7 must have shopping cart features.

If you want to sell your own products online you'll need a shopping cart.

Before commiting to a purchase, are the following 7 shopping cart features included in the software you are considering? If your shopping cart does include these customer friendly features there is more chance the customer will follow through with the purchase and come back and purchase from you again.

Feature One: Easy to use

Shoppers want to view information, add products to the cart, review selections, make changes, and pay simply by clicking buttons. The “add to cart” button should be prominently displayed. Navigating between product pages and the cart should be easy. Modifying the cart should be simple. Conversion is more likely when the cart is easy to use.

Feature Four: Automatically calculate totals

Keeping the consumer informed of total costs will build his or her confidence in shopping through the website. The shopping cart should show the product total, tax, and shipping costs. Many sites show a summary page as the final step before the consumer completes the transaction.

Feature Five: Has multiple payment options

Accepting payment through a number of methods will increase the likelihood that the transaction will be completed. Some customers prefer using credit cards. Some use PayPal. Still others use echecks. Providing a variety of payment options makes purchasing possible for a wider range of customers.

Feature Six: Security

Ensure encryption of personal data. Display the website’s privacy policy. Assuring consumers of the site’s trustworthiness eliminates concerns and encourages a mutually beneficial business relationship.

Feature Seven: Confirm the purchase

An automated email confirmation following the sale assures the customer that his or her order is in progress. As added assurance, many etailers find it a good practice to include contact instructions so the consumer can keep tabs on the status of the order, make inquiries, and track shipping.

Consumers look for ease of use, efficiency, and security when purchasing online. A well-designed shopping cart can meet these needs and increase conversion rate and revenue for etailers in a highly competitive market.

Make sure this list of shopping cart features is handy when considering a particular shopping cart for your site. I know that I have exited sites at the point of purchase because their shopping cart didn't seem quite right.