# Beginner’s Guide to Lowering Cart Abandonment Rate for E-commerce Stores
In the world of e-commerce, cart abandonment can be a major frustration for store owners. With an average abandoned cart rate of 70%, according to Baymard Institute, this represents a significant loss of revenue. However, by implementing the following tactics, you can effectively lower your abandoned cart rate and improve the profitability of your business.
## 1. Utilize Staggered Discounts
To encourage purchases, many marketers include discounts in their abandoned cart emails. However, to take it a step further, consider offering more significant discounts to customers who have been inactive for a longer period. For example, offer a 10% discount the day after abandonment, and a 20% discount to customers who have been inactive for two weeks. While larger discounts may affect profit margins, it’s important to consider that no sale means zero profit.
## 2. Implement a Currency Converter
For international audiences, displaying prices in the customer’s native currency can help prevent cart abandonment. Consider using a currency converter app like BEST Currency Converter on platforms like Shopify to automatically detect and display the customer’s country’s currency.
## 3. Provide Free Shipping
Unexpected shipping costs can lead to cart abandonment. Consider offering free shipping, or even free worldwide shipping, to reduce the likelihood of customers abandoning their carts. While this may impact order profitability based on shipping region, it can enhance the overall customer experience.
## 4. Streamline Checkout Process
Ensure that your checkout process is fast and simple. Avoid requiring customers to create accounts to make a purchase, and consider offering checkout options through PayPal for added convenience and security.
## 5. Display Trust Badges
Incorporate trust badges from reputable security companies like Norton and McAfee to reassure customers about the safety of their payment information. This can help alleviate fears of data fraud and increase customer trust in completing purchases.
## 6. Showcase Customer Reviews
Social proof is crucial in purchasing decisions. Displaying customer reviews, especially video reviews, can significantly impact purchase decisions. Encourage repeat customers to provide video reviews in exchange for discounts to add credibility to your products.
## 7. Implement Retargeting Strategies
Utilize platforms like Facebook Pixel to retarget customers who have abandoned their carts. Create visually appealing ad campaigns with powerful imagery and consider offering discounts with a sense of urgency to entice customers to complete their purchases.
By implementing these strategies, e-commerce store owners can effectively lower their cart abandonment rate and improve the overall profitability of their business. Remember to continuously test and optimize these tactics to find what works best for your specific audience and products.
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*This blog post was written by [Aaron Agius](https://louder.online), CEO of Louder Online, a leading digital agency. For more insights on digital marketing and e-commerce strategies, connect with Aaron on [Facebook](https://facebook.com/IAmLouderOnline), [Twitter](https://twitter.com/IAmAaronAgius), [LinkedIn](https://au.linkedin.com/in/aaronagius), and [Google+](https://plus.google.com/+AaronAgius).*
