Collection of Continue Shopping Buttons

On my previous posts I’ve tried to provide e-commerce designers with collections of checkout buttons and progress bars. This time I thought they will find it useful to look at the Continue Shopping collection.

102 website have been looked at during the analysis. There was no surprise regarding the name of the button: 85 websites are naming the button “Continue Shopping”. Only a few of them will give a different name like return to shopping or back to shopping.

I’ve looked at some specific elements – what is the button color or where is the arrow (if any) pointing . I tried to identify a pattern that would help designers develop a more usable checkout page, but that does not seem to be possible, simply because business rules need to be taken into consideration when you decide on this button/link. However, I would advise on two things:

A. if you want to use an arrow in your button/link, the arrow should be positioned on the left side of the button and it should point to the left. You need to provide a strong sense of direction to your visitors. Usually, when you click on the continue shopping button you will be taken to either the home page or the previous page (which actually means going back).

B. always name this call to action button Continue Shopping

You can view the collection after some statistics:

1. Button Color (there is no rule you need to follow here). You need to take into consideration the color scheme of your brand and what you want to achieve on that page. Business objectives should be taken into consideration when you choose the color: i.e. do you want to force users to click on this button? Then you can use a strong, contrasting color.

Note: Majority of the link buttons use the color white. All % are rounded to integers.

Black – 4%

Blue – 19%

Brown – 4%

Green – 7%

Grey – 27%

Orange – 3%

Red – 4%

White – 33%

Yellow – less than 1%

2. Text Color. Again, choosing the color of this element should follow the defined business rules. Depending on what you want the users to do next, increase or decrease contrast on the text. However, the text should be easy to read. Do not use the same color for the background and the text (i.e. white text on white background).

Black – 17%

Blue – 16%

Brown – 2%

Green – 3%

Grey – 7%

Orange – 4%

Red – 5%

White – 47%

Purple- less than 1%

3. Call to Action Text – there is no doubt here. You should use Continue Shopping, not resume shopping or just continue

Back to Shopping – 3%

Continue – 2%

Continue Shopping – 85%

Keep Shopping – 3%

Resume Shopping – less than 1%

Return to Shopping – 6%

Shop More – 2%

4. Link or Button ?- Should you use a link or a button? The answer, again, lies within your business model. If you want to push your customers to continue shopping, then you will display a button. If you want them to checkout then have it as a link. Some etailers will use multiple text links pointing to various pages on their website. The purpose is to improve the page usability (less clicks to reach the destination).

Buttons – 84%

Links – 18%

5. Arrows or no arrows ? Arrows are used to provide a sense of direction. Use them, but no need to enforce it too much.

Use arrows – 44%

Don’t use arrows – 56%

6. Arrow pointing to left or right? Definitely, left.

Left – 25%

Right – 17%

Down – 4%

Note: % is relative to the 102 websites

7. Arrow position. The arrow should be positioned on the left side of the button.

Left – 29%

Right – 16%

For web designers, numbers are not saying much (just kidding…), so here is the collection:

