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7 Essential Steps to Make Your E-Commerce Site Conversion Ready

We’ve all been there. When sales slow down, our first instinct is to tweak our website, hoping to fix whatever’s stopping customers from hitting that “Buy” button. But often, we’re just tinkering in the wrong places.

The truth? A few foundational steps can make your e-commerce site much more effective at converting visitors into buyers. Whether you’re new to e-commerce or have been at it for years, these steps will help you feel confident that your site is ready to perform.

Let’s dive in.

1. Think Mobile First – Because Your Customers Already Do

Here’s a fact that might surprise you: 80% of your traffic probably comes from a mobile device. Sometimes, it’s even more—90% or 95% when I’m looking at a client’s GA4.

If your site isn’t optimized for mobile, you’re missing out on most of your potential sales. Think about how your homepage, product pages, landing pages, and checkout look and function on a phone. Is the layout clean and user-friendly? Are call-to-action buttons easy to find and tap?

Don’t just check the design—test it as part of your workflow. Before you publish any new content, make it a step to check it on mobile. This applies to emails too—ensure that CTAs in your emails are visible without scrolling.

2. Pop-Ups: Your Secret Weapon for Collecting Leads

Yes, pop-ups. Love them or hate them, they’re the #1 tool for collecting email leads that convert. Why? Traffic that comes to your site from an email is 2-7x more likely to make a purchase than cold traffic.

The key is to do pop-ups the right way:

• Set them to appear after 12 seconds on-site (not immediately).
• Make it easy to close the pop-up with a visible “X” or a “No, thanks” button.
• Offer something enticing, like a discount, free gift, or entry into a giveaway.

Remember, most people need to see a pop-up three times before they’ll sign up. Add a little tab at the bottom of your site so visitors can pull up the pop-up again later.

3. Is Your Homepage Doing Its Job in 5 Seconds?

When someone lands on your homepage, they should immediately know what you sell and whether it’s for them. “There’s no room for guessing in our world. Clarity is everything.”

Ask yourself:

• Can visitors identify what your store offers at a glance?
• Is your messaging straightforward and easy to read, especially on mobile?

Pro Tip: Test your homepage clarity by showing a screenshot to someone unfamiliar with your business—bonus points if they’re 12 years old. If they can’t tell what you sell or what to do next, it’s time for a refresh.

4. Guide Customers with Clear Call-to-Actions

Your homepage isn’t just about showing visitors what you sell—it’s also about telling them what to do next. A clear, specific call-to-action (CTA) makes all the difference.

Think about the one thing you want visitors to do first. Do you want them to shop your bestsellers? Explore new arrivals? Learn more about your products? Highlight this action with a prominent, well-placed button.

“What is the one thing you want people to do when they hit your site? Make it super clear.” CTAs reduce decision fatigue and help customers navigate your site with ease.

5. Turn Your Product Pages Into Sales Machines

Your product pages are your ultimate sales tool. They need to work hard to answer every possible question a customer might have.

Here’s what to include:

• Large, clear images from multiple angles (at least four per product).
• Details that address common customer questions (e.g., “Does it have pockets?” or size charts for clothing).
• Contextual images to show scale (like a quarter beside a piece of jewelry).

“Think about the questions customers would have before hitting ‘Add to Cart,’ and make sure your photos answer them.”

6. Shipping Costs Should Never Be a Mystery

One of the biggest reasons for abandoned carts? Hidden shipping fees. Customers shouldn’t have to add items to their cart just to find out how much shipping will cost.

Be upfront about your policies with a sticky bar at the top of your site. For example:

• Flat-rate shipping (e.g., “$9 shipping on all U.S. orders”).
• Free shipping thresholds (e.g., “Free shipping on orders over $75”).
• Clear notes for oversized or international shipping charges.

It doesn’t have to be free—it just has to be clear.

7. Trust is Everything: The Power of Reviews

Think about the last time you made a purchase online. Did you check the reviews first? Your customers do the same thing.

If you don’t have reviews, start collecting them ASAP. Automate this process by sending an email to customers after they purchase. You can even incentivize reviews for new businesses with a small offer, like a discount code or gift card.

“If somebody sees 100 five-star reviews, that’s way more powerful than if they only see one.” 

Display your reviews prominently on product pages to reassure hesitant buyers.

Keep It Simple and Consistent

These steps might seem basic, but they’re foundational to a high-converting e-commerce site. And remember, conversion optimization is an ongoing process. Over time, we make changes to our websites and don’t always go back to check how they look.

Make it a habit to review your site regularly, especially on mobile. Once you’ve nailed these basics, you’ll be in a much stronger position to turn your visitors into buyers—and boost your bottom line.

And remember, the most common reason store owners don’t hit their sales goals—whether it’s $1,000 a month or $1,000 a day—is simply not having enough traffic. The sales formula is straightforward:

Traffic x Conversion Rate = Number of Orders
Number of Orders x Average Order Value (AOV) = Sales

If you’re an Inner Circle member, take this a step further. Head to the “Get Set Up for Success” unit and work through these lessons:

• Website Essentials
• Brand and Homepage Audit
• Build a Product Page that Converts
• Simple SEO

With the right traffic, a conversion-ready site, and these tools, you’ll be well on your way to achieving your sales goals!

RELATED LINKS

How Kelly increased her conversion rate.
https://thesocialsalesgirls.com/how-kelly-increased-her-conversion-rate-episode-64/

Two Things You Must Remember
https://thesocialsalesgirls.com/two-things-you-must-remember-episode-234/

4 Steps To High-Converting Product Pages
https://thesocialsalesgirls.com/4-steps-to-high-converting-product-pages-episode-232/

The Thing Everyone Forgets About Conversion
https://thesocialsalesgirls.com/the-thing-everyone-forgets-about-conversion-episode-212/

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New FREE Course

GROW YOUR SALES

(without breaking the bank)

Conversion School is a step by step process to grow your sales,
without spending a fortune on risky ad strategies, or discounting your products.

Works for Ecommerce stores at all stages.

Start getting consistent sales, and see significant sales growth every month.