Set your postage free!
One of the key factors in creating a successful online store is simplicity. To be honest, it applies to everything on the web (and life!).
When most people think about increasing their online store sales, they think of vouchers, discount codes, referral programs, frequent buyer points... blah, blah, blah. From our experience, most of these require significant effort and deliver little return.
The reason? They are too complex, and require the customer to do too much, and/or the pay back is not immediate for the customer. How many coupons have you got that you've never used?
One of the best ways to increase sales online is really simple - offer free postage. The first reaction we get when we mention this to clients is "but what if someone orders a heap of products - I can't afford to pay for the postage!". When we hear this, we know they haven't fully understood the concept.
Here's 5 quick reasons you can and should offer free postage on your online store....
1. You can factor most of the postage cost into your product price
2. Customers are likely to purchase more if they don't have to worry about the postage costs (no checkout price shock)
3. The buying process is simpler, which helps avoid abandoned shopping carts
4. It gives you something broad to promote that will benefit every customer, not just a special on a specific product
5. It's easy to do, easy to understand and easy to sell
It doesn't matter whether you run it as a temporary promotion or a permanent special - it gives you something that you can put in your yearly marketing plan - another bit of marketing ammunition.
Set your postage FREE!
David
Posted on Thursday, January 10, 2008