The average conversion rate for ecommerce sites is 1%-3% [1]. So, for every 100 visitors you get, only 1-3 people make a purchase. The number of online buyers is growing every year. You have a lot of potential to sell more products. Here are some effective tactics that boost ecommerce store traffic and conversion rates. Let’s get started:
How to boost traffic to your online store
1. Optimize your store for SEO and keywords
Your ecommerce store must be optimized for the right keywords. Proper keywords should be used in your images, product descriptions, and alt tags. High site traffic is vital before you start increasing your ecommerce conversions.
Thus, it’s very important to make sure to optimize your website for search engines to get more exposure for your website.
Additional FinTech SEO tactics will increase your site’s traffic to improve SEO rankings. The best ecommerce platforms have built-in SEO tools.
2. Tap into Google AdWords and pay-per-click advertising
Looking for a quick way to drive traffic to your online store? One way to bring conversions is for you to pay for it. But there’s a subtle art with pay-per-click advertising. This is true, especially if you’re trying to compete with big online shopping sites.
What if you’re a smaller e-commerce site? AdWords and other pay-per-click services can put you at a disadvantage. The market will set the bid price, which is often costly.
But here are some tips to help you settle the score:
- Quality score: Your Ad Rank in AdWords came from your bid and quality score. If you can’t outbid the big online shopping sites, then you can beat the Quality Scores with smart and focused effort. Ad Extensions are fantastic ways to boost your Ad Rank.
- Beyond Google: If your budget is limited, you can get lower conversion costs. You can do this by utilizing other search engines. Don’t try to limit yourself to just Google. Try taking advantage of other search engines where competition is less.
Bid Modifiers
- Day Parting: It can work in your favor to only show ads at particular times of the day. You might only show ads during work hours if you mostly depend on customer service. Usually, this is when your staff is available. You might have to tailor your campaigns to their time zones if you’re selling overseas.
- Geo-targeting: You can try to be specific when you target particular areas.
- Mobile: Some businesses mainly depend on phone calls to close sales. So, consider getting a bid modifier if you’re one of them. This allows you to reach people that use smartphones.
- Match Types: Looking for long-tail opportunities but are your match types holding you back? Carefully placing Phrase Match keywords helps you keep costs in check. It also gives you the exposure you need.
- Re-marketing overspend: Ensure to segment successful conversions out of your re-marketing audience.
3. Run Facebook and Instagram ads
Facebook and Instagram ads don’t appear based on search results like Google Adwords. Instead, they’ll appear on the feeds of your target audience. This is usually based on behaviors, interest, and demographics. Instagram has over 2 billion monthly active users, you’ll find your target audience there, for sure.
Ads are a highly efficient way to drive traffic to your ecommerce store. Yet, they can be a huge waste of your resource when not done correctly.
Here are some tips:
- Try a lookalike audience. These people have the same behaviors and demographics as your existing customers.
- Provide people with a reason to click on your ads. This could be in the form of promotions and special discounts.
- Test your ads. Try out variations of your ad copy and images. You’ll reap better conversions and the lowest cost per sale. Test various promotions to see what your audience responds to.
- Place Facebook pixels on every page of your online store so that you can gather data.
- Make a targeted landing page. Don’t make the mistake of just driving users to your home page with all your products. There are many great landing page builders to create good-looking pages quickly.
Related Read: 13 Best Instagram Scheduling Tools
4. Create a sense of urgency
You must be honest and transparent in who you are as a brand and what you do. You also have to create a sense of urgency that will persuade prospects to purchase from you right now.
Many consumers respond well to incentives that create that sense of urgency. Examples can be anything from limited edition products to special offers. There are ways that you can accomplish this.
For instance, you can’t offer a limited-edition product to entice your customers. You can provide a financial incentive to customers that can immediately purchase. This can be in the form of free shipping and discounts.
If you use AdWords, you can use ad customizers to show a countdown on a limited-time sale or a seasonal offer.
