Driving traffic to your Shopify store is important because it can help you reach a wider audience and increase sales.
There are many ways to drive traffic to your store, including search engine optimization (SEO), paid advertising, social media marketing, email marketing, influencer marketing, content marketing, and referral marketing.
It’s important to find the right combination of tactics that work for your business and to track and analyze your results to see what’s working and what isn’t.
How Shopify Stores Drive Traffic?
Where do visitors come from, anyway?
Realizing the response will assist with picking the best-promoting channels for focusing on expected clients. Fortunately, there’s a lot of exploration on this.
This examination, for instance, contemplated 60,000 Shopify stores and found that the top six traffic sources were organic, direct, Facebook ads, Google ads, Instagram ads, and Pinterest ads.
How to Drive Traffic to Your Shopify Store?
Now, look at the strategies to get both paid and free traffic to Shopify in more detail.
1. Create SEO-Friendly Blog Content
Cost: Free to Low
Creating SEO-friendly blog content can help your website rank higher in search engine results and drive more traffic to your website.
Here are a few tips for creating SEO-friendly blog content:
Choose a focus keyword or phrase: Identify a keyword or phrase that you want to optimize your blog post for, and include it in your title, headings, and throughout the content of your post.
Use headings and subheadings: Use headings and subheadings to break up your content and make it easier for readers to scan and understand. Include your focus keyword in your headings and subheadings.
Use internal and external links: Link to other relevant pages on your own website (internal links) and to external sources (external links) to provide additional context and value to your readers.
Use alt tags for images: Include descriptive alt tags for images to help search engines understand what the images are about and to make your content more accessible to users with visual impairments.
Use short and descriptive URLs: Use short and descriptive URLs that include your focus keyword to make it easier for search engines to understand the content of your post and for users to remember your URL.
Optimize your meta tags and descriptions: Use your focus keyword in your meta title and description to give search engines more context about your content and to improve your chances of appearing in search results.
Write high-quality, useful content: Above all, make sure your content is well-written, informative, and useful to your readers. This will help increase your chances of ranking well in search results and engaging your audience.
2. Do Social Media Marketing
Cost: Free
Social media marketing can be an effective way to drive traffic to your Shopify store.
Here are some steps you can take to get started:
Set up a social media presence: Create accounts on social media platforms that your target audience is likely to use, such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest.
Develop a content strategy: Determine what types of content you want to share on social media, such as product photos, blog posts, behind-the-scenes glimpses, or customer reviews. Plan out a content calendar to help you stay organized and consistent.
Engage with your audience: In addition to posting content, make an effort to interact with your followers by liking and commenting on their posts, answering their questions, and responding to their comments.
Use paid advertising: Most social media platforms offer paid advertising options that allow you to target specific audiences and promote your products. Set up a budget and test out different ad formats and targeting options to see what works best for your store.
Track your results: Use tools like Google Analytics or Shopify’s built-in analytics to track the traffic and sales generated from your social media efforts. This will help you determine what’s working and what areas you can improve upon.
3. Use Shoppable Pins on Pinterest
Cost: Low to Medium
Shoppable pins are a feature on Pinterest that allows users to purchase products directly from Pinterest.
Here’s how you can use shoppable pins to drive traffic to your Shopify store:
Set up a Pinterest business account: To use shoppable pins, you’ll need to set up a Pinterest business account. This is free to do and will give you access to additional features and analytics.
Connect your Shopify store: In your Pinterest business account, you’ll need to connect your Shopify store so that Pinterest can access your products. You’ll need to have the Pinterest channel installed in your Shopify store to do this.
Create shoppable pins: Once your Shopify store is connected, you can start creating shoppable pins for your products. To do this, upload a product image and add the price and a link to the product page in your Shopify store.
Promote your pins: Share your shoppable pins on your Pinterest account and in relevant Pinterest boards. You can also use Pinterest’s paid advertising options to promote your pins to a wider audience.
Track your results: Use Pinterest’s analytics to track the performance of your shoppable pins and see how they’re driving traffic and sales to your Shopify store. This will help you determine what’s working and what areas you can improve upon.
4. Run Instagram Ad Campaigns
Cost: Medium
Instagram is a social media platform with a large and engaged user base, making it a potentially effective channel for driving traffic and sales to your Shopify store.
Here’s how you can run Instagram ad campaigns to promote your business:
Set up a business account: To run ads on Instagram, you’ll need to set up a business account. This is free to do and will give you access to additional features and analytics.
Connect your Shopify store: In your Instagram business account, you’ll need to connect your Shopify store so that you can promote your products in your ads. You’ll need to have the Instagram channel installed in your Shopify store to do this.
