Online shopping is more popular now than it ever has been before in history. Ten years ago, online shopping was something that only a select few did. In fact, many people used to believe that online shopping was dangerous, something that put them at risk to be scammed or have their financial information stolen.

Today, the average consumer trusts major online retailers as much as they trust their local grocer or drugstore. However, this means that online retailers need to be more competitive than ever to encourage consumers to press the “buy” button.

If you want to increase sales, consider these necessary elements for customers to purchase all of the items in their online shopping carts.

Deals and Coupon Codes

This probably isn’t that surprising, but it is surprising how many retailers fail to use these magic bullets to increase sales. People love to think that they are getting a good deal. They are more inclined to buy if they think that time is running out on a lucrative offer. At any given time, your business should always have a coupon code available to customers. You might alternate which specific products go on sale and for how much of a discount, but you should always have some sort of promotion code active.

Email Reminders

All of us have probably engaged in “fantasy shopping.” Putting a bunch of big ticket items in an online shopping cart is fun and unlike in a real world store, you won’t get any dirty looks for simply abandoning your cart when you’re done playing make believe. While many of the people who abandon their online carts have no intention of actually buying, a good chunk of them actually do. You should always send out email reminders to customers who left a cart abandoned while they were logged in, making sure to remind them of promotional codes that are available. This can compel them to return to your store and complete their purchase. 

No Bugs

It should go without saying, but nothing persuades customers to bail from their purchase like a buggy, poorly coded online store. Not only is it frustrating for them to use, but it leads them to believe that your business in unprofessional, which leads to fears that their financial information could be in jeopardy if they attempt to make a purchase. Avoid this by always ensuring that your online store is running smoothly and is up to date.

Online shopping is the wave of the future. If your business wants to stay competitive, it’s important that you offer your products for sale online. If you follow these tips, consumers will be more likely to click “buy” when they visit your online store.