An integral part of any online store is safely delivering each product to the buyer’s home, and today’s customers expect shipping to be both low-cost and straightforward. If you own a small e-commerce business, then you can increase customer satisfaction with these proven shipping strategies:
Lower Your Shipping Rates
If you are competing with an industry leader like Amazon, then “free shipping” is the name of the game. Shipping is never really free, though, so how can you offer a low shipping price that appeals to customers?
Try these ideas:
- Build the cost of shipping into the regular price of your product
- Choose smaller, more lightweight packaging
- Take advantage of free packaging from carriers like the US Postal Service
Be Honest About Shipping Costs
Shipping should never be a last-minute surprise! Studies have shown that up to 25% of digital customers who abandoned their shopping carts did so because of unexpected shipping costs. To avoid this problem, be clear about your company’s shipping policy.
Make It Easy for Buyers to Track Their Purchases
Give your customers the option to track their purchases in real time. This will decrease concerned calls about delays, give your customers greater control over their delivery, and provide peace of mind. If you offer these capabilities directly through your website, you may also boost your business’s sales!
Be Cautious with International Shipping
Are you interested in opening your small e-commerce store up to cross-border online sales? Be prepared for country-specific regulations, sky-high shipping costs, and a more significant risk of damaged or missing items. Before you go global, consider targeting one or two bordering countries. Once you are comfortable with those locations, you can reconsider a worldwide expansion.
Keep Your Packages Safe
Did you know that 20% of e-commerce returns are because of shipping damage? Replacing a damaged product can cost online retailers 17 times the original price of shipping. With the right interior box packaging, however, you can ensure that your product safely reaches its intended destination.
At General Partition Company, Inc., we offer polycoated chipboard, SBS partitions, and other products that are specially designed to protect our clients’ merchandise. Explore our website to determine the best shipping solutions for your small e-commerce business, or call us at 1-888-501-4685!