Shopify is inherently intuitive to use, but when you’re one of half a million other stores, getting your shop in the limelight takes some work. That’s where these tips and ideas come into play.
Take advantage of Shopify’s apps…
When you’re busy running a business, it’s tempting to keep your online store as simple and streamlined as possible. But if you skip over some of the hundreds of apps that Shopify offers to handle accounting, customer service, inventory, marketing, social media, and more, you’re creating more work for yourself in the end.
… And don’t forget the plugins
You’re not just running a store – you have email marketing campaigns to manage, social media sites to stay on top of, and online reviews to handle. Thankfully, Shopify has multiple plugins to help with all of that and more.
The Social Sharing Buttons plugin lets you install customizable buttons for multiple social media sites, while the Facebook plugin lets people on your Facebook page shop right from the platform. MailChimp for Shopify links with your MailChimp account so customers’ purchase data is automatically added to their contact information; and, it also creates automated ‘abandoned cart’ messages. Not in to MailChimp? Shopify has plenty of other email marketing plugins that can help you out. Looking to get more reviews for your store? Check out Yotpo Social Reviews, a free plugin that encourages customers to leave a review after they make a purchase, and share that review with their social media followers.
Focus your mobile site on images, not copy
If your Shopify store is mobile (and it should be), you need to place a huge emphasis on the balance of images versus copy on your product pages. For mobile sites, images should always be the focus, with just a short sentence or a few bullet points for the product description. Just make sure that your call to action (i.e., the ‘add to cart’ button) is clearly visible on each product page.
Take advantage of microdata
You’re inundated with SEO tips and tricks, but there is one lesser known aspect you can focus on to help set you apart from competitors: Microdata.
Essentially, microdata, also known as schema.org (the language used) or structured data, gives search engines even more information as to what you’re selling. It lets you include product names and prices when your items come up in search results, streamlining potential customers’ purchase decisions and minimizing abandoned carts; if they’re already happy enough with the price to click the link, they’re more likely to complete the transaction. Check out Google’s overview on Microdata, and get it installed in your Shopify theme. If you’re comfortable with coding, you can figure out how to install it on your own; if not, it’s a relatively quick (and low-cost) job for a developer.
Give a little back
The focus of your average content marketing campaign is providing value to your followers and customers so that they, in turn, trust you. You can do the same right on your Shopify store with short blurbs or full tutorials that relate to the products you sell. If you run an online boutique specializing in accessories, add or link to outfit ideas that integrate your products. Working on running a makeup empire? Add tutorials. Concoct bespoke tea combinations? Add some tutorials or tips for brewing the perfect cup along with some recipe ideas.
Combine these tips with your content marketing plan, marketing and selling on Pinterest, and taking full advantage of MailChimp’s endless email campaign options, and you’ll see a rapid increase in visibility and sales.