If you’re just starting out with a Shopify store, it’s easy to get lost in the crowd.
However, with unique shopify marketing strategies, you can set yourself apart from other stores.
We’ve put together this Shopify guide to take you through easy-to-implement Shopify store marketing strategies.
The post covers five areas:
SITE OPTIMIZATION
AUTOMATION
PERSONALIZATION
ENGAGEMENT
RETENTION
Shopify Marketing Strategy: 30 Ways to Get More Sales Here are some ideas on how to market your Shopify store to increase revenue and improve user experiences.
6 Site Optimization Ideas to Promote your Shopify Store Here are some ways to promote your Shopify store with faster site performance strategies.
1. Focus on Shopify-centered site optimization techniques A well optimized Shopify store makes it easier for customers to explore products and categories .
To promote Shopify store, here’s what you can do to ensure your site offers valuable CX:
Choose an up-to-date theme that’s fast to load and is responsive across devices Opt for a system font so that customers don’t have to separately download it to be able to access your website Get rid of unnecessary redirects and especially pay attention to redirect loops that break the flow of a customer’s experience Integrate AMP web pages with your Shopify store to make your site optimized for mobile devices Get rid of features that trigger distracting elements (for example, how the ‘quick view’ feature is often responsible for triggering pop-ups) Remove all redundant Shopify apps as they continue to run in the background and can slow down site performance 2. Create sticky CTAs for mobile UX As a shopper scrolls down for the product page, a sticky CTA makes it easier to add to cart without the need to scroll up again.
Here’s a look at how to optimize their product page CTAs for mobile to inspire your Shopify marketing campaign:
Use a fixed CTA bar that stays there as the user scrolls down the page. It’s a great way to keep your CTA visible at all times and encourage users to take action. Apply a slide-in CTA that slides in from the side of the screen when the user scrolls to the bottom of the page. It’s a less intrusive way to display a CTA and can be very effective. Enable a pop-up CTA that appears in a pop-up window when the user taps on a specific element on the page. When closed, make the CTA pop-up shrink to a sticky preview button. Use a full-screen CTA that takes up the entire screen and appears when the user scrolls to the bottom of the product page . It is a very effective way to get the user's attention and encourage them to take action, but it can also be disruptive. Remember: Make your CTAs distinct and tappable, leaving space for the thumb.
3. Structure content for easy reading Make it easy for your customers to read on mobile - by focusing on product description structure.
The idea is NOT to have shoppers scroll multiple times to get through the entire product page.
Here are some tips on how to implement this Shopify marketing strategy:
Ensure that your product description font and colors are optimized for mobile screens. Use a clean and organized layout that makes it easy for customers to navigate and find information. See how Emma Bridgerton sums up the product specifications in a table format:
Use bullet points and headings to break up text and make it scannable. Use persuasive language to create a sense of urgency or scarcity that encourages customers to make a purchase. Share behind-the-scenes stories or insights about the product's development, craftsmanship, or inspiration. Integrate user-generated content such as photos, videos , or testimonials from satisfied customers into your product descriptions. 4. Promote your Shopify store through enriched SEO SEO is about positioning your web content to communicate the relevance and value of your offering to search engines, who can then better pair the search they receive with the solution you offer.
- Greg Bernhardt, an SEO senior specialist at Shopify
It’s as simple as this. 48% of online shopping journeys start from search engines.
This means you need to be present for the right kind of searches at the right moment.
For instance, if you’re running a sale for Black Friday and Cyber Monday , your sale page needs to be optimized for keywords like ‘BFCM deals’ etc.
When creating an SEO strategy for your Shopify store marketing, be sure to:
Target more top of the funnel keywords as they have higher search volumes than highly specific ones Focus on long-tail keywords too as they are most likely to be used by shoppers with high purchase intent Focus on site speed so that high load times don’t become a reason for drop-offs and lower search rankings Optimize all your site images for search so they show up in case someone is looking just at the images section Make use of the built-in SEO features of Shopify like setting up URL structure, adding meta title and description of each page, including ALT text for all images Be as descriptive as you can while writing product descriptions as they are likely to cover a huge number of relevant keywords Interlink all possible product and category pages of your site with one another 5. Make product suggestions shoppable on the homepage Implement a feature that allows customers to directly purchase suggested products from your store’s homepage.
