We have been working on a new checkout system over the past year based on client feedback as well as conversion testing. The obvious solution to any checkout system is simplicity. The easier it is for the customer to checkout, the more likely the sale will go through. So, we have managed to get the process down to two steps:

1. The customer either logs in with an existing user/pass, or they supply billing/shipping information. To make this process even cleaner, we have used expanding div tags to hide the shipping/create account portions of the form unless a customer wants them. When they click the checkbox that portion of the form becomes visible. See a screenshot of the login/register page here.

2. Once the customer has provided the billing/shipping info, they are taken to a one page checkout. This page includes radio button selections for both shipping and payment method selection. The cart totals on the right update when you change shipping methods, and the payment area changes based on the payment selection. This keeps the user on the same screen and keeps them from having to take another 'action' step, as studies have found that the more clicks, the fewer conversions. We have kept the screen as clutter-free as possible, and have made the 'submit order' button prominent so that they cannot miss what the next step should be. See a screenshot here.

Please note that these are 'skeletons' of the pages only, we apply the design style of the rest of the site to these pages so that they look even better.

We have also modified and cleaned up the cart page, which you can see here.

This checkout 'mod' is not available as a stand-alone add-on, but is included with every custom design/design integration project free of charge.

In other news, X-Cart just released version 4.1.7, which looks to be just about ready for prime time. We are going to start using it with a couple of clients who are willing to be guinea pigs, so I will report back here as to our experience shortly. It sounds like the major bugs are worked out, and they have also added some nice features such as an updated default skin (finally) as well as a Google Analytics module which makes adding the tracking code MUCH easier.

As far as new projects go, we are working on some great bath and body product sites, a redesign for a hollywood costume site, a california winery and a vintage shop. We also have some sites that are just about ready to launch, we will post them in the blog when they are ready to go.