Successful sales directly depend on the efficiency and convenience of the site through which they are made. Errors in online stores can lead not only to the direct loss of customers but also to the loss of their trust in the first place. In this article, we will consider the most common technical errors in online stores that may occur, as well as ways to eliminate them.
However, do not forget that even a perfectly working site can get lost against the background of competitors in search results. Therefore, not only technical setup is important, but also correct search engine optimization of the online store. Order SEO promotion for an online store from Idea Digital Agency, and we will help you get to the TOP and increase sales. See for yourself the effectiveness of our work: read the practical case study of SEO optimization of an online store.
Top technical problems and bugs in online stores
Let's take a look at the most popular technical bugs of online stores that their owners may encounter.
Cart errors
The cart is a key element in the purchase process, and any problems at this stage can lead to lost sales. It is not just a functional element of an online store, but the most important tool in the matter of converting a visitor into a buyer. Errors that occur in the operation of the shopping cart can be related to various aspects: from technical shortcomings to an inconvenient user interface. Among the most common problems are:
Inability to add or remove an item from the cart;
Incorrect update of the quantity of items in the cart;
Errors when calculating the cost of items in the cart, including taxes and shipping;
Problems with using promotional codes and discounts;
Cart freezing and slow operation, especially during times of high load on-site.
Why doesn't the shopping cart work in an online store? Such errors can be caused by various factors: from conflicts between plugins or modules to incorrect server configuration. Let's take a closer look at the problems and their solutions using the example of two popular CMS: OpenCart and WooCommerce.
By the way, to simplify the process and increase conversion, many online stores are implementing the "buy in one click" function, minimizing the number of steps to purchase. This is not a replacement for the classic shopping cart, but it can be a great addition to it.
Examples of problems and solutions in OpenCart
Problem: Empty cart after adding a product
Users sometimes encounter a situation where after adding a product to the cart, it is still displayed as empty, which can give shoppers the impression that the site is not working properly. In such cases, site owners may need to disable the cart in OpenCart to diagnose and fix the problem.
Solution:
Check the session and cookie settings on your server and in the OpenCart configuration files. Make sure that sessions are stored correctly and are not deleted too early.
Investigate your server or hosting settings for restrictions regarding session and cookie handling.
Check error logs for warnings about conflicts between modules or themes that may prevent the cart from working correctly.
Problem: Cart Emptying While Navigating
Sometimes users complain that their cart suddenly empties when navigating between pages on the site. This can be frustrating for customers and one of the reasons why there are no orders in the online store.
Solution:
Check that AJAX requests are working correctly, especially if additional modules are used to work with the cart.
Pay attention to the caching configuration of your site. Incorrect caching settings can lead to the fact that cart data is not saved when switching between pages.
Consider the possibility of a JavaScript conflict caused by third-party scripts or modules. Use the developer tools in your browser to detect and resolve such conflicts.
Problem: Incorrect cart price recalculation
In some cases, when changing the number of items in the cart, the total price is not automatically recalculated, which can mislead buyers about the total order amount.
Make sure that the scripts responsible for calculating the cart price are working without errors. Use the browser console to search for JavaScript errors.
Check the compatibility of the cart modules you are using with your version of OpenCart. You may need to update or replace the module.
Test the cart in different browsers and devices to make sure the issue is not related to the specific terms of use of the site.
Examples of problems and solutions on WooCommerce
Problem: Cart does not display added products
The most common problem when the WooCommerce cart does not work is when it remains empty after adding a product, which can be very confusing for buyers.
Solution:
Check the caching settings on your site and your hosting provider. Exclude the cart and checkout pages from caching.
Make sure your theme and plugins are compatible with the current version of WooCommerce. Version conflicts can cause similar issues.
Check the error logs on the server and in WooCommerce to identify possible server-side or plugin code issues.
Problem: Returns to cart when trying to checkout
Attempts to proceed to checkout sometimes unexpectedly end in returns to the cart without any apparent reason or error message.
Solution:
Check that the checkout page is configured correctly in WooCommerce settings. Make sure it exists and is published.
Use tools to check your browser console for JavaScript errors that may be preventing you from proceeding to checkout.
Check your payment gateway settings. Misconfiguration or gateway failures can prevent you from proceeding to checkout. This aspect should also be included in the online store shopping cart testing process, as it directly affects the successful completion of the purchase.
Problem: Promo codes are not applied or work incorrectly
Problems with the application of promo codes can cause customer dissatisfaction and reduce conversion.
Solution:
Carefully check the terms of application of promo codes in the WooCommerce settings. Make sure all terms are clearly defined and do not contradict each other.
Check your error logs and browser console for JavaScript conflicts that may prevent promo codes from being processed correctly.
Consider using plugins to improve your promo code and discount management, especially if you have complex promo terms or use a composite product in WooCommerce.
Complicated and illogical navigation
Users often have difficulty finding the products they need due to complex or confusing navigation. This can include improperly organized categories, too many levels of nesting, or the lack of an intuitive filter system.
We've looked in detail at how filters for online stores work — check it out if you want to know more.
So, you've determined that your site has an overly complex structure. What should you do?
Simplify your category structure by limiting the number of nesting levels. It is best to follow the three-click rule, which states that a user should be able to find any product in no more than three clicks.
Develop a clear and concise navigation system using breadcrumbs to help users understand their current location on the site.
Example of bread crumbs in an online store:
Implement effective product filters and search functions that will allow buyers to easily find products by key characteristics.
Errors at the product card level
Now let's take a look at what errors your buyers may encounter when interacting with product cards.
