November 11, 2017
The Important Features Your eCommerce Site is Missing
Don’t take any chances – especially with the holidays coming up. Triple check your website to ensure that these important features are in place. If they’re not, plan to tackle each one individually so that you can start seeing conversions.
Conversion-Optimized Product Pages
You know you need strong product pages to drive sales, but do you think the content is compelling, or have you tested it to find out? Running A/B tests is an easy (and fun!) way to make sure that your pages are optimized for driving sales. CrazyEgg shares a few tests you can run in just 15 minutes:Image Versus Video
- Determine whether you should use photos, videos, or both. Test different multimedia components against each other to find out which one is the right fit.
CTA (Call to Action)
- Placement on page, text, color of button and shape of button – there are many ways to test your CTA. Get a few more tips on this topic from Optimizely’s, A/B Test Ideas for E-Commerce Call to Action Buttons.
Product Descriptions
- Test phrasing, length, format, location on page, and absence of a description altogether.
Proof of Security
A lack of proof of security is one of the many reasons for cart abandonment. It seems like there’s a new security breach every month, and due to this, consumers are becoming apprehensive about sharing their private information online. To remind customers that you’re trustworthy, you need to have your proof of security visible throughout the checkout process, and on your website. Start with implementing the basic security certificates. In 10 Steps to Successfully Starting an eCommerce Business, experts at Selz suggest the following:- SSL certificate: This is a digital certificate responsible for authenticating your website’s identity and encrypting sensitive information sent to the server. This is a minimum must-have for your business’s website.
- Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards Compliance: Also known as being “PCI Compliant.” This lets customers know that your eCommerce business meets the minimum-security standards of the Payment Card Industry, and that their payment information is secure.
Other security or authenticity badges you can add to your site include:
- Better Business Bureau rating
- TrustPilot
- TRUSTe
- Norton Secured
Social Proof
You’ve experienced social proof in action when you’ve purchased something because a friend shared it on Facebook, or went to a restaurant based on its Yelp rating. Consumers make buying decisions based on the “social proof” that is provided to them – which is something you should consider when marketing your business online. Social proof for eCommerce businesses is pivotal, as it shows that other patrons believe in and have made purchases from a website. What makes them effective is that – in most cases – these people are not related to the brand, they’re objective, which makes them powerful. Including this information is often critical for increasing conversions in an eCommerce business. In fact, nearly 70 percent of consumers read reviews before making a purchase.Here are two ways to bring social proof to your eCommerce site:
Testimonials: You likely have numerous testimonials, both formal and otherwise, across your various social platforms, review sites and customer email responses. Don’t keep them hidden away; display them on your site! Press Mentions: If your eCommerce business has received press attention, or you have been featured in industry-wide, or otherwise well-known publications, make it known. To easily illustrate your press mentions, add an “As Seen In” or “Featured In” bar to your site.Other potential social proof options include:
- Client logos
- Statistics
- Customer videos
- List of business partners