Here’s how it works: pull out all the stops to double your traffic, or double your conversion rates using existing traffic. Which sounds easier to do? Doubling your conversions, of course. Here are 15 tips to help you achieve what you want – without straining yourself!

1. Make Your Website Easy To Use And Accessible

Your website should be easy to use, in terms of navigation, strategically placed content and so on. It should be accessible from anywhere, on any browser, 24/7. Make sure your site has the best servers backing it up and keep downtime to zero. Test your site on multiple browsers to ensure compatibility.

2. Make Your Purchase Option Obvious

So a customer comes to your site, likes a product and wants to buy it. Where’s the darned Buy Now button? Should it take 20 seconds to locate it? You see what we mean.

3. Make All Related Information Readily Available

Your site should ideally contain everything a potential customer might need – product reviews, technical specs, your customers’ reviews, testimonials and referrals. Make it possible for users to download specs and reviews in PDF format.

4. Maintain Transparency

Let’s say a customer reads a wonderful product review on your site and wants to buy that product immediately, but you’re out of stock. You should put that information prominently on the product page. Also, be transparent about your overall costs, hidden costs, shipping costs and so on. Customers don’t like nasty surprises in this area.

5. Don’t Ask For Too Much Information

When you make a sale or ask for information, keep your form simple. Respect customer’s time and ask only for the information you absolutely want now. You can collect the rest of it later.

6. Give Customers Reason To Trust You

It helps to have a land office address on your landing page, along with phone number and email address. Your customer will feel more confident after speaking to someone. Put up your secure shopping information along with shipping procedures and SSL and Payment certifications for additional reassurance. Also, pay attention to design; a poor design does not engender trust.

7. Maintain A Simple And Transparent Returns Policy

Maintain a reasonable return policy (28 days from date of delivery) and allow customers to ‘peel and stick’ returns for easy dispatch. Put up your return policy on your landing and products page prominently.

8. Keep Customers Updated On Progress

Make sure they get to see their purchase transaction details on screen and get the same on their email as well. Keep them updated on their purchase status on a daily basis and provide a courier tracking Id for follow-throw if possible.

9. Offer Multiple Payment Options

Allow customers to pay via credit card, debit card, electronic wallets such as PayPal and others. You can also offer Cash On Delivery if the customer is within a certain area range, but that’s up to you. Multiple payment options make your customer’s life easier and they will be happier to shop with you.

10. Encourage Cross Sell And Upsell

When customer’s making a purchase, point out other things that add value to their existing purchases. It helps to recommend related or complementary products, along with a list of what other customers bought along with X product. Leverage up-selling by pointing out higher priced alternatives with better features and so on.

11. Let Your Customers Know What Your USP Is

Does your Unique Selling Point lie in your services, your product quality, low prices or free delivery? Make sure you highlight your USP on your landing page and product page so the customer knows what he’s getting.

12. Incorporate Search Functionality

This one is non-negotiable. If you have multiple offerings, you need to enable a comprehensive search and filtering system to enable customers to find what they need. If customers are forced to dig deep in your site to find what they want, frustrated at every turn, you are not going to be able to retain them.

13. Impress Customers With A Professional Design And Approach

A fabulous design, easy on the eyes, professional looking – these should be your primary goals towards website credibility. Then comes excellent functionality, user-friendly navigation and well laid out landing page. It helps to include a transparent Contact Us page with a toll-free sales phone number. The phone number makes the purchase decision easier, because the customer knows verbal help is available.

14. Present References And Testimonials

Collect user testimonials and references from people who’ve bought and used your products. Put them up on your landing page for easy access. Such information provides a huge amount of credibility through third-party endorsement. Include dates along with the testimonials and references so recent customers know you’re updating and selling continuously.

15. Tempt Purchases Through Strategic Offers

Enhance your online merchandising by uploading offers such as free shipment, free delivery, buy one get one free and so on. Create product bundles that are cost-effective to customers.

But what do you think?  Have you been able to improve your conversion rates?  Do you use any other methods that aren’t mentioned here?  Let us know what you think by leaving a comment below.