How to Promote Your Shopify Store (14 Unique Strategies)

If you're reading this, it means you're ready to take your Shopify store to the next level. 

Running an online store isn’t easy, and if you ever thought your Shopify income will be passive, you’ve definitely learned the lesson. It takes effort, strategy, and a solid plan to grow and stand out.

Promoting your Shopify store fruitfully is crucial to driving traffic and, subsequently, increasing sales. 

If you struggle with how to market your Shopify store, don’t worry, I’m here to help.

Why trust us?

• We're the creators of Bloggle, a dynamic Shopify blog builder available on the Shopify App Store that fills the gaps in native Shopify blogging capabilities.
• We're a global force: 3000+ merchants across 60 countries have trusted us to amplify their voices.
• Your peers adore us: We have a stellar 4.9/5 rating on the app store.
• We've already empowered 55,000+ blogs written using our versatile app.

Under our guidance, users have reported up to a 10x boost in Search Engine Optimization (SEO) traffic and revenue.

#1 SEO is THE strategy to online success

Search engine optimization (SEO) is the process of optimizing your website to improve its visibility in search engines results. 

I’ll break down “the process” down the line, but first let’s take a look at some interesting SEO statistics:

• Organic search gets 1,000% more traffic than organic social.
• Organic search has a 14.6% conversion rate.
• The average CTR (click-through rate) for position 1 is 37.15%.
• 96.55% of content gets zero organic traffic from Google.
• Just 0.83% of Clicks go to websites on Page 2 of Google.
• Nearly half of marketers consider organic search to be their most profitable marketing channel.
• In 2024, 88% of marketers with an SEO plan intend to either increase or maintain their investment.
• 79% of highly successful marketers and business owners allocate more than 10% of their marketing budget to content creation.

This data uncovers a golden truth about marketing a website:

1. If you’re not ranking - you’re not banking.

Here’s a simple analogy: imagine your Shopify store as a physical shop selling climbing equipment. Now, picture this store as beautifully designed, offering top-quality products, fair pricing, and excellent customer service. However, from the outside, the store’s sign reads "David Rocks," the window display is empty, and it's located in the worst part of the mall. Even if someone is in the mall looking specifically for climbing gear, they wouldn’t find your store unless they heard about it through word of mouth—so you wouldn't make a sale.

That’s what no SEO looks like. The mall represents Google, your store's name and display are SEO elements like title tags, meta descriptions, and content, and your location reflects how well you rank in search results. The customer who doesn’t buy because they can’t find you? That's someone searching for climbing equipment on Google but missing your site.

And the process of fixing that? Well, that’s SEO.

Don’t be scared of SEO, this is all you need to know:

Keyword research

One key aspect of SEO is keyword research. Identify the terms and phrases your potential customers are searching for and incorporate them into your website content. 

Use tools like Google Keyword Planner or Ahrefs to find the best keywords for your niche. 

Optimizing your product descriptions, blog posts, and meta tags with these keywords is a safe way to promote Shopify store.

If you’re new to this - Ahrefs has an awesome keyword research guide to get you started.

Example of a content plan for a swimwear brand based on keyword research:

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On-page SEO optimization

On-page SEO includes optimizing your store’s metadata, content and source code. From meta titles to meta descriptions, headings and actual content inside your pages.

Always make sure to optimize your title tags and meta descriptions, which we have a more detailed guide on that you can check here. We’ve included some do’s and dont’s and real life examples.

Robots.txt is also crucial, it doesn’t appear on your frontend but it’s important to optimize it for Google to easily understand which pages to crawl and which not to.

And finally, optimize your content: 

• Make sure every page has an <h1> heading and include your primary keyword in it.
• Only use one <h1> per page to avoid confusion for search engines.
• Use <h2>, <h3>, and so on to structure your content and break it into sections.
• Place secondary keywords in your <h2> and <h3> headings for better optimization.
• Keep headings clear, concise, and relevant to the content below them.

We also have a Shopify SEO checklist that covers the basics.

Blogging

Companies that maintain a blog get 57% more visitors, 67 more leads, earn 97% more inbound links and have 434% more indexed pages than companies that don’t. 2

To build a successful eCommerce brand, you need a well-designed blog that ranks well on Google.

The competition is fierce, and Google has a tough job determining which websites are trustworthy. 

Google's algorithm evaluates factors known as E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness) when ranking sites. One proven way to showcase all of these is through blogging.

