Shopping Sprees and Discounts
With the influx of online shopping is that people are looking more and more for vouchers (coupons) when buying things online. We all know that there are discounts and free shipping available in many places, but we don’t always know about them when we are shopping. It is always after a purchase that we are let in on the secrets.
Many online shoppers have been realizing that they can search for discount codes before they shop, or while they are checking out. Well, the savvy shoppers know how to do it. But what about everyone else? Why do some retailers make it so hard to find coupons, which might boost their sales, in favor of those who just purchased?
It seems that some sites get it like Kinko’s and Victoria’s Secret:
And some don’t. They send you emails afterwards, or time out your cart while you are looking. That’s a lost sale! Be open and up front about your discounts, if you can offer them, and I promise, conversions will go up! The economy might be recovering, but you are still going to have to work for that hard earned money people are spending!
Gab Goldenberg wrote this guest-post on behalf of PromotionalCodes.org.uk, who have coupons for Boots and for Dixons.
5 responses to "Shopping Sprees and Discounts"
There are some online retailers that really get it, and some that have AWFUL service and offers. I lost count of how many times all the items I put in my bag have been lost, or I’ve gotten a coupon after I’ve made a huge purchase, as you mentioned. There are a lot of opportunities for online retailers out there…they just have to be willing to take advantage of them. It makes it a lot easier for the customer (and retailer) if the site actually works!
If you’ve read my brand building guide for SEOs, it says exactly that – there are too many folks with broken arse sites that frustrate consumers! We’re on the same page
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This is awesome, such great advice. I *love* when sites post their coupons to make it really easy. I find restaurants with online ordering do this well.
As a consumer, I often use Twitter to search for “coupon”, “promo” or “discount” in the hopes that someone has shared a coupon. But, as one of the golden rules of e-commerce and usability states, DON’T make the user have to do extra work!!
Lyndsay….great final point! Make it as easy or me as possible to spend spend spend on your site!!! As a consumer online I find the sites that make it extremely easy to purchase get much more of my money. Can’t tell how many times I’ve abandoned a purchase because of barriers I’ve encountered.
Hehe, Gab really hit home with me on this one too. It’s insane how many times I abandon carts because I get distracted. Who me? Oh, look, a chicken ….
Okay, back on track
I mean I see both sides, I have a love/hate relationship with discount sites. I love them for the discounts, but as an SEO it sucks when I search, find a page and there is nothing there. But overall, it’s a great service to those of us that know how to use tabbed browsing! 