3 Ways to Fix Lost Ecommerce Sales

Is Your Ecommerce Site Full of Holes? Stop Leaking Sales with These 3 Quick Fixes

It’s hard to believe, but right now, many ecommerce sites are leaking sales left, right, and centre without even realising it. All that hard work, all those marketing spend? Just slipping through the cracks. The good news is that plugging these leaks is entirely possible and doesn’t require reinventing the wheel - just a few well-aimed changes.

Here are three straightforward ways to patch up those gaps and start seeing more sales stick.

1. Install Clarity to See What’s Really Happening on Your Site

You might think you know how your customers are interacting with your site, but until you actually watch user sessions, it’s mostly guesswork. That’s where tools like Microsoft Clarity come in. With Clarity, you can actually record and watch how people navigate, scroll, and click through your site - almost like standing over their shoulder as they shop.

Here’s the thing: you’re likely to see moments where they seem to get stuck or confused. Maybe they’re hovering around the “Add to Cart” button but not clicking, or they scroll through the entire page without a single click. These moments are goldmines for insight because they’re pointing out friction that’s pushing your customers away. Find those rough spots, smooth them out, and you’re already a step closer to more conversions.

2. Ditch the Blanket Pop-Up Discount and Make It Count

Let’s talk about those generic discount pop-ups. You know, the ones that just say “Get 10% off” to every single person who lands on your site? They’re not doing you any favours. People are tired of them, they can feel intrusive, and often they just teach customers to expect discounts rather than encouraging them to buy for the right reasons.

A better move? Be a little more strategic with those offers. For example, try targeting pop-ups to customers who seem ready to buy but haven’t quite pulled the trigger yet. Maybe someone who’s scrolled through three or four products could benefit from a message about your best-sellers or new arrivals. It’s about finding the right moment, not bombarding everyone the minute they arrive.

3. Check Your Site’s Search Results (and Fix Those Dead Ends)

If your on-site search is bringing up “No Results” for popular searches, you’re setting yourself up for unnecessary exits. It’s like telling a customer, “We don’t have what you want,” even when you probably do. Start reviewing your search data and note which terms come up empty.

Then, put in the time to make sure those terms yield relevant results. Maybe it means tagging your products better, refining how your search tool works, or even adding some new products to cover those gaps. Whatever it is, these little changes make it easier for customers to find what they came for, without leaving in frustration.

Final Thoughts: Skip the Tricks, Fix the Leaks

It’s tempting to look for the next flashy growth hack, but honestly, if you’ve got holes in the basics, all the tricks in the world won’t make a difference. Fix the fundamentals, and you’ll find those sales you’ve been missing without having to add layers of complexity to your site.

Think of it this way: instead of constantly chasing the next “big thing” to drive sales, take a step back, see where customers are falling out of the funnel, and close those gaps. When you fix what’s broken, everything else just starts to work better.

Article by Gary Baker

Gary Baker is a UK-based ecommerce consultant, coach and investor with over 20 years experience running ecommerce businesses in a range of industries. He currently heads up Ecom180, a consulting firm focused on assisting ecommerce businesses with turnarounds, growth and exits. His extensive hands-on experience allows him to provide tailored advice based on firsthand knowledge of the difficulties and successes that come with running an ecommerce business today. You can find more about him at garybaker.online