How to Increase eCommerce Sales: 9 Strategies for 2024 

Growing an eCommerce business requires more than simply setting up a store. As more businesses shift online, the real challenge is turning interest into sustained sales. Whether you’re starting your eCommerce website or already have a successful online store, driving consistent sales growth is the key to long-term success. 

But how do you effectively increase sales when each eCommerce platform offers unique features and capabilities? From WooCommerce, Shopify, BigCommerce, and others, each platform requires a tailored approach. Maximizing your store’s potential means understanding these differences and using them to your advantage.   

This article will cover actionable methods to help you grow your eCommerce store across various platforms. You’ll learn how to optimize user experience, implement platform-specific features, and leverage marketing channels.   

Why do eCommerce sales matter?  

For business owners, improving online sales for your online store isn’t just about increasing profit margins. It’s about reaching new customers and staying relevant in an increasingly competitive space.   

The reality is simple. Without a strong eCommerce presence, you risk being outpaced by competitors who have mastered online strategies. By learning the art and science of eCommerce, you’re building a sustainable future that drives conversions, impacting what truly matters.  

What influences eCommerce growth?  

The most effective strategy for how to increase eCommerce sales depends on your business model and the specific strengths and gaps in your sales funnel.   

Let’s break down the key strategies that can help you drive sales and grow your eCommerce store, no matter what platform you’re using.  

Optimize user experience (UX)  

Your customers’ experience should be as seamless as possible. If they cannot find what they need, you risk losing them. Start by simplifying your navigation to make it easy for customers to browse categories and find the right products quickly. Reducing load times is another critical step. The faster your site, the better the user experience.   

• Use clear menus and breadcrumbs to simplify navigation and make browsing easier.  
• Optimize images and text for a seamless mobile experience.  
• Streamline the checkout process to a single page with flexible payment options to reduce friction.  

Leverage product descriptions & SEO  

Product descriptions are a powerful tool for boosting visibility and driving traffic. Well-written, SEO-optimized product descriptions help your site rank higher, which means more potential customers are likely to discover your products. Incorporate relevant keywords naturally and provide detailed, compelling product descriptions that address customer feedback.  

• Optimized descriptions help search engines display your products to the right audience, especially when using long-tail keywords for precise targeting.  
• Go beyond basic descriptions by including product details like dimensions, materials, and care instructions to engage customers effectively. Yoast SEO can help optimize these descriptions for readability and keyword density. It ensures a higher chance of ranking well in search results while engaging potential customers. 

Invest in high-quality images & videos  

Your product visuals can make or break a sale. High-quality images give customers a better idea of what they’re buying, increasing confidence in their purchase. Videos add more value by showing the product in use or highlighting its unique features.  

• Use sharp, well-lit images from multiple angles to highlight texture, color, and size to give customers a virtual product experience.  
• Create short, focused videos demonstrating the product’s use or benefits to build trust and engagement by solving the customer’s problem.  

Improve site speed  

A slow site can kill conversions, no matter how great your products are. Speed impacts not only your user experience but also your SEO. Google factors site speed into rankings so that faster sites can appear in search results.  

• Compress images to maintain quality while reducing load times.  
• Use a CDN to improve site speed for customers globally.  
• Minimize redirects to ensure faster page loading.  

Utilize customer reviews & testimonials  

Customer reviews and testimonials can be the nudge a potential customer needs to make a purchase. They build trust by showing real, positive experiences with your products. Highlighting top-rated products with customer testimonials can also act as social proof, getting more prospective customers. 

• Encourage reviews by sending follow-up emails with incentives like discounts for future purchases.  
• Showcase top reviews on product pages or the homepage, using real customer photos for added authenticity.  

Offer discounts and promotions  

Everyone loves a good deal. Targeted promotions can give hesitant shoppers the push they need to buy. Offering discounts strategically for first-time customers or during seasonal events can help drive conversions.  

• Create urgency with countdown timers for flash sales or limited-time offers to trigger FOMO.  
• Use abandoned cart discounts to entice customers back and complete their purchases.  