checkout button 1800 Contacts checkout button 1800 Flowers checkout button 1800 Pet Meds
checkout button AbeBooks checkout button American Eagle checkout button Alibris
checkout button Apple checkout button Art.com checkout button Avon
checkout button Bass Pro checkout button Bath and Body Works checkout button Bed Bath and Beyond
checkout button Bath and Body Works checkout button Blair checkout button Bloomingdale-s
checkout button Blue Nile checkout button Barnes and Noble checkout button Buy.com
checkout button Cabelas checkout button Cafe Press checkout button CDW Corporation
checkout button Chadwicks checkout button Circuit City checkout button Cold Water Creek
checkout button Comp U Plus checkout button Comp USA checkout button Costco
checkout button Crate and Barrel checkout button CVS Pharmacy checkout button Delias
checkout button Dell checkout button Disney Shopping checkout button Domestications
checkout button Drs Foster and Smith checkout button Drug Store checkout button eBags
checkout button eCost checkout button eFollet checkout button eTronics
checkout button Foot Locker checkout button FTD checkout button The Gap
checkout button Hallmark.com checkout button Harry and David checkout button Hickory Farms
checkout button Homeclick checkout button Home Depot checkout button Hewlett Packard
checkout button I Buy Digital checkout button JC Penney checkout button J Crew
checkout button JC Whitney checkout button J Jill checkout button Lands End
checkout button Lillian Vernon checkout button Liz Claiborne checkout button LL Bean.com
checkout button LL Bean.com checkout button Lowes checkout button Macy's
checkout button Major League Baseball checkout button Musician's Friend checkout button New Egg
checkout button Nieman Marcus checkout button Nordstrom checkout button Northern Tool
checkout button Office Depot checkout button Office Max checkout button Omaha Steaks
checkout button Oriental checkout button Overstock checkout button Palm.com
checkout button PC Connection checkout button PC Mall checkout button Pet Smart
checkout button Ralph and Loren checkout button QVC checkout button Radio Shack
checkout button REI (Recreational Equipment Inc.) checkout button Ritz Camera.com checkout button Saks
checkout button Scholastic.com checkout button Schwans checkout button Sears
checkout button Sephora checkout button NBC checkout button Smart Bargains
checkout button Sony Style checkout button Spiegel checkout button Sportsman's Guide
checkout button Staples checkout button Talbots checkout button Target.com
checkout button Toys'R'Us checkout button Tiger Direct checkout button Urban Outfitters
checkout button Victoria's Secret checkout button Vista Print checkout button Walgreens
checkout button Walmart checkout button Williams Sonoma checkout button Zappos

Pitstop Media is a Vancouver based conversion rate optimization company which offers results oriented landing page testing and conversion rate optimization services. Our A/B and multivariate tests have helped of companies increase conversion rates by as much as 75%. Let us increase your conversion rates, too!

VN:F [1.9.3_1094]
Rating: 0.0/10 (0 votes cast)
VN:F [1.9.3_1094]
Rating: 0 (from 0 votes)

Related posts:

  1. Collection Of 100+ Shopping Cart Icons
  2. Collection Of 100+ Checkout Buttons
  3. Could This Be The Best Checkout Button?
  4. Which Call to Action, Add to Cart or Buy Now?
  5. Optimize Add to Cart Rates by Using Dynamic Text on Call to Action Buttons

17 Responses to “Collection of Continue Shopping Buttons”

  1. Herbal Remedy said:

    Aug 12, 09 at 6:35 am

    Good one.. was looking for some of these and got on time :)

    VA:F [1.9.3_1094]
    Rating: 0.0/5 (0 votes cast)
    VA:F [1.9.3_1094]
    Rating: 0 (from 0 votes)
  2. Simon said:

    Oct 27, 09 at 5:15 am

    Some really interesting statistics there, and better still you have provided context to give them meaning. This shall influence how I design the icons for my clients ecommerce package. Thankyou very much for saving us all the time of doing further research.

    I tip my hat to you sir.

    VA:F [1.9.3_1094]
    Rating: 0.0/5 (0 votes cast)
    VA:F [1.9.3_1094]
    Rating: 0 (from 0 votes)
  3. mark rushworth said:

    Nov 19, 09 at 8:54 am

    isnt a continue shopping button counter intuitive as it gives no idea as to the target of the link?

    VA:F [1.9.3_1094]
    Rating: 0.0/5 (0 votes cast)
    VA:F [1.9.3_1094]
    Rating: 0 (from 0 votes)
  4. Collection of Continue Shopping Buttons | HowtoOnline.org said:

    Jan 09, 10 at 3:01 pm

    [...] should be positioned on the left side of the button. Left – 29% Right – 16% The Continue shopping button on your e-commerce site is an extremely important and its use is much more studied or [...]

