As the owner of an online e-commerce business, you might be discouraged at first by the number of website visitors you receive. Don’t worry. You’re not alone in this. It takes time for new websites to become visible to search engines, especially if you have little to no content on your website.
The good news is that it is possible to increase the number of new visitors to your website, but it requires a combination of strategies and tactics. In this article we’ll take you through some effective methods you can employ yourself – but you’ll need to wear your Marketing hat for a few of them.
Add more content to your website
An e-commerce website can be so much more than an online store. Relevant and interesting content can be used to engage your customers and bring them back for more. This practice is known as Content Marketing.
Try publishing engaging and informative blog posts, articles, or videos related to your products. These can be industry or product specific, and can range from anything from news articles and guides, to tips, recipes or how-to videos.
Share your content on social media platforms and encourage others to share it as well. This can help attract organic traffic and establish your brand as an authority in your niche.
Learn more about Content Marketing here.
Optimise your website for search engines
Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) is the practice of optimising your website for search engines by using relevant keywords in your product descriptions, meta tags, and URLs. It may sound technical, but there are plenty of online resources to help you.
Some practical tips for starting out:
- Create high-quality content that matches what your customers are searching for online.
- Make sure your website loads quickly and that images are optimised for web.
- Promote your business and website on various social networks that link back to your site.
- If you’re using WordPress, add a plugin like Yoast to help with technical aspects like adding metadata.
- Do an online SEO audit to find out what changes you need to make to your website.
Learn how to conduct a quick SEO audit here.
Use your social media channels
Leverage your social media platforms to promote your online store. Create engaging posts, share product updates, run competitions, and interact with your followers. Consider using paid advertising options on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter to reach a wider audience. Most importantly, use LinkedIn to build your professional network.
Learn how to choose the right social media channels for your business here.
Email your customers and contacts
Email Marketing is an important part of marketing your online store. Build an email list by offering incentives like discounts or exclusive content to visitors who sign up. Send regular newsletters with product updates, special offers, and personalised recommendations to keep your audience engaged and encourage them to visit your store.
Learn more about emailing list best practices here.
Advertise online
Pay-Per-Click (PPC) advertising uses platforms like Google Ads or Bing Ads to attract visitors who are searching for a particular product or service. This type of marketing is usually very effective, but will require some budget.
The process involves creating targeted ads based on relevant keywords, demographics, or user interests to drive traffic to your online store. You will need to monitor and optimise your campaigns regularly to improve their performance.
Learn more about Google Ads and other Google tools here.
Encourage customers to leave reviews
Word of mouth is as powerful online as it is off. Encourage satisfied customers to leave reviews or testimonials on your website, Google, social media or third-party review platforms like Trustpilot and Hellopeter. Positive reviews can build trust and influence potential customers to visit your online store.
Learn more about leveraging customer reviews here.
Building a consistent traffic flow takes time and effort, but is achievable. Keep track of your activities, monitor and adapt as needed to maximise your online store’s visibility and success.
Set your online business up for success by using an e-commerce Starter Site, available with Managed WordPress Hosting. Starter Sites include demo pages and content that have been optimised for best practice and performance as well as a staging environment to test your site before taking it live. The Athletic e-commerce Starter Site also includes:
- WooCommerce shop functionality
- Shopping cart and secure checkout
- Built-in payment gateway
- Pre-installed shipping integration
Want to read more on this topic? Read our advice for choosing the right products to sell on your e-commerce store.
