Picture this: you've worked incredibly hard to bring people to your website, but for some reason, they simply aren't converting into customers. Whether you're selling products, offering services, or building an email list, it's frustrating when the results don't match your effort. The good news is, there are simple changes you can make to improve your conversion rate – that's the percentage of people who take the action you want them to.
In this blog post, we'll dive into easy strategies to boost your conversions without complicated tactics or confusing marketing terms.
Before we dive into the tips, let's quickly define Conversion Rate Optimization (CRO). Put simply, CRO is the process of making changes to your website to encourage more visitors to take your desired action. This could mean buying a product, signing up for a newsletter, filling out a form, or anything else that moves them closer to becoming a customer.
Let's break down some actionable ways to improve your website's conversion rate:
It's easy to slip into using industry-specific words and phrases. However, it's important to remember that potential customers might not understand them. Make sure your language is clear and easy for anyone to grasp.
Your CTA or call to action is the button or link that tells visitors what to do. Don't overwhelm them with too many options! Focus on one clear action you want them to take per page.
Your CTA should be visually striking and easy to spot. Here's how:
The conversion process should be simple and frictionless. Here's how to make it painless:
You want to make it as easy as possible for customers to move through the conversion process with minimal friction.
Don't leave visitors guessing what they should do next. Your instructions should be crystal-clear. Here's how:
People trust recommendations from others. Use social proof to build credibility and encourage conversions. This can include:
Sometimes, people need a gentle push to convert. Creating a sense of urgency can motivate action:
However, one thing to keep in mind is that the sense of urgency has to be plausible. In other words, avoid overusing this tactic. If customers feel like you are being misleading it can create a sense of distrust or that "something is off" which can have the opposite effect on your conversion rate.
With more people browsing the web on smartphones, your website must be mobile-friendly:
Even if most of your customers do not purchase on mobile, the site still needs to meet the expectation of a modern day website - meaning it has to look good on mobile.
The key to CRO is experimentation. Use A/B testing tools to try different variations of your headlines, CTAs, images, and layouts to see which ones perform best. Here are some things to test:
Don't have access to A/B testing tools, work with what you have. Make small changes and then monitor their impact. While you have to keep in mind that other factors may play a role without the right controls, this can still be a good way to see if any minor changes have a big impact.
Images and videos can greatly enhance your website's appeal and convey your message effectively.
Offering generous return policies alongside free trials and freemiums can be powerful ways to reduce perceived risk and boost conversions.
Finding the right offer here will depend on your business and it's corresponding feature set.
Let's take a hypothetical online store selling fitness equipment as an example:
Problem: The store has a decent amount of traffic but low conversion rates.
Initial Solutions might look something like:
Conversion rate optimization isn't about a one-time fix. It's a continuous process of making small, data-driven improvements to your website. Be patient, keep testing, and you'll see your results improve over time.
Improving your conversion rate takes effort, but even small changes can make a big difference. By implementing the tips outlined in this blog post, you can make your website more persuasive and user-friendly, leading to higher conversions and business success.
Don't be afraid to experiment and find what works best for your website and audience. Continuously track your results, make adjustments, and celebrate those conversion wins!