Do’s & Don’ts: What You Should and Shouldn't Do in Online Sales

Although online sales may sound like something easy to achieve, there are many steps involved in reaching a successful online store, so the details for managing your e-commerce matter a lot.

Here we share some general but extremely necessary points to check on your online sales site to notice a real change in your sales.

Prioritize SEO

Did you know that most online purchases start with a search in a browser? This means that a user interested in buying an item will first search for it in a search engine like Google and investigate the options they find in the top positions.

According to Google data, 53% of online shoppers say they always research before making a purchase to ensure they are making the best possible decision.

If your SEO positioning in search engines is low, you simply won't be seen. That's why it's very important to take care of your site's SEO strategy and reach the best positions so that when a potential buyer searches for your product or service, you are among their top options.

Don't Complicate It

If buying your product requires more than 3 or 4 clicks or the payment process is too long and complicated, you can be sure that most shoppers will abandon your site.

Your products and services should be accessible, easy to acquire in a few clicks, and all purchase information should be clear.

Test Your Site

Constant and periodic testing of your entire site and online store is the best way to ensure your website continues to be functional and its performance is the best to meet the needs of your customers and your brand. Don't leave it for later!

Don't Promise the Unattainable

Unfulfilled promises guarantee one thing: an endless list of complaints and angry messages. So don't promise your customers something you know will be very difficult to achieve just to look good; if anything, it will be the opposite.

It's better to make more flexible promises to your customers. For example, set a delivery date longer than your logistics can handle. Receiving a package much earlier than promised will always bring positive comments and five stars for your service.

Dedicate Time and Effort to Your Product Descriptions

Making an effort and dedicating extra time to a clear, precise, and detailed description will make the purchase decision much easier for your customer. Of course, this doesn't mean you should write a novel; if it's too long and doesn't gather the necessary information, it won't be very useful.

Detail the most useful and important points of your product and highlight its benefits. Keep in mind the questions and doubts you have received before.

Don't Underestimate Your Product Photo

The phrase: “a picture is worth a thousand words” is particularly true in e-commerce. A clear, clean, and focused photograph will demonstrate much more than you can describe in seconds.

So, if you're not a professional photographer, consider investing in one to get quality photos that allow the characteristics of your product or service to be perceived.

Hey! Your Shopping Cart is Ready

Abandonment of full shopping carts is more common than you think. On average, 69.57% of online shoppers abandon the site after taking the time to review and select their products, translating to 2 out of 3 users.

There are various reasons why this happens, but if these shoppers abandoned their cart after spending time on your site and deciding what to buy, it's better to remind them that their cart is ready for checkout.

Dedicate time to designing a strategy to create a database and thus be able to send emails to those who left their cart pending. Additionally, with the database, you can inform your customers of everything pertinent to your brand.

Don't Make Creating an Account Mandatory

As we already mentioned, having a database is important to stay in communication with your users, but no one likes to be forced to do things.

Therefore, it's not advisable to make creating a profile on your website a requirement to make a purchase. This way, the purchase process is simplified, which, as we mentioned in the previous point, is better for turning users from visitors into buyers.

Transparency for Greater Satisfaction

When making an online purchase, one of the best experiences for a buyer is receiving step-by-step updates on their purchase. Sending an email (or through a tracking system on your site) that notifies your customer about the status of their order will let them know that everything is going smoothly and they won't be left wondering if they will ever receive what they bought.

This, although it requires more work, will demonstrate your commitment to good service and provide greater trust to buyers, especially those buying your products for the first time.

Don't Ignore Customer Service

E-commerce is not synonymous with not having to deal with customers, quite the opposite. Not having a physical validation of a product or service can be a more complicated process for some than going to a store and ensuring that the player is just what they're looking for.

Effective and prompt customer service that resolves all their doubts about the product, delivery, returns, and more can be the difference between selling your product or having the competition do it. And remember, we tend to talk more about bad service experiences than good ones.

Contact the experts at Brand Industry to develop the best strategy for your business and achieve your online sales goals.