One of the main goals of an online business is conversions, to get the site visitors do something the company wants them to do. We've all heard about it, and it's something that is easier said than done, isn't it? You may have thousands of visitors on your site every single day, yet your conversions can stay way below where you want them to be.
There could be many reasons for this but don’t despair, Website builders give you so many "possible ways" that you can increase your conversions. Platforms like Weebly and Shopify and WordPress plugins have all the necessary tools to achieve tremendous conversion with minimal effort.
Most of the methods listed don’t require too much work and can be implemented fairly easily. Some of the most obvious methods are listed below.
#1 Live Chat
Did You Know?
- Customer Preference: Over 41% of consumers prefer live chat for customer support contact – the highest preference compared to email, social media, or phone support.
- Response Time: Live chat has the highest satisfaction levels for any customer service channel, with a 73% satisfaction rate.
- Conversion Rates: Businesses that use live chat see, on average, a 20% increase in conversions.
- Engagement: Live chat leads to a 48% increase in revenue per chat hour and a 40% increase in conversion rate.
- Shopping Assistance: 63% of customers were more likely to return to a website that offers live chat.
Today people are now expecting much more than they used to from customer support. Consumers like live chat because they can get a response to their queries almost instantly, unlike the phone or email support.
Live chat presents you with the opportunity to help someone through the checkout process to actually make the purchase. It is also a good way to upsell other products to the consumer. Intuit.com increased conversions by 20% and their sales by 211% simply by adding live chat to their website.
But here's the catch: it's not always sunshine and rainbows. Sometimes, this feature can be a bit of a letdown. First off, if the response time is slow, it's just frustrating. Nobody likes waiting, especially online.
And then, there's the issue of getting generic, copy-paste answers. It's like talking to a wall, right? Plus, if your live chat isn't available 24/7, that's another bummer. People visit your site all the time, not just during office hours, you know?
#2 Call to Action Buttons
Did You Know?
- Color Impact: Changing the color of a call-to-action (CTA) button can increase conversion rates by 21%.
- Placement: CTAs within videos get 380% more clicks than CTAs placed beside videos on a webpage.
- Personalization: Personalized CTAs convert 202% better than default versions.
- First-person phrasing: Changing CTA text from the second person ("Get your free trial") to the first person ("Get my free trial") can increase clicks by 90%.
- Urgency: Adding words that imply urgency or scarcity to CTA buttons can increase the conversion rate by up to 332%.
If you don’t already have at least one call to action button on your site, then you are doing something very wrong. Even if you already have one, there are improvements you can make to make it even more effective. Increasing the size, making it a stand-out color and placing it on the right are all things that you can do to make your call to action button stand out.
But sometimes, they just don't do the trick. If the button is too pushy or out of place, it feels like someone's trying too hard to sell you something. That's off-putting, isn't it?
And when these buttons lead you to a long, tedious form, that's a quick turn-off. Let's not forget the times when these buttons don't match what you're actually looking for. It's like being promised a chocolate chip cookie and getting oatmeal raisin instead.
#3 Product Videos
Did You Know?
- Conversion Influence: Including a product video on landing pages can increase conversions by 80%.
- Consumer Preference: 90% of users say that product videos are helpful in the decision process.
- Engagement: Viewers retain 95% of a message when they watch it in a video compared to 10% when reading it in text.
- Mobile Engagement: Over 50% of all video plays are on mobile devices.
- Sharing Potential: Social video generates 1200% more shares than text and image content combined.
We are living in a generation of video marketing. Generally, consumers like to have the option to see a video about the products they are buying or about the company they are buying from. It increases trust and is usually more likely to encourage someone to make a purchase. Vidyard increased conversions but 100% by placing a video on their homepage.
But guess what? They can also be a bit of a flop. If the video is too long or boring, who's going to watch it till the end, right? And then there's the issue of quality. A poorly made video is like a bad commercial on repeat. Plus, if your video isn't optimized for mobile, that's a big no-no. Most people are scrolling on their phones these days, you see?
