10 Shopify Checkout Customization Tips to Boost Sales
August 30, 2024
Want to increase your Shopify store’s conversion rate? Optimize your checkout process. Here are 10 proven tips to boost sales:
- Simplify checkout to one page
- Allow guest checkout
- Improve mobile experience
- Add more payment options
- Display trust badges
- Match checkout design to your brand
- Suggest related products
- Show clear shipping info
- Use smart defaults
- Prevent cart abandonment
Tip | Potential Impact |
---|---|
One-page checkout | 21% lift in conversions |
Guest checkout | 30% fewer abandonments |
Mobile optimization | 659% increase in mobile revenue |
Multiple payment options | 70% fewer abandonments |
Trust badges | Up to 42% more conversions |
Upsells/cross-sells | 20% higher average order value |
Clear shipping costs | 47% fewer abandonments |
Implementing these tips can significantly reduce cart abandonment and increase completed purchases. Focus on simplifying the process, building trust, and reducing friction to turn more browsers into buyers.
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Why Customize Shopify Checkout
Customizing your Shopify checkout isn’t just nice to have – it’s a game-changer. Here’s why:
- Boost Sales: A smooth checkout can make or break a sale. Tailoring it addresses common issues that lead to cart abandonment.
- Brand Consistency: Your checkout is part of your brand experience. Customizing it maintains your look and feel throughout the purchase journey.
- Improve User Experience: A well-designed checkout reduces friction and makes buying easier.
- Increase Conversions: Custom checkouts can lead to higher conversion rates. Shop Pay boasts a 91% higher conversion rate on mobile compared to standard checkouts.
- Reduce Cart Abandonment: 69% of shoppers abandon their carts. Customizing your checkout can help recover some of these lost sales.
Real-world examples:
Company | Customization | Result |
---|---|---|
Glossier | Added progress bar | Improved user experience |
Unnamed Brand | Free shipping at checkout | 5% increase in conversion rate |
Majesty Coffee | Refined interface | More attractive and functional experience |
"When we allowed free shipping [at checkout], we could see that people bought more often than before, which helped us increase our conversion rate by five percent." – Aviad Faruz, CEO of Faruzo
Even on the Basic plan, you can make impactful changes like:
- Adding your logo
- Changing colors and fonts
- Enabling guest checkout
- Adding trust badges
1. Make Checkout Simpler
Simplifying your Shopify checkout can lead to more sales. Here’s how:
Implement One-Page Checkout
Shopify’s new one-page checkout (available from October 2023) can reduce cart abandonment. It lets customers complete their purchase on a single page.
Minimize Required Fields
Only ask for essential information. Remove unnecessary fields to speed up the process.
Use Auto-Fill and Validation
Implement tools like dropdown menus and input validation to make information entry easier.
Add a Progress Bar
Include a clear progress bar to help customers understand where they are in the process.
Enable Guest Checkout
Allow customers to buy without creating an account. This can increase conversion rates.
Feature | Standard Checkout | Simplified Checkout |
---|---|---|
Pages | Multiple | One |
Fields | Many | Essential only |
Account creation | Required | Optional |
Progress indicator | Often missing | Clear and visible |
Results of Simplification
- Shop Pay shows a 91% higher conversion rate on mobile compared to standard checkouts.
- One-page checkouts can reduce abandonment rates by up to 20%.
"Online shoppers want fast, simple checkouts that don’t require them to go through unnecessary hassle." – Groove Commerce
2. Allow Guest Checkout
Offering guest checkout can boost sales and reduce cart abandonment. Here’s why it matters:
- It speeds up buying for the 66% of consumers who expect to check out in 4 minutes or less
- It addresses concerns of shoppers wary of creating another online account
- It can reduce cart abandonment rates by up to 30%
To implement guest checkout effectively:
- Make it the default option at checkout
- Only ask for essential information
- Offer account creation as an optional step after purchase
Checkout Type | Cart Abandonment Rate |
---|---|
Guest Checkout | 70% |
Account Required | 96% |
This 26% difference can significantly impact your bottom line.
"The bottom line is that by not offering guest checkout, your store’s conversion rates can drop and cart abandonment rate will go up." – Shero Commerce
Consider a balanced approach – encourage account creation by highlighting benefits after purchase.
3. Improve Mobile Checkout
With 79% of smartphone users making purchases on their devices, optimizing mobile checkout is crucial. Here’s how:
- Simplify the interface: Remove clutter and keep only essentials.
- Enable autofill: Reduce typing for customers.
- Offer guest checkout: Can reduce cart abandonment by up to 30%.
- Use large, touch-friendly buttons: Make navigation easy on smaller screens.
- Provide multiple payment options: Include popular mobile payment methods.
- Implement a progress bar: Show customers where they are in the process.
- Optimize for speed: Ensure quick loading on mobile devices.
Improvement | Result |
---|---|
Guest checkout | Up to 30% reduction in cart abandonment |
Mobile optimization | 659% increase in mobile shopping revenue (Easton Baseball) |
Streamlined checkout | 80% increase in mobile revenue (Klean Kanteen) |
"The bottom line is that by not offering a smooth mobile checkout experience, your store’s conversion rates can drop and cart abandonment rate will go up." – Shero Commerce
4. Add More Payment Options
Offering various payment methods can boost sales and reduce cart abandonment. Here’s why:
- It reduces friction in buying
- It caters to different preferences
- It can help tap into new markets
Key stats:
Statistic | Value |
---|---|
Global shopping cart abandonment rate for retail | 72.8% |
Shoppers who leave due to poor purchasing experience | 73% |
Customers who abandon if preferred payment method is missing | 17% |
To add payment methods:
- Log in to Shopify Admin Dashboard
- Go to Settings > Payments
- Click "Add payment methods"
- Search for the payment option
- Click "Activate" and follow setup steps
Popular options:
- Credit/debit cards
- PayPal
- Apple Pay
- Google Pay
- Shop Pay
- Buy Now, Pay Later options
Consider your target audience when choosing. Balance options with checkout simplicity – aim for 4-5 methods covering most needs.
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5. Show Trust Badges
Trust badges can boost sales by making customers feel safe. They show your site is secure and data is protected.
Why trust badges matter:
- They reduce worry about online shopping risks
- They show you care about customer safety
- They can lower cart abandonment rates
Statistic | Value |
---|---|
Shopping carts abandoned due to security concerns | 17% |
Increase in conversions with trust badges (HulkApps study) | 42% |
Boost in hotel bookings with VeriSign EV certificates | 30% |
To add trust badges:
- Pick badges from trusted sources
- Get the badge code from the provider
- Add the code to your Shopify theme
Key trust badges to consider:
- SSL badges
- Payment method logos
- Money-back guarantee seals
- Third-party endorsements
Place badges where they’ll have most impact:
- On product pages
- In the shopping cart
- On the checkout page
Don’t go overboard – too many can hurt trust. Pick 3-4 that matter most to your customers.
6. Match Checkout to Your Brand
Aligning checkout design with your brand boosts sales and trust. Here’s how:
- Add your logo: Place it at the top of the checkout page.
- Use brand colors: Apply to buttons, form fields, and backgrounds.
- Choose the right fonts: Select fonts matching your brand’s style.
- Include a background image: Add a relevant image reflecting your brand.
- Keep it simple: A clean design helps customers focus on purchasing.
Brand | Customization | Result |
---|---|---|
Peepers | Added phone support info | Increased customer confidence |
Taylor Stitch | Included "WHY CHOOSE US?" section | Reinforced brand benefits |
Endy | Matched colors and fonts to brand | Raised brand credibility |
"The ability to customize with Shopify Plus really allows us to push it to the limit and create a custom checkout experience customers can trust." – John Hart, ecommerce manager at Peepers
To customize your Shopify checkout:
- Go to Shopify Admin
- Click "Settings", then "Checkout"
- Select "Customize checkout"
Use the drag-and-drop editor for changes. Shopify Plus users can use the Checkout Branding API for advanced customization.
