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23 Proven Strategies to Boost Your Conversion Rate in 2023

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Proven conversion rate optimization strategies

Conversion rate is at the heart of increasing your sales. That’s a no-brainer. A solid sales process relies on a strong pipeline. If your conversion rate improves, sales should – in a perfect world – see a boost as well. But that’s a different story – step one (and the focus of today’s article) is about capturing those precious conversions. 

Increasing conversion rates is not apples-to-apples – and the process and formula will look different for every brand.  There are many, many strategies to take into account here. This blog post will walk you through 22 proven strategies that will help you increase your conversion rate in 2023. 

Let’s get into it.

1. Maintain a Blog

Maintain a blog

Blogging is an excellent way to increase conversion rates. Blogging is ideal for targeting both general and local keywords. It’s your key to attracting highly targeted readers who are more likely to convert.

Blogging also helps to brand you as an industry expert. This is a great way to make your target audience aware of your business values, ethics, knowledge, and why they should choose you over your competitors. It’s often difficult to build this type of brand authority without blogging.

So, start blogging on industry-relevant topics and related news. You can even include loosely related topics to your niche. Just make sure not to stray so much that your readers will get confused. Remember, blogging is meant to educate, generate awareness, and attract traffic.

2. Go Social

In this digital era, social proof carries a lot of weight. It’s a fair assessment that most of your potential customers will find you on their social networks first. Modern consumers often check social media for advice, referrals, reviews, and discounts.

Moreover, customers today expect quick responses on social media from brands. According to the 2022 Sprout Social Index™, 13% of US consumers expect brands to respond within the first hour of reaching out, while 76% expect a response within 24 hours. If you fail to respond promptly, those prospects have no problem going to your competitors.

Meet customer expectations by developing an active social media presence. Publish new posts regularly, respond to reviews and comments timely, and stay relevant. This is one of the best ways to increase the conversion rate.

3. Run PPC Campaigns

Run ppc campaigns

Running PPC campaigns does a lot to increase conversions. It’s arguably the best way to drive instant traffic to your website, especially your landing/sales pages. This is where you get a chance to build your email list.

It’s relatively easy to increase conversion rate when you have a ready-to-deploy email list for page-level targeting. The average conversion rate in Google ads across all industries is 3.75% for search and 0.77% for display.

A good goal to have is a conversion rate higher than 10%. This will help you take your seat among the top players in your niche. While Google Ads can be extremely effective, PPC is not exactly cheap. We advise turning to an expert to make sure every dollar in your budget is maximized.

4. Create Practical Landing Pages

Create a practical landing page

Landing pages are equally important as any conversion rate optimization strategy. A weak landing page will render every marketing strategy useless.  You will need compelling landing pages to convert those leads into customers.

That said, campaign-specific landing pages are more likely to encourage readers to take the desired action. Plus, these landing pages often appear higher in the search results because Google considers the relevance of landing pages and PPC ads.

You can use campaign-specific landing pages to promote a new product or service and offer special discounts. Think of these pages as your lead magnet that attracts only highly qualified leads, increasing conversions. 
Now, creating landing pages is not something you can do in a few minutes – high-converting landing pages are a science. We strongly recommend turning to a professional to handle the content creation, design, and development of the page before launching any campaigns.

5. Add Strong Call to Actions (CTAs)

Add strong call to actions
Example of cta’s from hubspot

Adding a strong call to action is a surefire way to increase your website’s conversion rate. But you must add CTAs on almost every page, not just landing pages. Of course, each CTA will be different, depending on what action you want your readers to take.

For instance, you can place a lead generation CTA on the pages with a high number of new visitors, like your blog. You can place this CTA at the end of each post. A few examples of these CTAs might include:

  • Download the free guide
  • Subscribe to our blog
  • Get monthly updates

As you can see, CTAs tell users what they need to do next. Without clear CTAs, your readers may leave without buying a product, signing up for a service, or simply filling out a form. 

6. Optimize Online Forms

Optimize your website forms

Another crucial element that can increase conversion rate – but often gets overlooked – is the contact form. Besides offering convenience to your customers, contact forms help you with lead generation. It’s the best way to collect the details of your potential customers and start interacting with them through calls or emails.