Let’s say there are two websites, both optimized and selling the same products. One has only product pages, while the other includes a blog that explains the products, how they work, who needs them, reviews competitors, and provides useful information. 

Which one do you, as a user, trust more? Google thinks the same way.

Now, I know what you’re thinking: blogging is tedious, and Shopify’s native blog feature is limited and difficult to use. I felt the same way, which is why I created Bloggle. 

Bloggle is a no-code, drag-and-drop blog builder that makes creating blogs both fun and effective. Plus, you can now try Bloggle for free for 14 days, with no commitment, and see the difference for yourself.

Image optimization

Optimize your images with alt text and check if they load fast, you don’t want images slowing down your website. Also, be careful about Shopify image sizes, they can be very specific. 

Don’t forget — you are writing for your readers and potential customers, not exclusively for Google's algorithm.

Technical SEO

Technical SEO is really closely related to on-page SEO. A lot of people are scared of it, but the truth is if your website covers the basics you really shouldn’t worry about it too much. 

Always make sure: 

• That your website is fast. You can use a tool like GTMetrix to check your website speed and see if you have any potential issues. 
• That your website is mobile-friendly. Google uses mobile-first indexing. This should not be an issue if you’re using Shopify, but if you have a custom theme this is something you should really be careful about. You can use this Google’s tool to check if your page/store is mobile-friendly. 

That you fix any technical issues using Google Search Console. This tool helps you identify and resolve problems like indexing errors, broken links, mobile usability issues, and crawl errors. It also provides insights into how your site performs in search results and helps you optimize for better visibility.

#2 Content marketing

Videos, blogs, social media posts that do not explicitly exist to promote your brand, but rather to stimulate interest in the products or services you do are content marketing.

Content marketing is not hard when you genuinely care about the problem your brand solves. Do it honestly and passionately. Don’t follow bland advice or templates. 

My favorite example of content marketing done right is Ahrefs. Their approach is that of a favorite college professor. They break down problems their audience cares about with expertise and offer guides that resonate and help.

And they have fun with it. That way they reap multiple benefits - they rank well, the audience trusts them and they naturally get to promote their product. 

Blogging is not just useful for SEO, one of the most effective ways to do content marketing is through a blog on your Shopify store. Regularly update your blog with articles that provide value to your audience. 

If you can’t figure things out, don’t worry, we made it easy for you. How to add a blog post to Shopify and how to add products to blog posts are straightforward with Bloggle. 

We also provided a complete Shopify guide to blogging, and you can check yourself where Bloggle is on the list of the 10 best blog apps for Shopify.

#3 Social media

Social media platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok allow you to reach a large and diverse audience, engage with potential customers, and drive traffic to your store.

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Instagram is a visual platform that is perfect for showcasing your products. Share high-quality photos and videos of your products, and use Instagram Stories and Reels to provide behind-the-scenes glimpses of your business. 

Use hashtags and geotags to increase your reach, and engage with your followers by responding to comments and messages.

Facebook offers a range of promotional opportunities, including posts, ads, and groups. Although its significance has diminished in the past few years, that doesn’t mean you should neglect or totally avoid this social network. 

Facebook ads in particular are a way to promote your products effectively on social media.

TikTok is a rapidly growing platform that offers unique opportunities for promotion. Create short, engaging videos that showcase your products and brand personality. 

Use trending sounds and hashtags to increase your reach, and collaborate with popular TikTok creators to tap into their audience. TikTok Ads can also be an effective way to drive traffic to your store.

The most important thing for any social media channel is trying to build a unique picture about yourself and differentiate from competitors. There are lots of ways of doing that, depending on your niche. 

You also need to remember that the social media game is not a sprint, it is a marathon. You won’t see mind-blowing results in the first few months, but if you keep posting consistently and follow your content plan, after a while your social media strategy will bring you good results.

#4 Partner with influencers

Influencers have established trust with their followers, and their endorsements can drive traffic and sales to your store. By collaborating with them, you can tap into their audience and gain credibility for your brand.

To find the right influencers, look for those whose audience aligns with your target market. Research their engagement rates, content quality, and follower demographics. 

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Reach out to them with a clear proposal on how you can collaborate to benefit both parties. This could include sponsored posts, product reviews, giveaways, or exclusive discount codes for their followers.

Influencer partnerships can take many forms, depending on your goals and budget. Micro-influencers, with smaller but highly engaged followings, can be a cost-effective option. 

They often have a more personal connection with their audience, which can lead to higher conversion rates. Macro influencers and celebrities, on the other hand, offer broader reach and can create significant buzz around your brand.

