Written by In the competitive world of eCommerce, building trust and providing social proof are key components in influencing a potential buyer’s decision. One effective way to achieve this is by showing real-time sales activity through WooCommerce Recent Sales Popup. This feature displays recent customer purchases in a popup, giving visitors the impression that your store is active and thriving. It taps into the concept of social proof, which plays a crucial role in customer behavior.
In this blog, we’ll discuss the importance of social proof in eCommerce, explore the benefits of using recent sales popups, and guide you through setting up the WooCommerce Recent Sales Popup plugin to boost conversions on your store.
What is WooCommerce Recent Sales Popup?
The WooCommerce Recent Sales Popup is a plugin that shows a real-time notification on your website whenever a customer makes a purchase. This notification appears as a popup and typically includes information such as the product purchased, the buyer’s location (or anonymized details), and the time of purchase. The idea is to create a sense of urgency and highlight the activity happening on your store.
Recent sales popups are a form of social proof, which is a psychological phenomenon where people tend to mimic the actions of others, especially in situations where they are uncertain about the right decision to make. By displaying recent purchases, you are signaling to potential customers that others trust your brand, which can encourage them to follow suit and make a purchase themselves.
Why Use WooCommerce Recent Sales Popup?
- Increase Trust and Credibility
One of the major challenges online stores face is building trust with visitors. Unlike brick-and-mortar stores where customers can physically interact with the products, online stores rely heavily on credibility. By showing recent purchases in real-time, you are demonstrating that your store is active and trustworthy, which can encourage visitors to feel more confident in buying from you. - Boost Conversion Rates
Social proof directly influences purchasing behavior. The more visible your store’s activity is, the more likely a new visitor is to make a purchase. Recent sales popups create a sense of urgency, as visitors may feel they need to act quickly before the product sells out or to take advantage of a limited-time offer. This urgency can help to drive conversions and increase sales. - Create Urgency and FOMO (Fear of Missing Out)
Sales popups often highlight specific products that are selling quickly or are popular among customers. This can create a sense of urgency, particularly if the popup shows that a product is being purchased by others in real-time. The fear of missing out (FOMO) can encourage customers to complete their purchases quickly. - Improve User Engagement
When implemented correctly, recent sales popups can make your website more interactive and engaging. By showing real-time activity, your store feels dynamic and alive. This can help in keeping visitors on your site longer, which can indirectly influence the likelihood of a sale. - Encourage Impulse Purchases
By showcasing recent purchases, the plugin encourages customers to make impulse purchases. For example, if a customer sees that other people are buying a particular product or service, they may be more likely to add it to their cart without overthinking it. This can boost your average order value and drive additional sales.
How to Set Up WooCommerce Recent Sales Popup
Setting up the WooCommerce Recent Sales Popup plugin is simple and can be done in just a few steps. Here’s a detailed guide to help you get started:
Step 1: Install the Plugin
To begin, you need to install a WooCommerce Recent Sales Popup plugin. There are several options available in the WordPress plugin repository or premium plugin marketplaces. Once you’ve chosen a plugin, follow these steps to install it:
- Log in to your WordPress admin dashboard.
- Navigate to Plugins > Add New.
- Search for “WooCommerce Recent Sales Popup” or the name of the plugin you wish to use.
- Click Install Now and then Activate.
Step 2: Configure the Plugin Settings
Once the plugin is installed and activated, you can begin configuring the settings to suit your needs:
- Go to WooCommerce > Settings in the WordPress dashboard.
- Find the Recent Sales Popup settings tab, which will be available after activation.
- In the settings, you can configure:
- Popup Style: Choose how the popup will appear. You can select a simple notification or an eye-catching popup.
- Popup Trigger: Configure when the popup will appear (e.g., after a certain time on the page, after a purchase, or when the visitor adds an item to their cart).
- Content: Decide what information the popup will show. This can include product name, buyer location, and time of purchase.
- Frequency: You can control how often the popup appears and whether it should display every time a purchase is made or only a select number of times per session.
- Design Customization: Customize the look of the popup to match your store’s branding. You can adjust colors, text sizes, and the overall layout.
Step 3: Display Settings
In addition to configuring the appearance, you’ll also want to define where and when the popups appear on your website:
- Popup Placement: Decide whether the popup will appear at the top, bottom, or center of the screen.
- Frequency: Limit how often popups appear to avoid annoying customers. You can set the plugin to display the popup once per session, once per day, or only after a certain action, such as adding an item to the cart.
Step 4: Test the Popups
Once you’ve configured the plugin, it’s time to test it. Visit your store as a regular customer and ensure that the recent sales popups appear as expected. Test different scenarios, such as making a purchase, adding a product to the cart, and visiting multiple product pages. Make sure the popups display the correct information and are not intrusive or disruptive to the customer experience.
Best Practices for Using Recent Sales Popups
- Don’t Overwhelm Your Customers
While social proof can be very powerful, too many popups can overwhelm your visitors. Use the plugin strategically by limiting how often the popups appear or when they display. For instance, showing a popup only after a customer has been on the site for a while can reduce disruption. - Show Relevant Products
Ensure the popups highlight products that are relevant to the customer’s interests. For example, if a customer is browsing a particular category, show recent purchases from that category to make the popup more personalized and engaging. - Use FOMO Wisely
Creating a sense of urgency can drive sales, but be mindful not to make your customers feel pressured. Instead of showing random purchases, focus on items that are truly selling quickly or are on limited-time promotions. - Design with Care
Customize the popup’s design to align with your store’s branding. A popup that looks out of place or poorly designed may turn potential customers off. Make sure the popup is visually appealing, clear, and easy to close.
Conclusion
The WooCommerce Recent Sales Popup is a great tool for building trust and driving conversions on your online store. By leveraging the power of social proof, you can create an environment where customers feel more confident in making purchases, knowing that others are buying the same products. The plugin’s simplicity and customization options make it a great addition to any WooCommerce store looking to boost sales.
If you haven’t already, consider implementing this feature today to enhance your store’s credibility, increase urgency, and, ultimately, see your conversion rates soar