As any good marketer knows, driving traffic to your eCommerce website is only half the battle. The real challenge is turning those visitors into paying customers. That’s where eCommerce CRO (Conversion Rate Optimisation) comes into play.
Whether you’re running your store on WordPress x WooCommerce, Shopify or another platform, implementing thoughtful, unique CRO strategies is key to boosting your sales and delighting your customers.
Here are 7 essential, yet often overlooked, eCommerce CRO tips designed to boost your online store’s performance and profitability.
eCommerce CRO (Conversion Rate Optimisation) is the practice of improving your online store to increase the percentage of visitors who complete a desired action. This might be making a purchase, signing up for a newsletter, or adding a product to the cart.
It involves analysing user behaviour, identifying barriers to conversion, and implementing changes to streamline the path to purchase. Effective eCommerce CRO means going beyond standard design tweaks; it’s about crafting an experience that’s engaging, persuasive, and friction-free. This experience, ultimately, should boost your sales and customer loyalty.
Here are 6 tried and tested, distinctive eCommerce tips you can use to bolster and boost your eCommerce website’s conversion rate.
According to Forbes, 81% of customers prefer companies that offer a personalised experience. Therefore, it’s worth considering using your customer data to implement intelligent product recommendation systems that showcase relevant products based on browsing history, purchase behaviour, or even location. Tools like WooCommerce’s Product Recommendations extension can help you deliver a seamless, dynamic shopping experience that drives conversions.
According to an Accenture report in 2018, 91% of consumers are more willing to engage with businesses that recall their preferences and recommend offers and suggestions based on them. AI powered personal shopping and recommendation services provide an ample opportunity to capitalise on this.
KIJO Pro Tip: Keep the recommendations subtle and authentic though. Too many can overwhelm users and dilute the experience. Aim for a balance between personalised suggestions and clear pathways to purchase.
Interactive content is better than static. According to MediaFly, interactive content sees 52.6% more engagement than static content; buyers spend an average of 8.5 minutes viewing static content items and 13 minutes (that’s 3.5 minutes longer!) on interactive content items. With this in mind, why not take your product presentation up a notch by offering 360° views, zoom features, or even interactive AR experiences? For WooCommerce users, plugins like Woo360 Image can help to bring your products to life.
Interactive visuals give customers the confidence to click “Buy Now,” especially for higher-ticket items or products where details are key.
According to the Baymard Institute, over 70% of online carts are abandoned. 18% of users that abandon their carts claim the complicated, multi-step checkout process puts them off completing…
To counter this, simplify your checkout flow and add a clear progress indicator. Progress bars or step-by-step guides reduce uncertainty and keep customers engaged throughout the process.
KIJO Pro Tip: Plugins like WooCommerce Checkout Field Manager let you customise checkout fields. However, custom-coded solutions like the ones we offer in our eCommerce website designs can implement slick progress indicators that match your brand style.
FOMO (the Fear of Missing Out) is a key psychological principal to consider in eCommerce, particularly when targeting the younger generations. A report on Canadian millennials found that 68% of this age group will make a purchase in an effort to not be left behind by their peers.
So, adding urgency to your offers is key to tapping into FOMO. However, it’s often overused or poorly implemented. Instead of aggressive pop-ups shouting “Only 1 left!”, try a more sophisticated approach like real-time stock indicators or subtle “selling fast” notifications.
Related Read: A 400% eCommerce Revenue Increase for an Innovative Scottish Distillery
Did you know that 20% of products bought via eCommerce are fake? No wonder generating trust for users is so important. That’s why social proof can make or break a sale.
But don’t blend in with the crowd; go beyond static testimonials by showcasing dynamic, real-time reviews and user-generated content on your product pages. Plugins like WooCommerce Photo Reviews let customers upload photos with their reviews, adding authenticity and trust.
KIJO Pro Tip: Feature location-specific reviews or badges (e.g. “Trusted by UK Shoppers”) to build local trust and resonate more closely with your target audience.
The best eCommerce CRO strategies are never set-and-forget. Regularly test different page elements including your CTAs, product layouts, and colours. You can use heatmaps to understand where users are clicking and where they’re dropping off, and A/B testing (or “split testing”) where you compare two versions of a webpage, email, or other interface and see which determines a more desirable outcome.
KIJO Pro Tip: Hotjar is our heat map and A/B testing tool of choice at KIJO. It integrates seamlessly with WordPress x WooCommerce and provides invaluable insights into user behaviour.
Page load speed is one of the most overlooked yet powerful eCommerce CRO factors. A slow-loading page frustrates users, increases bounce rates, and kills conversions. In fact, even a one-second delay can reduce conversions by up to 7% (Akamai).
Look to:
Regularly monitor your site’s speed with tools like Google PageSpeed Insights or Google Lighthouse that could slow your store down.
KIJO Pro Tip: Faster sites don’t just convert better. They also rank better on Google. So, page speed boosts your SEO and your CRO in one hit.
Boosting your eCommerce CRO is about creating an experience that’s not only smooth but also compelling and relevant to your customers. By implementing these 7 unique, actionable strategies, you’ll be well on your way to increasing conversions, building trust, and driving sustainable growth for your eCommerce website.
The Holyrood Distillery team approached KIJO to help improve their digital presence through the build of a brand new eCommerce website. Through the creation of a new website and implementing this CRO strategies, we were able to help the distillery to tell their brand story which in turn hooked and converted their users.
We improved their organic traffic by 108% in 12 months, and improved their eCommerce revenue by 400% month to month.
Looking to discuss your next digital project? Book a complimentary, 30-minute consultation with our Head of Partnerships & Co-Founder, Kirk Thompson. During your call, we’ll review your brand’s current performance, discuss your goals, analyse competitor insights, and explore your brand’s potential. Let’s bring your vision to life — book your free consultation via the link below:
