ways to increase traffic Archives

proven ways to drive traffic to your online store The #1 problem my e-commerce clients have is driving traffic to their store, particular Shopify stores as there is no marketplace structure like Etsy.

So, this is why I came up with my 12-Month Marketing Strategy Plans. These printable downloads give you a one-page tactical marketing plan for every month of the year – all in all 300+ proven, actionable tactics that will drive more traffic to your Shopify, Amazon or Etsy store. PLUS, they are specific to what you sell.

Here are four ideas from the plans:

1. Free Local Publicity to Get Local Traffic

Everyone always wants a worldwide audience, but the truth is, your local market is a viable one and likely more inclined to buy from you. Buying local has been a hot selling point for awhile now, and will continue to be given the current situation.

So get to know your newspaper’s business reporters and take advantage of two big PR opportunities each year for local businesses:

National Small Business Week (the first week of May).
Small Business Saturday (the Saturday after the US Thanksgiving holiday).

Pitch the reporter a story idea about six weeks prior and they might go for it, bringing you some new local customers, plus publicity always give you instant credibility. Also, the reporter will likely come back to you again and again for a sound bite on other online business articles.

2. Get Traffic from Competitors’ Social Media

Have you ever gone over to your competitors’ social media accounts and looked at their followers list? Simply follow their followers as they are potential customers for you.

This holds the same for the big retailers who sell what you sell; simply follow their followers.

If your social media bio clearly states what you sell, with a link to your shop, it could help to drive more traffic as most people will look at their followers’ list, see your name, be curious and click over to your profile. Tedious, but it works.

3. Form Alliances To Get Their Traffic

We are not talking Survivor here, but one of those “if you scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours”. Simply find a few non-competitive businesses whose customers are also your customers and then discuss how you can help each other, including:

Can you run ads on their blog if they do the same for you?
Can you give them a shoutout on social media if they do the same for you?
Can you mention them in your customer newsletters if they do the same for you?
Can you put their flyers in your customer packages if they do the same for you?
Can you share a booth at a craft fair or farmer’s market?

(Note, these last two are better for businesses in your city).

For example, if you sell art or photography, form a marketing alliance with a framing company. If you sell jewelry, partner with someone who sells purses or other fashion accessories. One alliance could double your traffic.

4. Bring in Traffic from Blog Sharing Sites

The key here to driving traffic to your store is to use popular blog sharing sites.

Simply set up a simple blog using the free WordPress site. Do not make it part of your shop, but a standalone blog that links to your shop (like I do with this blog).

Then sign up with the free blog sharing sites such as BlogLovin‘ (10 million users), Blogarama, Feedspot, and you will quickly get followers, especially if you follow people who seem like your ideal customer (based on the blogs they follow).

Just write a simple blog post once a week on a topic related to what you sell, and always reference and link to your store at the end. It is an easy and free way to drive traffic.

Want 300+ More Ways to Drive Traffic?

My ready-to-download 12-Month Marketing Strategy Plans have 300+ of my proven, actionable tactics to drive more traffic to your Shopify or Etsy store, PLUS they are specific to what you sell: