6 Effective eCommerce Checkout Strategies that Sellers Must Know to Drive Sales

Retail eCommerce sales had touched a new height at $4.8 trillion in the year from $2.3 trillion in 2017. However, all the successful models are highly appreciated by numerous competitors, and with fierce competitiveness, it becomes imperative to take the right steps towards improving a successful customer experience.

Checkout is one of the most important aspects of a successful eCommerce business. A smooth and seamless shopping experience opens the new doors of total sales and profit potential. It is important because a minor technical error at the checkout might ward off numerous client potential as customers abandon shopping carts, threatening the overall online shopping business. In a world where the average cart abandonment rate is around 68% (As reported by Baymard Institute), eCommerce space always works on a razor’s edge.

Following factors are the best ways to create a user-friendly checkout process;

1. Short, simple, and engaging checkout experience

A clearly defined checkout process allows customers to complete their shopping needs. The need is to make provisions for only relevant fields to be filled in the checkout page and condensing the whole payment methods into it. The fewer fields with necessary customer data are the surest key to success for online businesses. Here is an infographic on understanding the psychology of the customers and the factors that influence their decision. Another thing to keep in mind is the minimalist design of the checkout page which assists customers to fill out the necessary data without with most certain fields and as per the convenience of the customers.

2. Provides multiple payment options

Easy and smooth payment is the goal of every online business. Therefore, creating a user-friendly payment page is imperative where good options are provided to customers from different geographical locations, preferences, and access. A simple payment page with a handful of payment options attracts more and more customers as they find it convenient and quite easy to process their orders within a few clicks.

3. Offer free shipping

A Checkout page suggests maximum convenience and positivity to customers while buying their chosen products or services. Adding the free shipping option is a successful method to allow customers to make purchases. Nowadays, many customers prefer buying things that come with a free shipping option. It simply means that free shipping is the main point of attraction while purchasing anything online. The strategy could be a short time loss for online sellers. Still, it could prove a rewarding opportunity in the long term to create huge loyal customers and gain popularity.

4. A live chat for real-time conversations

In today’s world of on-spot communication, features like a live-chat session in real-time conversations can prove a milestone in online shopping experience strategy. This game-changer strategy enhanced conversion rate, better customer experience, and a tool to significantly boost sales. Answering the confusion/queries/doubts of customers in real-time is a great sales customer engaging technique. Researches confirmed that live-chat options had converted many sales, especially during peak sale seasons.

5. Safety of personal details

The internet world is always at a potential threat of unseen enemies, better known as cybercriminals. Therefore, it is a real challenge for online sellers to ensure the safety and security of customers’ data, especially during making transactions. Without having an assured trust level, customers would not be motivated to make purchases openly. Therefore, online sellers must adhere to the maximum safety and security level to attract potential buyers worldwide.

6. Mobile-responsive

Today, with the changing market scenarios, modes of shopping's are changing, which includes the increasing focus on shopping on mobile. Online sellers must make their online presence by the smartphones and make easy and smooth checkout facility completed through smartphones. It allows buyers to enjoy shopping anywhere and anytime with the power of the internet and customers' comfort. 

The Final Verdict

A carefully planned and drafted checkout process can change the fate of the online business. Therefore, online entities need to focus more on designing their checkout page, smooth and easy for even a new customer. Adhering to safety concerns, security aligned with the needs of global customers, serious efforts need to be put on ensuring customers are the core of any venture online.