Personalize customer experience  

Customers expect a tailored shopping experience. To meet these expectations, take advantage of customer data to offer personalized product recommendations. Leverage AI and machine learning tools to automate and refine these suggestions.  

• Tailor product recommendations based on purchase history to boost sales through upselling and cross-selling.  
• Leverage AI to automate personalized emails and product suggestions for excellent customer service.  

Leverage email marketing  

Email marketing strategy remains one of the most effective ways to promote leads and drive business. Building and maintaining an email list lets you stay in touch with customers. This keeps the customers informed about new products.

• Use automated emails to gently encourage them to complete the pending purchase.  
• Segment your email list by behavior or demographics to send personalized, targeted campaigns that connect with each group.  

Use retargeting ads  

Retargeting ads are a great way to reconnect with visitors who left your site without buying anything. These ads follow customers around the web, reminding them of products they viewed but didn’t buy.  

• Leverage platforms like Google Display Network and Facebook Ads to run retargeting campaigns with personalized ads.  
• Use dynamic retargeting to display the exact products customers viewed, reminding them to return and complete their purchase.  

Optimize for mobile users  

Mobile shopping is no longer a trend but a new norm. Your site must offer a flawless mobile experience to capture and convert these users. Mobile optimization means more than just resizing for smaller screens—it involves rethinking the entire user journey.  

• Design your eCommerce site to be suitable for mobile users. Simplifying navigation from product pages to checkout for easy on-the-go purchases.  
• Provide one-click payment options like Apple Pay or Google Pay to streamline the mobile purchasing process.

9 Strategies to elevate your eCommerce sales 

You need a mix of strategy, creativity, and technical know-how to stand out in a crowded eCommerce space. Follow these unique strategies for enhanced conversions and excellent customer retention and loyalty.   

Offer multiple payment options  

One often overlooked factor in eCommerce sales is the payment process. You cater to a broader audience with varying preferences by providing multiple payment options. While traditional payment methods like credit cards remain popular, offering alternatives like PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay, or even cryptocurrency can accommodate different shoppers’ needs. The easier it is for customers to pay, the more likely they are to complete a purchase.  

Also, offering financing options through services like Klarna or Afterpay can encourage customers to buy more expensive items without upfront costs.  

Improve trust with security features  

Trust is critical in eCommerce. Customers need to feel secure before sharing their personal information and completing a purchase. Ensure your eCommerce site uses HTTPS and displays security badges from trusted providers like McAfee or Norton to reassure shoppers that their data is safe.  

Additionally, using two-factor authentication (2FA) for account logins and offering secure payment gateways can help protect customers and build trust. Transparency is also essential, so consider creating a clear privacy policy that outlines how customer data is used and protected.  

Optimize for voice search  

With the increasing use of smart devices and voice-activated assistants like Alexa, Siri, and Google Assistant, voice search is becoming a significant trend in eCommerce sales. Optimizing your online store for voice search can help you capture this growing audience.  

Focus on long-tail keywords and conversational phrases that mimic how people speak, as voice search queries are often more natural-sounding than typed searches. Ensure your product descriptions and meta tags include these phrases so your products appear in voice search results.  

Use social proof to drive sales  

Social proof in the form of user-generated content (UGC) can significantly influence purchase decisions. Encourage your customers to share photos and videos of themselves using your products on social media platforms and feature this content on your product pages. This not only adds authenticity but also demonstrates real-world use of your products. You can incentivize customers to create UGC by offering discounts or rewards in exchange for sharing their experiences. This creates a cycle of engagement and trust.  

Offer free shipping and returns  

Shipping costs are one of the most significant barriers to completing a purchase. Offering free shipping can reduce cart abandonment and incentivize higher order values. Similarly, a hassle-free return policy gives existing customers confidence in their purchase. If they know they can return an item quickly, they’re more likely to buy, especially clothing, shoes, or high-ticket items. Highlight these policies prominently throughout your site, especially on product pages and during checkout.  

Use A/B testing for conversions  

A/B testing (split testing) allows you to test different versions of your website elements. Headlines such as CTAs (call-to-action) and product page layouts can be examined to see which versions perform better.  