This feature will enhance the shopping experience by reducing the number of clicks required to make a purchase and provide a more streamlined and intuitive shopping journey.
Shopify brand The Honey Pot Company features add-to-cart buttons on the homepage itself:
Add hover effects to product images or tiles to provide additional information or a quick preview. Display key details such as product name, price, and ratings when users hover over a product suggestion.
If you have size specifications, make the CTA appear as “select size” and then “add to cart” once the shopper has selected the size or quantity.
6. Limit third-party apps An online store we worked with had around 25+ apps installed and running in the background.
Each app typically adds scripts, stylesheets, and functionality to a Shopify store.
Even if you are not using an app, it still loads those Javascript files which will slow down your site speed.
If you're trying to speed up Shopify website and load time while using apps, then follow these speed optimization tips:
Evaluate and research apps before installing them (Does the app load fast? Does it have bad quality coding? ) Ensure that apps are well-optimized and regularly updated by their developers. Pro Tip 🚀 If you're removing an app, then remove the code that was added as part of the app install process. Some Shopify apps help you with this process by wrapping their code in {% comment %} tags that mention the app name.
6 Automation Marketing Strategies to Promote your Shopify Store Here's how to promote the Shopify store and eventual revenue with automation strategies.
7. Send automated reminders to those who abandoned their cart As part of your Shopify marketing plan, bring back shoppers who added products to the cart but never completed the purchase.
Use automated reminders over email, web push, SMS or even Facebook Messenger.
Shopify marketing tools to use:
Firepush for automated web push notificationsRecart for sending reminders on MessengerPro Tip: Use Engage for an end-to-end service that helps you build on shopper behaviour, personalize copy, and tailor workflows.
8. Use customer engagement tools to enhance communication Keep your Shopify store visitors and subscribers involved by automating communication for retargeting, remarketing, and customer engagements.
Right from welcome emails to product updates, there are several Shopify apps to do it all!
Shopify marketing tools to use:
Zendesk for omnichannel connectivityHey, you’ll love this: 24 effortless Shopify checkout page customizations that increase sales
9. Integrate program management tools for cross-functional tracking By integrating your Shopify store project management tools, you can keep track of your cross-functional projects, sales and marketing activities, customer management, etc.
Shopify marketing tools to use:
10. Use email marketing to promote your Shopify store Since there’s no one right app to serve every eCommerce business, narrow down on what your email marketing needs are.
Use Engage as your go-to Shopify store email marketing tool to:
- send out basic brand-based emails on schedule
- implement advanced features like A/B testing, exit intent popups and automated abandoned cart
- apply advanced features around sign-up forms and audience targeting
- enjoy a performance analytics tool
You basically get the drift - there’s no one size fits all, and you’ll have to choose the right app for the email marketing context you’re operating along.
11. Use SMS in a strategic way SMS marketing is a powerful tool for Shopify stores to connect with their customers and drive sales.
Here are some tips to optimize SMS marketing efforts and maximize conversions :
Ensure your messages are short and to the point, Use SMSBump to tailor your message to audience segments and automate them, Look into data protection and consumer safety laws such as CAN-SPAM and TCPA, Automate your cart recovery campaigns on SMS, and Ensure your one-time promotional campaigns are timed to match the intent of the user. Here’s an example to inspire your Shopify marketing strategy.
Hey, check this out: Shopify Homepage CRO: 12 proven ideas to boost conversions
12. Enable live chat for your Shopify store promotion Whereas customer satisfaction levels stay at about 61% over calls and about 44% over email, live chat takes this number up to 73% .
So lean on the live chat function to make your Shopify growth strategy robust.
See the results of a recent Shopify post:
Here are a few highly rated live chat tool options that you can consider based on your Shopify marketing campaign:
Tidio : This app enables a super short setup time of 30 seconds and includes a number of great features such as unifying the handling of messages across all channels and in-built capabilities for over 20 integrations.
Live Chat : This much loved app includes distinctive features such as lists on real-time visitors, glimpses of what customers type before they use the ‘send’ button and a permanent cart.
Maven : Maven is a free app that comes with several no-configuration capabilities such as omnichannel support to integrate all active channels, cart awareness & abandonment chatbots that send out necessary notifications and an in-depth analytics dashboard.
