{"id":246949,"date":"2023-07-11T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-07-11T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.stamps.com\/?p=246949"},"modified":"2024-05-15T16:26:47","modified_gmt":"2024-05-15T16:26:47","slug":"how-to-build-an-effective-ecommerce-checkout-flow-for-your-business","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.stamps.com\/article\/how-to-build-an-effective-ecommerce-checkout-flow-for-your-business\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Build an Effective Ecommerce Checkout Flow for Your Business"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"Building<\/a><\/figure>\n\n

Clicking the checkout button on a fun purchase is a great feeling. When customers visit your store, they want a user-friendly experience that leads to an even smoother checkout. The faster a customer can complete their purchase, the sooner their order will be on the way. How can you create the best customer experience and also decrease cart abandonment? <\/p>\n\n

We\u2019re going to take you step-by-step through a successful checkout flow, so your customers can easily purchase products. Say goodbye to cart abandonment and hello to boosted sales. <\/p>\n\n

What is a checkout flow?<\/h2>\n\n

All a checkout flow boils down to is the process to purchase a product. From the time customers visit your website to the time an order is placed, they\u2019re involved in a checkout flow. The full checkout process is typically broken down into seven steps: <\/p>\n\n

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Image source: Jimmy Rodriguez, COO of <\/em>Shift4Shop<\/em><\/a> (September 14, 2021)<\/em><\/p>\n\n

The goal of your checkout flow is to encourage customers to complete their purchases and gain opportunities for repeat customers through gathering information like email addresses. Giving customers the ability to enter their email addresses allows them to sign up for future marketing emails and gives them easy access to their tracking information. And, as our research shows<\/a>, 42% of customers are looking for daily shipping updates, even if there aren\u2019t any major tracking updates.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n

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Cart abandonment vs checkout abandonment <\/h2>\n\n

Cart abandonment and checkout abandonment are sometimes used interchangeably. However, the difference between the two lies in where a customer leaves your site without completing a purchase. Cart abandonment occurs when a customer leaves a site after adding products to their cart. On the other hand, checkout abandonment occurs when a customer enters their billing information and\/or previews the orders and then leaves a website. <\/p>\n\n

\"understanding<\/figure>\n\n

Image source: Jimmy Rodriguez, COO of <\/em>Shift4Shop<\/em><\/a> (September 14, 2021)<\/em><\/p>\n\n

7 tricks to create a better checkout experience <\/h2>\n\n

Knowing the difference between cart and checkout abandonment is crucial because it helps identify where and why customers aren\u2019t completing their purchases. These 7 tips are designed to help with both types of abandonment and create the best customer experience. Boosted sales and heightened customer satisfaction<\/a> await!\u00a0<\/p>\n\n

#1 Don\u2019t hide the cost <\/h2>\n\n

Be transparent about shipping costs, taxes, and other fees as soon as possible. In fact, 48% of customers<\/a> are more likely to abandon an order because of last-minute fees. Make a banner for the top of your website to showcase free shipping<\/a> or a free shipping threshold. Additionally, show the total cost whenever customers create their cart to avoid miscommunication.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n

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Image source: <\/em>Baymard Institute<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\n

#2 Check your website\u2019s performance <\/h2>\n\n

Imagine seeing an ad for a really cool product, only to find the website doesn\u2019t load or doesn\u2019t have a stable connection. You\u2019d be less likely to click on an ad for the same business in the future, right? Regularly check your website\u2019s performance to avoid losing customers. Free resources like Google Pagespeed Insights<\/a> can save you major headaches down the road. Identifying the problem(s) now will decrease the likelihood of crashes during the holiday season.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n

#3 Provide guest checkout options <\/h2>\n\n

Don\u2019t make your customers create an account before checkout; this option only leads to additional clicks, meaning an uptick in cart or checkout abandonment. Let customers choose whether or not to sign up or check out as a guest. If a customer is in a hurry, they\u2019ll appreciate the faster option. <\/p>\n\n

#4 Decrease clicks and increase payment options <\/h2>\n\n

We live in a fast-paced society. And, oftentimes, customers don\u2019t want to enter full card information to complete a transaction. Consider adding payment options like Apple Pay and PayPal, so customers can pay through touch IDs or logging into a digital wallet. If your business is able, it\u2019s also worth looking into a mobile app and updating the mobile version<\/a> of your website. This way, customers can easily access your store and save their preferences for future purchases, creating an easier checkout experience.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n

Additionally, offering options like Klarna and Afterpay give customers the ability to break purchases down into payments. These options will make it more likely for customers to complete purchases on more expensive items because they don\u2019t have to pay the full cost upfront.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n

#5 Add trust badges to your website <\/h2>\n\n

Unfortunately, ecommerce scams and fraud<\/a> are still common. Customers purchase from stores and either never receive their orders or receive items that are completely different from how they were shown. Let customers know they can trust your business, and include trust badges on your website. Some recommended trust badges include:\u00a0<\/p>\n\n