Avoid Checkout Mishaps! One of the major pitfalls for many online stores is their shopping cart or checkout process. If it’s too lengthy, customers might abandon their purchase halfway through. Or misconfiguring your cart can lead to fraudulent orders or an inability to process transactions at all. Avoid these checkout mishaps!

Checkout Mishaps - Long Process leads to Cart Abandonment

A lengthy checkout process can drive customers away. I’ve encountered checkouts with extensive forms, multiple pages, and numerous suggested products before I could even enter my credit card details.

Remember, your customer has already spent time on your site deciding on the right product. Hitting them with a lengthy checkout process can be a deal-breaker. If you want customers to register for a My Account area, do it after the purchase or offer the option at the start of the checkout process.

Consider your favorite stores and their checkout processes. Did they ask you to fill out a poll, complete a survey, or sign up for a mailing list in the middle of checkout? Did they bombard you with suggested products? Most likely, the answer is no!

It’s understandable to want to gather customer feedback or grow your mailing list, but send these requests via email after the purchase. It’s less intrusive, and customers are more likely to respond positively once they know who you are.

Cart Mishaps - Shopping Cart Misconfigurations

Misconfiguring your online store’s shopping cart can lead to a bunch of issues that can really impact your business. One of the biggest dangers is the risk of fraudulent orders. If your cart isn’t properly secured, it can become an easy target for cybercriminals looking to exploit vulnerabilities. This can result in unauthorized transactions, chargebacks, and a loss of trust from your customers. So, make sure your cart is equipped with robust security measures, like SSL certificates and fraud detection tools, to protect both your business and your customers.

Another issue is transaction processing errors. If your cart isn’t properly integrated with your payment gateway, it can lead to failed transactions or incorrect charges. These errors can frustrate customers and lead to lost sales and increased support costs as you work to resolve them. Regularly testing your cart and payment processing system can help identify and fix these problems before they affect your customers.

Lastly, a poorly configured shopping cart can mess up your inventory management. If your cart doesn’t accurately track stock levels, you might end up overselling products, leading to backorders and unhappy customers. Or you might understock popular items, missing out on potential sales. Ensuring that your cart is properly integrated with your inventory management system can help maintain accurate stock levels and improve overall customer satisfaction.

Streamlining the checkout process by minimizing the number of steps and making it as user-friendly as possible can help reduce cart abandonment rates and improve conversion rates. By paying close attention to the configuration of your shopping cart, you can avoid these pitfalls and provide a smoother, more secure shopping experience for your customers.

To see the other 7 Deadly Sins of Online Store Design, go here: https://www.worldwidebrands.com/blog/category/site-building/7-deadly-sins-of-online-store-design/