There are numerous online sales problems you’ll likely face as your site grows. Fortunately, most are easily resolved with some time, patience and the right know-how. Here are some of the most common online sales problems and how to fix them:
Inadequate Communication
Communication is vital in business. And the same applies to your customers and clients. Not being able to reach services means a customer is unlikely to return and may leave a bad review. This is a shame because it’s easier than ever to communicate with customers online these days. Some of the best options include email, forms, and live chat. Live chat is an expected feature, and some of the best live chat for small business includes Click4Assistance.
People Can’t Find You
Over 90% of people search online for a service before deciding to use one. But what if you aren’t showing up in those searches? That’s where you must form an SEO and marketing plan. SEO helps with your search result ranking. You can boost it with blogging, keyword-rich category pages, and image alt descriptions. Additionally, on-page changes such as headings and titles will make it easier for search engine crawlers to identify your website content.
Online Sales Problems Include Cart Abandonment
Shopping cart abandonment reportedly costs online retail $18 billion per year. That’s a staggering amount, and your business could be losing out. Here’s how to prevent it:
- Be upfront about shipping costs long before the final checkout stage.
- Offer the option to complete a quick sale without registering first.
- Use analytics software to identify your key abandonment areas.
- Always be clear about the total cost of a current purchase throughout the sales process.
- Use standard checkout forms with secure certificates such as SSL servers.
- Use a sidebar that shows all items currently in the shopping cart, with editing options.
- Offer multiple delivery options that suit the customer’s time and date needs.
Misinformed or sudden shipping costs are one of the main reasons people cancel a sale. So always be honest about shipping as early in the checkout process as possible.
Poor User Experience
User experience has become an essential part of online business. You must ensure that the entire process is as smooth as possible. From finding your site in the first place, to secure checkout, everything must be as simple as possible, to make your customers feel special and valued by the smooth process. Streamlining the UX includes providing the same accessibility experience for all users, a click-depth of three, and adequately organized categories for all products and services.
Cybersecurity and Hacking
A significant problem with modern business is cybersecurity. Hacking affects all types of business, regardless of size and prominence. Being a smaller business makes you a bigger target since hackers don’t expect a solid defence. So don’t let them win by using a solid cybersecurity plan or outsourcing. Additionally, ensure you use a reputable payment processor to keep your customer data safe. And never store sensitive data such as card numbers.
Summary
Some of the most common online sales problems are easily rectified with dedication. These include being more communicative, reducing cart abandonment, and cybersecurity.
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