What can I do to gain exposure for my online store?

[HeartInHands617]

I started a square online store (https://heart-in-hands-creative-collection.square.site/) about a month ago and I have not converted any sales. Can someone tell me what Im doing wrong? I've been sharing the link on social media but I don't have a large following. Any suggestions?

[schaefferjosh]

Since it's a very new website, I'd focus on your SEO and building a following on socials. You say you don't have a large following, and that is the only place you share. Make people see and want your product. You say that you haven't converted any sales. What does your traffic look like? How many views a day? week? 1 month really doesn't give a whole lot of data points. I would look into learning SEO and fine-tuning things, and take a look at it more fully in a couple of months.

As for the website itself. I would add more items to your featured section, as it currently only shows 1. Your header image is very blurry. Looks like it's because it may have been a smaller image simply blown up. So perhaps get that a bit more polished in my opinion.

[HeartInHands617]

Thank you for your feedback. I meant to respond sooner but I’ve been juggling a lot and I really haven’t had a chance to respond, but I did take your advice Into consideration and I made some major changes to my online store. If you don’t mind taking a second look and let me know if some of the stuff that you recommended have improved I would greatly appreciate that.

As for my website conversion, Square gives very minimal insight. From what I can see, it looks like I’m averaging around 300 to 400 views, and anywhere between 80 to 120 unique views. It’s really hard to judge. I also have no idea where my views are coming from. I have started sharing more on TikTok, and I converted my TikTok over to a business profile but I have not opened up a TikTok shop yet. I started sharing through Instagram and Facebook as well, and I’m not doing any paid ads. Because of this slow period I don’t qualify for a Square loan which I wouldve used for paid ads.

[schaefferjosh]

The item page looks neat, and the header image isn't blurry at all! It still cuts off the text, though, which isn't appealing to see, but at least it's nowhere near as blurry. I don't see anything else in the featured items, but that's not a deal breaker. I know that Square does have a source report. While it is a bit vague, it may give some insights. This should at least tell you where they are coming from, say, either Google, here in the community, etc. 

Hopefully you can get some sales, but don't stop grinding! Takes work to get there for sure, and you are on the right path. 😄

[CurlyDoodle]

SEO is key, as another member already said. There are many articles and videos online about this topic so you can learn.

Look at how others market similar products. These seem like gift items or impulse buys. Facebook marketing got me recently and I ended up buying a whole set of Totoro pens 😁. I rarely even write by hand, but they were so cute! 

[HeartInHands617]

Thank you for your feedback. I have a friend of mine who is struggling with her own marketing as a pet groomer. Maybe I can get some insight from you to recommend for her.

A friend of mine was just talking to me about the importance of SEO. I guess I’m just so used to AI doing everything that I didn’t even think to consider making sure I do my own SEO. Again, thank you for the feedback.

[CurlyDoodle]

You're welcome! Would love to talk with your friend if she wants to get in touch with me. I'm always available to talk about business 😄.

SEO is always a challenge because Google etc. won't tell the public what their algorithm is. They want viewers to organically find what they want, and if creators are gaming the system for views/clicks, it messes that up. So you just have to put yourself in the heads of your potential customers and think logically. What are they looking for, and how do they search? 

If you connect Google analytics to your website it will help you see where traffic is coming from. I understand about 2% of it, but even that 2% helps 🤣.

[willowsky]

I would say look on Instagram and see how the influencers with high followers are promoting products. See if you can get someone willing to do a review on something you send them. Sometime influencers like to do giveaways and you could offer you product as a give away for free to an influencer and see if that helps get more visibility. 

[HeartInHands617]

I just can’t seem to figure out how to be engaging. I look at some of the click bait that I see, things like “no name starts with A and ends with E” or just other random things that make you wanna click on the post or say something back, like “let me know down in the comments…“.

None of that stuff seems to work for me. I just feel like I’m doing something wrong and I can’t pinpoint where I’m going wrong, but I’m definitely not doing it right. My online store has been open since mid October I think, and I have not generated not one sale through the website alone. All of my sales have come for me talking to people and generating invoices.

[CurlyDoodle]

Six weeks is a very short time in internet land. Search engines take time to index content and show it to seekers. Also as you see, there is a lot of 💩 out there competing for viewers' attention. Don't worry about copying others with their click bait. Try different things and check the analytics. Brainstorm with your friends. Film testimonials from folks who have purchased and love it.