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13 Proven Cart Abandonment Solutions That Deliver Real Results

  • Conversion
  • 6 min read

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Have you tried numerous cart abandonment solutions that promised big results but fell short?

Shopping cart abandonment is one of the biggest headaches for ecommerce store owners. But don’t worry, we’ve got your back.

In this article, we’ll share the best cart abandonment solutions to help you reclaim those lost sales and boost your sales revenue.

Let’s dive right in!

What's the average cart abandonment rate?

Before we get to the solutions, let’s take a quick look at the numbers. 

According to our data, the average shopping cart abandonment rate is 66.5%. This means nearly seven out of every ten potential customers leave their carts behind. 

Understanding why this happens and how to address it is crucial for any online store looking to thrive. Some of the primary reasons include:

  1. Unexpected costs: Additional costs such as shipping, taxes, and fees can deter customers at the last minute.
  2. Complicated checkout processes: Lengthy or complex checkout procedures can frustrate customers, leading them to abandon their purchase.
  3. Lack of trust: Concerns about payment security or data privacy can cause hesitation.
  4. No guest checkout option: Forcing customers to create an account can lead to cart abandonment.
  5. Indecision: Some customers may not be ready to purchase and just use the cart as a temporary holding space.

To combat high abandonment rates, you need to implement a combination of shopping cart abandonment solutions tailored to your audience and industry.

13 shopping cart abandonment solutions for your online store

Cart abandonment is an ecommerce epidemic, but fear not! We’ve got the cure. 

Are you ready to reclaim lost revenue and boost your bottom line? Use these 10 proven solutions and watch your sales soar.

1. Exit-intent popups

Do you have a coupon code you want to distribute to online shoppers? Exit-intent popups are your go-to tool.

They’re perfect for capturing your customers’ attention just as they’re about to leave your site and nudging them to finish their purchase with a secondary offer.

These popups usually offer discounts, as shown in the examples below.

Exit intent popups with coupon codes is can help reducing shopping cart abandonment.
Lower your cart abandonment rate by using exit intent popups.

By targeting customers at the critical moment they’re about to abandon their cart, you have one last chance to convert them into buyers before they leave your store.

Based on our statistics, exit-intent popups can help to decrease your cart abandonment rate by at least 20%.

Check out our case studies for some proof.

Why don’t you try it yourself? Here are some templates:

2. Abandoned cart emails

Automated abandoned cart emails are a staple in ecommerce.

These emails serve as gentle nudges, reminding customers about the items they left behind.

When exit-intent popups don’t work, emails give online retailers another chance to reach out to these potential customers.

To increase their effectiveness, personalize these emails with the customer’s name, include images of the products, and offer incentives like discounts or offer free shipping.

Jack Wills’ email is a great example:

Abandoned cart emails give online stores another chance to retarget customers.

3. Free shipping bars

Unexpected shipping costs are a common reason visitors leave their online shopping carts behind. Free shipping can be your ally here.

A free shipping bar at the top of your ecommerce site can encourage customers to complete their purchase.

Take a look Colourpop’s free shipping bar:

Offering free shipping has been successful tactic for many ecommerce stores.

Highlighting that customers only need to spend a little more to qualify for free shipping can be a great motivator, and it also helps increase the average order value.

Here are some templates to get you started:

4. SMS remarketing

SMS remarketing is a direct and personal way to reach your customers.

In fact, 66% of consumers prefer to use text messages to talk to businesses.

With higher open rates than emails—an impressive 99%—SMS messages can effectively remind customers about their abandoned carts.

Just ensure your messages are concise and compelling, and include a clear call-to-action.

Sms marketing with a special promo code can be good tactic for ecommerce retailers.

5. Retargeting ads

Retargeting ads keep your products top-of-mind as customers browse other sites.

These ads are tailored to show the exact items left in the cart, enticing customers to return and complete their purchase.

They’re a gentle reminder of what they’re missing out on.

Tackle online shopping cart abandonment with retargeting ads

6. Trust badges

Building trust is key to reducing cart abandonment.

