Tag Archives: product

How to Avoid Shopping Cart Abandonment on Your eCommerce Site

The post How to Avoid Shopping Cart Abandonment on Your eCommerce Site appeared first on HostGator Blog . Shopping Cart Abandonment: The Bane of eCommerce If brick-and-mortar shoppers ditched carts full of stuff the way online shoppers do, most big box store checkout lines would be a deserted, impossible-to-navigate mess. Around 70% of eCommerce shopping carts with products in them are abandoned by shoppers before checkout. Why do shoppers do this, and how can your store make them more likely to buy what they put in their carts?   8 Tips to Reduce Shopping Cart Abandonment Here’s a checklist of improvements that can make more of those loaded carts convert.   1. Invest in a great mobile customer experience. More than half of the web’s traffic comes from mobile devices, and consumers are getting comfortable with shopping on their phones. Or they would, if it were easier. That 70% average figure for cart abandonmen t is for desktop users. For mobile users, the cart abandonment rate is more like 85% . Why? Pop-ups, slow page load times , and requirements to key in lots of personal data—these are all hassles even for desktop shoppers who have a mouse and keyboard and no data plan limits to deal with. For mobile shoppers, those hurdles are often roadblocks. Find out how to make your online store more mobile-friendly .   2. Make your product pages work smarter and harder. Customers who are ready to buy right away tend to search for specific products rather than particular stores. That means when they click on a search result for “alligator dog costume,” they’ll go straight to your product page without ever seeing your homepage. But if all they see on that page is a pup in a gator suit, they make not follow through on their intent to purchase. To build trust and make their decision easier, include a simple summary of your shop’s shipping and return policies, a link to live help, and related products so they can get in, get their gator costume, and get back to their busy lives. Chewy.com does this by promoting a shipping deal high up on its product pages, just below the product photo and price. When users scroll down, they also see a short written description, a horizontal slider gallery of related costumes, reviews, and finally, a customer service number and email link.     3. Make returns easy and free. Customers are more likely to buy if they know they can return it easily. That’s especially true for clothing, shoes, and expensive items like jewelry. Tiffany & Co. tops each page on their mobile site with a note about their “complimentary shipping and returns on all orders.” That reassures customers that they can go ahead and make that splashy gift purchase; if it doesn’t work out, they can always return it. Small store owners sometimes say they can’t afford to offer free returns, but as more e-retailers get on board, sellers who don’t offer free returns will be at a competitive disadvantage. A better approach is to figure out how to adjust your product pricing to factor in the cost of return shipping.   4. Make live support easy and immediate. Sharing your customer service phone number and email addresses is always a good idea, but navigating back and forth on a smartphone between a product screen and a phone call or email is a hassle. If customers have questions about something while they’re shopping on their phones, an on-screen live chat is easier than a phone call and much faster than email, meaning customers are more likely to get the info they need before they leave your site and their cart behind. Pura Vida Bracelets does a good job with live CS chat. Shoppers can tap the chat bubble that floats on product screens to ask questions and get answers.   5. Automatically apply promo codes. Don’t make your shoppers backtrack during checkout or navigate away to an aggregator site looking for coupon codes. That’s how you lose conversions as people get frustrated, get distracted, or find a better deal somewhere else. Instead, try an approach like Vistaprint’s. Mobile shoppers see that the current promo code has been applied to their purchases as soon as they land on the site, with an option to shop with a different promo code also on the landing page. 6. Make checkout ridiculously simple. Give shoppers the option to check out as guests, rather than forcing them to create an account. I can’t count the number of times I’ve been stopped from making a mobile purchase with a new merchant at the mandatory “create an account” step. That’s when I remember that Amazon already has my info and probably also the item I’m trying to buy, so I’m gone. Letting your shoppers validate their identity and pay with a few taps or swipes raises the likelihood of closing the sale. Consider allowing shoppers to sign in with Facebook or importing their PayPal shipping information to save time. Anthropologie’s mobile site, for example, lets shoppers opt into the full mobile checkout process or just go directly to PayPal: 7. Follow up on abandoned carts. A ditched cart doesn’t have to be the end of the story. Sometimes shoppers intend to follow up but get distracted. A reminder and an offer can bring them back. You can do this through ad retargeting, follow-up emails, and Facebook Messenger if you’re using it for customer service. Choose only one method per cart, though, and limit the number of follow-ups per cart. No one wants to be stalked by a garden shed or pelted with multiple emails.   8. Track your results. How will you know if your plan to reduce cart abandonment is working? Metrics! Get a benchmark average for daily or weekly cart abandonments versus completed orders before you begin. Then continue to track those numbers as you make improvements to your site, product pages, policies, support, promo codes, checkout process, and follow-up efforts. Over time, as your store experience gets easier for your customers, you should see fewer deserted carts and higher conversion rates. Find the post on the HostGator Blog Continue reading

