Back to all answers

/ Ecommerce

Why is my online shop getting traffic but no sales?

Usually trust, shipping costs, or checkout friction. Look at your checkout drop-off before you touch the design.

/ 01

The short version

A 2% conversion rate is normal. If you're under 0.5% with real traffic, something specific is broken.

/ 02

What actually matters

  • Show shipping cost early — surprise costs are the top abandonment reason.
  • Add trust signals: reviews, returns policy, real contact details.
  • Enable guest checkout. Forced accounts kill sales.
  • Test the whole checkout on a phone, on mobile data.
  • Check the traffic is actually relevant, not random.

/ 03

The bit most people get wrong

Cheap traffic from broad social ads inflates visits and flatters nobody. Judge conversion by channel, not sitewide.

/ 04

What to do next

Buy something from your own shop on your phone. Note every point of hesitation.

/ 05

Where RIOT fits in

We're a small Colchester studio helping UK SMBs get ecommerce conversion right without agency waste or freelancer flake. If you've read this far and you want a second opinion on your specific setup, book a 20-minute call and we'll tell you honestly whether it's worth doing anything at all.

We work with clients across Essex, Suffolk, London and the wider UK — and remotely with brands abroad. No lock-in, no monthly retainer minimums, no pretending your problem is bigger than it is.

/ FAQs

Common questions

What's a good conversion rate?

1.5–3% for most UK small retailers.

Should I offer free delivery?

Above a threshold, it usually pays for itself.

Still not sure?

Book a free 20-minute call — we'll answer your specific version of this question with no sales pitch.

Book a call
Ashley Scott
Studio Lead
speak to Ashley