Brevi : Yet another free app that’s rated a 5, Brevi distinctively features a number of amazing aspects including enabling the business to initiate a relevant chat and helping in closing sales, offering flexible chat hours and precise automatic answers on order status, returns and shipping.
Reamaze : While being more expensive than many of its counterparts, Reamaze ensures a number of distinctive characteristics. These include giving the merchant the ability to handle multiple storefronts, being able to access other Shopify apps while using the Reamaze dashboard and measuring the customer support team’s impact on sales and revenue.
8 Personalization Marketing Strategies to Promote your Shopify Store Here's how to promote your Shopify store (for free) and gain revenue with personalization strategies.
13. Use precise event-driven data Precise data on specific events where the customer engaged with your brand is essential for -
1. Creating relevant personalizations at every stage (to the customer)
2. Enhancing CX beyond personalization
One way to do this is to use a Shopify customer engagement platform that can help you view data around several events like products that are browsed, viewed, or added to cart, products that are added and then removed from the cart, etc.
Other related events like logging in, logging out, starting the checkout process , and paying up for order also become events that can be tapped into for insights.
14. Use Shopify apps to focus on specific aspects of personalization Shopify has a range of customization apps that can help business owners focus on highly segmented parts of the customization or personalization process.
Some very highly rated Shopify marketing apps include:
Infinite Options (for an infinite number of product fields including numbers, text, dropdown menus, checkboxes etc.)Customify (for uploading an infinite number of images and their live preview feature that is known to reduce returns and exchanges)You'd love to read: 24 Scientific Strategies to Increase your eCommerce Conversion Rate
15. Know how not to over-personalize In some (not so) surprising research results put together, it was found that customers do experience over-personalization and that it has detrimental effects on how they experience a brand.
The most common problem, the research identified, happens to be that of the customer being cast into a “niche” based on their behavior. This is known to cause “content fatigue”.
So how do you not over-personalize? Here are some quick Shopify marketing tips:
a. Ensure your hyper-targeted segments overlap so customers are shown product recommendations they usually don’t see.
b. Use a feedback loop around personalization. If you’ve been recommending certain kinds of products for a while, use a survey or quiz to find out if the customer is in line with the recommendations.
c. Strategically introduce non-targeted content. Be honest about throwing in some changes to the regular recommendations.
For example, send fresh email recommendations saying “For a change, we thought you’d like these products”.
Or let’s say you know your focused customer segment cares more about their skin than their gut.
To recommend products that are centered on the gut, then, you could talk about how a good gut means not just good skin but a bunch of other healthy things.
You'll also like: 16 Behavioral Targeting Ideas for 2024 (eCommerce)
16. Use Shopify Sections to edit collection pages Enhance the appeal and functionality of your collection pages with Shopify sections.
The goal is to create a balance between an attractive presentation and easy navigability for your customers.
See how Then I Met You has three subsections as collections:
Here’s how to customize your collection page templates on Shopify:
Step 1: Go to your Shopify admin and click on Collections. Then, click on the collection you want to edit.
Step 2: In the Sections tab, you can add new sections, columns, and rows. You can also drag and drop sections to rearrange them.
Step 3: To add a section, click on the Add Section button and select the type of section you want to add.
Step 4: To add a column, click on the Add Column button and select the number of columns you want to add.
Step 5: To add a row, click on the Add Row button.
Step 6: You can customize the appearance of your sections by changing the background color, font color, and font size. You can also add images and videos to your sections.
Step 7: When you're finished editing your collection page, click on the Save button.
17. Upgrade the “progress bar“ Most Shopify shoppers expect free shipping .
Go one step ahead and make it conditional.
See how Fly by Jing does it on their Shopify store cart page:
Here are some tips on implementing ‘free shipping’ as a Shopify cart page customization:
Offer free shipping based on purchasing a certain quantity of items, buying from a particular category , or selecting a specific product variant. Create tiered free shipping options based on different spending thresholds. For example, offer standard free shipping for orders over $50, express free shipping for orders over $100, and so on. Surprise your customers with mysterious free shipping events. This can generate excitement and curiosity, leading to increased engagement and sales. Use geo-targeting to customize promotions based on the shopper's location as a personalized experience. Introduce time-sensitive free shipping, such as "Free Shipping Happy Hour" during specific hours of the day, to create a sense of urgency and excitement among your customers. 18. Feature variant-based Shopify product bundles Variant-based product bundles are a type of product bundle that allows customers to choose the ‘specific variant’ they want to include in their bundle.