  5. Collection of Continue Shopping Buttons | Barbie in a Blender said:

    Feb 12, 10 at 9:11 am

    [...] should be positioned on the left side of the button. Left – 29% Right – 16% The Continue shopping button on your e-commerce site is an extremely important and its use is much more studied or [...]

  6. Collection of Continue Shopping Buttons | Articles Blog said:

    Mar 07, 10 at 2:37 am

    [...] should be positioned on the left side of the button. Left – 29% Right – 16% The Continue shopping button on your e-commerce site is an extremely important and its use is much more studied or [...]

  7. Collection of Continue Shopping Buttons | News World said:

    Mar 18, 10 at 4:55 pm

    [...] should be positioned on the left side of the button. Left – 29% Right – 16% The Continue shopping button on your e-commerce site is an extremely important and its use is much more studied or [...]

  8. Collection of Continue Shopping Buttons | Comprehensive Shopping listings, Reviews and Articles said:

    Apr 08, 10 at 2:00 am

    [...] should be positioned on the left side of the button. Left – 29% Right – 16% The Continue shopping button on your e-commerce site is an extremely important and its use is much more studied or [...]

  9. Collection of Continue Shopping Buttons | qvchomeshopping said:

    Apr 28, 10 at 10:41 pm

    [...] should be positioned on the left side of the button. Left – 29% Right – 16% The Continue shopping button on your e-commerce site is an extremely important and its use is much more studied or [...]

  10. Collection of Continue Shopping Buttons | MaxJunction.info said:

    May 25, 10 at 4:00 pm

    [...] should be positioned on the left side of the button. Left – 29% Right – 16% The Continue shopping button on your e-commerce site is an extremely important and its use is much more studied or [...]

  11. Collection of Continue Shopping Buttons- DealPunk said:

    May 28, 10 at 7:47 am

    [...] should be positioned on the left side of the button. Left – 29% Right – 16% The Continue shopping button on your e-commerce site is an extremely important and its use is much more studied or [...]

  12. Collection of Continue Shopping Buttons | DevVicky Blogger said:

    May 28, 10 at 9:18 am

    [...] should be positioned on the left side of the button. Left – 29% Right – 16% The Continue shopping button on your e-commerce site is an extremely important and its use is much more studied or [...]

  13. Collection of Continue Shopping Buttons said:

    Jul 03, 10 at 1:01 pm

    [...] should be positioned on the left side of the button. Left – 29% Right – 16% The Continue shopping button on your e-commerce site is an extremely important and its use is much more studied or [...]

  14. COLLECTION OF CONTINUE SHOPPING BUTTONS %CLIP% %KEYWORDS% %CLIP% %BLOG% said:

    Jul 17, 10 at 4:45 am

    [...] arrow should be positioned upon a left side of a button. Left – 29% Right – 16% The Continue selling button upon your e-commerce site is an intensely critical as well as a make make make make make make make [...]

  15. Collection of Continue Shopping Buttons | Business Continuity Jobs said:

    Jul 20, 10 at 3:52 pm

    [...] side &#959f t&#1211&#1077 button. Left – 29% R&#1110&#609&#1211t – 16% T&#1211&#1077 Continue shopping button &#959&#1495 &#1091&#959&#965r e-commerce site &#1110&#1109 &#1072&#1495 extremely [...]

  16. Collection of Continue Shopping Buttons « 247posts.com said:

    Aug 21, 10 at 11:24 pm

    [...] should be positioned on the left side of the button. Left – 29% Right – 16% The Continue shopping button on your e-commerce site is an extremely important and its use is much more studied or [...]

  17. Collection of Continue Shopping Buttons-Legal said:

    Aug 28, 10 at 1:01 am

    [...] should be positioned on the left side of the button. Left – 29% Right – 16% The Continue shopping button on your e-commerce site is an extremely important and its use is much more studied or [...]


Leave a Reply