Do you wonder why online stores fail and only a very small percentage of them manage to complete successful online transactions? The causes of failure can be multiple, from wrong configurations to the texts on the pages to the unclear presentation of the product. In the following, we will explain the 4 most common reasons why online stores do not have sales.
So why can't you close online transactions: where is your website going wrong?
- You provide a bad user experience
E-commerce setups are just one of the first steps to making consistent sales in an online store. An e-commerce store that has an imperfect design, low-quality images, and misdirected or non-working links - will immediately turn away potential customers. On the other hand, the complete and compact look of the web design, high-quality images, clear and up-to-date information, and professional and functional appearance - will strongly influence the purchase decision of visitors. The airy and friendly look of the site inspires confidence.
And its functionality matters a lot. The best e-commerce sites are clear and intuitive to navigate. Well-designed menus, filters, and sorting options will minimize the time it takes to find a product and purchase it. E-commerce offers professionally designed templates that are pleasing to the eye and can enhance the user experience.
Just like in a brick-and-mortar store: a cluttered space will scare away, while friendly staff offering efficient advice will encourage buying.
- The payment procedure is complicated
No matter how much traffic the website gets, if it does not have a well-established payment system, then the transaction will not take place. The focus should be on simplifying the payment process while giving the customer easy access to all the forms and information they need.
According to a study, 47% of shoppers do not complete their online order if the registration process takes too long.
Users abandon the cart when faced with a complicated checkout process and this will also affect the customer's decision to buy from this store in the future. Complexities encountered include forced registration, meeting a long list of registration requirements, overly large order forms with no check-out option, and auto-filling of name or shipping address.
- You don't use SEO for E-commerce
Online store SEO optimization plays a crucial role in increasing sales.
SEO brings quality traffic and traffic brings sales. Simple, right? It's no secret that an online store SEO optimization strategy that is implemented correctly can bring a higher number of visitors to the site and, respectively, a better conversion rate.
Maybe you're wondering why your online store isn't bringing in more sales and what you should do to increase your conversion rate.
SEO optimization reduces your overheads and brings you guaranteed, long-term results. Well, there are a whole host of SEO tools and tactics that can help you improve your conversion rate. Making seemingly small or unnoticeable changes executed by a professional online marketing team will help potential customers transact online more easily.
Did you know that the first impression a visitor's website makes in milliseconds determines their conversion rate? First impressions mean design, use of colors, characters, and font size, use of images, text, SEO keywords, and easy navigation.
The good news is that many SEO tools can help you optimize your online store.
SEO tools for e-commerce:
- Google Analytics is the most effective system for monitoring website traffic.
- Google Search Console is a tool offered free of charge by Google, through which some technical parameters of the site can be monitored.
- Mobile SEO optimization services provide Mobile optimization.
- Online store SEO optimization also includes speed optimization. With the introduction of high-speed internet, people are used to accessing web pages quickly. 40% of people abandon a website that takes more than 3 seconds to load.
- You do not customize the online store
Many E-shop site builders offer attractive ready-to-use templates, while others come with HTML for more experienced web designers. Check for mandatory features such as security and sales reports. Also, make sure you offer enough payment and shipping options for customers and look carefully at tools like the ability to create discounts, loyalty programs, or other options.
Research shows that 84% of online shoppers look for recommendations on social media before making an online transaction.
Brand transparency is also included in the personalization process. Having social media accounts can also be an essential factor in increasing the credibility of an e-commerce website. Be present on social media.
A good website aims to increase credibility factors for customers by incorporating trust signals such as testimonials and reviews, seller verification and ratings, feed reviews, etc.
A study shows that 88% of consumers trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations.
And if you've set up the delivery and payment processes, you've created the website architecture... you still can't breathe a sigh of relief. E-commerce means constant online store SEO optimization, promotion in search engines, social networks, and media, a lot of work, and following trends.
If you're still debating whether or not to hire a team of SEO and Digital Marketing experts, consider that you might be among the 90% of entrepreneurs who fail.