#4 Testimonials
Did You Know?
- Trust Factor: Customer testimonials can increase conversion rates on sales pages by 34%.
- Influence on Purchases: 92% of customers read online reviews and testimonials when considering a purchase.
- Authenticity Matters: 88% of consumers trust user reviews as much as personal recommendations.
- Video Testimonials: Video testimonials have been shown to increase website engagement by up to 50%.
- Search Engine Optimization: Products with reviews have a 12.5% higher conversion rate than those without.
If customers get the chance to see what other people thought of your products, it can help to build their trust in your company. Wikijob increased conversions by 34% after adding testimonials to their site.
Having said that, if they come across as too scripted or fake, it's a major turn-off. You want real stories, not a sales pitch, right? And when there's a lack of diversity in the testimonials, it's like hearing the same tune over and over again. It doesn't always resonate with everyone.
Plus, if these testimonials are hard to find or buried deep in your site, they might as well not be there. People won't go digging for them!
#5 Simplified Home Page
Did You Know?
- Loading Time: A one-second delay in page response can result in a 7% reduction in conversions.
- First Impressions: It takes about 50 milliseconds (0.05 seconds) for users to form an opinion about your website.
- Clarity Over Quantity: Reducing the number of choices on a homepage can increase revenue by removing decision paralysis.
- Navigation: Simplified navigation can increase the effectiveness of your homepage, with top-performing websites having fewer than seven navigation items.
- Visual Hierarchy: Organized and simplified home pages lead to a 20% increase in customer engagement.
Usually the home page will be the first page visitors will land on when they visit your site. It is therefore important that the first thing they see isn’t confusing or too busy. The Weather Channel increased their conversions by 225% by simplifying their home page.
If it is obvious where people have to go in order to find the product they are looking for, they are more likely to use your site to make the purchase, rather than give up and go elsewhere.
But here's the downside: sometimes, it's too simple. When you strip down too much, visitors might miss out on what they're actually looking for. It's like walking into a too-tidy room where you can't find anything. And if your simplified design lacks personality, it's like a bland dish at a restaurant.
Sure, it's neat, but where's the flavor? People like a bit of character in websites too.
#6 Faster Checkout
Did You Know?
- Abandonment Rates: A one-second delay in page load time can lead to a 7% loss in conversions.
- Checkout Process: Simplifying the checkout process can increase conversion rates by 35.62%.
- Mobile Optimization: 53% of mobile site visits are abandoned if pages take longer than 3 seconds to load.
- Payment Options: Offering multiple payment options can increase conversions by 30%.
- Security Seals: Displaying security badges on checkout pages can increase conversions by 17%.
A faster checkout process increases conversions by 66%. One of the worst things for an online retailer is to see the shopping cart abandoned when the consumer is so close to the end of the purchasing process.
A shorter checkout process can help to avoid this as people are less likely to give up. Similarly to this, you could allow customers to check out as guests and avoid the tedious signing up process many try to avoid.
But hold on, there's a flip side. If it's too fast, customers might feel rushed. It's like being pushed through a fast-food line when you're still deciding. And if your quick checkout skips over important details or options, that's a problem. Customers might end up buying the wrong thing or missing out on cool deals. It's a bit like missing the fine print, isn't it?
#7 TikTok Friendly
Did You Know?
- User Engagement: TikTok users engage with branded content at a significantly higher rate than users of other social networks, with engagement rates up to 8%.
- Growth: TikTok is the fastest-growing social media platform, reaching 1 billion active users in 2021.
- Conversion Rate: Brands see an average conversion rate of 14% from TikTok advertising campaigns.
- Influencer Reach: Influencer campaigns on TikTok are 63% more effective at driving product interest than those on other platforms.
- Demographics: 62% of TikTok users are aged between 10 and 29, making it an essential platform for targeting younger demographics.