These can include incorrect display of product information, such as price, description, or image. Such problems can not only scare away potential buyers but also negatively affect the overall reputation of your online store. But there are also more serious technical problems - here are just a few of them.
Blank pages or "Product out of stock"
Such problems in online stores can occur if the product has been removed from the catalog, but the link to it is still present on the site or in the search results. The problem also occurs when the products are temporarily out of stock, but this is not reflected on the site until the moment of trying to add the product to the cart or place an order.
Solution
Instead of deleting the page of a product that is temporarily or permanently out of stock, it is recommended to display a message about its lack of stock with a suggestion of alternative products or the ability to subscribe to notifications about the arrival of the product. Adding an "in stock" image for those that are available will help buyers navigate the assortment faster.
For products that have been permanently removed from the assortment, you should set up a 301 redirect to similar products or categories to avoid 404 errors and improve the user experience.
Regularly update information about the availability of products on the site to avoid situations where the buyer cannot place an order due to the lack of a product in stock.
To promote an online store, it is very important to work on product pages and make them as convenient and, at the same time, optimized as possible. Read more recommendations how to make a selling product card in one of our articles.
Duplicate products
Duplicate products is another common problem that can arise due to the presence of identical products in different categories, the use of multiple URLs for the same product, or errors in the content management system. This is often due to ambiguity in product identification, especially if a unique identifier such as SKU is not used. Content and meta tags can also be duplicated due to incorrect template settings.
Example of duplicate Descriptions in an online store:
Solution
Specify a canonical URL for products that have duplicate pages so that search engines know which version of the page to index. This will help avoid duplicate page issues.
Make sure each product has a unique URL and meta, even if it appears in multiple categories. This will help reduce the risk of technical duplicates.
Avoid creating separate pages for products that only differ in minor features. Use product options or variations instead.
Conversion and Checkout Errors
A variety of online store errors can occur during the checkout process: from difficulties filling out forms to technical failures that prevent the successful completion of the purchase. One of the key points that determine what an online store should be is an optimized and understandable checkout process, which directly affects the customer journey and the final conversion.
Solutions
Minimize the number of steps and form fields during the checkout process. Use autofill features and offer guest checkout without the need for registration.
Conduct regular A/B testing and use analytics tools to identify and fix problem areas in the checkout process.
Provide clear and specific error messages that help the user fix problems encountered while filling out the form.
Crawling and indexing errors
These issues can cause relevant content on your site to not appear in search results, which will negatively affect the attraction of new visitors and sales. One of the reasons for such situations can also be technical bugs in online stores that affect the correct operation of the site and its interaction with search engines.
It is important to regularly conduct technical audits of the site to identify and eliminate such problems, maintaining its search visibility and accessibility for users.
Solution
Make sure that the robots.txt file does not block access to important pages of the site. Properly configure instructions for search engines so that they can index your site effectively.
Regularly update your sitemap to facilitate the process of indexing new pages.
Improve page loading speed and eliminate technical errors that may prevent search bots from effectively scanning your site.
How to avoid mistakes during the stages of creating and maintaining an online store
Preparing an online store for launch and its subsequent support require careful attention to detail and regular checks to avoid common technical errors and ensure stable Site performance. A key aspect is to thoroughly test all site features, including the checkout process, shopping cart, and checkout system, to ensure that the user experience is at a high level. It is also important to monitor page load speed, as long waits can turn off potential buyers.
Regularly updating your content, promotions, and product range will help maintain interest in your store.
Working with cached data
Caching is an effective way to speed up page loading and reduce server load, but improper use of caching can result in outdated data being displayed to users.
Use a version control system for static resources (JS, CSS) so that when they are updated, all users receive the latest version.
Configure dynamic caching so that only those parts of pages that do not change often are cached, while dynamic content, such as the user's cart or personalized recommendations, is generated in real-time.
Define clear caching policies for different types of content and make sure that all user systems interpret them correctly.
Configure store page linking
Proficient linking not only improves site navigation for users but also helps search engines better understand the site structure and distribute weight between pages. We have already considered in our blog what the correct relinking on the site should be. Here are just some tips:
Make sure that the relinking structure is logical and reflects the site hierarchy, helping the user understand how different sections and pages are related to each other.
Example of relinking in an online store:
Use informative and relevant anchors for internal links, which increases their value for both users and SEO.
Avoid excessive relinking, which can confuse both users and search engines. Each link on the page should have a clear purpose and add value to the visitor.
Checking sitemap, robots.txt and tag settings
SEO optimization errors can also negatively affect your online store. Properly configuring sitemap.xml, robots.txt, and tags is critical for effective crawling and indexing of your site by search engines.
Regularly update your sitemap to ensure that your site structure is up-to-date in search engines.
Use a robots.txt file to control search bot access to different sections of your site, but make sure it doesn't block important pages from indexing.
An example of a properly created robots.txt file in an online store:
Use tags carefully to prevent indexing of pages, for example, service pages (authorization or registration page, personal account), but do not apply them to important content.
For more useful information on how to optimize an online store, read our blog.
We conduct regular technical audits and tests
We have already mentioned that a regular technical audit of a site helps to identify and eliminate such and other potential problems before they negatively affect the operation of an online store or its position in search results.
However, such work should be entrusted to experienced specialists who have already worked with online stores and understand all the intricacies. The Idea Digital Agency team regularly analyzes the technical condition of clients' websites, including online stores. We know what mistakes when creating an online store can have a bad effect on its promotion and we will tell you how to eliminate them. You can get a technical audit of your site from our team if you leave a request on the site - we will contact you to clarify all the details.