By running A/B tests on critical pages like product listings or checkout pages, you can fine-tune your website for higher conversions. Test everything from button colors and font sizes to promotional offers and product descriptions. Regular testing ensures you optimize your online store based on real customer behavior.  

Diversify your product offerings  

If you want to increase online sales, it might be time to assess your product catalog. Adding complementary products or bundles can encourage customers to buy more. For example, offering related accessories can increase the average order value if you sell electronics.  

Consider introducing limited-edition items or seasonal products that create excitement and drive urgency. Diversifying your product line can also help you attract new customers and engage existing ones.  

Invest in the CRM  

Customer retention is just as important as acquiring new customers. A robust Customer Relationship Management system helps you track customer interactions, manage leads, and nurture long-term relationships. With CRM, you can send personalized follow-up emails and recommendations based on past purchases. 

Automating this process can save time while keeping your brand at the top of your mind. Loyal customers often become brand advocates, recommending your products to friends and family, which can significantly increase sales over time.  

Utilize affiliate marketing  

Affiliate marketing is a great way to reach a broader audience and boost online sales. You can attract new customers by partnering with affiliates who promote your products through their blogs, social media, or websites. In exchange, affiliates earn a commission for every sale they generate.  

This performance-based strategy allows you to increase brand visibility and sales without a significant upfront investment. Setting up an affiliate program can also help build lasting partnerships that continuously bring in new business.  

How to increase sales on WordPress/WooCommerce 

Boosting sales on WooCommerce requires a blend of optimization and leveraging built-in tools. By focusing on SEO and simplifying your checkout process, exceptional customer service can be provided.  

Let’s break down the key strategies for success on WooCommerce.  

Focus on SEO optimization  

SEO plugins like Yoast help optimize your product pages, categories, and meta descriptions. WooCommerce SEO best practices, such as clean URLs and internal linking, improve site visibility and search engine rankings, drawing more targeted traffic.  

Leverage WooCommerce extensions  

Use plugins like WooCommerce Product Recommendations to upsell higher-end products or cross-sell complementary items during checkout. Product bundles and related item suggestions can boost average order value without overwhelming the customer.  

Simplify checkout process  

To streamline the buying process, reduce cart abandonment using WooCommerce’s One-Page Checkout extension. Offer multiple payment options to minimize friction and make it easier for customers to complete their purchases.  

Use WooCommerce analytics  

Leverage WooCommerce built-in analytics to track product performance, sales trends, and customer behavior. Use the data to optimize your offerings, pricing, and marketing efforts to increase conversions and reduce cart abandonment.  

Related: WooCommerce vs. Shopify: Which eCommerce Solution Is Right for You in 2024? 

How to increase sales on Shopify 

Shopify provides a robust eCommerce platform. To truly maximize your store’s potential, you can consider using various tools and integrations it has. Here’s how you can increase sales on Shopify using intelligent strategies and platform features. 

Optimize Shopify apps for conversion  

Shopify marketplace is filled with tools designed to enhance conversions and boost your store’s overall performance. For instance, apps like Bold Upsell enable you to offer related products or higher-value alternatives during checkout. It can increase the average order value.   

Email marketing apps like Klaviyo help you automate personalized campaigns. This helps keep your customers engaged. Review apps like Yotpo also encourage customer feedback, which builds trust and improves conversion rates through social proof.  

Create multi-channel selling experience  

One of Shopify’s strengths is its seamless integration. You can tag products in posts by linking your Shopify store to Instagram Shopping, so users can make purchases without leaving the app.  

Similarly, Facebook Shops enable you to display your products directly on Facebook. This makes it easier for users to browse and buy. These multi-channel integrations can increase your reach by creating a more streamlined customer shopping experience.   

Use Shopify’s built-in analytics  

Shopify’s built-in analytics provide insights into customer behavior. Shopify also offers detailed sales reports revealing top-performing products and trends. It allows you to fine-tune your inventory and marketing strategies. Using these analytics helps you identify what’s working and where improvements are needed. It can lead to increased sales and customer satisfaction.

