10 effective web tools for online sellers

Do you want to get more customers, higher returns, better sales, or additional conversion for your online business? Shift your sales focus from attracting new customers to enticing visitors to make purchases on your website. There are many useful web tools that you can employ to increase online sales. 

The success of any website involves two steps: getting lots of targeted traffic and converting visitors into actual buyers. You can attract people by using numerous online marketing strategies like blogging or writing articles. But how can you motivate a visitor to make a purchase, or even better - repeat purchases? 

Actually, your website is your only "sales executive." You can’t meet your visitors personally, help them choose right products and entice them to visit your store on a regular basis. So take advantage of web tools that will help you get more customers, increase your sales and get higher returns from your website.

1. Customer ratings and reviews
Nowadays customers expect more from a website than just a good selection of products to buy. They expect to be able to review offers and discuss their features. Allow and encourage comments on the products you sell because customer ratings raise conversion rates and increase online sales. 

Consumers tend to trust products with good ratings much more than products with no ratings. Don’t be scared of negative reviews or comments – people would rather get a realistic opinion on something they are looking to purchase. Everybody likes to have as much information as possible before paying for an item, especially for an expensive one.

If you want to encourage your customers to write a feedback, use a short questionnaire. Leave some room for reviews and make it clear that the comments may be used in your advertising. Don’t be disappointed that not all people leave feedback. A lot of visitors will read something rather than write it. 

In addition, you can drive more traffic to highly rated products by featuring them in your e-mails or placing them on the homepage. 

2. Wish lists
If you let your visitors create wish lists, you kill two birds with one stone. First of all, it will help you generate more traffic. The customers will share their wish lists with friends and family. Thus you can promote your products and attract new customers inexpensively.

Then, you can increase online sales because customers who can’t buy what they want will simply add products from your website to their wish lists. Their friends and family can buy them those items as a gift. 

Wish lists are especially useful for online stores that focus on narrow niches or hobbies. For example, parents can buy a computer game for their kid. Don’t forget to include the option to send wish lists to friends, relatives and any other recipients.

3. Alternative payment options
Follow the example of big corporations and offer several payment options for your customers. It will entice them to buy more items on your website. Some payment options to consider include:
•    Credit and debit card payments 
•    Gift cards 
•    Paypal 
•    Google Checkout
•    Deferred payment options such as BillMeLater 
•    Online banking options such as eBillMe
•    Monthly installment payments such as Ice.com 

4. Guest checkout
Guest checkout gives customers the opportunity to purchase products without having to create an account. This option will encourage impulse buys and boost your sales up to 30%. Guest checkout requires almost no programming.

Technology-focused web masters may think that guest checkout doesn’t sound serious, but customers find this option fast, simple and comfortable. That’s why allowing people to buy without asking them to register is so effective.

5. Product demonstrations
Making purchases online has a very significant disadvantage: you can’t view all sides of products you want to buy or touch them. So make sure that your customers can see more than just a front view of your items. Use an enlarged product view, 360-degree photo tour or a video of your product in use. It especially matters if you have a complicated product with color or size choices.

6. Loyalty programs and discounts
Loyalty programs and discounts are a great marketing tool to attract customers. You can offer points, coupons, rebates, exclusive offers, daily or seasonal specials, free shipping and many other options to encourage your customers to visit your website and make new purchases. 

If you have a promotion or sale coming up, send your customers e-mails telling about it. They’ll definitely want to come back and see what you are offering. It is a well known fact that successful businesses make 75% of their sales to repeat customers.

7. Advanced search
If your website visitors can’t find the exact product they want within a few clicks, they will go to another store. Internet users have been spoilt by Google and Yahoo! and expect the same high level of search on every website. 

That’s why it is necessary to focus a lot of your development time on making the searching process simple. Let your visitors find a product using keyword search or ticking features and options they want to have in a product.

8. Automated tools
There are many useful shopper-friendly tools out there that will help you run your website and provide great customer service without sitting in front of a computer 24/7. For example, take advantage of an auto responder. It will send e-mails informing your customers about their orders or subscription. This feature will help keep confidence in your business high and encourage repeat buys.

9. Suggest related products
Don’t forget to mention a product that compliments the purchase. Those are items the customer may forget to purchase or may not realize that they are available. For example, if a customer buys a shampoo, ask if he'd also like to buy a conditioner at a special price. This sounds-too-simple-to-work idea is one of the best things you can do on a limited budget.

10. What's new?
A "What's New" section is particularly useful for websites that have a large number of pages or where content is constantly being added or changing. By highlighting new products, you will increase their visibility and attract more customers. Don’t forget to add buy-now buttons to motivate instant purchases. 

If your website's content doesn’t change frequently, you still can have a section that highlights certain products. You can call it “seasonal specials.” In this case customers will see that your site is not abandoned. 

Do you spend a lot of time trying to generate more traffic to your website? Keep in mind that the best sales prospect is a prospect that is already converted – in other words, one of your current customers. Make their shopping experience more convenient– and they will visit your website again to make purchases.