5. Hold a giveaway
Holding a giveaway can be a powerful tool to boost your ecommerce traffic and build brand awareness. It’s essentially offering exciting free products to a select group of participants in exchange for some form of action, like following your social media pages, subscribing to your email list, or visiting your website. Done correctly, giveaways can be a win-win situation, generating excitement for your brand while attracting new potential customers.
Here’s how to use giveaways for maximum impact:
- Pick the Perfect Prize: Your giveaway prize should be directly related to your products and target audience. Is your brand known for stylish phone cases? Give away a limited-edition case or a bundle of popular designs. This entices people interested in your core products and encourages them to explore your offerings further.
- Define Your Goals: What do you hope to achieve with your giveaway? Is it to increase brand awareness, grow your social media following, or drive traffic to a specific product launch? Having clear goals will help you tailor your giveaway mechanics and track your success.
- Set Clear Rules and Eligibility: Clearly outline the entry requirements, selection process, and giveaway duration. Will winners be chosen randomly or through specific actions? Be transparent about any restrictions on participation, like age or geographic location.
- Promote, Promote, Promote!: Don’t let your giveaway become a secret! Announce it across your social media channels, email list, and even your website. Tease the giveaway in advance to build anticipation. Encourage social media shares by offering bonus entries for tagging friends or sharing the giveaway post. Partner with relevant influencers in your niche to reach a wider audience.
- Go Beyond Just Likes: While social media likes are easy to collect, consider incorporating entry methods that encourage deeper engagement. Ask participants to share a creative product photo using a specific hashtag or write a short review of a product they already own. This fosters brand interaction and generates user-created content.
You can create a compelling giveaway that attracts new customers, boosts brand loyalty, and ultimately drives sales for your ecommerce store.
How to boost your online store conversion rate
The average conversion rate in eCommerce is between 1% and 4%. If you can increase your conversion rate even by 1% or 2%, you can double your sales. Here are some tactics to boost your ecommerce conversions.
6. Write comprehensive product descriptions
6. Write Comprehensive Product Descriptions (That Sell)
High-quality product descriptions are a cornerstone of converting website visitors into paying customers. They act as your in-store salesperson, providing detailed information and addressing potential concerns to convince users that your product is the perfect solution to their needs.
Here’s how to craft compelling product descriptions that resonate with your audience and boost conversions:
- Focus on Benefits, Not Just Features: Don’t just list product specifications. Explain how those features translate into benefits for the customer. For instance, instead of simply stating that a jacket is waterproof, describe how the advanced waterproofing technology keeps the wearer dry and comfortable during unexpected downpours.
- Use Sensory Language: Engage the reader’s senses by incorporating descriptive language that evokes a positive emotional connection. Help them imagine how the product feels, looks, sounds, or performs in real-life scenarios. Describe the luxuriously soft texture of a cashmere sweater or the crisp, vibrant colors of a printed dress.
- Address Common Concerns: Anticipate potential customer questions and address them proactively within your descriptions. Is there a sizing concern with a particular garment? Provide a detailed size chart and fit guide. Does a product require special care instructions? Clearly outline cleaning and maintenance recommendations.
- Use Clear and Concise Language: Avoid technical jargon or overly complex sentences. Aim for readability and clarity, ensuring your descriptions are easy for everyone to understand.
- Optimize for Search Engines (SEO): While keyword stuffing is a bad practice, strategically incorporating relevant keywords throughout your descriptions can improve SEO ranking. Focus on natural keyword integration that enhances readability and helps potential customers discover your products.
- Include Powerful CTAs: Don’t miss the opportunity to convert website visitors into buyers. End your product descriptions with a clear call to action, encouraging users to “Add to Cart,” “Shop Now,” or “Learn More.”
- Go Beyond Text: Complement your descriptions with high-quality visuals. Include multiple product photos from various angles, showcasing details like texture, fit, and functionality. Consider incorporating lifestyle images or short videos featuring the product in use. This provides a more immersive experience for potential customers.
You can boost your e-commerce conversion rates and turn website browsers into loyal customers with good product descriptions.
