Since websites have become a viable choice for customers to make purchases, ecommerce sites have become a popular business venture for enthusiastic entrepreneurs. Social media platforms such as Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook enable small brands to target a specific, relevant audience. Using these platforms is a great strategy to launch your business.
You can also work closely with a local influencer to boost your brand awareness. They can help get the word out about your business. However, with hundreds of different e-retail brands, it can be difficult to establish yourself in a crowded market. Despite all of your efforts, your transaction column remains in the red. Why are people not buying? There’s a simple explanation – Your potential customers don’t trust your business. Here’s why.
You run an unsecured platform
Ultimately, now and in future years, you can expect your customers to be tech-savvy. They understand what makes a website trustworthy and are quick to spot the signs of potential risks. Indeed, your customers have learned to look for the HTTPS URL at the top of the page and the padlock icon that indicates their data is secure. Your online payment gateway needs to meet their expectations if you want them to commit to purchasing. Additionally, aside from encrypting data and maintaining their confidentiality, your payment platform needs to keep the transaction process smooth and pain-free. Nobody wants to wait for several minutes until the payment gateway processes customers’ data.
It’s incredibly difficult to use
From impossibly complex navigation menus to confusion web functions, the last thing you want is for frustrating customers to leave your site because they don’t understand how to use it. Digital experts maintain poor usability is the number one reason for high bounces on an ecommerce site. You have to make it easy for your customers to find the product they want and to start the transaction process. Additionally, it’s also a good idea to capture only indispensable information such as the delivery address and email of the buyer. Refrain from introducing long forms that will scare users off.
Your products cost way too much
Your products are great. But customers are able to find a similar product of the same or better quality somewhere else. If you fail to stay on top of price comparison processes, you might lose your customers to your competitors. Price comparison tools can be a game-changer. It’s a lesson that British e-retailer MandMDirect learned the hard way when they offered to pay back twice the price difference if their customers found the product cheaper elsewhere. Unfortunately, without using comparison tools, the business endangered its revenue when their international customers spotted a more cost-effective option.
You’ve got poor online reviews
Dissatisfied customers can leave unhappy reviews. A business that fails to address issues on time or to provide sufficient customer care services can wake up one morning to an appalling reputation on review sites. There is no secret; if you don’t put your customers’ interest first, you’re unlikely to grow your business online. You can, however, address negative comments publicly and offer to sort out the issues with customers, which can help to redeem your reputation.
Building a trustworthy relationship with your customers is at the heart of a healthy and profitable business. However, when your business exists solely online, you need to pay close attention to the details of your presence, pricing strategy, payment processes, and feedback. Here’s to YOUR success!
Carolyn R. Owens has over 25 years of proven experience and serves as a Career Strategist, Leadership and Life Coach. She is the Chairwoman and CEO of Infinity Coaching, Inc. where they help you up-level your skills so you can up-level your income. Infinity Coaching, Inc. provides one-on-one and group coaching, organizational training, and personality assessments. Carolyn is certified to give both The Energy Leadership Index Assessment and Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) Assessment. You can find out more about both assessments and other products and services at https://infinitycoaching.net.