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WHMCS Gift Card Module v2.4 ~ Your perfect WHMCS Marketing Companion (WHMCS Email Integration)

Add Gift Cards / Gift Certificates as part of your product line up or use it as part of your marketing campaign with our WHMCS Gift Card Mod… | Read the rest of http://www.webhostingtalk.com/showthread.php?t=1725591&goto=newpost Continue reading

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7 Types Of Videos Every Business Should Feature On Their Website

The post 7 Types Of Videos Every Business Should Feature On Their Website appeared first on HostGator Blog . 7 Videos Every Business Should Have On Their Website You’ve put together a pretty good first website for your business, and it’s doing OK. Visitors stick around, browse your store or view your portfolio, and contact you or make purchases. It’s a good start, for sure. But what if you want more customers, more sales and higher average order values without having to change your business model, product offerings, or services? Add videos. Here are five types of video that can help your business website earn you more customers and more revenue. 1. Product Demo Videos Sell products? You need product videos . You might not think that a 30-second video of someone opening and closing a purse or using a cordless drill is a valuable marketing tool, but the numbers don’t lie. Established online retailers have reported increases in conversion rates of anywhere from 64 to 85% higher for products with videos . Why? Especially for expensive products, customers want know as much as possible about the item before they buy. An effective product video, like this 39-second Tory Burch bag video at Zappos shows customers in detail what they’re getting. If you sell products online, you can still use testimonial videos. Embedding and sharing user-generated content and video reviews by customers delivers the impact of testimonials without the expense of producing your own content. Shoppers tend to trust customer-made videos and are 97% more likely to buy after they see user-created videos.   2. Case Study Videos Sometimes it’s hard to imagine attaining success without seeing an exemplary model. With most products, we need social proof to convince us that it can deliver results. Do your customers have complex problems to solve? You need case study videos . A case study is similar to a testimonial, but it shows a business audience how your product helped a client solve a particular problem, like rebranding a website in this HostGator video case study . As with a testimonial, you should include clients and let them talk about their experiences. You may also want to include some hard numbers to quantify exactly how much your business helped this client (for example, did you raise their traffic, revenue or something else) but don’t pelt viewers with too many spoken stats. Keep the overall message simple and easy to absorb and your customers will remember it better. You can streamline video production by creating a storyline prior to filming. You’ll also want to have your interview questions already prepared. These simple tasks will make the entire process run smoother.   3. Tutorial Videos Do your customers have questions? You need tutorial videos . Tutorials can keep your customers happy by showing them how to get the most value from what you sell. These videos can also persuade new customers to buy, because they can see the level of support they’ll get. The most effective tutorial videos walk viewers through each and every step in a process, like this tutorial on how to set up your WordPress website or blog. Another type of tutorial shows customers what they can do with your products. For example, Sephora produces tutorials on covering under-eye bags, achieving new nail art looks, doing wedding makeup, and more using products they sell. These videos typically cost more and take longer to produce than screen-based tutorials; if your business doesn’t have a Sephora-level marketing budget, user-generated tutorial videos are another option. And sometimes, tutorial videos are your product, or at least part of your product mix. This detailed post on using videos for infopreneurship , from product type to production. For example, in addition to in-studio classes and workshops, a growing number of dance performers and instructors now offer streaming video instruction and live online lessons on Patreon to expand their customer base far beyond their local market and the workshop circuit.   