Conversion
Fewer than 5% of visitors to an ecommerce site typically convert to customers. In this Conversion category, we offer insights to increase that percentage. Our expert contributors address ratings and reviews, social proof, site search, product page enhancements, product descriptions, checkout options, live chat, and much more — anything to help close online sales.
Analytics & Data | Checkout Tactics | Customer Retention | Customer Service | Photography & Video | Product Pages-
Analytics & Data
20 Tools and Resources for Market Research
July 5, 2022 • Sig Ueland
Market research can help merchants identify product opportunities, expand an audience, and analyze competitors. This all-new update includes survey tools, data providers, demographic info, and more.
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Customer Retention
Ecommerce Profitability Revisited
June 26, 2022 • Charles Nicholls
In 2013, most ecommerce merchants generated losses from first-time shoppers. It's the same for 2022, although the circumstances differ. Contributor Charles Nicholls revisits the drivers of ecommerce profitability: 2013 vs. 2022.
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Customer Retention
Is Text Messaging the Next Commerce Channel?
June 16, 2022 • Armando Roggio
Gary Vaynerchuk's Wine Text is a pioneer in selling goods via text messaging. Other services have followed. Will consumers embrace text commerce?
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Checkout Tactics
‘Less Is More’ Boosts Conversions
June 12, 2022 • Pamela Hazelton
The basics — not bells and whistles — drive ecommerce conversions. Pamela Hazelton reminds us to display product benefits, demonstrate trust, emphasize transparency, and more.
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Checkout Tactics
15 Discount and Promo Plugins for WordPress
May 31, 2022 • Sig Ueland
Promotional discounts can motivate potential buyers and otherwise drive sales. Here is a list of promotional plugins for WordPress merchants.
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Analytics & Data
My Favorite Ecommerce KPIs
May 2, 2022 • Christopher Dobroth
Key performance indicators help a business stay on track. Contributor Chris Dobroth has managed ecommerce companies since 2006. Here is his list of essential KPIs.
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Analytics & Data
Unsure about a New Project? Try a Pilot Program
April 26, 2022 • Armando Roggio
Launching a new product or feature is exciting but risky, especially if it requires capital. A well-structured pilot program can provide answers.
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Customer Retention
Online Shopping Has Shifted to the Edge
April 26, 2022 • Charles Nicholls
In a bygone era, shoppers entered an ecommerce site directly or via a search engine. No more. In 2022 it's social media that increasingly starts the process, creating opportunities and challenges for merchants.
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Analytics & Data
Do You Need a Business Intelligence Tool?
April 24, 2022 • Armando Roggio
In an age of massive data, a business intelligence tool can be a necessity for ecommerce merchants. Here's an example using QuickSight, Amazon's tool, with hypothetical Meta Ads data.
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Customer Retention
Text Commerce Is Upfront Permission to Sell
April 10, 2022 • Armando Roggio
Text commerce is the process of obtaining payment and shipping info from shoppers upfront as well as permission to send offers. The model can solve multiple hurdles for merchants.
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Product Pages
13 Augmented Reality Examples from Retailers, Brands
February 1, 2022 • Sig Ueland
Augmented reality allows consumers to visualize the appearance of products on their bodies, in their homes, and more. Apple's ARKit has made the technology accessible.
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Checkout Tactics
Harness Customer Behavior to Boost Conversions
January 31, 2022 • Pamela Hazelton
The actions of shoppers on-site and off indicates their preferences and needs. Merchants who act on that behavior can greatly improve sales. We explain.
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Analytics & Data
Google Analytics 4 Transition Checklist
January 25, 2022 • Morgan Jones
Google Analytics 4 is live and ready to use. Here's our quick transition checklist to successfully migrate from Google's Universal Analytics, the current version for most users.
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Product Pages
8 Ways Social Proof Sells (Much) More
January 9, 2022 • Pamela Hazelton
Consumers need confirmation of their shopping decisions. Social proof can be the nudge for online shoppers to complete a purchase or sign up for a newsletter.
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Customer Retention
Need Repeat Customers? Try Low-tech Selling
December 29, 2021 • Pamela Hazelton
If you lack the budget for high-end automation tools, there are still plenty of ways to fill the gaps left by massive competitors. Here are nine ways to catch the attention of savvy online shoppers and keep them returning for more.
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Customer Retention
Subscriptions, Books Drive Man Flow Yoga
December 17, 2021 • Eric Bandholz
Dean Pohlman is a global authority on yoga instruction for men. He's written best-selling books on the topic and conducted hundreds of in-person classes. His company, Man Flow Yoga, is thriving with an on-demand instructional program driven by paid subscriptions.
