7 Lessons I Learned About How To Convince Customers To Buy Online

{ 40 Responses }

1. Alec Turner says:
   Good topics covered on Online Ecommerce. Convincing customers and building trust among them plays an important part to get satisfied customers. Because they are the one who can be your regular customers and such a huge group helps in brand building through social awareness.We can build a brand through advertising means but customer’s reviews and their trust on the brand will lead you to the next level.
2. Karan says:
   Buyers like me are really concerned about our privacy, and I would definitely buy the product if it assures me some kind of security and a promise to maintain my privacy. I think applying all these tips can really increase our sales exponentially.
3. TJ McDowell says:
   I think that try it before you buy it is expensive for most items purchased on the internet. I've found myself going to a store to see an item knowing that I was planning to purchase online. That probably isn't fair to the store that had to stock the item, but there are some items that I wouldn't buy online before I held them in my hand.
4. Siddharth Goyal says:
   I think the point about free shipping is a good one. It often boils my blood on ebay when I see an item priced at something and then when I am about to check out, they charge extra for shipping. Refund policy reminds me: Yikes. I have to make mine! So thanks :)
   • Mike says:
     The shipping cost hurts me, too :) When I check out some stuff, I'm really fighting with paying more to get that item sooner and paying less so it doesn't hurt my wallet. Arghh..really hate it :)
5. Alex says:
   One additional point could be: sell quality products and try to make the customer feel like he could always contact someone if their products it's not up to par. Because if you build trust and sell low quality products, not only you lose what you struggled to build but you won't be seeing that customer back, and they won't recommended you to other, or they can give bad recommendation to others. This are all my opinions I have no experience in such things, but your guidelines are definitely the way to go.
   • Mike says:
     That's good input Alex; always have Online Chat or Contact us button on the e-commerce site to show how customers can contact you if they have questions. That's the great way to build trust because customers will feel you'll by their side and willing to support them whenever they need. Thanks for the comment, Alex. Have a great day :)
     • Dennis Edell says:
       Not so fast. rethink the online chat unless you or someone you hire can man it full time. Many people put it up there thinking just the sight of it is good enough; "no one will actually use it"... Wrong. Make sure someone is there at all times.
       • Mike says:
         Yeah, I also think if you are doing business alone and don't have time during the day to chat online, put up a ticket system so that customers can send in tickets and you can answer them at your earliest convenience. I have made a mistake a long time ago to put up an online chat while I could not commit to be online 8 hours a day and I felt every bad about it.
         • Dennis Edell says:
           By ticket system, I assume you mean help desk, yes? Please be careful with that as well; be sure to set yourself apart from the jump as someone who responds as quickly as possible. Those of us around long enough have come to know help desks as an easy way for marketers to ignore people as long as possible...they all come with there own set of excuses, almost as if packaged with it. Perhaps one day I'll need one, dunno, for the time being though i simply use and recommend normal email.
6. Dennis Edell says:
   Being in direct sales myaself, I'd say you're spot on. One thing I'd mention, when you do do things like "limited time only" or anything similar, make sure it actually IS. many Internet marketers treat customers like fools, thinking they won't remember or something. Uh huh, how many of the same One Time Offers do you see again and again?
   • Mike says:
     A lot of times. And I really do hate marketers who use that way. It's kind of fraud to me and if any seller does that, I will not buy from him again. Definitely a good point to notice about, Dennis.
     • Dennis Edell says:
       Well said Mike. Perhaps not fraud in any legal sense, but "fraudulent" for sure; completely misrepresenting something for monetary gain. One of my favorites was, "My email crashed so I'm giving one last chance to anyone that may not have received this". Not only are they full of crap, but instantly ruined it for anyone that may legitimately have email issues have have to legitimately resend an email.
       • Mike says:
         Haha sure. I really hate it. In addition, I was also redirected to a product that does nothing relate to what is being said on the website, like "Earn $1000 in Clickbank for 7 days" while that product is just some scrap auto-submitter. I wonder when people could stop it :)
7. Patricia says:
   Hi Mike This is on topic for me cos I've just opened an e-commerce store. I got a techie to set it up as that is not my forte. As a blogger I have built up trust with my readers over the past few months writing articles on my blog, interacting with my readers and visiting other blogs and joining in the conversation through blog commenting. I have now begun to do product reviews and my readers are now visiting my shop and having a look around. I am also selling the products off line and though it has only begun, the feedback has been good. Patricia Perth Australia
   • Mike says:
     That's very nice, Patricia :) I also has helped a client set up a e-commerce store before with Magento. Magento is an open-source software that's pretty famous in e-commerce solutions right now. I told him to use blog, news as a way to drive traffic to his store because besides on-page optimization, you can't do anything else. He listened to me and the store has been steadily receiving good traffic until now. So, having a blog online definitely is a great competitive advantage to anyone who's selling online :)
8. Peter from Blogging Mechanics says:
   From the mechanical point of view, it is all you need. However, let's not forget the old saying that people buy from people whom they know and trust. In order to gain that you need to have recognition, which of course you can achieve via social media, blogging, press releases and many other ways, and you need to have that authority status. Once you have that you can implement the most powerful marketing method in the world - endorsed marketing. And once you have that, then the mechanics are not so important anymore.
