Shopping online is just one of the many modern-day conveniences that technology has brought us. Long gone are the days when we need to take a trip to a brick-and-mortar store to buy the things we need as we’re now able to order everything from entertainment to beauty products and groceries at the touch of a button from our homes.

Yet sometimes, the sheer number of online providers can make it very confusing for consumers to know where to shop. Today’s online retail and services providers are in constant competition with each other to attract and retain customers. As a result, there are lots of deals, discounts and offers around to choose from.

While this is great for the consumer, how do you know which deal is the best or which service provider will offer the best customer service? Below, we’ll walk you through the latest advice for finding the best deals on the internet.

1. Use a Comparison Website

When you’re looking to purchase a particular service like a car, medical, or home insurance, using a comparison website can often be the best option. A comparison website saves you from having to scour the internet by yourself and make a list of the best sites with the most wallet-friendly deals.

Instead, you can use a comparison website to find all of your options in one easy place, making it much simpler to compare offerings and see which option is best for you. Often, comparison sites will also give you a reward for using their service too, such as money back on your insurance premium or free restaurant and movie theater tickets.

2. Choose From Compiled Recommendations

Many websites offer a list of the best service providers to choose from based on customer reviews, industry reputation, and user-friendliness of the website. Compiled recommendations can be great for when you’re trying to find services like real money casinos when parting with your cash online; it’s important to know you’re going with a reputable provider who will provide a great service.

The best thing about online compiled recommendations is that they’ve been handcrafted by someone else, meaning you don’t need to put the work into testing out different providers. Instead, you can sit back and choose a provider, safe in the knowledge that someone else has done the research and the list has been tried and tested by other consumers.

3. Use a Rewards Site or App

A rewards site or app is a company that offers exclusive rewards when you shop with one of its partners. The rewards can often be cashback on a purchase or points that can be exchanged for online vouchers to spend with retailers. They can also be rewards in terms of exclusive offers and deals for members or employee pricing.

Often, employers will have a program that allows staff access to exclusive rewards programs where you can find deals and offers online. Popular providers include Charlie HR, Perkbox, Perks at Work, and many more.

If your employer doesn’t offer such a program, there are also programs for consumers to join such as Airtime Rewards, Fetch Rewards, Dosh, and Receipt Hog.

4. Leave Items in Your Shopping Cart

Leaving items in your shopping cart may not be the fastest way to get your hands on what you need, but it does mean you are more likely to get sent incentives to complete the checkout process. Many online providers have marketing programs where an email with an offer is automatically triggered to be sent to consumers who leave items unpurchased in their basket.

As such, head over to your favorite site, log in to your account, then add an item to your basket. Once you’ve done this, close down your browser and leave it for a few hours then check your emails for an offer.

Remember that you need to be logged in for this to work as otherwise, the retailer won’t be able to send you an email.

Practicing Online Safety

When making purchases online, it’s incredibly important that you know how to stay safe online so that you avoid payment or identity fraud, as well as avoid malicious user activity which can infect your device. Some of the top ways to stay safe include:

• Use Efficient Passwords

One of the easiest ways to compromise your accounts is by using an obvious password and keeping it the same across all of your accounts. In order to make your accounts more secure, use an online password generator to create a password that cannot be guessed. You can then use an online password vault like LastPass to save all of your passwords.

• Pay with Cryptocurrency

Cryptocurrency like Bitcoin is one of the safest and most convenient forms of online payment. This is because cryptocurrency operates on blockchain technology, making it more difficult to track and identify payments. This not only offers more safety but also makes your purchase history more private too.

• Use Computer Security

Installing a security program onto your computer or smart device will help to keep malicious actors out of your system and prevent harmful malware from infiltrating it. Such malware can clone your card payment details, enabling malicious bodies to use it.

Overall, making online purchases has transformed the way we live our day-to-day lives and has made mundane activities much easier to complete. By following the above tips, you’ll be sure to discover the best deals when making a purchase online.