design stage which will ultimately lead to more sales…the ultimate goal of any online retail store.
- Add a “wishlist” or “send to a friend” function for the visitor who needs more information/validation before they purchase. This will also help boost word-of-mouth advertising for your products.
- Discount brands will argue with me on this one, but you don’t need to be the cheapest online, you need to have the best product online. Customers don’t buy bad products twice. Build customer loyalty through exciting products. If you wouldn’t buy your products, who would??
- Display your SSL certificate to assure customers that your site is secure and their personal information will not be shared. SSL encrypts your credit card information into a visitor specific code that cannot be hacked. It is essential for any site asking for personal information.
- Clearly state your Privacy Policy and Refund Policies during the checkout process.
- Create a step-by-step process on your checkout page and consolidate as many form fields as possible. Use a check box for your shipping and duplicate billing address. The less steps, the quicker you are to a sale!
For these an many more tips for converting digital shopping carts to sales, check out the article by Julie Rains, Senior Writer of Wise Bread.
