Real CRO Case Studies

Learn from actual conversion optimization examples. These are general CRO principles that have worked across various ecommerce stores.

Note: These are industry-wide CRO learnings and examples, not specific Ship Happens case studies. We believe in sharing valuable insights regardless of whether you use our tools.

TRUST & CREDIBILITY

Adding Trust Badges Below Add-to-Cart

A common pattern that consistently improves conversions is adding trust signals near the purchase decision point.

The Change:

  • Added security badges (SSL, payment icons)
  • Showed "30-day returns" promise
  • Included "Free shipping" threshold

Typical Impact

+8-15% CVR

Why It Works:

Reduces Purchase Anxiety

Addresses security concerns at the critical moment

Builds Confidence

Shows professionalism and reliability

Perfect Timing

Information appears when customers need it most

Implementation Tips:

  1. 1 Remove unnecessary fields (company name, phone if not needed)
  2. 2 Use address autocomplete for faster entry
  3. 3 Show progress indicators (Step 1 of 3)
  4. 4 Allow guest checkout prominently
  5. 5 Keep form labels clear and concise
CHECKOUT OPTIMIZATION

Reducing Checkout Form Fields

Every additional field in checkout increases abandonment. Simplification is one of the most impactful changes you can make.

Common Results:

Checkout completion rate ↑ 15-25%
Time to complete ↓ 30-40%
Mobile conversions ↑ 20-30%
Pro Tip: Test removing phone number field - it's rarely needed and often causes friction, especially internationally.
PRODUCT PAGES

Improving Product Image Galleries

Multiple Angles

Show products from 5-8 different angles. Include lifestyle shots showing products in use.

↑ 12% CVR

Zoom Feature

Let customers inspect details with high-resolution zoom on hover or tap.

↑ 9% CVR

Product Videos

Short videos showing products in action, especially for complex items.

↑ 18% CVR

Case Study: Fashion Retailer

Before:

  • • 2-3 product images only
  • • No zoom capability
  • • Static images only
  • • Limited detail views

After:

  • • 6-8 images per product
  • • High-res zoom on hover
  • • 360° view for key items
  • • Size/fit videos added

Overall Result

+23% Conversion Rate

SOCIAL PROOF

Leveraging Customer Reviews

Reviews are one of the most powerful conversion tools. Here's what works best.

Effective Review Strategies:

Show ratings in search results

+8% click-through rate

Include photo reviews

+15% conversion rate

Add review filters (size, fit, quality)

+12% engagement

Highlight specific review quotes

+7% add-to-cart rate

Common Mistakes:

Only showing 5-star reviews (reduces trust)
Hiding negative reviews (seems dishonest)
Not responding to complaints
Reviews hidden below the fold

Typical Impact: Stores with visible reviews see 18-30% higher conversion rates than those without

Key Learnings from These Studies

Speed Matters

Every second of page load time costs conversions. Aim for under 3 seconds, especially on mobile devices.

Mobile First

60-70% of traffic is mobile. If it doesn't work perfectly on phones, you're losing most of your potential customers.

Reduce Friction

Every extra click, field, or decision point loses customers. Simplify ruthlessly.

Test Everything

What works for one store might not work for another. Always A/B test changes with your actual customers.

Ready to Improve Your Store?

Start with our free CRO checklist to identify quick wins for your store.