This type of Shopify product bundle is ideal for brands that sell products with multiple variations, such as size, color, or style.
Here are some tips for creating successful variant-based product bundles :
Choose products that complement each other. The products in your bundle should be related in some way, such as by function, style, or theme. Offer a variety of variations. The more variations you offer, the more likely customers are to find a bundle that they're interested in. Set a competitive price. The price of your bundle should be significantly lower than the total cost of purchasing the products individually. 19. Auto add 'free' products For a second, get into the mind space of a shopper who is viewing their mini cart/cart page—they’re likely ready to checkout without spending a lot more.
So, if a cart is close to the higher end of your average order value, then auto-add free products to the cart .
This offers an extra bit of delight to the shopper and might nudge them to buy more, thereby increasing the average order value .
20. Increase your products’ perceived value As a Shopify store owner, you should justify the selling price and bring out the value—and people will buy.
The key is to make the perceived value stand out—Shopify brand NCLA Beauty does it by stating that they’re offering a $40 value product at $24, making it instantly convincing.
Other ways to make the perceived value stand out in your Shopify store?
Offer free shipping against a countdown timer Promote interest-free alternative payments Call out the exclusivity in products when you’re charging a high price Offer a $ discount when they buy more of the same product 6 Engagement Strategies to Promote your Shopify Store Find the best ways to promote your Shopify store with proven engagement strategies to get the highest ROI.
21. Build quiz-based Shopify product recommendations One way to get your audience to organically open up and capture them as subscribers is to run quizzes and polls.
This creates self-awareness among customers and also shows you care about giving them the best brand experience.
A quiz-based product recommendation on your Shopify store can guide shoppers to products that best suit their needs and preferences, potentially increasing customer satisfaction and sales.
See how Three Ships does it:
Here’s how to optimize your quiz-based Shopify product recommendations :
Create questions that are easy to understand and relevant to the products. Questions can be about preferences, habits, budget, etc. Link each answer to specific products or product bundles. This is key to ensuring that the quiz results guide customers to the right product bundle. Before going live, test the quiz thoroughly to ensure it works seamlessly and the product recommendations are accurate. After launching, gather customer feedback and use it to refine the quiz. Read for instant inspiration: 30 Shopify product page templates (+ stunning real-world examples)
22. Increase the relevance of content across channels 76% of B2C marketers are leveraging content marketing today to reach their target customers.
Here's how you can improve your Shopify content marketing:
a. Upload content that engages
HubSpot has found that companies that upload more than 16 blogs per month receive 3.5X the amount of traffic as compared to companies that publish less frequently
b. Create content with a consumer-first approach
When it comes to producing B2C content, engagement is what 73% of creators prioritize .
Such information is more likely to be shared and hence redirect traffic back to the website.
c. Focus on optimizing your content with the right keywords
When developing content, it’s important to include phrases that people use to look for products they want to buy.
It’s also an opportunity for you to throw in relevant links to your store through this content.
You'll love reading: How To Drive Traffic To Shopify Stores: 14 Proven Strategies
23. Drive content traffic through Pinterest (a less crowded platform) Pinterest is rightfully termed a “goldmine of ideas”, and offers a great platform for product discovery.
Here’s how you can use Pinterest to improve Shopify content marketing:
Integrate your Shopify store and use website images (especially those that have lifestyle shots) on Pinterest boards Bring a ‘Pin’ to each of the content pieces you have in your store. When customers can easily save these, they’re more likely to come back and use them. Show your products in use. For example, if you have a tattoo gun, look into a walkthrough of a tattoo session with product placement. To ensure that you’re able to reach your audience, also include the following in your pins: A catchy title that describes your product/ collection An enticing description of the product (include BTS, making, or details) Hashtags that best describe your image Link to the web page where the user can find more details of the product discovered Product tags to encourage website visits and shorten the purchase cycle Rich Pins for your web pages & blogs Pro Tip:
Leverage Pinterest stories to expand the reach of your pins Optimize your Pinterest profile with your store URL as well as a description of your brand 24. Promote your Shopify store using Instagram feed Instagram users can shop from your catalog while simply using the platform.