Now, completing a web form, especially a long one, is nobody’s favorite activity. That’s why you need to optimize it as much as possible. Creating shorter forms can help increase conversions as they collect only essential details and take less time to fill.

Trim the fat as much as possible. Here’s what you can do.

  • Minimize form fields.
  • Reduce the need for typing.
  • Avoid duplicates.
  • Match field size and type to the input.
  • Distinguish required from optional fields.
  • Avoid using placeholder text.

Always remember, every extra step in your lead-gen process is an opportunity for prospects to reconsider.

7. Up Your Email Marketing Game

Email marketing has been a top digital marketing strategy for decades. It remains a significantly more effective way to acquire customers than social media. According to Hubspot, “Email marketing revenue is estimated to reach almost 11 billion by the end of 2023. (Statista, 2021)”.

Email marketing revenue 2021-2027
Image source: hubspot

You can use email to educate your potential customers and build trust. Of course, you don’t have to send marketing junk to your leads. You can send automated emails that answer the pain points of your potential customers, relevant insights, and news within your company. 

For example, you can create an email answering all the FAQs about your new product or service. Or, you can share insights on the latest market trends in your niche. Providing actionable information is a foundational approach to increasing conversion rates.

8. Create Referral Programs

Referral programs are not just for apps like Uber or Lyft. Any business can use them to attract more customers. Creating referral programs for existing customers can help you resell or cross-sell.

Create referral programs

Harry’s, a New York-based grooming company that manufactures and sells shaving equipment via mail order, used a referral program to launch its brand. They used the concept of the “Milestone Referral Campaign,” where each participant won a respective prize after reaching a milestone. They were able to garner 100,000 email subscribers from this campaign.

Another example: the leading file-sharing site Dropbox created a referral program to benefit their current customers. This does wonders to help them attract new ones. It’s a simple referral program where customers earn more storage space by inviting friends to join Dropbox. The referral program continues to help Dropbox expand its customer base.

9. Focus On Upsells and Cross-Sells

Focus on cross-sells upsells

From airlines offering seat upgrades to those KFC guys asking if you want fries with your order, it’s all about upselling. Every business does upselling because it is considerably easier (and cost-effective) to sell to an existing customer than to acquire a new one. As they already know your brand, existing customers are more willing to purchase from you again.

For eCommerce businesses, cross-selling and upselling are excellent opportunities to increase conversion rates. In fact, many customers need nothing more than a gentle nudge to buy a product they have already enjoyed.

Usually, cross-sells and upsells happen during the checkout process. Amazon knows this all too well, which is why they display related products on the checkout page. It’s a simple but effective way to entice customers to purchase more expensive items, packages, or add-ons during and after the sale.

10. Leverage Testimonials

Customer testimonials (or reviews) add credibility to your brand. Getting more reviews is one of the best ways to increase conversion rates. Data shows that 50 or more reviews per product can mean a 4.6% increase in conversion rates – and ten or more reviews can result in a 15-20% increase in your search traffic. Moreover, product-specific reviews can drive more traffic to your website. 

Leverage testimonials

Try to leverage customer reviews wherever you can, including emails, landing pages, third-party review sites, and social media. You can also include case studies and social proof pop-ups to help increase conversion rates.

11. Keep Conversion Elements above the Fold

This is a critical (but often overlooked) factor. Web users spend 80% of their time looking at information above the page fold. Although users do scroll, they allocate only 20% of their attention below the fold.

Keep conversion elements above the fold

That’s why keeping your conversion components – like CTAs – above the fold makes total sense. This is the quickest way to help your customers pull the trigger. Keep your CTAs and other important elements clearly visible and provide access to your contact page with one click.

12. Use Video Marketing

Use video marketing

Videos are one of the most effective marketing tools in the digital landscape to increase conversion rate. According to the State of Video Marketing report, watching a brand’s video convinced:

  • 88% of customers to buy a product or service.
  • 78% of them to buy or download a piece of software or app.

