Imagine a customer reaches your checkout, takes out their card… and leaves because the line is not moving or the price changed at the last minute. The same thing happens in your online store when the checkout has friction. The good news: with five simple adjustments, you can recover many sales that are currently slipping away.
1) Ask for less information (only the essentials)
Every extra field is another reason to leave.
What to do today:
- Allow customers to check out as guests (without creating an account).
- Ask only for what is necessary: name, email, phone number, and address, if applicable.
- If there are shipping/pickup options, show only what applies.
How it feels for the customer: fast, without strange questions or unnecessary steps.
Microcopy example:
“We will ask only for the information needed to deliver your order.”
2) No surprises: clear final price and delivery times
Customers hate discovering at the end that shipping costs more than expected.
What to do today:
- Show the total with shipping and taxes before the final click.
- Indicate estimated delivery times (e.g., “24–72 business hours”) and a simple exchange policy.
- Keep an order summary visible at all times.
How it feels for the customer: trust and control.
Microcopy example:
“Delivery within 24–72 business hours. Easy exchanges within 7 days.”
3) Offer payment methods people already use
If they do not recognize the payment method, they hesitate.
What to do today:
- Accept cards and local/familiar payment methods (in El Salvador: Wompi, PayPal, Stripe).
- Arrange the options: place card payment or express checkout first, followed by the others.
- Display security badges near the payment button.
How it feels for the customer: familiar and secure.
Microcopy example:
“100% secure payment. We accept cards and local payment methods.”
4) Fast and easy on mobile
More than half of customers shop from their phones. If your checkout is not fast, they will leave.
What to do today:
- Large button that is easy to see: “Complete Purchase.”
- No distractions: no unnecessary pop-ups or menus that take customers out of the checkout flow.
- Show errors immediately (field by field) to avoid wasting time.
How it feels for the customer: smooth and effortless.
Microcopy example:
“If anything is missing, we will let you know right here—without losing your progress.”
5) Recover sales with a friendly reminder
Many customers abandon their carts because they are in a hurry, not because they are no longer interested. A small reminder works.
What to do today:
- Send a reminder (email or WhatsApp) if they left the checkout incomplete.
- Allow them to continue where they left off with one click.
- Test small changes: button text, step order, and clearer labels.
Short template (WhatsApp/email):
“Hi, {{name}}! We saved your order for {{product}}. Would you like to complete it now? You can continue here: {{link}}. If you have any questions, I am here to help.”
Express checklist (20 minutes)
- Guest checkout enabled.
- Only essential fields.
- Total (including shipping and taxes) visible before payment.
- Familiar payment methods and security badge.
- Clean, distraction-free checkout on mobile.
- Cart abandonment reminder configured.
Signs that your checkout is slowing down sales
- Customers message you asking, “What is the final total with shipping?”
- Many customers add items to their carts, but few pay.
- Support receives questions about payment methods or policies.
- The checkout is slow or “freezes” on mobile.
What you can expect
When you simplify the process, the completion rate increases and abandonment decreases. It is not magic: it is about removing obstacles. Start with one or two adjustments this week and measure the difference.
Do you want us to implement it for you?
At Cuernosoft, we prepare your checkout so it is simple, clear, and equipped with reliable payment methods (Wompi/PayPal/Stripe), trust-building messages, and automatic reminders to recover sales.
Would you like me to prepare a proposal with the steps, timeline, and cost? Click here
