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DID YOU KNOW

43% of shoppers start with the internal search feature on ecommerce sites. Marketing Sherpa

The average rate for shopping cart abandonment is growing It is now almost 60%. However, the reason seems to be that online shoppers like to compare prices; they start the purchase process to discover prices, including shipping, not to buy. (eMarketer Jun 2008)

Automated chats can reduce abandonment by 10%. Place a chat in a popunder window. It should be able to recognize when the user leaves the site without finishing the transaction. The chat responds with a suggestion or offer based on the last click they made. The "Chat" then continues the discussion by referencing scripts triggered by keywords in the user's comments. Marketing Sherpa, May 2008

Paypal found in their survey that shoppers usually abandon the cart because:

Shipping was too expensive
Price was too high.
They were comparing prices.
No customer support for questions.
Lost userid/ password.

E-Commerce Websites

Do you dream of a passive income for life? E-commerce is the way to go. Every item in the catalogue generates cash in a global marketplace without the cost of a sales force. With the proliferation of shopping carts and Paypal, selling online has never been easier!

They won't buy if they don't come.

Take some time to develop a search engine optimization strategy, affiliate programs and offline marketing.

Recognize that how people shop online varies with the product, price, the level of trust you enshrine and the culture of the shopper. In Canada, people window-shop online, then go to the bricks and mortar store, while Americans have become increasingly comfortable buying online.

They won't buy if you prevent them.

Make sure the site works end to end through rigorous usability testing. Anything that prevents a visitor from completing a sale and receiving the correct order, needs to be fixed. Make sure your customer can clearly see at all times exactly what is happening and that the hooks to inventory control and shipping are flawless.

Remember that some people only check prices and features online. They intend to shop in person, so look for ways to track these visitors too. Perhaps a coupon?

Privacy

To protect yourself and your customers, be clear about what is being purchased and its full cost. Include a privacy policy that explains how information is secured. At the moment, this is optional, but be prepared for a tightening of laws, especially around children. You might as well develop a solid policy now to reassure your customers.

Requirements for building ecommerce.

Plan the site with care. What are you going to sell? How will products be categorized? Do you need a full-blown shopping cart or will Paypal do?

Reduce the probability that visitors abandon their shopping carts:

Brand the site to promote trust.
Make the catalogue easy to use.
Encourage customers to add products to the shopping cart.
Use familiar layouts and procedures for shopping.
Make the "buy now" and "return to catalogue" options easy to find.
Let customers access the rest of your site without closing the shopping cart.
Only ask for information you need.
Link the catalogue to the shopping cart.
Link the shopping cart to a secure ecommerce gateway.
Provide payment options.
Let return visitors login without re-entering personal data.
Let visitors track their purchases.

If you aren't sure ecommerce is your focus, quick link to other common website goals.