how to setup seo for more traffic to site

[joe72]

hello all i am a new user to square and have been selling at markets and thought why not try a website to sell my crafts. even though i have been creating for over 20 years i find markets now to be mostly about food . have been online for 2 months now but no sales as yet . i will be patient as see where it leads me.

[Cubanita]

Welcome Joe! Make sure you are driving your own traffic to your website. Do you have an email list & phone numbers? Use them to let people know you are live online & keep in tough with them on a monthly (or weekly) basis. People buy from people they know, like & trust. We have to build relationships with them so they choose us over the thousands of other businesses out there. It will be a long wait to web sales if you don’t make it a habit to drive traffic to it. SEO is a long range tactic. Until you get Google on your side, it’s about relationships & giving them reasons to go to your website.

[Forginthecraft]

Hey @joe72 

Like you I've been selling at markets (handmade items and crafts supplies) but I've had my website running for a year or so now.

And as you know the difference between the two is that customers come to the market and for the website, well you almost need to bring it to them before they come of their own accord... 

Like you, I have yet to fully work out the mystery of SEO. Although to start off have a look at linking your social media with your website. You can then drive customers to your website by allowing them to buy or browse from your Facebook or Instagram or Pinterest or whatever it is you use. I think it's in the settings in your online menu?

Building a mailing list is one good way to do it also. If you still do some markets, be sure to collect email addresses there. You can also promote your site by telling your customers they can pre-order on the site and collect for free from the market...

You can then send emails out using mailerlite free to introduce your business, your products and remind them you're here. You can also set up pop ups with it to collect more emails. 

The other thing is that I still have an Etsy and eBay shop too. I only sell limited stick through that and at 15% more than on my website. Then in my packaging, I give all the info about the website and tell them about the benefits from ordering direct (including 15% cheaper and wider choice). I have converted a few Etsy and eBay customers into repeat website customers over the last few months. 

The above is really simplified but hopefully that will help? I think my first website sale took a good 3 months. It's still not great, especially as I've had to stop markets due to health problems. But it's getting better and better. 

Wishing you all the best! 

[joe72]

Thank you for your message .I will try your ideas and see how things go. I will be patient 

[JK_Fiber_Art]

Hey there Joe72,

Welcome to the world of selling online ... we too have been selling via local farmer's markets for years however, in the Colorado high country, although they call these Farmer's Markets - there's very few "Farmers", it's mostly art, other stuff and food.  That being said, adding online sales can be a challenge - just because you have a website does not mean sales - it's all about marketing - meaning getting your website noticed. 

Here's a few tips - some suggestions work better than others so you have to see what works for you.  I've posted these tips before for others.

* It's important to note that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to getting your website noticed and increasing sales. If there was, we would all be very happy. You need to experiment with different strategies and track your results to determine what works best for your business.

* Social Media Marketing: Social media can be a powerful tool for promoting your website and increasing sales. Creating engaging content and sharing it on social media platforms can help you reach a wider audience and drive more traffic to your site. Start with the basic social media sites, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Flicker, Pinterest, Google Maps, Google Places for Business and Yelp - the more you get your name out there the better and you can setup these accounts at little or no cost - it's just your time. Take your time and take lots of product pictures or detailed info about your services if that applies.

* Advertising in your local paper may promote sales too. Cross selling via other sites like Etsy may increase interest even if you just list a few items. Also, check out activities like local Farmer's Markets or other outdoor events (Craft Shows, Art Shows, etc.) that would fit your needs.

* Content Marketing: Creating high-quality content, such as blog posts, videos, and infographics, can help attract and engage potential customers, leading to increased sales. Both Youtube and Vimeo are great for posting product or service videos at little or no cost. All you need is a camera, some thought and a little time.

* Email Marketing: Building an email list and sending targeted campaigns to subscribers can help you stay top of mind with potential customers, leading to increased sales over time. Don't spam people, make sure your list of addresses is composed of people that want to hear from you.

* Pay-Per-Click (PPC) Advertising: PPC advertising allows you to place ads on search engines and other websites, targeting specific keywords and demographics. This can help you reach your target audience and increase sales. Note: It's a challenge to determine your ROI when spending money on advertising - choose wisely.

* Search Engine Optimization (SEO): Optimizing your website for search engines can help improve your website's visibility in search results, leading to more traffic and potential sales. This can involve on-page optimization (optimizing website content, tags, etc.) and off-page optimization (building backlinks, guest posting, etc.).

* Take advantage of Google Webmaster Tools and Bing Webmaster Tools.

* Finally - word of mouth is your best friend - try to friends and family involved - people trust people they know (in most cases) and this type of advertising is FREE.

All the best moving forward !!!

jk