E-commerce sites have been popping up in tandem with the advancement of technology.
But as more and more customers have become tech-savvy, they have become more well-informed than ever before about products and services that are being sold online. Therefore, the most challenging task today is turning visitors into paying customers.
Because users have many options to choose from, if they are not satisfied with the online experience they have on your site, it can be easy for them to leave and switch to your competitors.
To convert more customers, you have to ensure that your customers’ online experience on your site is as pleasant as possible.
Here are ten effective strategies on how you can turn your online visitors into paying customers:
1. Keyword research
The keywords that you use will ultimately determine whether or not your e-commerce site will show up on search results. Therefore, using the right keywords is essential for your e-commerce site’s success.
You can use tools like Google Keyword Planner and Bing Keyword Research to know which keywords will work out for your business.
Once you know how competitive and popular the competition for a particular keyword is, you can come up with a list of keywords that you can use for your site.
2. Product descriptions
Engaging product descriptions have a positive impact on your site’s overall conversion rates. That’s why, as much as you can, you should avoid using a manufacturer’s generic product descriptions.
Keep your descriptions as unique as possible, using relevant keywords to make them Google-friendly.
3. Schema markup
In a nutshell, schema markup is code that you place on your site in order to improve the way search engine bots read and interpret your website. Doing so also allows search engine bots to return the most relevant results possible.
If you’ve ever utilized rich snippets before, you’ll know precisely what schema markup is all about. It helps to tell search engines what your data means, rather than just telling what it says.
4. Site structure
How users interact with your site is crucial for the success of your e-commerce store.
A complicated navigational structure or site design can hurt all your positive SEO efforts. On the other hand, creating an intuitive site design that’s easy for users to interact with or understand will have a positive effect on your conversions, as well as your overall bottom line.
Incorporating breadcrumbs in your site can help with the internal linking. Not to mention that it will provide your site visitors with a sense of direction when navigating your site.
5. Switch to HTTPS
In 2014 Google first announced that it would be using HTTPS instead of HTTP as a ranking signal.
The announcement alarmed developers and site owners because insecure sites (those without a valid SSL certificate) faced the prospect of a Google penalty and lower rankings in the search results.
Google Chrome also warns users that a site is insecure if you are not using an HTTPS protocol.
Morteover, Google will warn users if your site is still on HTTP. This warning could serve as a red flag for prospects and could significantly lower your conversion rates.
6. Mobile Experience
Because of the rising number of mobile users, Google has now switched to mobile-first indexing meaning the mobile version on your site will be the foundation on how Google determines its rankings.
That’s why e-commerce owners should check:
- The site’s mobile speed and load times
- Whether or not it is easy to navigate
- If they are using a responsive design
- If the content matches the desktop version of their site
7. Page speed optimization
Here’s the thing: If your site takes more than two seconds to load, 53% of your visitors will lose interest and simply move on to other sites. Not only that, but even a one-second delay can cause a 7% reduction in your total conversions.
Therefore, a fast-loading, well-designed site is another important ranking signal Google uses when ranking sites.
8. Clear Call-to-Action
These days, a lot of people are wary of giving out their personal information. That’s because they don’t like receiving junk mail.
So, if you want your target audience to hand this to you, you also need to offer them something of value such as a generous discount or access to relevant information.
When you offer users something of value, they may convert into paying customers in the long run.
9. Simplified check out process
Take note that a lot of users abandon shopping carts because of a complicated check-out process.
Although there are a lot of things that you can do to optimize your check-out page, there’s one thing that you can do that will bring instant results ‒ decreasing your page’s form fields.
Although your check-out page probably doesn’t receive the same amount of organic traffic as the product pages on your site, people who are on this page are important because they’re just a step away from converting and becoming paying customers.
That’s why a simplified check-out process is so important.
10. Social media marketing
Social media, although not directly a ranking factor, can do wonders for your e-commerce site. So, step up your social media marketing game.
Having a strong social media presence is crucial in driving traffic to your site. With increased visibility on various social media platforms, it will open up more possibilities for conversions.
Every blog post, image, comment, or video will attract more viewers to your site, boosting your traffic.
Using social proof is also a great way to build trust with users. So, make sure you show that front and center on your site, especially for your best products.
Final Thoughts
The e-commerce world is extremely competitive, and getting ahead of the competition is getting more and more difficult. But, creating a solid SEO strategy will create the right foundation for all your digital marketing efforts.
Hopefully, these tips will help boost your site’s organic traffic and sales.
