Boost conversions with quantity-focused CTAs

Hey, it's Gabe, back with another quick tip to help you rake in more cash. This week, we're going to talk about your "Add to Cart" button—because, believe it or not, it could be costing you some serious dough. Ready? Let's dig in!

The quick fix: Change up your buy buttons

Let's talk CTAs (call-to-actions). You know, those “Add to cart” or “Buy now” buttons. Guess what? Research shows they might be holding you back. Instead of the old “Do you want to buy this?” focus, try switching to a “How many do you want?” vibe. Think: “Buy 1,” “Buy 2,” “Buy 3.” Simple, right?

The results: Bigger carts, more sales 🛍️

Here’s the scoop. In 36 different experiments (featuring tasty items like Lindt chocolate and everyday stuff like printer ink), this small change led to big wins:

• 14% more likely to buy on average.
• 28% jump in total sales—because people bought more items.
• HP saw a 12% lift in sales conversions and a 15% increase in revenue, which was over $1 million in printer supplies alone!

Why this works: It's all about psychology 🧠

Let me hit you with some psychology 101. Our brains love a good shortcut, and they hate making too many decisions at once. By changing the CTA from "whether to buy" to "how many," you're shifting the focus. You’re moving them from “Should I buy this?” to “How many should I buy?”—which is more likely to get a “Yes, I’ll take three, please!”

It works especially well for:

• Higher-priced items (think $6.99 candles, not $0.99 gum)
• Unplanned purchases (which, fun fact, account for about half of all shopping)
• Conversational copy (“How many chocolates do you want today?”)

When this might flop 🙃

Not every trick works every time. This one? Not so great for:

• Products people rarely buy in multiples (like diamond rings or fancy shoes).
• When you’re offering way too many choices at once. That could overwhelm customers and send them running for the hills.

How to implement this (the right way) ✅

Here’s your action plan:

1. Check if your product fits: If people usually buy just one (like a luxury watch), skip this strategy. But if they might buy multiples, keep reading.
2. Place multiple CTAs with quantity options: Think “Add 1 to cart,” “Add 2 to cart,” etc. Start with 3 options and adjust based on your test results.
3. Update dynamically: When a customer clicks an option, change it to show “Add 1 more,” “Add 2 more,” etc. This keeps them engaged and encourages larger purchases.
4. Test different messages: on ads, emails, and landing pages. Try lines like “Grab a few!” or “Take two—it’s better that way!” and see what clicks.

Your turn: Time to put it to the test 🎯

Ready to try it out? Give your CTAs a little makeover and watch what happens. Maybe you’ll find your customers adding that extra item to their cart—and your sales numbers climbing like a cat up a curtain. 🐾

Until next week, happy selling!  

Want to learn more? 🤓

If you want to learn more about this topic, you can dig into the nerdy details in the original marketing study.

Quote of the week 💬

"Make it easy to buy, and people will buy more."