The e-commerce market in the Philippines has seen impressive growth in recent years. With the country’s increasingly tech-savvy population, the convenience of browsing and purchasing from anywhere has become an essential part of many Filipinos’ lives.
However, despite the growing number of online shoppers, many e-commerce stores still face challenges in converting website visitors into paying customers. After all, attracting visitors to a website does not automatically guarantee that they will complete a purchase. Even with the right audience visiting your site, certain factors can lead them to abandon their carts before finalizing their orders. For businesses aiming to boost online sales, it’s essential to recognize these issues and learn how to address them effectively.
In this article, we’ll explore common e-commerce store issues that need to be resolved to improve your store's conversion rates.
1. Limited Payment Options
In the Philippines, payment preferences vary significantly, with customers relying on different methods for online purchases. While credit and debit cards are widely used, many Filipino shoppers also prefer digital wallets due to their convenience and security. If your e-commerce site offers only a limited number of payment methods, you could be alienating a large portion of potential customers who prefer alternative options.
To boost conversions, ensure your e-commerce site supports a wide range of payment gateways, including credit and debit cards, digital wallets, and QR Ph. The more flexible and convenient your payment options are, the more likely customers will complete their transactions. Additionally, choosing a reliable and trusted local payment gateway helps build confidence among online shoppers. One example is Maya Checkout, the best payment gateway in the Philippines today. It enables your e-commerce store to directly and securely accept payments in the methods your customers prefer. Maya also offers custom plugins for Shopify and WooCommerce, allowing you to set up a secure payment gateway in minutes.
2. Complicated Checkout Process
A lengthy or confusing checkout process is a common reason customers abandon their carts before completing a purchase. Shoppers want a fast, easy, and hassle-free checkout experience. If your store complicates the process, you risk losing potential sales.
To reduce cart abandonment and increase conversions, simplify your checkout process. Limit the number of steps required to complete a purchase, and offer guest checkout options to minimize friction. Instead of asking for unnecessary details, request only essential information, such as delivery details and payment information, to streamline the process. Additionally, allowing customers to save their information for future purchases can make transactions quicker and more convenient. The easier it is for customers to pay, the more likely they are to complete their purchases.
3. Lack of Trust Signals
Many Filipino customers remain concerned about the safety of their personal and payment information when shopping online. This is especially true for first-time shoppers on your site. If your website lacks visible trust signals, customers may hesitate to complete their transactions due to fears of fraud or identity theft.
To address this issue, prominently display these signals across your website, especially during the checkout process. Include security badges indicating that your website is secure, such as “Secured by SSL” or logos from trusted payment providers like Maya. Customer reviews and testimonials can also help reinforce trust, providing social proof of your store’s reliability.
4. Poor Mobile Optimization
With a significant number of Filipinos now accessing e-commerce websites via smartphones, ensuring your online store is mobile-friendly is essential. Mobile users expect a smooth, seamless browsing and checkout experience. If they encounter difficulties navigating your site, they are likely to leave without making a purchase.
Ensure your website is fully responsive, meaning it automatically adjusts to different screen sizes. Additionally, you should prioritize user-friendly design elements such as touch-friendly buttons, easily readable fonts, and a streamlined mobile checkout process to accommodate the growing number of mobile shoppers.
5. Unclear or Inadequate Product Descriptions
Product descriptions play a crucial role in e-commerce. They provide potential customers with the necessary information to make informed purchasing decisions. If your e-commerce store has vague or poorly written descriptions, customers may feel uncertain about their purchases and abandon their carts.
To boost conversions, improve your product descriptions by ensuring they are detailed and accurate. Include essential information such as size, material, color, and key features. Clearly state pricing, availability, and any special instructions for use or care. High-quality images from multiple angles and product videos can further help customers visualize the product, reducing uncertainty and hesitation.
6. Ineffective Customer Support
Customer support is a vital aspect of the e-commerce experience. When customers have questions or issues, they expect quick and accessible assistance. If your e-commerce store lacks responsive customer support, you risk losing sales and damaging your brand’s reputation.
Ensure your customer support team is easily accessible. Offer multiple support channels such as live chat, email, and social media messaging. More importantly, respond promptly to inquiries and provide helpful, friendly assistance to enhance the customer experience.
Improve Your E-commerce Site’s Conversions with the Help of Maya Business Solutions
Online shoppers are more inclined to check out their orders when your e-commerce store offers the payment options they prefer. Thankfully, you can accommodate popular payment methods in the Philippines with Maya Checkout, which you can access when you sign up for Maya Business.
Setting up a Maya Business account lets you open a Maya Business Deposit account and use it as your settlement account. With an industry-leading 2.5% per annum interest rate, you’ll earn PHP 25,000 in interest per year on a PHP 1 million deposit. Furthermore, you’ll be able to send money to your partners and suppliers for free via InstaPay and PESONet, letting you save more.
Signing up also qualifies you for a no-collateral Maya Flexi Loan offer of up to PHP 2 million in just 3 months, allowing you to have another funding source to further develop your business. Just use Maya as your primary processor for all wallet and card payments. The more you use our solutions, the better the loan offer will be.
Sign up for Maya Business today to enjoy the benefits of Maya Business solutions.
