In our last blog, we revisited the topic of free shipping and listed some ways that offering it can grow online sales. We pointed out that free shipping will encourage customers to choose your business over others, spend more in your online shop and become better satisfied with your brand.
Here are three more fantastic reasons to offer free shipping:
1. Shipping costs don’t have to be too costly for your business.
At the end of the day, you’re not going to lose out by offering shipping for free. In addition to the larger transactions sizes you’re bound to enjoy, there are ways of getting around eating the costs of shipping. According to Taylor Haahr on TheFrugalpreneur.com, your shipping costs depend on where you’re sending a product and who is getting it for you. In many cases, this can be controlled.
“You can use a fulfillment service to lessen shipping costs from more faraway places,” informs Haahr, “Likewise, you can pick the shipping provider that you use and go with the one that has costs and services that work best for you. You can reduce the shipping costs by controlling the packaging and even limit free shipping.”
2. Customers will abandon their carts a lot less.
At the end of last month, our blog revisited the topic of cart abandonment. We pointed out that shipping costs are among the top reasons online shoppers abandon their carts. The blog post stressed the importance of making clear your shipping costs so as not to surprise shoppers at checkout. Offering free shopping, quite clearly, is a great way to encourage people to follow through on their purchases in your online store.
“Nobody likes hidden costs,” insists Paul Stainton on MarketplaceSolutions.ca, “And a lack of transparency can cause customers to lose trust in a business…In fact, a lack of free shipping is the top reason why consumers abandon their carts. 67% of participants from the 2020 E-Commerce Report survey said they’d abandon their cart if a retailer doesn’t offer free shipping.”
3. It encourages repeat business.
If we’ve said it once, we’ve said it a thousand times…and we’re bound to say it a thousand times more! There is simply no business like repeat business. As an entrepreneur, one of your top priorities should be to develop and grow customer relationships. Loyal supporters are the lifeblood of companies from all industries. Your offering of free shipping will encourage online shoppers to keep coming back to your website time and time again.
“I often don’t make purchases from companies that don’t offer free shipping,” states Haahr, “This is common with a lot of customers. We like free shipping and we’re more likely to make a purchase from businesses that cover it on our behalf (even if we know we still technically pay for it). Going that small extra mile can go a long way in securing loyal customers down the line.”
Is your company in need of a safe and secure e-commerce solution? Unity Payments can help you take advantage of this ever-growing trend. We’ve made selling online easier than ever! Please don’t hesitate to call us at 1-800-661-3761 or email us at info@unitypayments.ca to learn more.
