Anthony Villegas — May 17, 2018 — May 17, 2018
Mediamodifier / Pixabay
Online shopping has literally changed the way people do business. It allows consumers from all over the world to flock to specific products or services all from the comfort of their homes. While the internet has given us the gift of reach, it is up to a business to give itself the gift of conversion. Remember, traffic doesn’t (always) equal sales. In fact, in order to capture your customer, you have to take into consideration who they really are.
To help you out, we’ve broken down the pool of online shoppers into five categories. Let’s take a look at them so we can really understand the different info customers are looking for when visiting your site.
The Bargain Hunter
- Focused on value
- Compares prices
- Searches multiple sites
Bargain hunters aren’t necessarily looking for the lowest price as much as they are the best value. Sure, lower prices help incentivize their buying process, but they are looking for the most value per dollar paid. You can combat price sensitivity by:
- Shifting the attention to features your products offer
- Outlining why customers love your products/services
- Detailing makes you stand out from your competitors
If your customer is a true Bargain Hunter, they already how your prices compare, now they need to understand why they should shop with you.
The Educated Guesser
- Researches extensively
- Compares products
- Wants to make informed decisions
This type of online shopper is comparing, but they aren’t comparing prices. This shopper is looking for the best quality and features that fit their needs. They don’t want to feel like they made a bad decision, so they will spend hours researching until they feel informed enough to purchase. With this shopper, you’ll want to:
- Provide relevant specs for your products
- Include detailed lists of product features
- Incorporate social proof / reviews on your site
The trick to swaying this shopper’s decision is to provide them an easy way to find all the info they’re looking for on your site – once they leave, it’s hard to get them back.
The Early Adopter
- Looks for the latest
- Upgrades often
- Wants to be the first
Our early adopter is obsessed with having the latest and greatest. They will replace a perfectly good product with another just because it’s newer or trendier (iPhone, anyone?). These shoppers want to stay in-the-know on when the next product is scheduled to come out. You can commonly find the early adopter in fashion, beauty, tech, or any other industry that is constantly changing. These shoppers respond well to:
- Targeted email tactics to keep them engaged
- Inbox incentives (i.e. coupons codes, exclusive product info)
If email is the way you decide to go with capturing an Early Adopter shopper, just make sure you’re staying GDPR, CAN-SPAM, & CASL compliant.
The Buy Now(er)
- Looking to buy quickly
- Time sensitive
- Easily lost
This ‘Buy Now’ shopper is sort of like an ‘eats-while-driving-because-it’s-more-efficient’ kind of shopper. They are all about convenience. They know what they need, search it, and get it. To up your chances of keeping this shopper on your site, you should:
- Implement a guest checkout option
- Shorten your checkout process to make it faster
Their interaction with your store is very brief and if they can’t get what they need from you quickly, they’re going somewhere else. These customers are easy to convert if you make it easy for them.
The Experience Lover
- Wants to feel special
- Focuses on overall experience
- Extremely brand loyal
The experience-loving shopper loves to feel special (who doesn’t?). They buy into the brand and shopping experience more than any other aspect of the buying process. Some of the ways you can maximize the experience for this shopper are to:
- Develop a reward or loyalty program
- Entice them with an exclusive ‘members only’ newsletter
- Drive in the idea that the experience you provide is unlike your competitor’s
Exclusivity and uniqueness are some of the pillars that these shoppers keep in mind. Brands like Starbucks, Victoria’s Secret, and Chanel have mastered the art of experiential shopping. But don’t worry, so can you.
Remember, you know your customers more than anybody else. They each have their own needs and interact with your products, services, and store differently. Understanding these interactions and integrating strategies to meet those needs can make all the difference for you and your business. Once you have an idea of the type of shoppers you most often attract, you can develop an in-depth strategy to capture them. Remember, creating a one-size-fits-all strategy can harm you more than help you.
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