Netpaths Guide to SEO & Web Design » ecommerce

E-Commerce Transactions: What People Really Buy Online

CVOS — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 19:43:48 +0000

What are people really buying online? Which websites get the most transactions? More business happens on the web than you may realize. The categories are separated into clothing, electronics, furniture, office supplies and books and magazine sell more often online, overall the majority of U.S. purchases still take place in brick-and-mortar stores, but the gap is closing quickly.

The categories with the highest online buying percentage. These retail segments had higher online purchased in aggregate dollars than from brick and mortar stores. Percentages show e-commerce sales as a percent of total sales.

Majority of Purchases Online

electronics 74.1%
music & videos 74%
office supplies 67.8%
clothing 65.9%
furniture 65.8%
non merchandise recipts 65.5%
toys & games 61.4%
books and magazine 61%
sporting goods 58.2%
food, beer & wine 57.9%

The categories with the lowest online buying percentage, it is odd that more people prefer to buy computers in store and go to pharmacies in person. These segments were online pioneers with Dell and Drugstore.com the early leaders

Majority of Purchases Offline

Computer hardware / software 48.1%
Health & drug aids 8.8%

Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau /
Chart Source: Infographics

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Critical Shopping Cart Checkout Button Placement

CVOS — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 09:05:08 +0000

Left or right? No, this is not a political discussion but a serious usability question. Customers are used to seeing the checkout button on the right side of the screen, and crutchfield.com moved the buy not button to the left. Is it a good idea to buck convention and try something new to stimulate your electronics shoppers?

In this case no, the risk of shopping cart abandonment is to large. It is ok to test some website elements such as color or font style, but not something that is literally the foundation of your business. If people cant find the payment button bad things will happen to your online business.

Read what Future Now has to say about this unorthodox e-commerce setup.

From the Crutchfield customer service department: As a token of our thanks, we’d like to offer a you free shipping code on your next order, regardless of how much you spend. Just place your order within the next 90 days, and be sure to use your individual Customer ID: #00000-29817172 for a rebate. Enter the promo code when you order online, or give it to your Sales Advisor if you order by phone.

Crutchfield coupon: #00000-29817172

For electronics free shipping details, click here: www.crutchfield.com/freeshipping.

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Gift Cart Optimization Can Increase E-Commerce Sales

CVOS — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 06:54:12 +0000

The fine folks at grokdotcom have created a screencast showing how you can optimize your gift registry to help users find holiday gifts. All e-commerce shopping websites should have a gift specific section, and the gift giving area should be tailored for the company’s target demographic. All the major online shopping sites have a searchable gift section, but most are cumbersome and not helpful.

The company websites are analyzed

Wal-Mart.com
Barnsandnoble.com
Amazon.com
Etsy.com
Target.com

Amazon.com has the best gift section of all the major online retailers.

Allow customers to gift shop using their own browsing habbits:

* By relationship
* By “most popular”
* By price
* By characteristic (i.e., type of gift)
* ASK your customers how they would like gifts sorted

Anthony Garcia created this gift shopping review video.

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