Who’s behind this site?

This ecommerce blog is lovingly brought to you by Linda Bustos and Jason Billingsley of Elastic Path Software: The ecommerce software that helps retailers sell more and work less.

Need advice? Contact Us or Visit Elastic Path »

Get New Posts Delivered to You
Dangerous Marketing Ahead:
How to Break Bad Habits and
Survive a Deep Recession

Is navigation/search available during checkout?

Chart: Is navigation/search available during checkout?

The debate whether to herd customers like cattle through a step-by-step checkout by removing all navigation and search options will remain. Overall, there was no clear growth or conversion winner between the two camps – to have or to hide. However, computer and electronics retailers who suppressed navigation during checkout had almost 2x the growth rate of those who made it available. Those selling high ticket price items also had a 60% higher growth rate where navigation was not made available. This suggests when selling items that are a highly considered purchase it may be better to reduce the avenues a shopper may use to re-consider the decision – put the blinders on and herd them through to order confirmation.

Overall, 57% of Top 100 online retailers choose to make search and navigation available during the checkout process.

Like This Article?

Get New Posts Delivered to You

Comments

  1. August 23rd, 2007

    My experience is, that a real sales-funnel is more relevant for “virtual” products, such as assurances, bank accounts or other services.

  2. June 20th, 2008

    Hello, I have been reading your Ecommerce Checkout Report with great interest however I am uncertain as to how you define ‘Growth Rate’. Any pointers would be greatly received!

    Cheers,

    Jamie

  3. June 20th, 2008

    Growth rate was the amount of sales in ‘04 vs ‘05.

    2004: $100m
    2005: $150m
    = 50% growth rate

Leave a comment