5 reasons why people will abandon your online store

There are common reasons why online stores fail to convert visitors. For some it is design, others customer confidence issues and others just a lack of clarity on their sites. The following are 5 common reasons why people will leave your online store to shop at a competitors.

Reason #1 - Can't find what they want

Clear navigation and categorization is key when selling items online. If your navigation is complicated and you lack a search facility people will assume that it will be too complicated and time consuming to find what they want. So, they will leave your store as a result.

Reason #2 - Unclear Shipping and Returns policies

If a customer cannot identify how long it will take for them to get their product, how long it will take to dispatch or, if they can't tell what will happen if it is not what they wanted, there is a good chance they will leave your online store and find a site that does clearly and obviously state this information.

Reason #3 - Lack of Confidence

Customers need to know that in shopping on your store they are safe. If your design is lacking and your policy and contact information is no where to be found you run the risk of losing them. Customers will be prepared to pay slightly more at an online store that gives them confidence. Include testimonies, clear contact information, good design and navigation to assist in ensuring your visitors feel secure.

Reason #4 - Slow Speed and Cluttered

Your online store should load quickly and be laid out in a clear concise manner. If the site is slow to load and product layouts are hard to understand people will consider it too difficult, lack confidence and finally leave. If your prices are insanely low you may overcome this with price but most customers will not be willing to try that hard. Most online stores can cope with the traffic that is sent to them but if you get a spike in traffic you want to ensure your site can cope with it.

Reason #5 - Exhausting Checkout process

If you make all your customers fill out pages of forms for checkout you can be sure they are going to get sick of it. Try to allow a quick checkout option to bypass a lot of the red tape if they prefer the express option. Avoid complicated shipping options that require the user to enter address details for shipping quotes. Try providing flat rate shipping or weight based pricing that is fixed so customers know exactly what to expect. Even better, if you can offer free shipping.