7. Suggest Related Products
Adding upsell and cross-sell options during checkout can boost sales. Here’s how:
- Use Shopify apps for easy implementation
App Name | Key Feature | Rating | Starting Price |
---|---|---|---|
Candy Rack | One-click upsell | 4.9/5 | $29.99/month |
Frequently Bought Together | Bundle recommendations | 4.9/5 | $6.99/month |
Wiser | Personalized recommendations | 4.9/5 | $9.99/month |
- Offer relevant products
- Use smart pricing: Aim for 10-30% of original purchase price.
- Create urgency: Present upsells as limited-time offers.
- Keep it simple: Limit to one or two highly relevant options.
- Personalize your offers: Use past purchase data to tailor suggestions.
- Test different strategies: Experiment with various approaches.
- Use clear, enticing language: Phrases like "Frequently bought together" can be appealing.
- Consider post-purchase upsells: Offer after initial purchase for easier acceptance.
8. Show Clear Shipping Info
Clear shipping information reduces cart abandonment. Here’s how:
- Use flat rate shipping: Makes costs predictable.
- Display shipping rates upfront:
Order Value | Shipping Cost |
---|---|
$0 – $50 | $9.99 |
$51 – $100 | $4.99 |
$101+ | Free |
- Show estimated delivery dates: Builds trust and improves satisfaction.
- Implement a Free Shipping Bar: Informs visitors about free shipping thresholds.
- Use Shopify apps for Estimated Delivery Dates (EDDs):
App Name | Key Feature | Starting Price |
---|---|---|
Omega Estimated Delivery Date | Customizable EDDs | Free plan available |
Estimated Delivery Date Shopify ‑ Plus | Multiple shipping methods | Free plan available |
EDDer | Real-time updates | Free plan available |
- Offer calculated shipping rates: Show rates from carriers like USPS or UPS.
- Be transparent about international shipping: Clearly communicate policies.
9. Use Smart Defaults
Smart defaults make checkout smoother and faster. Here’s how to implement them:
- Address Autocomplete: Enable Shopify’s built-in feature.
- Pre-fill Customer Information: Use checkout permalinks for returning customers.
- Default Payment Method: Set the most popular option as default.
- Smart Shipping Selection: Pre-select the most common shipping method.
- Remember Previous Choices: Default to last used options for returning customers.
Action | How to Do It |
---|---|
Enable Address Autocomplete | Settings > Checkout > Order processing > Enable feature |
Use Checkout Permalinks | Create custom URLs with pre-filled customer info |
Customize Payment Options | Install a payment customization app |
Set Default Shipping | Use data on most popular shipping method to pre-select |
10. Prevent Cart Abandonment
To reduce the 70.19% average cart abandonment rate:
- Show all costs upfront: Display shipping, taxes, and fees early.
- Offer guest checkout: Let customers buy without signing up.
- Speed up delivery: Provide faster options or clearer delivery info.
- Simplify the process: Cut unnecessary steps and form fields.
- Build trust: Add trust badges and clear policies.
- Use exit-intent popups: Catch leaving customers with a final offer.
- Send reminder emails: Follow up with gentle reminders.
Device | Abandonment Rate |
---|---|
Desktop | 73% |
Mobile | 85% |
Tablets | 80% |
"The abandonment cart email is a friendly reminder for your customers that you are still holding their item for them in your cart." – Charlene Boutin, Author
Wrap-up
Customizing your Shopify checkout can significantly boost sales. Key takeaways:
- Simplify the process
- Allow guest checkout
- Show all costs upfront
- Add payment options
- Display trust badges
- Match your brand
- Suggest related items
- Be clear about shipping
- Use smart defaults
- Prevent abandonment
Tip | Potential Impact |
---|---|
Simplify checkout | 26% fewer abandonments |
Allow guest checkout | 34% fewer abandonments |
Add payment options | 70% fewer abandonments |
Display trust badges | Up to 40% more conversions |
Suggest related items | 20% higher average order value |
By implementing these tips, you can create a smoother checkout experience, leading to more completed purchases and higher sales.