It’s no surprise video remains a priority for most marketers. The good news is that you can use a variety of video types to engage your customers and increase conversions. They include:

  • Explainer videos
  • Education videos
  • Company culture videos
  • Testimonial videos
  • How-to videos
  • Product or service videos
  • Video ads
2022 video marketing stat

13. Include Social Proof on Your Website

Whatever you claim, you need to back it up. That’s why adding social proof to your website is crucial to increase its conversion rate. For example, Fender uses social proof with a distinctive approach.

Include social proof

They use the wisdom of the crowd (a type of social proof) to encourage readers to claim the offer. The landing page simply shows “lessons taken, 5-star reviews given, hours spent studying, and the number of lessons”.

Consumers have more options at their fingertips than ever before. Most will research several brands before making a purchase. In other words, if your competitors are doing a better job in marketing, your potential customers will go to them. The only way to outsmart your competition is to identify their strengths and weaknesses – and build your strategy accordingly.

That’s where competitor analysis comes in.

Research and analyze your main competitors to gain insight into their products, services, sales, and marketing tactics. Understand how you measure up to them and make the necessary changes in your marketing strategy. Use this information to highlight your USPs and strengths. This should help you increase your conversion rate in the long run.

14. Analyze Your Competition

Consumers have more options at their fingertips than ever before. Most will research several brands before making a purchase. In other words, if your competitors are doing a better job in marketing, your potential customers will go to them. The only way to outsmart your competition is to identify their strengths and weaknesses – and build your strategy accordingly.

That’s where competitor analysis comes in.

Foxxr competitor design research analysis template
Click the image to download a copy of the worksheet.

Research and analyze your main competitors to gain insight into their products, services, sales, and marketing tactics. Understand how you measure up to them and make the necessary changes in your marketing strategy. Use this information to highlight your USPs and strengths. This should help you increase your conversion rate in the long run.

15. Write Clear and Compelling Content

Write compelling content

Website copywriting is much different than blogging. While blogging intends to inform and educate, website copywriting aims to sell. You must keep this in mind when creating content for your product pages and landing pages, among others.  

You need clear, concise, and compelling content to encourage readers to buy a product or sign up. Stay focused on creating content that not only educates – but also converts. This will help you to increase your conversion rate.

Identify your target audience and write for them. Your conversion rate will improve gradually if your content meets their needs and provides meaningful answers. You should also include quantifiable facts in your content to strengthen your claims. Use images, videos, and other graphics to help boost your conversions.

Writing web copy is not as easy as it looks. Do yourself a favor and work with a professional copywriter to ensure you send the right message to potential clients.

16. Provide a Guest Checkout Option

Provide guest checkout option

Letting your customers shop as a guest without creating an account can help increase the conversion rate. It speeds up the buying process as customers are not required to register before making a purchase.

Most customers are unwilling to sign up, especially if they shop with you for the first time. Guest checkout options can help you improve the first contact. These customers will most likely come back and create an account later.

Secondly, guest checkout often converts impulse buyers. These buyers don’t want to spend time registering on every eCommerce website. Plus, they probably hate receiving promotional emails. In 2021, nearly a quarter (23%) of customers shopped on social networks impulsively. With guest checkout, you can easily tap into those customers. In short, you should include a clickable and clearly visible “Checkout as Guest” button on your checkout page.

17. Improve Your Website Navigation

Improve website navigation

Every visitor comes to your website with a purpose. They either want more information or to buy something. Your job is to make it easy for people to find what they want. The faster they can find what they are looking for, the sooner they will convert.

So, keep your website navigation simple, consistent, and intuitive. We also recommend adding a search feature to your website. With 43% of users on retail websites going directly to the search bar, this can help to increase the conversion rate significantly.

Other areas of focus include:

  • Linking your menu back to the home page. 
  • Using a sticky menu. 
  • De-cluttering your menu.
  • Using a sitemap. 

Include these elements to improve your navigation and, in turn, increase your conversion rate.

18. Offer Multiple Payment Options

Offering multiple payment options allows your potential customers to make a payment with their preferred gateway. It’s very frustrating for consumers to reach the checkout page only to find their preferred payment option is missing from the list – or they have to enter a long credit card number. Lack of payment options is one of the top reasons for cart abandonment.

