AI & Automation For CRO
Running an online store is a bit like juggling while riding a unicycle—you’re trying to keep a hundred things balanced at once, and dropping one ball can mess up the whole show. That’s where AI tools come in handy – they don’t do the juggling for you, but they make sure you’ve got some extra hands.
At Sprints and Sneakers, we’ve seen firsthand how AI can turn a regular online shop into a conversion powerhouse, and we’re here to spill the beans on how you can do the same.
But first – Why Conversion Rate Optimization (CRO) Matters
Already familiar with CRO? Skip to the AI & Automation part here.
CRO is a fancy way of saying, “Let’s get more people to buy stuff, ” without increasing the number of people walking into your store. As an e-commerce manager, this means increasing your store’s revenue without increasing marketing or ad spend. = more bang for your buck 💸
This we can do either by making more visitors:
a) become customers during their visit (conversion)
b) making the ones who purchase spend more (spend)
c) making sure the ones who purchase come back more often (frequency)
Instead of focusing solely on getting more visitors, CRO is all about making the most out of the traffic you’ve already got. It’s like turning those window shoppers into paying customers without having to put a “SALE!” sign on everything.
But if you’re already caught in that cycle of throwing sales on everything just to hit your targets, we totally get it—it’s frustrating and unsustainable. Let’s chat about it – schedule a free 15-minute consultational call here.
The (Four) Metrics That Actually Matter
Keeping track of these key metrics is crucial to figuring out what’s working and what’s not:
Conversion Rate: This is basically your report card. It’s the percentage of visitors who make a purchase. If it’s low, something’s off and needs tweaking. It’s the foundation of all other metrics, so without this being in good shape we shouldn’t optimize for the others.
Average Order Value (AOV): How much are people spending each time they check out? The more you can get people to add to their cart, the more revenue you pull in.
Purchase Frequency Rate: This measures how often your customers come back to buy from you again. It’s like your customer loyalty score. The higher it is, the better job you’re doing at keeping them hooked and happy. A solid purchase frequency rate means you’re not just getting one-time sales—you’re building a reliable base of repeat customers.
Customer Lifetime Value (CLTV): This is the big picture. CLTV tells you how much each customer is worth to your business over their entire relationship with you. It’s like knowing how long someone’s willing to stick around and spend. A higher CLTV means your customers are staying longer, buying more, and your efforts to build loyalty are paying off.
Using these metrics, you can pinpoint why your shoppers are getting cold feet and then make the necessary tweaks to keep them on the hook.
Get the S&S GPT-CRO analyst today
- Customized recommendations for your website
- See key conversion killers
- Get a list of experiment ideas to run
Set Some Real Goals—And Don’t Overcomplicate It
It’s easy to get carried away with lofty goals like “We’re going to double our sales this month!” But let’s keep it real. Start with specific, measurable targets, like increasing your conversion rate by x% this quarter.
We found that setting small, clear goals in smaller sprints led to big wins—like boosting our average order size by 15% just by adding a “You might also like…” section in the cart.
So, how can AI & Automation help you with optimizing your website for a better conversion rate?
1. Behavioral Targeting:
Customers love to feel special—who doesn’t? AI can help you treat every shopper like a VIP without all the extra legwork.
AI can figure out what your customers are into before they even know it. If someone’s browsing our running shoes for the fifth time this week, it’s time to show them a deal they can’t resist. Kind of like the algorithm that knows you’re into crime documentaries and won’t let you forget it.
2. Product Recommendations:
By showing customers products they’re likely to buy based on their browsing history, you turn “just looking” into “adding to cart.” With tools like Rebuy – AI powered shopping experiences, you can set-up AI product recommendation widget in the blink of an eye.
3. Dynamic Content:
This is like having your website wear a different outfit for every visitor. If someone’s been eyeing our workout gear, they’ll come back to see our latest sports bra in their favourite color. Triggerbee as an example helps you do exactly this.
3. ChatGPT and AI assistants
Yes, a no brainer for many these days – but if you still haven’t started using tools like ChatGPT, KoalaAI, or any other AI assistant tools, you have a lot of areas you can optimize for. And, my bet is that even though you’re using it for one part of your business there is other parts you’re missing out on. Here is a few use cases to get you started:
- Website analysis: Use chatGPT and similar tools to scan your website and get custom recommendations. We just created a free chatGPT CRO bot which scans your websites for improvements and gives you a list of actionable experiments you can run right away. Get free access to it here
- Content Creation: Quickly draft landing pages, product descriptions, and CTAs that align with your brand and boost conversions. If you still wanna keep the human touch, you can still get help from AI to create a outline recommendation based from best practice, competitors, or your own input.
- Competitor Analysis: Generate quick insights into what competitors are doing, and where you’re lacking behind, to optimize your website.
- Customer Engagement: Craft personalized, authentic interactions that go beyond basic chatbot responses.
- Copywriting: Maybe the most obvious one of all. However, keep in mind the limitations: AI-generated content can sometimes feel generic and automated if you use it for copywriting. Thats why one of the most important thing is the prompts you add for the tone of voice and to add some human touch of it so you avoid this.
Use ChatGPT as a powerful tool in your strategy, but balance it with human oversight to keep your brand authentic and sharp.
3. Chatbots: Your Always-On Customer Service Rep
Think of chatbots like that reliable friend who’s always awake and ready to help, no matter the time—whether it’s 2 PM or 2 AM, they’re there to answer questions, guide customers, and nudge them toward the right product.
But here’s the thing—while AI is awesome for those quick, initial interactions, the human touch can be your secret weapon in a world full of complex bot flows. Don’t over-automate; it’s about balance. AI can be good for handling the initial chats but always makes it easy for customers to connect with a real person when they want to. That little extra human touch can make all the difference in delivering a standout user experience – and therefore boost conversion rates too.
4. Predictive Analytics and Dynamic Pricing: Let’s Get Nerdy
Predictive analytics sound complicated, but it’s really just AI saying, “Hey, this is what’s probably going to happen next.” By predicting customer behavior, you can keep your inventory stocked with the right products and adjust your marketing on the fly.
Remember the 4 old-school P’s of marketing? Product, place, price promotion. Well, right in there we have Price which AI can help you excel in getting the right pricing. So if everyone’s suddenly obsessed with a new style of sneaker, your prices can go up just enough to boost your margins without scaring off customers. The airline industry has been doing this for years. And this is only going to get more and more used by other industries.
A small step towards this is starting to test with pricing of your products. Toolings like intelligems make this super easy for Shopify stores, but check what is working best together with your e-commerce platform.
5. Social Proof: Because Nobody Wants to Be the First
Ever notice how seeing “20 people just bought this” makes you think, “Well, maybe I should too”? AI can make sure your site is loaded with the right kind of social proof for the right kind of audience. We tested various experiments on showing off customer reviews at just the right moment which has nudged plenty of indecisive browsers into confident buyers.
Wrapping up
AI isn’t a magic wand, but it’s pretty darn close when it comes to e-commerce. From making every customer feel special to keeping checkout secure, AI tools can help you turn more visitors into happy customers. The best part? You don’t need to be a tech wizard to make it work. Start small, test what works, and watch your conversion rates climb. So go ahead, let AI handle the juggling act—your sales numbers will thank you.
If you have any questions or want to chat about growth marketing, CRO, or AI, feel free to reach out to us anytime.
Get the S&S GPT-CRO analyst today
- Customized recommendations for your website
- See key conversion killers
- Get a free list of experiment ideas to run to boost CVR