Building long-term relationships with influencers can yield the best results. Rather than one-off promotions, consider ongoing collaborations that keep your brand top of mind with their audience. This could involve regular product features, behind-the-scenes content, or co-branded campaigns.

#5 Google ads

Google Ads is another great way of driving traffic to your Shopify store. By targeting specific keywords related to your products, you can ensure your store appears in search results for relevant queries. 

This can drive immediate traffic to your site and it is one of the most straightforward ways to promote Shopify store.

To successfully run a Google ad campaign you need to:

1. Conduct keyword research

Start by identifying terms your potential customers are searching for using tools like Ahrefs to find high-traffic, low-competition keywords.

2. Create targeted ad campaigns

Build ad campaigns around these keywords, and write compelling ad copy that encourages users to click through to your store.

3. Leverage precise targeting

One of the key benefits of Google Ads is the ability to target specific demographics and locations, helping you reach your ideal customers with precision.

4. Use audience targeting

Narrow down your audience based on age, gender, interests, and location to ensure your ads are seen by those most likely to make a purchase.

5. Explore different ad formats

Google Ads offers search ads (which appear in search results), display ads (which appear on websites in the Google Display Network), and shopping ads (which showcase products directly in search results with images, prices, and details).

6. Experiment with ad formats

Test different formats to find the most effective approach for your store.

#6 Email marketing

Email marketing is a direct and effective way to communicate with your customers. By building an email list, you can send newsletters, promotional offers, and updates about new products to your subscribers. 

• Build your email list: Offer incentives like discounts or exclusive content to encourage sign-ups. Use pop-ups, banners, and opt-in forms on your website to collect email addresses.
• Segment your list: Group subscribers based on customer behavior and preferences to send targeted, relevant emails.
• Create compelling emails: Use engaging subject lines, visuals, and clear calls to action to drive clicks and conversions.
• Analyze and optimize: Regularly review email performance and adjust your campaigns based on the results.
• Use email automation: Set up automated emails for welcome sequences, abandoned cart reminders, and post-purchase follow-ups to ensure timely communication and save time.

Tools like Lemlist can help you automate and personalize your cold email campaigns. Lemlist allows you to create customized email sequences, track open rates, and optimize your campaigns based on performance. 

Use Lemlist's personalization features to create unique emails for each recipient, increasing the likelihood of engagement.

When crafting cold emails, focus on providing value and addressing the recipient's needs. Highlight how your products can solve a problem or improve their life. 

#7 Offer promotions and discounts

Create limited-time offers, discount codes, or bundle deals to incentivize purchases. Promote these offers through your website, social media, and email marketing campaigns to maximize their reach and impact.

Limited-time offers create a sense of urgency that encourages customers to make a purchase before the deal expires. Highlight these offers on your homepage, product pages, and checkout page to ensure they catch the eye of potential buyers. Use countdown timers to add urgency and drive faster conversions.

Discount codes are a versatile promotional tool that can be used in various marketing channels. Share exclusive discount codes with your email subscribers, and social media followers, or through influencer partnerships. 

Bundle deals can increase the average order value by encouraging customers to purchase multiple items at once. Create product bundles that offer a discount compared to buying each item individually. 

Regularly review and update your promotions to keep them fresh and relevant. Analyze their performance to understand what resonates with your audience and adjust your strategy accordingly. 

#8 Collaborate with other brands

Collaborating with other brands can expand your reach and introduce your store to new audiences. Partner with brands that complement your products for joint promotions or co-branded products. 

This creates mutually beneficial relationships and can lead to increased visibility and sales for both brands.

Identify potential partners by looking for brands that share your target audience but offer complementary products. Reach out to them with a clear proposal on how you can collaborate. This could include joint marketing campaigns, co-branded products, or cross-promotions on social media and email newsletters.

Joint marketing campaigns allow you to leverage each other's audiences and resources. For example, you could create a co-branded giveaway or contest that encourages followers of both brands to participate. 

Co-branded products can create excitement and exclusivity around your offerings. Collaborate with your partner brand to create limited-edition products that feature elements from both brands. Promote these products through your marketing channels to generate buzz and drive sales.

#9 Create real-life events

Creating real-life events such as pop-up stores can significantly boost your Shopify store’s visibility and sales. These events create a sense of urgency and exclusivity, drawing in customers who are eager to take advantage of limited-time offerings.