A huge percentage of people now do their online shopping through TikTok, whether they are out and about, at work or at home. The increase in TikTok popularity is making it easier for people to do this, so you need to do your best to catch up. Raysurrection increased conversions by 20% after implementing a TikTok marketing.
Short, catchy videos can grab attention. But here's the thing: not every product or brand vibes with the TikTok style. If it doesn't match up, it's like wearing a party hat at a business meeting. Awkward, right?
And remember, TikTok trends change at lightning speed. If you can't keep up, it's like chasing a train you'll never catch. Plus, not everyone's on TikTok. You might be missing a big chunk of your audience, you see?
#8 Add a PayPal Button
Did You Know?
- Conversion Increase: Websites that add a PayPal button can see up to a 31% increase in conversion rates.
- Checkout Preference: Over 50% of online shoppers consider PayPal their preferred payment method due to its convenience and security.
- Mobile Optimization: Adding a PayPal button to mobile checkout can increase conversion rates by up to 43%.
- Trust Factor: 54% of consumers are more willing to buy when a PayPal button is visible, as it increases trust.
- Repeat Customers: Merchants see a 27% increase in shopper spending when PayPal is offered as a payment option.
Despite the increase in security measures, many people are still unsure about having to enter their card details online. This process is also time-consuming, and if someone is in a rush then she may not bother with the purchase. Adding a PayPal button provides the solution to these problems and has been shown to increase mobile conversions by 34%.
But let's look at the other side. Not everyone uses PayPal. Some people prefer other ways to pay, like their credit cards or other apps. It's like having only one type of coffee in a cafe. What about the tea drinkers, right?
And sometimes, PayPal can have its own issues. Technical glitches, security concerns, or account limitations – these things happen. It's not always as smooth as we'd like, you know?
#9 High-Quality Images
Did You Know?
- User Engagement: Websites with high-quality images can see up to a 94% increase in user engagement compared to those without.
- Conversion Rates: Product pages with high-quality images can increase conversion rates by as much as 40%.
- First Impressions: 67% of consumers say that the quality of a product image is "very important" in selecting and purchasing a product.
- Loading Time vs. Quality: Despite the importance of page speed, 39% of consumers will stop engaging with a website if images won’t load or take too long to load.
- Impact on Return Rates: High-quality product images can reduce return rates by 22% as they more accurately represent the product.
Shoppers usually like to see what they are buying before they commit, so a large, high-quality product image is needed.
Hyundai increased the requests for test drives by 62% after using a larger product image, and CyberCash Worldwide increased conversions by 24% after adding larger images to their site along with product descriptions.
But here's the downside: they can be really heavy. This means slower loading times for your site. Nobody likes to wait for a page to load, right?
And if someone's on a slower internet connection or a mobile device, it's even worse. It's like waiting for a slow elevator when you're already late. Plus, high-res images can eat up a lot of data. For people on limited data plans, that's not too friendly.
#10 Add Coupons and Discounts
Did You Know?
- Usage Rate: Approximately 93% of shoppers use a coupon or discount code throughout the year.
- Influence on Purchasing Decisions: 80% of consumers say that finding a great deal or discount impacts their decision to purchase from a brand for the first time.
- Loyalty: 65% of consumers say coupons and discounts play a big role in retaining their loyalty to a brand.
- Email Marketing: Emails featuring coupons or discount codes see a 48% increase in revenue per email.
- Abandoned Cart Recovery: Offering coupons or discounts in abandoned cart emails can recover 10-30% of lost sales.
Everyone loves a bargain. 26% of customers prefer using online discount coupons when making a purchase, so having them readily available can be very beneficial when it comes to increasing conversions.
But think about this: if you offer discounts too often, it might cheapen your brand's image. It's like a store that's always on sale; after a while, you start wondering about the quality, right? And sometimes, these deals can be confusing or have too many conditions attached. It's a bit like reading the fine print in a contract. Not exactly fun, is it?
#11 Offer Free Shipping
Did You Know?
