If you are running an online store, chances are you’re familiar with the term “checkout abandonment” and have encountered the issue at some point during your eCommerce venture. As frustrating as it may sound, have you ever paused to ponder the underlying reasons? What exactly makes a customer ditch their purchase right before hitting that "pay" button? Could a complex checkout process deter them, or is it the lack of convenient payment or shipping options? While these reasons may seem secondary, they often hold significant sway over your customers’ decisions.
So in this article, we'll delve into some of the major factors influencing checkout abandonment and dish out some nifty ways to tackle them to enhance your Joomla store’s sales! Without further ado let’s get started.
Understanding Checkout Page’s Impact on Your Store and Why Continuous Optimization Matters
Your online store's checkout page serves as the bridge between your customer and finalizing their purchase. That’s why it's crucial to understand that a user-friendly checkout page is the potential key to making all the difference between turning a potential sale into revenue or fizzling out as an abandoned cart.
And this is where checkout page optimization comes into view. Because consumer behaviors and preferences are ever-evolving, what resonated with them yesterday might not hold the same appeal today. Also, there are myriad ways to optimize your Joomla eCommerce checkout page. These can be:
- Simplifying the checkout page’s form fields
- Providing optional fields
- Offering a variety of payment options
- Implementing guest checkout features
- Reducing page load times and more
By consistently monitoring and refining the checkout process, you can stay attuned to these changes while ensuring that your store’s checkout page remains in sync with evolving customer expectations.
Exploring Some of the Common Causes Behind Checkout Abandonment
From unexpected shipping costs and lengthy checkout processes to concerns about payment security and lack of guest checkout options, several factors can deter customers from completing their purchases. Here are some of the common ones:
No Guest Checkout
Not everyone visiting your store and looking to purchase wants to have an account at your store. Plain and simple!
Asking your users to register on your site just before they make a payment can be both frustrating and intimidating. Plus, existing users might struggle to recall their passwords and may prefer to proceed without logging in. Mandating customers to go through the process of re-registering can be a significant reason behind checkout abandonment.
Complex Checkout Process
Navigating through the checkout can feel like a bit of a puzzle for customers when they sense it's asking them to do more than necessary just to buy something online. This can happen when they're swamped with form fields, clicking through what seems like endless pages, or being nudged to create an account for a quick purchase. Plus, not knowing upfront about shipping costs and delivery times can really throw them off. It's all about keeping things clear and simple for your shoppers!
Lack of Shipping or Payment Options
Imagine as a customer you happily chose your products to buy urgently, added them to your cart, and are all ready to get done with the checkout formalities only to find yourself stuck with just one shipping option. Depressing right? The lack of shipping options is a bummer because not having enough shipping methods can really draw out customers and even cost the store some sales.
The same goes for insufficient payment options. Not all potential customers will be inclined to pay using the limited options you offer. Some can lean towards cash on delivery while others feel more comfortable with online payments or bank transfers. The goal is to make payment methods flexible both for the merchants and the customers.
How EasyStore Can Simplify Best Practices for Checkout Pages
All the complexities and causes discussed so far could be met at the vanishing point called EasyStore. Because it's like a magic wand that turns all those challenges into simple solutions. And to spruce things up even better, JoomShaper offers awesome templates that are completely compatible with EasyStore and offer checkout pages that are super user-friendly, distraction-free, and provide the perfect layout for your Joomla checkout page! You can explore these templates here.
Now let’s check out some built-in features of EasyStore that will ease up the Joomla checkout experience for your users.
Skip the Signups With Convenient Guest Checkout
With EasyStore, providing guest checkout to your customers is a breeze! Simply navigate to EasyStore’s Checkout settings, toggle on the “Allow Guest Checkout” option, and you're all set! No more unnecessary steps during checkout to slow customers down and make them second-guess their purchase.
Let Your Customers Pick Their Shipping and Payment Paths
One of the key conveniences of EasyStore is its support for multiple shipping and payment methods. It's important to give your customers the freedom to choose their preferred shipping and payment options and EasyStore helps you achieve that effortlessly.
From your EasyStore’s Shipping Settings, choose and set up the region then easily configure your shipping and delivery methods. Whether you opt for Standard, Express, Free Delivery, or even methods based on product weight, you can easily offer your customers various options with clear delivery rates.
And the same goes for the payment options too. EasyStore offers a variety of well-known and secure payment methods for you to choose from. Whether you wish to provide cash on delivery, online payments, or bank transfer - you name it, EasyStore has it!
Present the Payable Amount With Precision
When it comes to payment, nothing should remain hidden from your customers. What your customers see on the checkout page is exactly what they'll pay.
EasyStore makes the checkout process smooth sailing by showing item prices, any taxes, and discounts applied, all laid out clearly, and precisely. Customers care about knowing exactly how much they're spending, and with EasyStore, making that happen is a piece of cake!
Provide Room for Customer Notes
Allowing your customers to include extra notes with their purchases can greatly improve their shopping experience. They might want to provide the merchants with special instructions for shipping, payment, or specific items they've bought. Also, this can be an excellent addition if the store sells customized items and the user wants to specify any additional requirements.
With EasyStore, you will get a built-in "Customer Notes" field to make your customers' shopping experience even better. This additional field is completely optional so your users have the flexibility to skip it if they prefer.
And if you still have confusion on how to configure your EasyStore settings then don't worry. Check out our YouTube tutorials on various settings to simplify your EasyStore experience!
Wrapping Up
Once you've fine-tuned your checkout process with EasyStore, expect to see a notable uptick in sales. Keep in mind to regularly test and refine your checkout page to drive up conversion rates and ensure a steady increase in sales over time.
If you haven't yet tried EasyStore, why not give it a shot today? We're constantly refining EasyStore to ensure the best Joomla eCommerce experience possible.
Share your thoughts in the comments below and good luck exploring!
