Expectations.

For every site you visit there are certain expectations that you bring with you. Because of these expectations, shopping carts should be as simple and straight forward as possible. You’ve already convinced your customer to buy so don’t deter them at the last moment. Instead, fulfill their expectations.

Recently our Conversion Analyst team came across this shopping cart:

Despite the fact that the error was in bolded lettering, it stumped several people when they came to the point of checking out…

...continue to read "Great (Customer) Expectations"

We Canadians already have a bit of a complex due to the fact that the rest of the world seems to lump us together with the U.S., calling them our big brother. Canadians are sick of being treated like leftovers. So, when certain North American companies leave us (and other international visitors) out of the loop by making it difficult to buy from their websites, they’re losing sales and annoying would-be customers like me.

It’s time for U.S. companies to consistently…

...continue to read "Don’t Hose the Canadians! (Our Dollars Are Equal Now.)"

My Company (Future Now) just released its “2007 Retail Customer Experience Survey,” revealing both good and bad news.

Bad news first. In aggregate, online retailers fall far short of offering good or even adequate customer experiences. A pathetic 4 out of 330 sites would get a passing grade in Customer Experience 101. It’s frightening to consider how much money is being left on the table and how many conversion opportunities are missed.

The good news? Companies show improvement over the last survey,…

...continue to read "Online Retailers Fail Customer Experience 101"

One word: Fulfillment.

I recently purchased a set of Sony Ericsson earbuds from Amazon.com. I already knew the type of earbuds, which color, and even the model number I wanted to order. (That’s what we call a “late-stage” visitor.) Amazon didn’t have to do much to convince me to buy. All I wanted was a clear product image, showing what I could expect with my purchase.

I didn’t just want a new set of earbuds; I wanted the Sony Ericsson brand earbuds, since…

...continue to read "How Amazon Lost Me (and My Money)"

Humans are notoriously uptight. One moment we’re seething with anticipation over something that’s sure to be so thoroughly enjoyable that we can’t even picture complaining about it — ever — until the next day or so, when we do. Without warning, people will turn on your brand and tell their friends to do the same. This is why setting expectations online is crucial; something the band brand Radiohead learned the hard way after its novice online marketing efforts managed to disappoint…

...continue to read "Case Study: Karma Police Arrest Radiohead for Leaving Cash on the Table"