You own an online store. That’s wonderful ― but so do over a million other people and businesses. With the massive increase in online stores, competition has never been fiercer in the e-commerce world. And to remain relevant and keep making sales, you need to learn how to drive traffic to your online store. So, without much ado, let us get right down to eight proven tips for driving traffic to your online store.
1. Advertise
Ads are the first port of call for most online store owners to gain more traffic ― and rightly so. Google and social media ad campaigns are a quick way to get your product before your ideal customer. And to make it easier, platforms like Google, Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest have features that help you target your ads to your ideal audience.
Targeted ads are a way of ensuring that you’re not just advertising to anybody. You’re advertising to a customer that is genuinely interested in your product and has a higher likelihood of heading over to your site to check them out.
2. Make Use of Social Media
Social media platforms are the new online shopping malls. Integrating your social media profiles with your website will always lead to more visibility online as an online vendor.
And since your goal is to drive more traffic to your online store, you should also ensure that your social media profiles are optimized. This would help customers meeting your brand from those platforms know what your brand is all about from the get-go. This instant clarity builds trust and would encourage them to click on the link leading to your online store.
Utilizing social media features such as Facebook Shop, hashtags on Instagram and Pinterest, or Pinterest group boards is also a meaningful way to increase visibility and drive customers to your store. The trick with social media, however, is to be engaging. People would trust your business more if you participate in discussions related to your business, like and comment on related content and generally, be a brand they can trust.
3. Never Forget SEO
It’s no news that Search Engine Optimization is the best way to drive organic traffic to your online store. When done correctly, SEO can ensure your online store ranks high in search engine results. This, in turn, increases your online discoverability and drives tons of organic traffic to your site at little or no cost.
SEO is a delicate venture, however, so you need to do your keyword research and increase your SEO knowledge. Tools like Google Trends and Google Keyword Planner would also be of massive help to you.
4. Run Referral Campaigns
How to drive traffic to your online store using your existing customers? Referral campaigns. A high percentage of consumers would most likely visit an online store recommended by family, friends, or someone else they know.
You can quickly get your current customers to recommend your site to their connections by attaching rewards such as free shipping or discounts to referral campaigns. Just make sure your products and services are of high quality, else your customers would not want to share.
5. Utilize a Sales Strategy
Everyone is searching for a good deal. Give them one, and they’ll come running. Sales campaigns, whether they are prompted by a particular holiday or for some other special reason, would invariably lead buyers to your online store. Giveaways, competitions, coupons, and promo offers are guaranteed strategies that attract a high traffic volume to your site. Consistently providing valuable products and services would keep your new customers coming.
6. Pay Attention to Content Marketing
The most patronized online stores do not just sell products. They educate their customers on topics related to their industry.
Customers would always appreciate ― and recommend ― a store that cares for their needs, not just their money. Incorporating a blog into your online store would go a long way in informing your clientele on topics that are relevant to them.
It would help to capitalize on the increasing popularity of video content and podcasts to drive traffic to your site. By optimizing the content your brand creates, you can also increase your store visibility online, leading to increased traffic and patronage.
7. Connect with Influencers and Established Brands
Guest posts on established brands in your industry would go a long way in pushing traffic to your site. Ensure you include a backlink to your store so readers can easily find their way to you. Hosting interviews of influencers with an established name in the industry is another way to boost traffic.
You can also engage with social media influencers. You can send them free product samples, offer a special discount to their followers, or request a feature on your page. This is a great way to leverage their considerable following to gain new customers and lead them to your store.
8. Branding Matters
By now, you already know that your products are not for everybody. So do your best to make sure you attract the audience that your brand provides services for.
Make sure you use the right kind of copy that portrays your brand and what it offers. Writing in the language that your ideal customers can relate with would build their trust in you and make your brand appear more human. This would compel them to head down to your store to shop. Customers visiting your site should feel like they belong there, so make sure your branding is welcoming.
In Conclusion
By integrating these eight tips into your business, you’re sure to drive more traffic to your online store; however, it’s not just about getting more customers to visit your store. You need to pay attention to certain fundamental features on your site so the customers who visit your store stay and become paying customers.
Here’s a list of things that will encourage customers to stay, in no particular order:
- Quality products that provide value to your customers
- Fast site speed
- Multiple payment options
- Chatbots
- Easy-to-navigate menus
- Clear product descriptions
- Prompt customer care services
- Mobile phone optimization
- Fast delivery time
- Attention to customer experience
And there you have it. Equip yourself with all of these tips and you wouldn’t just be driving more traffic to your site but also improving sales and maximizing your profit.