All you need to do is set up your business account on Instagram, add relevant details, and link to your Shopify store.
Post that, you must connect your Instagram handle to your Facebook page, upload your product catalog, turn on the shopping feature, and voila!
You are all set to start using product tags in your posts and videos to open them up for sale on your Instagram store.
You can even include products from your catalog in your Instagram stories by selecting the relevant stickers from the sticker tray.
This allows your followers to click on your story and shop for their favorite products.
25. Create content with popular tools to reach more people One way to take your Shopify advertising efforts to the next level is to start using tools that the larger public does to create and distribute content.
Here are some Shopify content marketing tools:
Some quick Shopify content marketing ideas:
Organic walkthroughs with the team Fun content with product/brand plugins For example, if you want to grow your reach on Instagram, think of creating a filter under your brand and promote your Shopify store to be used by loyal followers and potential leads alike.
BONUS:
You can also create micro-videos using the native features of the two apps easily.
Using Instagram’s built-in features, you can record, edit, apply filters, and upload a Reel instantaneously.
Pro Tip:
If you’re on TikTok, stay updated with what’s trending.
For instance, the “into the 00’s pop stars ” trend, has gotten users to share their style statements from back in the days.
If you’re a fashion and apparel brand, this is your chance to shine.
Recommended reading: Influencer Marketing 101: Step-by-Step Strategy For eCommerce Store Owners
26. Launch creator-led product ranges As a part of your Shopify content marketing strategy, you might already be active on social media.
And you already know that influencer marketing works.
In the past year alone, influencer marketing has grown into a $21.1 billion industry.
A survey shows that marketers prefer:
Considering higher engagement rates, brands (44%) say that they prefer working with smaller influencers because it’s less expensive.
However, go beyond just ad campaigns and influencer favorite categories.
See how Otto Studio collaborates with influencers for creative products:
4 Retention Strategies to Promote your Shopify Store Here's how to promote your Shopify store with smart retention strategies.
27. Create a flexible and inclusive loyalty program As part of your Shopify marketing strategy, invite loyal customers to be a part of an exclusive community that gets to try out new products and share their feedback even before the official launch.
a. Reward every relevant action taken by a customer
Whether it is signing up for a newsletter, making the first purchase, sharing their reviews, tagging your brand on social media, etc.
b. Opt for a point system where customers have the flexibility to choose from a range of options
This way, they can try the products they actually want and may even continue to buy the products themselves.
Sephora is known for its Beauty Insiders program and they’re a stellar example to inspire your Shopify marketing campaign.
28. Make your community grow in targeted ways Here are some tips you can implement to ensure a well-run community marketing campaign:
a. Create a newsletter that keeps your community engaged with all the latest updates from your brand. Integrate it with your Shopify store so they can automatically know when there’s a new release or when you’re sharing content that is relevant to what they have purchased in the past.
b. Develop personas with an app like Endear and use that to target different groups on social media and create awareness around your community.
c. Use an app like Experiences to build a truly authentic experience for each one of your customers.
d. Use an app like Shopcodes to send out alerts every time your brand has an event.
Don't forget to check out: 25 Email Marketing Tips to Increase Sales (+ Amazing Examples)
29. Work on a relevant UGC strategy Here are three key elements you need to consider through your UGC strategy:
A clear call to action that convinces your most active customers to get involved Channels that you can use to distribute this content The context for which you’re creating a UGC campaign They’ve clearly laid out their program on their Facebook page, called users to create content, and found a way to implement a content strategy with UGC.
PLUS: You can also drive purchases through UGC by making these posts shoppable.
Here’s an example to inspire your Shopify marketing strategy:
For this, you’ll need an app like Cevoid .
The app lets you easily invite your customers to share pictures and videos through after-purchase emails , direct links, and even QR codes.
30. Build a tiered referral program to leverage more networks Apps like ReferralCandy help you in building your referral marketing program with ease.
Right from tracking the number of referrals to the conversions on the referrals, rewards given out and redeemed, the app enables you to do it all.