Displaying trust badges on your checkout page, such as secure payment icons, money-back guarantees, and customer reviews, can reassure customers that their information is safe and that they’re making a secure purchase.

7. Live chat support

Live chat support can address customer concerns in real-time, preventing cart abandonment.

Whether they have questions about a product, shipping, or returns, having instant access to support can be the deciding factor in completing a purchase.

8. Transparent checkout

A confusing checkout process is a major turn-off.

Providing a guest checkout option can simplify the process and reduce cart abandonment by allowing customers to complete a purchase without creating an account.

Ensure your checkout process is straightforward, with minimal steps and clear instructions.

Being transparent about costs, shipping times, and return policies can also reduce last-minute hesitations and help with the checkout flow.

9. Countdown timers

Adding a sense of urgency can be highly effective.

Countdown timers on your exit-intent popups or during checkout can encourage customers to complete their purchase before time runs out, whether it’s for a special discount or limited stock.

Here’s an example from Kiss My Keto:

Incorporate countdown timers to deter customers from abandoning their carts.

And another one from The Turmeric Co.:

Incorporate countdown timers to deter customers from abandoning their carts.

If you’d like to increase urgency, you can get started with these templates now:

10. Cart reminders

Sometimes, a simple reminder is all it takes. Use popup notifications to remind customers about their abandoned carts.

Show them the products in their cart to remind them of what they’re missing out on and encourage them to complete their purchase.

Show website visitors what they are missing out on exit intent popups.

11. Clear return policies

Clearly display your return and refund policies. Customers are more likely to complete a purchase if they know they can easily return or exchange items if needed.

Make sure these policies are easy to find and understand.

12. Multiple payment options

Offer a variety of payment methods, including credit/debit cards, digital wallets like Apple Pay and Google Pay, and “buy now, pay later” options.

If customers find their preferred payment method, it can help reduce shopping cart abandonment.

Offer multiple payment options to decrease cart abandonment

13. Analytics tools

Your work doesn’t stop at implementing these tips; you also need to analyze their effectiveness. Regularly monitor and analyze your cart abandonment data to identify patterns and potential issues.

Use tools like Google Analytics to track where customers are dropping off and make necessary adjustments to improve the checkout process.

This ongoing analysis will help you continuously refine your strategies and reduce cart abandonment rates.

FAQ

What is cart abandonment?

Cart abandonment happens when a customer adds items to their online shopping cart but leaves the site without completing the purchase. This can occur due to unexpected costs, a complicated checkout process, or distractions, resulting in lost sales for e-commerce stores.

How to recover abandoned shopping carts?

To recover abandoned shopping carts, use these strategies:

  1. Exit-intent popups: Offer discounts or deals when customers try to leave the site.
  2. Abandoned cart emails: Send personalized emails with product images and incentives like discount codes or free shipping.
  3. Retargeting ads: Display ads to remind customers about the items left in their carts.
  4. SMS remarketing: Use text messages to prompt customers to complete their purchase.
  5. Cart reminders: Show popup notifications reminding customers about their abandoned carts.

These methods can help you recover lost sales and increase revenue.

How do shipping costs cause cart abandonment?

High shipping costs are a major deterrent for customers. When faced with unexpected fees at checkout, many customers abandon their carts.

To reduce this, you can:

  1. Offer free shipping: Encourage purchases by eliminating shipping costs.
  2. Use free shipping bars: Display how much more customers need to spend to qualify for free shipping.
  3. Be transparent about shipping costs: Show shipping fees early in the shopping process to avoid surprises.
  4. Incorporate shipping costs: Include shipping fees in product prices to present a single, upfront cost.

Addressing extra costs can significantly reduce cart abandonment and boost sales.

Wrapping up

Reducing shopping cart abandonment is crucial for boosting your online store’s sales. 

By implementing these ten proven solutions, you’ll be well on your way to converting more visitors into satisfied customers. 

Don’t forget to test and refine each strategy to see what works best for your audience, and enjoy the ride!

What should you do next?

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Written by
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Barbara Bartucz

Barbara is a Content Marketer at OptiMonk. She takes pride in creating different forms of content, whether it’s an article, a video, or an e-book.
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