   • Mike says:
     That's right Peter. From what I have learned, most transactions will not occur right in the first time. People will get to know you more by Google your name or your product. Being everwhere is another key to convince them to trust in you and trust in your product quality. Press release, blog, social media are all of the necessary tools for bloggers, manufacturers, marketers today to help people find about the products, help them solve problems and achieve great sale.
9. Mani Viswanathan says:
   You've added a very imp point in the form of Try & Buy. Customers always look for a demo of the product before really purchasing it out.
   • Mike says:
     It's true, Mani. I think this point is right because whenever I receive a free download from software company, for example, to try the product out, I really appreciate it. I can test how the software functions before I buy it. One more important point is it may reduce the return rate, too. It's because the customers can expect how the program functions before they decide to upgrade it.
10. Jasmine says:
    Oh, these are great points to check on, especially for an e-commerce site.
    • Mike says:
      Not only for e-commerce site, but also affiliate sites and blogging site, too, Jasmine. At some point, you may want to sell your own products to people, so these tips may help :) It's what I learn from my class and I can see they will help me great deal later. Thank you for your comment. Have a great day!
11. Josh Ray says:
    This is a good list. Those are all things that I like to see when I'm shopping online. I don't buy online very often but when I do, seeing those things makes me a little more confident. Another big one for me is that I like to Google you or your product before buying so making sure that when I type in your name or your product the word scam doesn't show up in the suggested search box.
    • Mike says:
      Great comment, Josh. Your comment makes me think of another idea in how to convince customers to buy your product :) Don't let customers see your bad review/scam on search engines. Like you say, before you buy something, you may want to Google and check on the review, right? There are chances some people may talk bad things about my product. But if I make other good reviews appear on top to bury down the bad ones, you are more likely to be convinced, right? Good idea, Josh :)
      • Josh Ray says:
        If you're going to make up good reviews you'd better do a really good job. Most users can tell the difference between a real review and one done by an employee.
12. Rick LaPoint says:
    Great explanation, Mike, If the average blogger truly wants to compete in the global market place, they must rise to the level of their competition. The fact is, running a profitable business is complicated, and some things absolutely must be done or any start-up will absolutely fail. Rick
    • Mike says:
      It's true, Rick. It's like a friction that prevents you to accelerate. But once you speed up, those "friction" is nothing.
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    • Mike says:
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14. DiTesco says:
    Looks very professional to me and I am sure that most "bigger" websites might probably have all these in place. Thing is, I think that this could be very "complicated" for some smaller websites and specially for people who are just starting the game. No offense, but I believe that this is way to "advanced" for the average blogger considering that most of them will most likely be promoting "other people's" product anyway. Point taken, nonetheless, and I think that these are what we all should be looking for when we choose products to promote. These are very important points for an "affiliate marketer".
    • Mike says:
      I agree, DiTesco. These things maybe a bit advanced for average bloggers because they probably don't have a need to promote their own products right now. But if they get a chance to create their own stuff and want to sell it, I think these are good lessons :)
15. Murlu says:
    All great tips but let's not forget that importance of customer retention as well which is built upon those layers of trust, commitment and backend support. Once you get people through the door, you have to do everything within your power to keep them at the business - the first purchase is always the lowest earner but everything after that goes more to your bottom line. Of course, the trick is to get people to become customers in the first place - and that's the purpose for each of these :)
    • Mike says:
      Murlu, why can't I disagree with anything you say? hahaha I agree. The real comes from your existing customers. If you makes them purchase from month to month, that profit is even greater than acquiring new customers. In addition, the existing customers can spread your business name out by word-of-mouth, depends on the impression you make on them. So, trust, commitment to provide consistent value to customers and support are your three main weapons in retaining customers.
16. Atulperx says:
    Well it is easy to say but when we need to imply them than it looks more strategic . I hope you will understand that because you are already doing that . I have worked for BPO and 90% time I failed to convince customer .
    • Mike says:
      I also think these are the general ideas, to check what else you're missing to convince consumers to buy online. When you apply it, more things are involved such as the tone and language you use or the design, for example.