Here are some Shopify marketing strategy suggestions:
Make it easy for customers to get involved with a referral link right in the main navigation bar Build a full-scale program with different tiers and different rewards and communicate how it works Look into Google Analytics to understand where you get the most traffic from Use influencers to create awareness about the referral program and ask them to share links to the main page & explain how it works Place your reviews at relevant touchpoints such as the homepage or product page, they work as a valuable tool. You can further use them to redirect customers onto the referral program. PS: Here are some EASY ways to get customer reviews and boost sales
How to Choose the Right Way to Promote Your Shopify Store? Selling your product depends on how competitive your industry is.
So, when you have to promote your Shopify store, you'll need to try different things.
Think about these questions:
What am I selling, and how do people usually find these things? Where do the people who might want to buy my stuff hang out? (Is it on Reddit, Instagram, or maybe at trade shows?) What matters most to the people who might buy from me? Is it the price, being environmentally friendly, or maybe just convenience? How's the best way to talk to the people who might be interested in my stuff? Is it through emails or maybe by using paid ads? What are other stores that sell similar things doing to get the word out? You'll need to test out different ways from the list above to see what works for your audience and what works for what you're selling.
Pay special attention to the last one - it's a good idea to sign up for emails from stores that are like yours, click on their ads, and try to figure out what they're doing to get noticed.
Shopify Marketing Strategy FAQs 1. What makes for a powerful Shopify marketing strategy? Marketing your Shopify store is not easy—everyone uses the same strategy. And this is why you’d want to look further. Build a list, delete your first 10 ideas, the 11th might be a good one. You get the drift. :)
Make sure:
You know your target audience both in terms of demographics and psychographics The content you feature has BOTH transactional and non-transactional elements. Your non-transactional content needs to leave customers feeling more aware, educated and connected You segment your email lists better so that you can lean on tactics like hyper-personalization and sending out targeted educational content You create a relevant mix of paid and organic content to attract new customers 2. What can you do to promote your Shopify store? Here are 6 effective ways to nail your Shopify store promotion:
Use Shopify Push Notifications to advertise your products Create quality organic content through your blog Get included in a relevant gift guide Use relevant product reviews in your email campaigns Integrate your social media into your homepage and product pages Use remarketing and retargeting to draw attention from people interested in your category. 3. How do I attract buyers on Shopify? Here are 7 Shopify marketing hacks that you can implement for instant results:
a. Use high-quality images and product descriptions to help customers understand what you're selling
b. Tie up with micro-influencers to spread the word on social media
c. Build an email list and send regular newsletters and promotions to engage your customers
d. Create special offers and discounts to incentivize customers to make a purchase
e. Optimize your online store for search intent
f. Consider using paid advertising platforms like Google Ads or Facebook Ads to drive targeted traffic and promote your Shopify store
g. Provide excellent customer service to build a loyal customer base and positive word-of-mouth referrals
4. What are the benefits of Shopify marketing? Here are reasons why Shopify marketing can offer numerous benefits to your online store:
Increased brand awareness: Shopify marketing allows you to promote your brand across different platforms, increasing your visibility and reach Higher website traffic: Effective marketing strategies can drive more traffic to your Shopify store, increasing the chances of generating sales Better customer engagement: Marketing can help you build better relationships with your customers by providing them with valuable content and personalized experiences Improved customer retention: Effective marketing strategies can help you keep your customers engaged and satisfied, which can lead to repeat purchases and increased customer loyalty Increased sales and revenue: A well-executed marketing plan can help you reach more potential customers and convert them into paying customers, resulting in increased sales and revenue Competitive advantage: By utilizing effective marketing tactics, you can stand out from your competitors and position your business as a leading player in your industry. Overall, Shopify marketing can help you achieve your business goals by increasing brand visibility, driving traffic, improving customer engagement and retention, boosting sales and revenue, and gaining a competitive advantage.
Further reading for Shopify store owners: How do I boost my Shopify conversion rate? (50 effortless strategies)
Shopify landing page design: 20 amazing examples + proven ideas
Shopify Product Page CRO: Unique ideas for improving conversions
Prevent Shopify Cart and Checkout Abandonment: 24 Tested Ideas
In-depth Guide to Shopify Conversion Rate Optimization
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