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Photography & Video
Product Photography, Part 15: Crafting an Image Start to Finish
December 9, 2021 • Carolyn Mara
Throughout this series, I've explained how to shoot and edit product products that appeal to shoppers and drive conversions. This final installment is a wrap-up, applying all of the concepts I've addressed to a single image using only my iPhone and three editing tools.
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Conversion
Why Mobile SaaS Conversions Are Lower Than Desktop
December 7, 2021 • Armando Roggio
Some software-as-a-service companies experience much lower paid conversions from consumers on mobile devices versus desktop and laptop computers. The gap can be troubling, and there are four regular suspects.
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Photography & Video
Product Photography, Part 14: Optimizing for Speed, Search
November 29, 2021 • Carolyn Mara
The final step in product photography is optimizing the images for search engines and page speed. This is the 14th installment in my series on helping ecommerce merchants create better product images. In this post, I'll address making your photos faster to download and more visible in Google's image search.
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Conversion
It’s a New Normal for Ecommerce in 2022
November 23, 2021 • Pamela Hazelton
The pandemic has accelerated the worldwide digital transformation. Online businesses have opportunities for massive growth. But it comes with a cost: elevated consumer expectations. Merchants who opt for "business as usual" may find survival difficult.
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Photography & Video
Product Photography, Part 13: Special Edits
November 22, 2021 • Carolyn Mara
Special post-production edits can help create the perfect product images. This is the 13th installment in my series on helping ecommerce merchants create better product images. In this installment, I'll look at advanced editing techniques.
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Customer Retention
11 A/B Testing Tools to Optimize Conversions
November 17, 2021 • Sig Ueland
A/B testing, the process of exposing randomized visitors to one or more variables, is among the most effective strategies to optimize user experiences and conversion rates. Here is a list of A/B testing tools.
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Customer Retention
Subscriptions Power Disco Past iOS 14.5, Amazon
November 12, 2021 • Eric Bandholz
The year 2021 has been a doozy for Ben Smith. In March, he celebrated an investment round for Disco, his direct-to-consumer skincare company. In April, Disco's customer acquisition cost increased by a whopping 300% with the release of iOS 14.5. In May, he began selling a top item on Amazon.
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Photography & Video
Product Photography, Part 12: Color Correction and Presets
November 9, 2021 • Carolyn Mara
Color correction is the process of adjusting a photo to match the actual subject. It's among the most important parts of editing product photos, given the importance of an exact color match. This is the 12th installment in my series on helping ecommerce merchants create better product images.
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Product Pages
Honest Messaging Drives Conversions This Holiday Season
November 8, 2021 • Pamela Hazelton
The 2021 holiday shopping season is unpredictable for both shoppers and merchants. Supply chain interruptions and likely shipping delays have prompted many consumers to wrap up gift-buying earlier than usual.
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Photography & Video
Product Photography, Part 11: Image Editing
October 26, 2021 • Carolyn Mara
Editing is a critical step in producing product photos that engage ecommerce shoppers. If you can’t make what you’re selling stand out, consumers will not likely buy it. This is the 11th installment in my series on helping ecommerce merchants create better product images.
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Product Pages
Conversion Lessons from the Luggage Industry
October 24, 2021 • Pamela Hazelton
The pandemic challenged online luggage merchants to find unique ways to entice consumers to purchase items they might not put to immediate use. Led primarily by independent, direct-to-consumer manufacturers, successful mid-priced luggage and travel-bag sites are setting the pace for conversion practices.
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Photography & Video
Product Photography, Part 10: Lines as Design Elements
October 21, 2021 • Carolyn Mara
The design elements of a photo include lines, color, shapes, light, texture, and negative space. The use of such elements in product photography can make or break its appeal to shoppers. This is the 10th installment in my series to help ecommerce merchants take better product images.
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Photography & Video
Product Photography, Part 9: Advanced Composition
October 12, 2021 • Carolyn Mara
I discussed in my previous post two compositional rules that could make your product photography more engaging. I'll expand on that subject in this article. This is the ninth installment of my series to help ecommerce merchants take better product images.
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Customer Service
13 WordPress Plugins for Customer Support
October 11, 2021 • Sig Ueland
Offering support throughout your shoppers’ purchase experience is a good way to ensure their return. If you have a WordPress site, there are a variety of customer-support plugins to help. Here is a list of plugins for customer support on WordPress.