Creating an online store is just the first step in a successful E-Commerce strategy. The real challenge comes when you need to drive traffic to your site and convert visitors into customers. Without enough visitors, your online store won’t generate any sales.
With so many businesses launching online stores these days, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to stand out from the crowd and drive traffic to your site. But don’t let that deter you from setting up an E-Commerce operation. There are plenty of ways you can drive traffic to your online store and optimize the user experience for visitors. Here are 12 free strategies for driving traffic to your online store:
Host Contests and Giveaways
Contests and giveaways are a great way to build your audience and drive more traffic to your site. You can host these events on your website, or promote them on your social media channels. Contests and giveaways are effective because they appeal to a wide audience — everyone likes to win stuff.
Write down a few ideas for contests and challenges that are relevant to your brand and industry. Make sure they’re easy to execute and have a prize that’s relevant to your market.
Collaborate with Influencers
Product reviews can help you attract new visitors and existing customers to your online store. Find influential bloggers in your industry and offer to send them a sample of your product in exchange for a review. You can also work with influencers to create sponsored posts for your online store. This type of content is an excellent way to increase brand exposure and drive more traffic to your site.
Write Guest Posts
If you want to drive more traffic to your online store, you should write guest posts for other websites in your industry. When you contribute to other industry publications, you become a known authority in your space and can drive more traffic to your site. Be sure to follow the publication’s guest posting guidelines and format your article to fit their publication.
Join Industry Forums
Forums and online communities are great places to find new customers for your online store. These are also places where you can get valuable feedback and insight from your target market. By actively engaging with other members in your industry, you can drive more traffic to your site and get valuable feedback from potential customers.
Create a Video Ad
Videos are proven to drive more traffic and boost your sales. Create a short video ad to promote your online store on social media and video hosting sites, like YouTube. You can also create a video to play on a digital sign in your brick-and-mortar store.
Host an Event or Workshop
Hosting an event in your local area is a great way to drive traffic to your site. You can host an in-person event at your retail store or a virtual event online. For example, you could host a marketing workshop or seminar to educate local business owners on your marketing strategy.
You can invite potential customers to attend the event and link back to your online store during the discussion. Hosting events is a great way to generate more sales and drive more traffic to your site. It’s also a great way to find new leads and connect with your audience on a personal level.
Request Customer Ratings and Reviews
Online reviews are one of the most important factors when customers make a purchase decision. They can also help you drive more traffic to your site. Add reviews to your product pages. This allows potential customers to leave a review directly from your product page. Ratings and reviews are essential for any E-Commerce operation. They help customers decide which products are worth buying and which are not.
Showcase Exclusive Offers
Exclusive offers are a great way to drive more traffic to your online store. Create an exclusive offer for your customers that they can only redeem when they visit your site. This could be a discount, free shipping, or a free gift with purchase.
You can also showcase exclusive deals on your social media pages and your website. Make sure you post these offers at a time when your target market is most likely to buy. For example, if you’re selling winter clothing, post the offer during the winter season. This will encourage customers to make a purchase right away, which is great for your sales.
Offer Free Samples
Another great way to drive traffic and promote your online store is by offering free samples. You can do this with your product or a special gift or sample of your service. This is a great way to get your name out there and drive traffic to your site.
Partner with Other Brands
You can also drive traffic to your online store by partnering with other brands in your industry. This is a great way to expand your reach and reach a new audience. You can collaborate with other brands on content and share links to each other’s websites in social media posts.
You can also partner with other brands for a co-branded campaign. To create a co-branded campaign, you’ll need to negotiate with other brands and come up with a marketing strategy that works for both brands.
Produce Content that Drives Traffic
Producing quality content is one of the best ways to drive traffic to your online store. This can be written content, like blog posts or industry reports, or visual content like infographics, videos, or images. You can publish this content on your website, guest blogs, social media channels like Instagram and Facebook, or on your store’s product pages. In addition, you can integrate a page speed booster, so that your web page doesn't slow down and annoy your website visitors.
When you produce high-quality content that resonates with your target audience, they’ll visit your site more often. This is a great way to build your brand recognition and drive more traffic to your website.
Build an Email List
Email marketing is a proven way to generate more sales and drive more traffic to your website. By building an email list, you can send highly targeted offers and drive more traffic to your site. You can also send out newsletters to your subscribers to stay connected with them on a regular basis.
Let Us Help Drive Traffic to Online Store
When you create an online store, it can seem challenging to drive traffic to your website. With so many businesses launching online stores, it’s important to find the right strategies to stand out from the crowd. We can help. Call KitelyTech at (800) 274-2908 to schedule a consultation.