7. Strengthen your CTA copy
Generic CTAs such as “Click here”, or “Sign Up” won’t give you the best conversion rates. Experiment with CTAs that clearly define the next step, like “Shop Winter Shoes” or “Browse Fall Collection”.
Here’s how to craft CTAs that drive results for your ecommerce store:
- Specificity is Key: Move beyond generic CTAs like “Click Here” or “Learn More.” Instead, use specific language that clearly communicates the desired action. For example, “Shop Winter Coats Now” or “Download Your Free Fitness E-book” are far more effective.
- Focus on Benefits: Highlight the value proposition within your CTA. What benefit will users receive by taking action? “Upgrade Your Look” or “Get Free Shipping Today” create a sense of urgency and incentivize users to click.
- Create a Sense of Urgency: CTAs with a time-sensitive element can encourage immediate action. Use phrases like “Limited Time Offer” or “Shop Before They Sell Out” to create a sense of scarcity and motivate users to complete a purchase.
- Action Verbs are Your Friends: Start your CTAs with strong action verbs that leave no room for doubt. Verbs like “Buy Now,” “Download,” or “Subscribe” clearly tell users what you want them to do.
- Match Your CTA to the Page: Tailor your CTAs to the specific page and its goal. On product pages, a “Buy Now” or “Add to Cart” CTA is most appropriate. For blog posts, a “Subscribe for More Tips” or “Download the Guide” CTA might be more suitable.
- Scarcity and Urgency Tactics: Consider using CTAs that highlight limited quantities or exclusive offers. Phrases like “Only 5 Left in Stock” or “Get Early Access with Email Sign-Up” can create a fear of missing out (FOMO) and encourage users to act quickly.
- Create a Sense of Value: CTAs that emphasize the value proposition can be highly effective. For instance, “Unlock 20% Off” or “Get Your Free Trial Today” highlight the immediate benefits users receive by taking action.
Another thing to try is adding the word “Yes” to your CTAs. Psychologically, it’s highly effective, showcasing your offer in a more positive light. It’s also a lot better than having a generic copy.
The formula is: “Yes, I want [your offer]”
8. Add customer reviews and testimonials to conversion pages
Positive reviews and testimonials from your previous customers can be highly persuasive. It shows that your brand is reliable and trustworthy. It’s also a key component in the decision-making process.
Give visitors a chance to leave reviews. It’s even better if people can place their photos along the review. Add these to your conversion pages, like product pages and checkout pages. It will surely help boost your conversions and build customer trust in the long run.
9. Optimize for mobile devices
Mobile search has consistently outnumbered desktop searches for ecommerce. Make sure that your online store is well optimized for mobile devices. Doing a fantastic job generating traffic? If users click from their mobile phones and your site isn’t mobile optimized, you’ll miss out on sales.
For that reason it is important to make your site with a responsive design, or even make a seperate mobile version altogether. Jeanne from webdesignds.com lists some more benefits.
10. Simplify your eCommerce checkout process
A complex checkout process is one of the reasons you’re losing sales from competitors. You’ll also lose out on customers if you don’t employ a simple checkout process. It would help if you made it easy for your customers to purchase your products. Introducing efficient ecommerce accounting software can be a game-changer, simplifying your financial transactions and providing seamless integration to enhance your overall business operations.
11. Offer multiple payment options
Integrating multiple payment options on the checkout page is vital. 93-95% of Gen Y and Z use smartphones and place orders on the go. Giving more options to pay will decrease the chance of people leaving because they can’t pay for your products.
Aside from credit card options, include other options like PayPal, Apple Pay, and Stripe. This accommodates more users and gives them a good reason why they shouldn’t leave your site.
Here are some advantages of offering several payment methods on your site:
- Better customer experience
- Customers feel more secure by having payment options they trust
- Makes your company more trustworthy
Concluding tactics to boost your online store traffic and conversions
Traffic and conversion rates are among the most vital indicators of ecommerce success. Implementing these techniques lets you boost your traffic and conversion rates.
Sources:
[1] Smart Insights