From credit cards and debit cards to e-wallets, your website needs to provide as many payment options as possible. Ensure your customers can pay as they prefer, and they will keep shopping with you again and again.

19. Use Only High-Quality Images

Use high quality images

Website photos are just as important as web design. Using stock images on your website may create the wrong impression about your brand. Would you want to buy from a brand that uses bland stock images?

Of course not!

Use relevant website photos

That said, content with relevant images gets 94% more views. In other words, using high-quality, professional, and original photos can help you increase conversions. Make sure to use high-quality product images on your eCommerce website. If possible, offer a 3D view of your products.

Also, don’t forget to use proper Alt Text to make your images search engine friendly.

20. Use a Live Chat Tool

Today’s customers want instant support or help. If you fail to respond immediately, your potential customers will have no problem going to your competitor. One way to ensure 24/7 support is to include a live chat tool on your website. One text pop-up saying, “Hi, I am Kate. How can I help you?” can make your potential customers stay a little longer. In fact, 52% of consumers are more likely to remain loyal to a company that offers live chat support, and 29% will tell friends or colleagues about a positive live chat experience.

Use a live chat tool

If you haven’t already leveraged this feature, do it now! You can opt for an advanced chatbot solution with live support. There are many easy-to-integrate chatbot solutions in the marketplace.

21. Improve the Security of Your Website

Cybersecurity is probably the biggest concern for online shoppers and businesses today. According to the Identity Theft Resource Center (ITRC), data breaches in the first quarter of 2022 were up 14% compared to Q1 2021. And approximately 92% of the data breaches were the result of cyberattacks.

As you can see, a secure website will give your potential customers the confidence to share personal information like email, address, and credit card details. Your website needs to comply with the latest security features. These include:

  • HTTPS protocol, not HTTP.
  • The latest and valid SSL Certificates to encrypt sensitive information.
  • Asking for a CVV number for credit card transactions to avoid fraud.
  • Scan your website for malware regularly.
  • Monitor your website 24/7 to detect any abnormalities.
  • Comply with the Payment Card Industry (PCI) data security standard.
  • Ensure Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) compliance (if applicable).
Improve website security

Keep in mind cybersecurity regulations are always changing – be sure to keep tabs on how to adjust. You may also need to comply with industry-specific data security standards. Make sure to look into it to keep your website secure.

22. Create a Data-Driven Approach

Data is a crucial ingredient in increasing conversion rates. Your website will need frequent changes in layout, content, or functionality. These changes are necessary to stay ahead of the curve. However, you will have to make these changes based on data analysis.

Here are some critical data points you must track and analyze to run a better website.

  • Web traffic and its sources.
  • Thorough user behavior analysis for each landing page.
  • Detailed analysis of conversion rate and click-through rate.
  • Customer feedback, including reviews.
  • Pop-up and CTAs analysis.
  • Bounce rate optimization.
  • Layout analysis for each landing page.

Collect and process this data as thoroughly as possible to generate meaningful insights. These insights will help you to increase your conversion rate in the long run. We advise turning to a professional to ensure data is properly tracked and used.

23. Add Trust Badges

Trusted and certified badge

Trust badges are commonly placed on checkout pages to showcase that a transaction is 100% secure. You’ve more than likely seen these with logos for brands like Norton, McAfee, Better Business Bureau, Google Verification, Amazon Best Seller, etc. These badges do a lot to instantly put buyers at ease during the checkout process.

Studies have found that placing a trust badge saying all payments and transactions on your website are secure can increase conversions by nearly 9 percent

In addition to security-related badges, you can include ones showcasing benefits like free shipping and returns, accepted payments, money-back guarantees, etc. This is an extremely quick and simple way to improve customer confidence on your website. 

In Conclusion

It’s not easy to increase the conversion rate. But you can turn the tide around with a few proven tips like these. Start using these 22 proven strategies today to experience the difference.

Do you have more questions about improving your conversions? 
Get in touch with our experts, who will be more than happy to help you. At Foxxr, you will get 360-degree digital marketing solutions, including conversion rate optimization. Contact us today to learn more!