Choose your ad format: Instagram offers a variety of ad formats, including photo ads, video ads, carousel ads, and stories ads. Decide which format(s) will work best for your business and goals.
Set up your target audience: Use Instagram’s targeting options to specify the demographics, interests, and behaviors of the users you want to reach with your ads. You can also use Instagram’s Lookalike Audience feature to target users who are similar to your existing customers.
Create your ad: Use Instagram’s ad creation tools to design and publish your ad. Make sure to include a clear call-to-action and a link to your Shopify store.
Track your results: Use Instagram’s analytics and Shopify’s built-in analytics to track the performance of your ads and see how they’re driving traffic and sales to your store. This will help you determine what’s working and what areas you can improve upon.
5. Use Google Shopping Ads
Cost: Low to Medium
Google Shopping ads are a type of paid advertising that allows businesses to promote their products on Google search results pages and Google Shopping.
Here’s how you can use Google Shopping ads to drive traffic to your Shopify store:
Set up a Google Merchant Center account: To use Google Shopping ads, you’ll need to set up a Google Merchant Center account and link it to your Shopify store. This will allow you to upload your product information and images to Google.
Set up a Google Ads account: In addition to a Google Merchant Center account, you’ll also need to set up a Google Ads account. This is where you’ll create and manage your Shopping campaigns.
Create your Shopping campaign: In your Google Ads account, create a new Shopping campaign and select your target audience, budget, and ad delivery options. You’ll also need to choose the product categories and specific products you want to advertise.
Create your ad groups: Within your Shopping campaign, create ad groups for different sets of products or product categories. Use relevant keywords in your ad group names and product titles to make it easier for users to find your products.
Set up your bids and budget: Determine how much you want to bid for each ad group and set your daily or lifetime budget for your Shopping campaign. You can use the Bid Simulator in Google Ads to see how different bid amounts may affect your ad performance.
Track your results: Use Google Ads and Shopify analytics to track the performance of your Shopping ads and see how they’re driving traffic and sales to your store. This will help you determine what’s working and what areas you can improve upon.
6. Try Promotional Push Notifications
Cost: Free to Low
Push notifications are a type of mobile notification that allows businesses to send messages directly to a user’s device.
Here’s how you can use promotional push notifications to drive traffic to your Shopify store:
Set up push notifications: To use push notifications, you’ll need to set up a push notification service and install the appropriate code on your Shopify store. There are a variety of push notification services available, such as OneSignal, Firebase, and Urban Airship.
Segment your audience: To make your push notifications more effective, it’s important to segment your audience based on factors such as location, purchase history, and interests. This will allow you to send personalized and relevant messages to different groups of users.
Create your push notifications: Use the push notification service’s tools to design and schedule your push notifications. Make sure to include a clear call-to-action and a link to your Shopify store.
Test and optimize your push notifications: Run tests to see how different types of push notifications perform and make adjustments based on the results. You can also use A/B testing to compare the performance of different push notification variations.
Track your results: Use the push notification service’s analytics and Shopify’s built-in analytics to track the performance of your push notifications and see how they’re driving traffic and sales to your store. This will help you determine what’s working and what areas you can improve upon.
7. Use Google Keyword Planner to Rank Higher
Cost: Free
Google Keyword Planner is a tool that helps businesses find and research keywords for their website and pay-per-click (PPC) advertising campaigns.
Here’s how you can use Google Keyword Planner to help your Shopify store rank higher in search results:
Set up a Google Ads account: To use Google Keyword Planner, you’ll need to set up a Google Ads account. This is free to do and will give you access to a variety of tools and resources for managing your online advertising.
Research keywords: In Google Keyword Planner, use the “Discover new keywords” tool to find keywords that are relevant to your business and products. You can enter seed keywords, your website URL, or a specific product category to generate a list of related keywords.
Analyze keyword data: Keyword Planner will provide data on each keyword, such as its search volume, competition level, and cost-per-click (CPC). Use this data to determine which keywords are worth targeting in your advertising campaigns and on your website.
Use keywords on your website: Incorporate the keywords you’ve researched into your website’s content, including page titles, headlines, and body copy. This will help your website rank higher in search results for those keywords.
Use keywords in your PPC campaigns: If you’re running PPC campaigns, you can use the keywords you’ve researched as ad groups or as keywords to target in your campaigns. This will help your ads appear in search results for those keywords.
Track your results: Use Google Analytics and Shopify’s built-in analytics to track the performance of your website and PPC campaigns and see how they’re affecting your search rankings and traffic. This will help you determine what’s working and what areas you can improve upon.
