Having a smooth checkout process is essential for online shopping success. It can boost your sales and make customers happier by reducing the chances they’ll abandon their carts. Many online shops face high cart abandonment rates and lost sales. A complicated checkout process can frustrate customers, causing them to leave without buying anything. So, how to optimise Shopify checkout? In this article, we will provide 6 best practices to optimise the checkout process, simple and easy to do.
What is Checkout Optimisation?
Checkout optimisation means making your checkout process as easy and efficient as possible. This includes reducing steps, making it user-friendly, and improving the overall experience.
An efficient checkout process can also boost your AOV. Strategies like cross-selling and upselling can encourage customers to add more items to their carts, increasing your overall sales.
Best practices to optimise Shopify checkout
Now we go straight to the main question how to optimise Shopify checkout.
1. Allow Guest Checkout
Don’t force customers to create an account before buying. Enable guest checkout in your Shopify settings to reduce friction for first-time buyers. Make it clear that account creation is optional, and you’ll likely see a boost in conversions. According to Baymard Institute, 22% of US online shoppers have abandoned an order in the past quarter solely due to a “too long / complicated checkout process”
Take an example from Fashion Nova’s checkout.
They offer a prominent guest checkout option, making it easy for customers to complete their purchase without committing to an account.
2. Offer Free Shipping
Free shipping is a powerful motivator. Consider offering it on all orders or above a certain threshold. Promote this offer prominently on your site to encourage larger purchases. A study by Walker Sands found that free shipping was identified as the top incentive for encouraging more frequent online shopping.
Gymshark does this well, offering free shipping on orders over a certain amount and displaying this information throughout their site.
3. Provide Multiple Payment and Shipping Options
The more options you provide, the more likely customers are to find one that suits them. Integrate various payment gateways and offer different shipping speeds. Display all available methods clearly on the checkout page. A PYMNTS study found that 43% of consumers abandon their carts if their preferred payment method isn’t available.
Your site should offer a wide range of payment options, including major credit cards, PayPal, and various digital wallets.
4. Use Auto-Address Complete
Speed up the checkout process and reduce errors by implementing auto-address completion. This simple feature can significantly improve user experience.
MVMT Watches uses this functionality effectively, making it quick and easy for customers to enter their shipping information accurately.
5. Take Advantage of 1-Click Checkout
Enable dynamic checkout buttons like Shop Pay, Apple Pay, or Google Pay for lightning-fast purchases. This is especially useful for returning customers and can boost impulse buys. It is reported that Amazon increased sales by 5% in the first year of 1-click checkout implementation.
Allbird offers Shop Pay for quick and easy checkout, allowing customers to complete their purchase with just one click.
6. Offer Live Chat Support
Sometimes, customers need a little help to complete their purchase. Integrate a live chat tool and make it easily accessible during checkout. According to Forrester, 44% of online consumers say that having questions answered by a live person during an online purchase is one of the most important features a website can offer.
For example, Hiut Denim does this well, offering live chat support throughout their site.
FAQ
How can I determine if my checkout process is too complicated?
You can identify issues in your checkout process by monitoring your cart abandonment rates and gathering customer feedback. High abandonment rates often indicate a problematic checkout process. Tools like Google Analytics can also provide insights into where customers drop off.
Conclusion
To make more sales and keep customers happy, it’s important to make your Shopify checkout process as smooth as possible. You can do this by applying the 6 methods in the article.
If you want to take your Shopify store even further, think about using a Shopify retainer service. They can help you keep improving your checkout process and make sure your store is always running smoothly, leading to more sales and happier customers.
