You’ve got people landing on your site, adding to cart… and then they vanish. No checkout. No sale. Just crickets.
If that’s happening more than it should, take a breath, it might not be your products. Sometimes, it’s the little things that trip people up. This list is packed with quick fixes that are easy to action and can actually make a difference, no major overhaul required.
1. Make your buttons better
If someone wants to buy something, make the next step obvious. Your “Add to Cart” or “Buy Now” buttons should be hard to miss, not hiding in the corner or blending into the background.
Quick fix:
- Choose one bold colour and use it consistently for CTAs
- Avoid vague labels like “Learn More” on product pages
- Make sure buttons are large enough to tap on mobile
2. Sort your shipping story
Hidden shipping costs are a fast way to lose a sale. Be upfront and clear.
Quick fix:
- Add a banner or bar with your shipping offer (e.g. free over $75)
- List delivery costs and timeframes on product pages
- If possible, build shipping into your prices and advertise it as free
Nobody likes surprises at checkout, especially the expensive kind.
3. Use your abandoned cart feature
Sometimes people mean to buy, they just get distracted. A well-timed email can bring them back.
Quick fix:
- Set up an automated abandoned cart email (most platforms make this easy)
- Keep it simple, one or two friendly nudges is plenty
- Consider offering a small incentive, like free shipping or a discount on their next order
Even a basic reminder like “Hey, did you forget something?” can recover sales you’d otherwise lose.
4. Streamline your checkout
Nobody wants to jump through hoops to hand over their money. If your checkout feels clunky or long-winded, people will give up halfway. Especially on mobile, less is more.
Quick fix:
- Enable guest checkout, not everyone wants to create an account
- Strip out any fields you don’t absolutely need (do you really need their company name?)
- Use tools like address auto-complete to speed things up
- Test your checkout process yourself, especially on your phone
Think of it this way: the easier you make it to pay, the more likely they will.
5. Add trust signals
If your site feels even slightly dodgy, people won’t enter their card details. First-time customers don’t know you – your site needs to do the heavy lifting to build trust.
Quick fix:
- Add customer reviews or testimonials, even short ones help
- Make your returns and shipping policies easy to find
- Check that your SSL is working (that’s the padlock in the address bar)
- If you’re using a legit payment gateway like Stripe or Afterpay, show those logos near checkout
You don’t need to overdo it. Just show that you’re a real business and that if something goes wrong, there’s a clear way to sort it.
6. Improve your product images
Your product photos do all the talking online. Blurry, dark, or inconsistent images won’t inspire much confidence, no matter how good your product is.
Quick fix:
- Use a clean, uncluttered background (white or light works well)
- Include a few angles, plus close-ups of key features
- Show scale if it helps (a model wearing it, or someone holding it)
- Add a lifestyle image if possible, something that shows the product in use
- If you can manage a short video or gif, even better
7. Make your product descriptions actually useful
Don’t just say it’s “amazing”, explain what it is, who it’s for, and why they’ll care. Good copy answers questions and removes hesitation.
Quick fix:
- Cover the basics – size, materials, usage, care
- Write like you’re helping a customer in-store
- Add some personality, but make sure it’s clear and helpful
Think of it as part sales pitch, part FAQ.
8. Offer more payment options
People have strong preferences about how they pay. If you don’t offer their method of choice, they might walk away.
Quick fix:
- Add PayPal, Afterpay, Apple Pay, or bank deposit (whatever suits your market)
- Show accepted payment types clearly near checkout or in your footer
More flexibility = fewer abandoned carts.
9. Ditch the noise
Pop-ups, sticky bars, auto-play videos… if your site feels like it’s shouting, people will bounce.
Quick fix:
- Stick to one well-timed pop-up, max
- Avoid showing it immediately, wait 10–20 seconds or use exit-intent
- Make sure it’s easy to close, especially on mobile
Let your products do the talking, not the pop-ups.
10. Make your site easier to get around
If people can’t find what they’re looking for quickly, they’ll move on. A confusing layout or cluttered menu creates friction you just don’t need.
Quick fix:
- Keep your menu simple and focused, not packed with too many options
- Use filters and sort tools to help people narrow down their choices
- Test your site search – make sure it brings up relevant results and is easy to use
The goal is to help people find what they want without making them work for it.
Where to from here?
Start small. Pick one or two of these and knock them off this week. You don’t need to fix everything at once – but even small changes can lead to more checkouts, happier customers, and fewer “where did they go?” moments.
Not sure where your site’s leaking sales?
Book a quick ecommerce audit and we’ll help you spot the easy wins hiding in plain sight.