- Preference for Free Shipping: 90% of consumers say that free shipping is their top incentive for shopping online more often.
- Impact on Cart Abandonment: High shipping costs are the number one reason for shopping cart abandonment, with 63% of abandoned carts attributed to shipping costs.
- Minimum Spend Thresholds: 58% of consumers will add more items to their cart to qualify for free shipping.
- Increased Average Order Value: Offering free shipping can increase the average order value by up to 30%.
- Customer Loyalty: 79% of U.S. consumers said that free shipping would make them more likely to shop online.
Although it may be a small expense to you, offering free shipping, whether all the time or after the customer has passed a free shipping threshold, can do wonders for your business. With more and more retailers heading online, you need to offer something others may not, and free shipping can help you get the edge over your competitors.
But here's the catch: it's not always as great as it sounds. If your delivery times are long, free shipping loses its charm. It's like ordering a pizza and getting it cold.
And let's be real, the cost of shipping often gets added to the product price anyway. So, it's not really "free" in the true sense. It's a bit like hiding the price tag!
#12 Increased Page Speed
Did You Know?
- Bounce Rate: A 1-second delay in page load time can lead to a 7% increase in bounce rate.
- User Expectations: 47% of consumers expect a web page to load in 2 seconds or less.
- Loss in Sales: A 2-second delay in load time can result in up to a 51% decrease in session length.
- SEO Impact: Page speed is a ranking factor for Google, and faster pages are shown to rank higher in search results.
- Mobile Experience: 53% of mobile site visits are abandoned if pages take longer than 3 seconds to load.
Even a 1% delay in website speed can result in a 7% reduction in conversions. There are many tactics that can be put into play to help speed up page load time, including optimizing images, reducing the number of plugins you use and browser caching.
With that said, what if it comes at a cost? Increasing speed can sometimes mean cutting back on features that make your site unique. It's like having a fast car that's uncomfortable to sit in. Sure, it's quick, but where's the joy in the ride, right?
And if you're not careful, trying to speed things up can lead to technical issues. It's a bit like rushing through a job only to make more mistakes.
#13 Security Seal
Did You Know?
- Trust Increase: Displaying a well-known security seal can increase trust among visitors by up to 48%.
- Conversion Rate: Websites that display a security seal can see an increase in conversion rate by up to 42%.
- Perception of Security: 75% of online shoppers say they look for a security seal before entering payment details.
- Abandoned Transactions: 17% of consumers have abandoned a transaction because they didn't trust the site with their credit card information.
- Preference for Security Information: 61% of participants failed to complete a purchase because there were no security trust logos displayed.
One of the main reasons why consumers are reluctant to make a purchase online is because they are wary of the security threats this method may bring. As a website owner, you should do all you can to make your website more secure and show this effort to the site visitors.
One way to accomplish this is to add a security seal. We recently boosted their conversion rates simply by adding a security seal.
However, not everyone knows what these seals mean. To some, it's just a random badge on your site. It's like having a diploma on the wall from a school nobody's heard of. And sometimes, these seals can give a false sense of security. Just because there's a badge doesn't mean everything's 100% safe.
It's a bit like locking your door but leaving the window open, you see?
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Awesome information. I totally understand. Thanks. from Nicholas.
Good information here thanks. I never sold anything on website but i’ve owned a retail store for a long time and have been considering it. when i do have a site i want to make sure my customers are well treated and they receive benefits like free delivery and whatever so it’s a good list of advice. cheers for now. J
Great article, I can relate to all the points, I was selling some products online and especially when I added a live chat plugin to my page I was able to convince prospects to buy and the sales increased subsequently.
Also free shipping is important for customers because depending on how much they are normally charged by location, during a free-shipping campaign my sales always proved to increase.
Unfortunately I had to close my business temporarily due to my family problem, but I’m looking to reopen in the very near future, and when I do, I keep these points in mind in order to maximize sales.
Thanks,
Sanjay