Ecommerce checkout best practices: Boost your conversion rates with Neto
02 Oct 2024 • 5 min read
In the world of ecommerce, a seamless checkout experience is essential for maximizing your conversion rates. Each additional step or unnecessary field can increase the risk of cart abandonment, leading to lost sales.
For Neto users looking to optimize their checkout process, we’ve compiled a list of best practices to streamline your customer’s journey from cart to completion. Let’s explore these key customizations that you can edit in your Control Panel to enhance your checkout experience. (And to learn more about Checkout Settings in Neto, check out our help article.)
Allowing customers to check out as guests can significantly reduce friction. Many shoppers prefer a quick and easy process without the need to create an account, especially during their first purchase. By enabling guest checkout, you make it easier for customers to finalize their orders quickly, enhancing their overall experience.
While confirming email addresses may seem like a smart move to ensure accuracy, it can create unnecessary hurdles. Most customers assume their input is correct, so eliminating this step helps maintain a fluid checkout process.
Only prompt customers to subscribe to your newsletter if you have a clear newsletter strategy in place. Adding this option can distract from the primary goal of completing the purchase, so keep the customer focused on completing their purchase.
By allowing the customer to agree to T&Cs simply by placing their order, you simplify the process and remove the need for an additional checkbox. While it may not be suitable for every business, it can significantly enhance the user experience.
Unless your products are specifically targeted at businesses, requiring a company name can create an unnecessary barrier at best and cause chaos in your system at worst. Simplifying the information needed from customers can improve their overall experience.
If you’re running promotions, allow customers to enter coupon codes. However, if there are no current offers, disable this option to avoid confusion. If you leave this option on, customers might leave your site to go coupon hunting and end up abandoning their cart.
Similar to promo codes, keep this option disabled if you’re not running any voucher campaigns to maintain a straightforward checkout experience. If you do keep these enabled in conjunction with the Coupon field, make sure customers are aware of the difference so they don’t get frustrated or confused during checkout.
Most customers don’t need to input a purchase order number. Include this field only if it’s essential for your business operations to avoid unnecessary steps or confusing the customer.
While a delivery date selector can be helpful for certain businesses, it adds another level of complexity. Consider not only whether it’s truly needed, but also make sure your business is equipped to make good on the desired delivery date before enabling this feature.
Depending on your shipping practices, requiring a signature can add friction. Assess your delivery scenarios to determine the best approach for your business.
This option can complicate the checkout process and confuse the customer. Instead, consider sending invoices electronically after the purchase is complete. You can always send an invoice with your goods in addition to the electronic receipt.
While some customers may appreciate delivery instructions, this feature can slow down the checkout. Enable it only if your shipping needs warrant it. If you’re worried about missing something, review your last six months of orders and see how often this field was used. You can use your own data to make a business-savvy decision.
This feature can complicate the process for the average shopper. If it’s not frequently requested (at least once a month), keeping it disabled will simplify the checkout experience. Again, be sure to review your most recent past orders to see if this field is necessary or not for your business.
Ensure that your default shipping option aligns with customer expectations and encourages quick decision-making. Offering clear and cost-effective choices can further enhance the checkout experience. Our recommendation is that your default shipping option is set to “None,” which would then make the customer choose, further reinforcing their shipping desires.
By implementing these checkout best practices, you can create a streamlined and efficient process that not only enhances customer satisfaction but also drives conversions. Regularly review your settings and focus on minimizing friction at every step. A smoother checkout experience can turn potential customers into loyal buyers, making a significant impact on your online store's success. Optimize your checkout today and watch your conversion rates soar.