4. About Us Videos Want new customers? You need an “about us” video . Not only do customers want to put faces with names, they also want to get a sense of how your business operates and where it fits in the community. Thrift nonprofit Goodwill condenses more than 100 years of history into this short “about us” video that also showcases the group’s mission and international scope. Even if your business is brand-new, viewers will still want to know why you started it, how you take care of customers, who works with you, and how you make the products or deliver the services you sell. Just keep in mind the main rule of “about us” content – it’s really about showing what you can do for your customers. In addition to your main about us video, you can keep your video content for this section of your site fresh by embedding social video that you shoot at pop-up events, trade shows, and in your warehouse, workshop, or studio.   5. Webinar Videos Education is vital to attract and maintain your customers. By teaching your audience, they become experts in your product and in the industry. Webinars, live and recorded, can walk consumers through topics that help them do their jobs better. It’s hard for anyone to turn down a well-planned webinar that offers a new skill. When featuring these videos, your team should create engaging content that will teach and entertain your consumers. In the description, break down the objectives and who should attend.  Think about the different learning styles of your audience. You may want to include an additional handout or interrupt the monotony with a quick poll. Always give participants space to ask questions, too. That interaction will deliver more value to everyone on the webinar. ClearVoice educates its audience with monthly webinars. They invite experts to explain a specific topic and answer questions asked by attendees. Consumers can access the webinars via its site or on its YouTube channel. You’ll also want to consider the length of your webinar. Attendees may lose interest quickly if you try to trap them into a two-hour session. Instead, aim for a 20-minute or 45-minute webinar. It isn’t too late to teach your audience something different. Your team can build a learning environment with webinars.   6. Event Videos Let’s face it. Everyone can’t attend your amazing events. However, you can keep them engaged by capturing a few minutes on video.  Event coverage is effective because it keeps consumers up-to-date on your happenings, and it allows them to watch at their convenience. Depending on the event, be mindful of what and who you record. You may have to get attendees to sign a waiver form. Also, it’s nice to think about what you want to record. It may be unnecessary to record a whole 90-minute session; instead, you may want various shots from multiple sessions. Zendesk shared a talk presented by one of its team members. The presentation discussed an important topic for its audience—customer experiences: With event coverage, you can get creative. Maybe you can gather a few speakers and let them share their best business tip. Or you can do a funny blooper reel. This i s your moment to stand out from other companies. Use event videos as a way to connect your brand with consumers. Are you hosting a big conference soon? Or do you have a small workshop on your company agenda? Extend the shelf life of your event by recording it.   7. Company Culture Videos Selling your brand to customers isn’t an easy task. With so much competition in the market, people can buy products from multiple companies. Yet, some consumers usually stick to a few brands for all their purchases. That reality comes down to trust.  Consumers don’t just buy from any ol’ business. People buy from brands that they believe in.  Using video can help your team build consumer confidence, and highlighting your company’s culture can initiate the start of a positive brand relationship. Company culture is the living proof of your brand’s values. It reflects how you treat your employees and how you interact with your local community. BambooHR shows off its company culture in the video below. In a sincere, personal way, it spotlights the brand’s work-life balance and why the principle matters to the business. Company culture embodies everything from how you manufacture your products to the charities your brand champions. Giving customers just a tiny peek of how you operate can make a huge difference. These videos also help you attract new talent. Show future employees what it’s like to work at your office, and get them excited about joining your team. Get creative in your videos. Take viewers on a journey around your office, let employees talk about their work experiences, or even showcase how ideas become real-life products.   Videos for Your Business Website You may be thinking that this is a lot of video to plan, script, shoot, edit, and post, and you’re right. However, video doesn’t have to happen all at once, so start with one type of video and keeping going from there. Remember that video marketing, like other marketing, should be ongoing to reflect the evolution of your business and your audience. Video storytelling gives your brand a competitive edge. Do more than just tell consumers what you do, actually show them through visuals. Feature more videos. Press record. Find the post on the HostGator Blog Continue reading

