When it comes to online shopping, cart abandonment is a huge issue. In fact, according to Baymard Institute, an average of 69.23% of all shopping carts end up abandoned. That’s a lot of lost sales.
As an online store owner, it’s your job to make sure that doesn’t happen. But how do you do that? Fortunately, there are several effective tactics that you can use to reduce the number of abandoned shopping carts on your site. Here are some of the most effective ones:
Send Automated Text or Email Reminders
If someone doesn’t complete their purchase after adding items to their cart, you can try to win them back with a text or email reminder. These reminders should be automated so that they’re sent out automatically after a certain amount of time has passed.
When crafting your reminders, make sure to personalize them as much as possible. This could include including the customer’s name in the subject line or message body, or including a special offer or discount code to incentivize them to come back and complete their purchase. If you are not sure how to create automated text or email reminders, There are plenty of abandoned cart text message examples and abandoned cart email examples online that you can use for inspiration. You may also consider using marketing automation software that will allow you to set up detailed rules and triggers so that you can send out these reminders to the right people at the right time.
Provide Multiple Payment Options
When it comes to online shopping, one of the main reasons why people abandon their shopping carts is because they don’t have multiple payment options. If you only offer one type of payment option, such as a credit card, then people will be more likely to abandon their cart. This is because a lot of people don’t like using their credit cards online or they don’t have one.
That’s why it’s important to offer a variety of payment options, including debit cards, PayPal, and even Bitcoin. You can also allow customers to pay for their orders using gift cards. However, you need to make sure that the payment options you offer are secure, and the easiest way to do that is to use an eCommerce platform that integrates with payment gateways that are trusted and recognized by consumers. And with so many great eCommerce platforms out there, it’s easier than ever to find one that meets your needs. Just make sure to do your research before settling on one.
Use Exit-Intent Technology
Exit-intent technology is a great way to reduce the number of abandoned shopping carts on your site. What it does is it detects when someone is about to leave your site and then displays a special offer or discount in an attempt to get them to stay.
For example, if someone is about to abandon their cart, you could display a popup that offers them 10% off their order if they stay. The great thing about exit-intent technology is that it doesn’t have to be intrusive. If used correctly, it’s quite effective. The most effective way to use it is to display a relevant offer that’s hard to resist. This could be anything, from a discount to free shipping. Just make sure not to overdo it, as too many popups can be annoying and will only serve to drive people away, especially if they’re not relevant.
Offer Free Shipping
Another great way to reduce cart abandonment is to offer free shipping. A lot of people are hesitant to shop online because they have to pay for shipping, which can be quite expensive. By offering free shipping, you’ll make it more enticing for people to shop on your site. You’ll also be more likely to convert those who are on the fence about buying from you.
Just make sure that your free shipping offers are reasonable. For example, if you’re selling a $10 item and you’re offering free shipping, then you’re not going to make much profit. So, you need to find a happy medium between making a profit and providing free shipping. A good rule of thumb is to offer free shipping on orders over $50. This way, you’ll still make a decent profit, but you’ll also be able to entice more people to shop on your site.
Optimize Your Checkout Process
The checkout process is one of the most important aspects of any eCommerce site. It’s also one of the main reasons why people abandon their shopping carts. That’s why it’s important to optimize your checkout process so that customers can complete their orders quickly and easily.
One of the most important aspects of optimizing your checkout process is to make sure that all forms are short, simple, and easy to understand. This means using clear labels for each field so that people don’t have to guess what they need to enter to proceed. It also means not requiring too much information from customers when they submit their orders. The only information you need is the customer’s name, shipping address, and payment information.
Another thing you should do is provide multiple shipping options during the checkout process. Some of the most common shipping options include standard shipping, express shipping, and overnight shipping. Some people might not be ready to commit when they reach the checkout stage, offering multiple shipping options, you’ll make it more convenient for them to shop.
Offer a Strong Return Policy
A lot of people are hesitant to shop online because they’re worried about returns. They don’t want to be stuck with an item that they can’t use or don’t like. That’s why it’s important to offer a strong return policy. This will give customers peace of mind knowing that they can return an item if they need to.
When crafting your return policy, there are a few things you need to keep in mind. First, you need to make sure that your policy is clear and easy to understand. There should be no ambiguity about what your policy is and how it works. Second, you need to make sure that your policy is fair. You don’t want to make it too complicated or restrictive, as this will only serve to discourage people from shopping on your site.
Use Social Proof
Social proof is an effective way to overcome one of the main reasons why people abandon their cart: they’re not sure that their purchase is safe and secure. This is especially true in cases where you’re selling a product or service new to the market – customers are hesitant because they don’t know how long you’ll be around to support them after they make a purchase.
To combat this, consider using social proof on your site. This could include things like testimonials, reviews, media mentions, and case studies. If you have any social media accounts, make sure to link to them from your site. This will show potential customers that you’re a legitimate business with a solid track record and will help them feel more confident about buying from you.
Reduce the Number of Steps in Your Checkout Process
One of the most common reasons why people abandon their cart is because they feel like they have to jump through too many hoops before they can complete their order. That’s why it’s important to minimize the number of steps required to complete an order on your site. This will make it much more convenient for shoppers and will likely increase your conversion rates as a result.
To achieve this, you should look at the checkout process on your site with a critical eye and identify anything that might be causing friction. For example, if you require customers to create an account before completing their orders, then consider removing this step. You could instead offer the option to checkout as a guest, which will allow customers to get through the process more quickly.
Provide Live Customer Support
Another great way to reduce cart abandonment is to provide live customer support. This way, if people have any questions or problems when they’re trying to checkout, they can get help right away. This will make it more likely for them to complete their purchase, as they won’t have to wait for a response from you via email or phone.
There are a few different ways you can provide live customer support. One is to use a chatbot on your site so that people can get instant answers to their questions. However, if you have the resources, you could also offer live chat support with a human customer service representative. This is usually the best option, as it allows customers to chat with a real person in real-time. Whichever method you choose, make sure that you have someone available to answer questions during all hours of operation.
Even though cart abandonment is a major problem for eCommerce businesses, it’s still something you can overcome with the right strategies in place. From reducing the number of steps in your checkout process to sending automated reminders, there are many things you can do to minimize cart abandonment and boost your conversion rates. Just be sure to implement each tip one at a time to ensure that you’re measuring the results and making any necessary adjustments along the way.
And if you’re still having trouble with cart abandonment, don’t be afraid to reach out for help from an experienced eCommerce consultant. They will be able to go over your site in detail and identify any problems that might be causing shoppers to abandon their carts, as well as suggest specific solutions for you to implement.
So if you’re ready to take your eCommerce business to the next level, start implementing the abovementioned solutions today and watch your cart abandonment rates start to drop!