Shopify’s abandoned cart recovery  

Cart abandonment is a frequent challenge in eCommerce sales. However, Shopify’s abandoned cart recovery feature helps you reclaim lost sales. The platform automatically sends customized follow-up emails to customers. This encourages customers to complete their purchases. You can make these emails more effective by offering discounts or free shipping. With these tracking features, you can optimize your approach based on the data.  

How to increase sales on BigCommerce  

BigCommerce is known for its flexibility and powerful features that help businesses grow. Whether you’re a small retailer or a large enterprise, the platform offers several tools to help you boost sales. Here’s how you can leverage BigCommerce to maximize your revenue.  

Focus on built-in SEO features  

The SEO tools allow you to optimize product pages and blog content for better search engine visibility. Use relevant keywords and refine meta descriptions to rank higher and drive more organic traffic to your online store.  

Utilize native marketing tools  

BigCommerce has built-in email marketing and promotion tools. These allow you to create personalized campaigns to target specific customer groups and boost engagement within the platform.  

Offer subscription products  

The platform supports subscription services, which makes offering recurring products or services easier. Use subscriptions to help increase customer retention and generate steady revenue.  

Streamline B2B eCommerce  

For B2B businesses, BigCommerce’s features, like custom price lists and customer groups, enable tailored shopping experiences. These tools simplify the buying process for business customers. This helps you boost sales in the B2B space.  

How to increase sales on Web.com 

Web.com offers various tools and features to help you increase sales and boost eCommerce sales. Here are some important strategies you can implement to maximize the platform’s potential.  

Use Web.com’s marketing services  

Web.com’s integrated SEO and advertising services help increase your store’s visibility. By leveraging paid ads, you can attract more traffic and drive higher conversions.  

Leverage eCommerce templates  

Web.com provides eCommerce web design templates that are specifically designed for conversion. These templates are optimized to streamline navigation, highlight key products, and create a user-friendly checkout experience. By incorporating these well-designed templates, you can make the shopping process more intuitive, reduce friction at checkout, and ultimately encourage more purchases. 

Focus on local SEO  

For businesses targeting local customers, Web.com’s tools make optimizing your site for local searches easy. By focusing on local SEO, you can increase visibility in your area and attract more nearby customers to your store.  

Utilize social media integration  

Web.com’s social media integration allows you to connect your store with platforms like Facebook and Instagram seamlessly. This helps drive traffic from social channels directly to your store.

How to increase sales on Domain.com 

Domain.com provides essential tools to help increase eCommerce sales. Here’s how to make the most of its features to drive growth.  

Utilize Domain.com’s SEO tools  

Domain.com’s integrated SEO tools can improve your product visibility by optimizing your site for search engines. Better SEO means higher rankings and more organic traffic. It helps you attract loyal customers searching for your products.  

Maximize eCommerce templates  

Domain.com offers customizable eCommerce templates designed to enhance user experience. With these templates, you can create a smooth and intuitive shopping journey. You can, therefore, turn website visitors into paying customers more easily.

Focus on email marketing features  

Domain.com’s email marketing tools allow you to create targeted campaigns and abandoned cart reminders. These features help you keep customers engaged and encourage repeat purchases, driving long-term sales.  

Leverage social media integration  

With Domain.com’s social media integration, you can easily connect your store to platforms like Facebook and Instagram. This multi-channel approach helps increase visibility and boost sales through social media-driven traffic.  

Bottom line 

Learning how to increase eCommerce sales involves adopting a well-rounded strategy that touches on every aspect of your store. Implementing the above methods is the key to continually fine-tuning your approach. Whether you’re using WooCommerce, Shopify, BigCommerce, Web.com, or Domain.com, each platform offers unique features to help you achieve your sales goals.  

The digital marketplace constantly evolves. With increased competition everywhere you look, exceptional customer service is the only kind that matters in 2024. Staying proactive is essential for long-term success. By staying on top of trends and always improving your customers’ experience, you can give your business the edge it needs to thrive.

Frequently asked questions