Everyone wants to sell more, right? Whether you’re just starting out and are looking to build an audience, or are expanding into new, previously unexplored terrain, it is important to go in with a strategy. It can be an intimidating process to begin, but fortunately, there are dozens of ways you can make more sales online. Many of them aren’t too complicated either, so you can get on with implementation right away. From specific approaches to more general advice, here are some tips to help you sell more online.
Be honest with your customers
This might sound like a no-brainer, but you would be surprised. Customers these days expect full transparency and have a very low threshold for avoidable complications or deliberate opacity. For this reason, it is critical to be honest in your sales copy, not only because your business’s reputation depends on it, but because it also fosters and encourages trust in your brand. Don’t make claims you can’t substantiate or offer products that you don’t have. If using Shopify, be on top of your Shopify inventory management and be honest and straightforward with customers about your products and the timeframe in which they can expect to receive them.
Let your customer know they can trust you
People want to see reviews and testimonials from others who have used your product or service, so customer feedback has never been more important. This also means that you might have a super valuable untapped resource in the form of previously satisfied customers. Demonstrably happy customers are considerably more influential than even the best-written promotional copy, so be sure to include enthusiastic testimonials and reviews from people who know and love your product.
Provide your customers with an incentive to buy NOW
Creating a little sense of urgency can go a long way when it comes to getting the deal sealed on purchases. In addition to honesty and transparency, it’s alright to employ a few tactics to persuade prospects to buy from you right now. In fact, many consumers actually end up having a better overall impression of a purchase if it was the result of a time-sensitive special offer or a deal on a limited-edition product. Even if you don’t (or can’t) make a limited-edition product though, there are plenty of ways to encourage customers to purchase right away, such as free shipping or a discount if they act now.
Make the checkout process seamless
Every year, trillions of dollars of online merchandise are abandoned thanks to drawn-out and complicated checkout processes. Any savvy online retailer will tell you that reducing friction in your checkout process can have an incredible impact on your conversion rates. Just as you should make it as easy as possible for visitors to navigate your site, you should make it even easier for them to actually buy what you’re selling. Also, keep in mind that consumers have more payment options than ever before. You want to offer as many of these options as possible on your website, including newer services designed for mobile. By making it easier for customers to spend money, you’re likely to end up with more in your pocket.