How much can a website increase your sales?

The internet has become the first place consumers research. In the United States, e-commerce jumped from 14.3% of retail sales in 2018 to 21.3% in 2020, and the trend keeps accelerating: websites become more important for businesses every year.

Websites bring new sales opportunities

Without one, it's very hard to build the trust a business needs to grow. With one, your company reaches customers beyond geographic limits, offers 24/7 sales and support, works as an information hub, and even boosts your physical store, since more than 80% of in-store purchases involve online research first.

However, simply having a website is no guarantee of success. Results come from combining qualified traffic with a great experience.

SEO is the key

Search engine optimization signals your services to Google through keywords, links, and content. Two components matter: traffic quality, visitors genuinely interested in what you sell, and traffic quantity. It's worth bringing in an SEO professional to accelerate this work.

Don't forget web design

An impressive 75% of opinions about a company's credibility come from its website design, and 38% of people stop engaging with a site that isn't attractive. Design isn't vanity: it's conversion.

So, how much does a website increase sales?

The honest answer: as much as you want. Results depend on the effort and tactics employed. These are the six that move the needle most:

1. Optimize for mobile

Nearly 60% of searches happen on mobile devices, and projections show the vast majority of users will soon browse exclusively on their phones. A responsive, fast-loading site is the bare minimum.

2. Improve the on-site customer journey

Align landing pages with your ad content. Nearly 70% of shopping carts are abandoned, which represents a huge opportunity: simplify checkout and be transparent about costs.

3. Build trust with social proof

Customer testimonials, case studies, and reviews build the credibility that turns visitors into buyers.

4. Offer better support

FAQ, knowledge base, chatbots, and live chat. Fast, human support is a real experience differentiator.

5. Act on intent

Use pop-ups and calls to action sparingly and at the right moment. Cart abandonment emails, for instance, show an impressive 18.64% conversion rate.

6. Create urgency

Scarcity features like "only X left" and countdown timers have been shown to create an 8.6% lift in conversions.

It's all about the customer

In the end, the question guiding every website decision should always be the same: is this making my customer's life easier?