Conversion rate problem

[SebastianG]

Hi guys,

This is my first post. Here is the background story

I tested a muse and got 10 sales over 7 days with a profit of $60 per sale I decided to go ahead and make the product. The conversion rate was between 1 and 2%.

Previously I had a site very similar to Tim's PX Method with a three step process to payment.

1 - product
2 - pricing and credit card form (but I only collected their name, email etc)
3 - thank you page after payment

I hired a programmer to write my page and the page is ok but even though I explained the payment process he change it and now I am stuck with it so I decided to go live anyway. Here is the process now:

1- product info
2 - pricing and buy now button
3 - create user name, enter email address and click OK to price
4 - proceed to PayPal
5 - pay via paypal
6 - receive thank you message

I was annoyed that he changed the process but was anxious to test it out after making the product.

Now in 3 days I have had over 1000 unique visitors to the site which is more than I had during testing. I have had 10 people get to the 'proceed to paypal' step but none have paid.

They have already gone through the pricing page, also they entered in their username and password but have not paid.

This 10 people is exactly 1% of my visitors which is basically the same as my testing but when testing I obviously couldnt test to see if they were typing in correct credit numbers etc as it is illegal.

My question is, do you think the customers are not paying because:

1- the payment process is annoying/confusing
2 - they do not have credit on their credit cards?
3 - some other reason

I am selling a digital product which is why the username and email is captured. I now realise that I could have used other methods to streamline the system.

I am a little in two worlds at the moment.

-10 people 'almost' paid. which is 1% and the same as my testing
-I have had 4 people emailing me asking questions about the product ( these are different people to the other 10)
- I want to change the website to remove this problem but I don't have the cash at the moment as I am a student.

Basically 10 sales over 3 days is amazing if it is true.

Has anyone had the same problem.

If I get 1% of users buying my product and 1000 people every 3 days to my site I am laughing. Now I am not laughing but I want to be!!! haha

Let me know your thoughts

[Pierre!]

Well, at least you have forward movement!!!

First - With programmers, make sure your 'scope' is clear and in writing. If it comes out different than the 'scope', withhold further payment for the project. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO TAKE WHAT YOU ARE GIVEN, particularly if it isn't what you asked for... You Rule This Paid Event! It is either to YOUR spec, or it's not... and the checkbook then gets put away if you don't get what you want.

But, you are where you are now...

Have you considered responding and letting the 'almost' paid folks know that you are having a Christmass Sale? Give them a 20%? off offer - you have product, better to ship it than look at it I would say.

I got into a 'Internet Marketing Club' and wasn't truly happy with the info. It was good, but it was high level, and I needed Nuts and Bolts. I had hooked up with a Nuts and Bolts arrangement... So I went to dump the IMC. Next thing you know, the monthly fees dropped from $97 to $47 a month to stay active...

So... Perhaps it tested well, but the Christmass Season is working against you as well. It gives you a nice opportunity to drop the price not only to your testers, but also to the crowd.

You have collected their names, broadcast an email to them with the 'Christmass Sale'. And it doesn't need to be 20% off... I just threw that out to you.

Keep in mind, I am just thinking out lout - I don't know your product, so it's hard to say. When in doubt, be flexible when it makes sense... perhaps my idea makes sense for you, and perhaps not...

And remember - YOU are the Mercilous GOD of the Programmers... Do not settle for what they give you, unless they can show you a track record of their conversion rates.

HTH!

Merry Christmass!

[ArtWealth]

I'm curious as to why you are not set up to take credit cards.

I've heard that people are more likely to pull the trigger with a CC than with PayPal.

If you believe this is not true, please elaborate.

N.

[liam75005]

I personnally never buy online from Paypal but with a credit card... so maybe you should look into changing your payment processor so you can take cc.