8. Share Email Marketing Newsletters
Cost: Free to Low
Email marketing newsletters are a great way to keep in touch with your customers and drive traffic to your Shopify store.
Here’s how you can share email marketing newsletters with your audience:
Set up an email marketing service: To send email marketing newsletters, you’ll need to use an email marketing service such as Mailchimp, Constant Contact, or Klaviyo. These services allow you to create and manage your email campaigns, as well as track their performance.
Build your email list: In order to send newsletters to your audience, you’ll need to have a list of email addresses. You can collect email addresses through opt-in forms on your website, social media, or in-store, or you can import a list of existing customers from your Shopify store.
Create your newsletters: Use the email marketing service’s templates and tools to design your newsletters. Include visually appealing images, engaging content, and calls to action that encourages readers to visit your Shopify store.
Schedule your newsletters: Determine how often you want to send your newsletters and schedule them accordingly. You can also use automation tools to trigger newsletters based on specific actions or events, such as abandoned cart emails or welcome emails for new subscribers.
Track your results: Use the email marketing service’s analytics and Shopify’s built-in analytics to track the performance of your newsletters and see how they’re driving traffic and sales to your store. This will help you determine what’s working and what areas you can improve upon.
9. Start a Customer Loyalty Program
Cost: Low to Medium
A customer loyalty program is a rewards program that incentivizes customers to make repeat purchases from your business.
Here’s how you can start a customer loyalty program for your Shopify store:
Determine your loyalty program goals: Decide what you want to achieve with your loyalty program. Do you want to increase customer retention, drive sales, or encourage customers to spend more? This will help you determine the structure and rewards of your program.
Choose a loyalty program platform: There are a variety of platforms available that can help you set up and manage your loyalty program, such as Smile.io, LoyaltyLion, and Swell. Choose a platform that aligns with your goals and budget.
Set up your loyalty program: Use the loyalty program platform to set up your program, including the rules, rewards, and enrollment process. Make sure to clearly communicate the details of your loyalty program to your customers.
Promote your loyalty program: Use your website, social media, and email marketing to promote your loyalty program and encourage customers to join. You can also use incentives, such as sign-up bonuses or referral rewards, to encourage participation.
Track your results: Use the loyalty program platform’s analytics and Shopify’s built-in analytics to track the performance of your loyalty program and see how it’s affecting customer behavior and sales. This will help you determine what’s working and what areas you can improve upon.
10. Get Included in Gift Guides
Cost: Free
Here are a few ways you can get your products included in gift guides:
Research relevant gift guides: Look for gift guides that are relevant to your product and target audience. This could include online publications, blogs, and social media accounts that create gift guides.
Reach out to the creators of the gift guide: Once you have identified relevant gift guides, contact the creator of the gift guide and introduce your product. Provide a brief overview of your product and its features, as well as any relevant information (such as the price, materials used, etc.). Include high-quality product images and a link to your Shopify store.
Offer a special discount or promotion: Consider offering a special discount or promotion to the creators of the gift guide. This can make your product more appealing and increase the chances of it being included.
Participate in gift guide events or campaigns: Keep an eye out for gift guide events or campaigns that you can participate in. These events often feature a variety of products and can be a great way to get your products in front of a wider audience.
By following these tips, you can increase the chances of your products being included in gift guides and reach a new audience of potential customers.
11. Become a Sponsor for a Podcast
Cost: Low to Medium
Podcast sponsorships can be a great way to reach a targeted audience and promote your Shopify store. Here are a few steps you can follow to become a sponsor for a podcast:
Research podcasts: Look for podcasts that are relevant to your product or target audience. Consider the size of the podcast’s audience, the type of content they cover, and the frequency of their episodes.
Contact the podcast host: Once you have identified a podcast you are interested in sponsoring, contact the host and introduce yourself and your business. Offer to send them more information about your product, and explain how a sponsorship would be mutually beneficial.
Negotiate the terms of the sponsorship: Work with the podcast host to determine the terms of the sponsorship, including the duration of the sponsorship, the number of episodes it will cover, and the type of mention or promotion you will receive.
Create a sponsorship ad: Create a sponsorship ad that will be played during the podcast. This should be a short, attention-grabbing message that highlights the key features of your product and includes a call to action.
By following these steps, you can become a sponsor for a podcast and reach a new audience of potential customers.
Conclusion
To summarize, driving traffic to a Shopify store involves a combination of strategies including optimizing your store for search engines, using social media, running paid advertising campaigns, collaborating with influencers and affiliates, utilizing email marketing, and offering incentives to customers. It’s important to continuously measure and analyze the effectiveness of these strategies and make adjustments as needed in order to drive traffic and increase s
