Coverting Website traffic to sales

[King]

wag, you have a cart that asks people to register!!! there goes 70% of potential sales before you start (or in their case, stop)

[Wag]

Thanks for having a quick look at my website. I did think that the check out process may be one problem and I can look into a simpler check out or softer registration process with my techies.

I did't think of the personal aspect of the website. As I work from home when developing the site I was concerned that privacy of my home, but I can add photos of myself.

My conversion rate is lower than normal, not sure what the number is but I know that it is not high.

Cheers Alex

Originally Posted by altima

Hi Wag,

when you install Google Analytic define goal page (I guess that it will be a kind of 'Thank you for your purchase') page and you will see, on what stage you are loosing customers.

One of possibility (after very quick look) is your mandatory registration before you can make a purchase. I have not tried actually to proceed further than checkout page, but at least it is perceived that way. Many people hate it and prefer simple check-out.

You may offer 'soft' registration (at very final stage offer client to save her profile in site database).

I would also think about some lack of credibility (mailbox at contact page, 1-300 number, that as many people know can be forwarded everywhere, no family name, photosof business owner) may make some people suspicious.

Agree with DavidThomas regarding traffic sources point, it affect conversion rate greatly.

BTW, what is your current rate?

Regards,

Alex

[Wag]

OK 70% of sale before !!!!!!

what would be the better option

Originally Posted by King

wag, you have a cart that asks people to register!!! there goes 70% of potential sales before you start (or in their case, stop)

[King]

don't ask for registration. There is no need. just get details needed for communication and delivery - it is about the same and they are not asked for passwords etc. Make it quick and easy - not a prenuptial agreement

Think about buying something in a shop., When they start asking more than is needed to make the sale, how to you feel - anxious, intimidated, nervaous, angry....that's the same on the web.

[Warren Cottis]

Originally Posted by JohnW

Hi Wag,

There is an awful lot more to selling a product than simply listing it on a web page. You need to think like a visitor to your website.

The brand is unknown, the manufacturer is unknown, the product performance is unknown as is the quality.

Hello Wag

Google Analytics will tell you a lot about traffic but not necessarily about how to convert.

JohnW has given you some good advice.

There was a lady here a few weeks ago wanting to improve her dog food sales so take a look at that thread for more ideas

[DavidThomas]

I have to disagree with putting personal photos up, and that 1300 is a downside.

1300's cost money, meaning usually there is at least some sort of a business with customers to pay bills with - this gives credibility. Personal photos are tacky, unless they are professionally shot with you in your best suit or something - its just trying to hard.

I can suggest listing your postal (PO Box if you haven't got one, get one) and your physical business address (yes your home address, or a friends if your sounds tacky). Proper privacy policy, and terms and conditions.

And finally yep, have to agree with everyone, get rid of that signup stuff.
I would suggest email address, name, phone and delivery address at most - on the final step beside your payment collection area. Until then, all the clients data should be stored in sessions or cookies.

[Wag]

Ok then,

I will get rid of the sign up stuff, will find out from my techies how to do this.

the 1300 number was an option due to not being able to put a 2nd phone line into my house and it has be great. I will list a phyiscal business address with mail going to the PO Box.

Originally Posted by DavidThomas

I have to disagree with putting personal photos up, and that 1300 is a downside.

1300's cost money, meaning usually there is at least some sort of a business with customers to pay bills with - this gives credibility. Personal photos are tacky, unless they are professionally shot with you in your best suit or something - its just trying to hard.

I can suggest listing your postal (PO Box if you haven't got one, get one) and your physical business address (yes your home address, or a friends if your sounds tacky). Proper privacy policy, and terms and conditions.

And finally yep, have to agree with everyone, get rid of that signup stuff.
I would suggest email address, name, phone and delivery address at most - on the final step beside your payment collection area. Until then, all the clients data should be stored in sessions or cookies.

[altima]

Originally Posted by DavidThomas

I have to disagree with putting personal photos up, and that 1300 is a downside.

1300's cost money, meaning usually there is at least some sort of a business with customers to pay bills with - this gives credibility. Personal photos are tacky, unless they are professionally shot with you in your best suit or something - its just trying to hard.

Professional photo definitely better, but you don't have to be a professional photographer to make a decent enough quality photo of yourself with your dogs (for example). All people understand that that is a small business and I doubt that many expect to see owner in expensive business suit. In fact it would contradict web site design.

Would not argue about 1 300 number, maybe it is just my impression and others perceive it in more positive way.

[King]

I would view a 1300 number more highly than a mobile number.

I am a great believer in using your photo on your site, or as many people order from us a caricature that fits in with the site theme. We do loads for websites and blogs.

[JohnW]

Hi Wag,

We don't know enough about your business and resources to offer specific answers here. So here are a few more questions for you to ponder…

Have you researched the market demand for your different product categories? How big is the demand for aromatherapy products, Bach remedies and herbal remedies for pets?

I expect you are not targeting your average pet owner with your product range. Perhaps you are attracting the wrong market segment to your site. In which case, tinkering with how your shopping cart works won't fix the problem. Your Google Analytics Keyword report may give you some clues as it will show you the search phrases used to click through to your site.

Do your products have credible performance expectations? Your aromatherapy range struck dissonance in my mind. My expectation is that when you make a dog smell different, the first thing the dog wants to do is remove the unusual odour, usually by rolling in something unpleasant to our noses. Do you need to address preconceived ideas like this?

How technically knowledgeable is your target market about dogs and their health? Will you need to talk about pH and the many other differences between human skin and dog skin to enhance your products’ performance claims and credibility?

When I read many of your product details, I don’t see any reference to them being for dogs. One product actually indicates it is for humans, “It is also a strong sedative oil for highly strung and nervous people.” People may be questioning whether they are simply “relabelled” human products.

What about your competition? How do your products compare to them? Many of your products do not include the pack size which makes their value difficult to assess.

Regs,
JohnW