The Art Of Encouraging Online Shoppers To Shop ‘Til They Drop

It seems near impossible to recall a time when making a purchase was as easy as firing up a smartphone app and tapping a few screens. In 2023, online retail is absolutely booming. However, with so much competition in the digital marketplace, it can be challenging for e-retailers to stand out and increase their sales.

What can you do to encourage online shoppers to select your e-store to shop “until they drop”?

Offer personalized recommendations.

Personalization is key in today’s digital landscape. It’s wise for online retailers to take advantage of this trend by offering personalized product recommendations to customers. By analyzing customer data such as browsing and purchase history, retailers can offer tailored recommendations that are more likely to appeal to each individual customer. This can lead to higher conversion rates and increased sales.

“Personalized content recommendations can also lead to increased engagement and loyalty from users,” says Teemu Raitaluoto of Finland’s Markettailor, “By surfacing content that is more relevant and engaging to the individual user, personalized recommendations can help keep the user more engaged with the content they are consuming.”

Launch a loyalty program.

Loyalty programs are a proven way to incentivize customers to make repeat purchases and increase sales. By offering rewards such as discounts, free shipping or exclusive access to sales and products, retailers can encourage customers to keep coming back to their online stores. Loyalty programs can also help retailers gather valuable data about their customers and their shopping habits, which can inform future marketing efforts.

“Members of loyalty programs generate 12-18% more incremental revenue growth per year than non-members,” reports Queue-It.com, “The top performing loyalty programs boost revenue from customers who use them by 15-25% annually.”

Post user-generated content.

User-generated content (UGC) such as product reviews, social media posts and customer photos can be a powerful tool for online retailers. By showcasing UGC on their websites and social media channels, retailers can provide social proof and build trust with potential customers. UGC can also help retailers showcase their products in more authentic and relatable ways. It can be especially effective for products that are visually appealing or have a strong emotional appeal.

“UGC results in 29% higher web conversions than campaigns or websites without it,” informs Richard Ball on Reviews.io, “UGC generates trust: whilst text reviews and star ratings are vital for building trust with the consumer, visual UGC takes it one step further – seeing is believing after all. Consumers are 2.4x more likely to say user-generated content is authentic compared to brand-created content.”

Allow for virtual try-on.

For e-retailers selling products such as clothing, accessories or cosmetics, virtual try-on technology can be a game-changer. By allowing customers to virtually try on products using augmented reality or 3D imaging, retailers can provide more immersive and engaging shopping experiences. Virtual try-on can also help customers visualize how products will look and fit, reducing the likelihood of returns and increasing customer satisfaction.

Do you allow your customers to make online purchases?

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