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4 Types Of Videos Every Business Should Feature On Their Website

The post 4 Types Of Videos Every Business Should Feature On Their Website appeared first on HostGator Blog . 5 Types Of Videos Every Business Should Have On Their Website You’ve put together a pretty good first website for your business, and it’s doing OK. Visitors stick around, browse your store or view your portfolio, and contact you or make purchases. It’s a good start, for sure. But what if you want more customers, more sales and higher average order values without having to change your business model, product offerings, or services? Add videos. Here are five types of video that can help your business website earn you more customers and more revenue. 1. Product Videos Sell products? You need product videos . You might not think that a 30-second video of someone opening and closing a purse or using a cordless drill is a valuable marketing tool, but the numbers don’t lie. Established online retailers have reported increases in conversion rates of anywhere from 64 to 85% higher for products with videos . Why? Especially for expensive products, customers want know as much as possible about the item before they buy. An effective product video, like this 39-second Tory Burch bag video at Zappos shows customers in detail what they’re getting. If you sell products online, you can still use testimonial videos. Embedding and sharing user-generated content and video reviews by customers delivers the impact of testimonials without the expense of producing your own content. Shoppers tend to trust customer-made videos and are 97% more likely to buy after they see user-created videos.   2. Case Study Videos Do your customers have complex problems to solve? You need case study videos . A case study is similar to a testimonial, but it shows a business audience how your product helped a client solve a particular problem, like rebranding a website in this HostGator video case study . As with a testimonial, you should include clients and let them talk about their experiences. You may also want to include some hard numbers to quantify exactly how much your business helped this client (for example, did you raise their traffic, revenue or something else) but don’t pelt viewers with too many spoken stats. Keep the overall message simple and easy to absorb and your customers will remember it better.   3. Tutorial Videos Do your customers have questions? You need tutorial videos . Tutorials can keep your customers happy by showing them how to get the most value from what you sell. These videos can also persuade new customers to buy, because they can see the level of support they’ll get. The most effective tutorial videos walk viewers through each and every step in a process, like this tutorial on how to set up your WordPress website or blog. Another type of tutorial shows customers what they can do with your products. For example, Sephora produces tutorials on covering under-eye bags, achieving new nail art looks, doing wedding makeup, and more using products they sell. These videos typically cost more and take longer to produce than screen-based tutorials; if your business doesn’t have a Sephora-level marketing budget, user-generated tutorial videos are another option. And sometimes, tutorial videos are your product, or at least part of your product mix. This detailed post on using videos for infopreneurship , from product type to production. For example, in addition to in-studio classes and workshops, a growing number of dance performers and instructors now offer streaming video instruction and live online lessons on Patreon to expand their customer base far beyond their local market and the workshop circuit.   4. About Us Videos Want new customers? You need an “about us” video . Not only do customers want to put faces with names, they also want to get a sense of how your business operates and where it fits in the community. Thrift nonprofit Goodwill condenses more than 100 years of history into this short “about us” video that also showcases the group’s mission and international scope. Even if your business is brand-new, viewers will still want to know why you started it, how you take care of customers, who works with you, and how you make the products or deliver the services you sell. Just keep in mind the main rule of “about us” content – it’s really about showing what you can do for your customers. In addition to your main about us video, you can keep your video content for this section of your site fresh by embedding social video that you shoot at pop-up events, trade shows, and in your warehouse, workshop, or studio.   Videos for Your Business Website You may be thinking that this is a lot of video to plan, script, shoot, edit, and post, and you’re right. However, video doesn’t have to happen all at once, so start with one type of video and keeping going from there. Remember that video marketing, like other marketing, should be ongoing to reflect the evolution of your business and your audience. Find the post on the HostGator Blog Continue reading

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Bad idea to host site for US market in Germany (in terms of speed/latency)?

I just moved a group of smaller WordPress sites from Vultr to Hetzner. I’ve been using Hetzner and love the product and price, but so far ha… | Read the rest of http://www.webhostingtalk.com/showthread.php?t=1711935&goto=newpost Continue reading

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