Do you sell online?

Online shopping is on the rise, and it can open up a whole world of plausibility.

Like anything the better you are at online selling the more you will sell. You can not just throw an online shopping cart up and expect people to come running.

The following are 7 tips from FedEx to increase your online sales.
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motivating consumers to complete their purchases:

1. Make shipping rates known early in the process and consider discounts. Six out of 10 online shoppers indicate that shipping costs of up to 10 percent of the transaction value is reasonable. Not every retailer can afford a free shipping policy, but there should be room to play with shipping offers that are dependent on coupon codes or minimum orders. Whether you offer discount shipping or you don’t, be sure the cost is clearly visible early and often to avoid surprises. In the Forrester survey, 22 percent of cart abandoners stated that shipping and handling costs appeared too late in the checkout process.

2. Clear the path to purchase. While site registration supplies valuable customer data, it’s also a painful source of lost sales (as much as $20 million, according to Forrester). Online shopping consultants recommend retailers allow non-registered customers to check out as guests. Afterwards you can offer incentives such as coupons and promotions to entice those customers to register.

3. Reassure shoppers that their security is a top priority. Twenty-one percent of respondents in a 2009 survey by PayPal and comScore cited security concerns as a reason for abandoning a virtual shopping cart. Anne Holland, founder of the research firm MarketingSherpa LLC, recommends posting reassuring security icons throughout e-commerce websites. Include privacy and security reassurances next to any fields asking for personal data. “It’s stunningly easy to do, yet it drives me nuts to see how many merchants still completely ignore it,” she says.

4. Create trust. Communicate your online store’s trustworthiness. Make your customers feel safe by clearly stating return policies and providing several ways they can reach you, including a phone number, email and postal address.

5. Provide alternative payment options. Many shoppers prefer to use PayPal, Google Checkout or similar systems so they can complete online transactions without entering their data for each purchase. Seventy-five percent of online purchasers have an alternative payment account, Forrester reports.

6. Ask abandoners why they didn’t buy. Some online merchants use tested exit pop-up surveys for anyone who abandons a cart. But because security software frequently blocks pop-ups, you might have better luck sending a follow-up email. When you notify customers that their carts are waiting if they want to return to your site, you can invite them to explain why they didn’t complete their purchase.

7. Encourage customer reviews by offering discounts. You can encourage online shoppers to share their thoughts — which might encourage others to buy — by following up purchases with personal emails or adding a link to your e-newsletters. After all, satisfied customers are your most powerful marketing tool.
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One way to encourage customers to buy is to offer upgraded shipping. People love getting their online stuff as soon as possible, and 5-7 business days can seem like an eternity.

Offer expedited shipping, and track it with PackageFox. The easiest way to manage your shipping refunds.

I hope this information helps you and your online selling. Make sure you subscribe to the PackageFox blog for more tips on how to grow and manage your business.

And don’t forget to sign up for your free PackageFox account, so you don’t miss out on refunds for all your late packages.