Use Shopify POS (Point of Sale) to easily integrate your online and offline sales. Shopify POS allows you to accept payments, track inventory, and manage customer data in real-time. 

Pop-up stores also offer an excellent opportunity to test new markets and gather valuable feedback. You should keep track of customer’s reactions to new products, understand their preferences, and make informed decisions about your inventory and future marketing strategies. 

Additionally, these events can generate buzz and media coverage, further increasing your store's visibility.

#10 Create a YouTube channel

Video content is highly engaging and offers a way to showcase your products beyond what photos and text can achieve. 

By creating tutorials, product demonstrations, and behind-the-scenes content, you can provide valuable information while building a stronger connection with your audience.

• Create high-quality, informative videos: Focus on addressing common questions and interests related to your niche. For instance, if you sell beauty products, produce makeup tutorials, skincare routines, and product reviews.
• Optimize for search: Use relevant keywords in your video titles, descriptions, and tags to improve search rankings and attract more viewers.
• Engage with your audience: Respond to comments, encourage subscriptions, and use YouTube features like playlists and end screens to keep viewers engaged with related content.

Promote across platforms: Share your YouTube videos on your website, social media, and email newsletters. Embed videos in blog posts and product pages to enhance the shopping experience.

#11 Answer on Reddit or niche-related forums

Participating in forums like Reddit and niche-related forums can help you establish your authority and drive traffic to your Shopify store. 

Identify forums that are relevant to your industry and actively participate in discussions. Offer helpful advice, answer questions, and share your expertise. 

Avoid blatant self-promotion; instead, focus on providing genuine value. When appropriate, you can mention your products or store in a natural and relevant context.

Providing valuable content on forums can also earn you backlinks, which are crucial for improving your SEO. Backlinks from reputable forums signal to search engines that your website is a trusted source of information, boosting your search rankings.

Engage consistently and build a reputation as a knowledgeable and helpful community member. 

#12 Create a referral program

Referral programs incentivize your existing customers to spread the word about your store, leveraging their networks to reach new potential buyers.

Use tools like ReferralCandy or Shopjar to set up and manage your referral program. 

These platforms allow you to create customized referral campaigns, track referrals, and reward customers for their efforts. 

Offer attractive incentives such as discounts, store credits, or free products to encourage participation.

Promote your referral program through your website, email marketing, and social media channels. Make it easy for customers to share referral links and track their rewards.

#13 Create live shopping sessions

Tools like Live Me Up allow you to host live shopping events where you can showcase your products, answer questions, and interact with viewers.

During live shopping sessions, demonstrate how your products work, share tips and tricks, and offer exclusive discounts to viewers. 

This interactive approach creates a sense of urgency and excitement, encouraging viewers to make purchases during the event.

Promote your live shopping sessions through your website, social media, and email marketing. Use countdown timers and reminders to build anticipation and ensure a large turnout. Also, you should be engaging and respond to any reactions and comments from your viewers.

#14 Sponsor a related podcast

Podcasts have loyal listeners who trust the host's recommendations, making them an effective channel for promoting your Shopify store.

Identify podcasts that cater to your target audience and inquire about sponsorship opportunities. Negotiate a sponsorship package that includes mentions or ads during the podcast episodes. 

Provide the podcast host with information about your products and any special offers you want to promote.

Podcast sponsorships can increase your brand awareness and drive traffic to your store. Listeners who trust the host's recommendations are more likely to visit your website and make a purchase.

Track the performance of your podcast sponsorships to measure their effectiveness and adjust your strategy as needed.

FAQs

How important is SEO for my Shopify store?

Search Engine Optimization  is crucial for driving organic traffic to your store. It helps your store rank higher in search engine results, making it easier for potential customers to find you. Investing in SEO can lead to long-term, sustainable traffic growth.

Can I promote my Shopify store without spending money on ads?

Yes, you can promote your store without spending on ads by using SEO, content marketing, social media engagement, and email marketing. These strategies require time and effort but can effectively drive traffic without additional costs.

How do I find the right influencers to partner with?

To find the right influencers, look for those whose audience aligns with your target market. Research their engagement rates and content quality. Reach out to them with a clear proposal on how you can collaborate to benefit both parties.

Shopify is not a passive income

Promoting your Shopify store requires a mix of strategies to drive traffic and boost sales. To successfully market your store over the long term, it takes consistent effort. 

There's no magic formula—focus on offering quality products in a niche you know well, and invest time and energy into the strategies outlined in this article. 

By doing so, you'll see your sales steadily increase.