Starting a Shopify store is easy, but getting sales takes planning and effort. This guide will help you take the right steps to bring in your first orders. If you’re a new Shopify user, a small business owner moving online, or someone starting out with eCommerce, you’ll learn how to build trust, set up your store the right way, and drive traffic that converts. No technical background needed—just follow each step carefully.
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Why Your Shopify Store Isn’t Getting Sales?
You’ve built the store, added your products, and even shared it with friends—yet no one’s buying. Sounds familiar?
There are a few common reasons why your Shopify store isn’t getting sales. First, it could be low traffic. Without visitors, you can’t make sales. Even if people are landing on your site, poor product presentation—like low-quality images or vague descriptions—can turn them away.
Another big factor is trust. If your store lacks trust signals like reviews, clear return policies, or secure payment badges, buyers hesitate. Bad UI/UX (like cluttered layouts, confusing navigation, or too many pop-ups) also kills conversions. A slow-loading site can push users to leave before the page finishes loading.
Unclear CTAs (Call-To-Actions) or buttons that don’t stand out make it hard for users to know what to do next. Also, if you’re not putting in consistent marketing efforts, like SEO or social media promotions your store stays invisible.
How to Start Getting Sales on Shopify?
In this section, you’ll learn practical, tried-and-tested tactics to start getting sales on your Shopify store. These steps will help you move from zero orders to consistent sales.
1. Use Popups to Boost Conversions
Popups can help you turn visitors into buyers or subscribers before they leave your store. One effective type is an exit-intent popup, which appears when someone is about to close the tab. This gives you a final chance to offer them a reason to stay—like a 10% discount or free shipping. You can also use time-based popups that appear after a visitor has spent a few seconds on a page.
These small offers often encourage users to complete a purchase or share their email. To get the best results, try A/B testing—create two versions of your popup with different messages or designs, and see which one performs better. Over time, this helps you understand what works best for your audience.
2. Add Onsite Notifications
Onsite notifications, like “Someone just bought this!” or “10 people are viewing this item,” create a sense of urgency and social proof. These real-time updates make your store feel active and trusted, which can push new visitors to take action faster.
You can use tools like Fomo, Proof, or Wisepops to set up these notifications easily without coding. But don’t overdo it—too many popups can annoy visitors and hurt your credibility. Keep them relevant, well-timed, and spaced out to maintain a smooth shopping experience.
3. Start Email Marketing
Email marketing is a powerful tool to keep your customers engaged and encourage repeat sales. Start by setting up a welcome email series for new subscribers, introducing them to your brand and offering a special discount or freebie as a thank you for signing up. This builds a strong first impression and encourages them to make their first purchase.
Additionally, abandoned cart reminders are crucial for recovering sales. If a customer adds items to their cart but leaves without completing the purchase, an automated email reminding them of their abandoned cart can nudge them back to your store.
To keep your email strategy effective, offer exclusive deals or early access to sales for email subscribers. This makes them feel valued and encourages more sign-ups. Tools like Klaviyo and Mailchimp integrate seamlessly with Shopify, making it easy to set up and manage your email campaigns.
4. Ask Friends & Family to Share
When you’re just starting out, your close circle can be one of your most valuable assets. Ask friends and family to share your store with their networks—whether it’s through WhatsApp, Instagram stories, or Facebook shares. This type of organic, personal promotion can help you reach a wider audience quickly.
Don’t treat this like a formal campaign—keep it casual and genuine. Encourage them to share their experience with your products or take screenshots of their purchases to post online. You can also ask them for testimonials to use on your website. Their support can create authentic buzz and build trust with potential customers.
5. Add Trust Badges
Trust badges, such as secure payment logos, money-back guarantees, and free shipping icons, help reassure potential customers that your store is reliable and secure. These badges reduce hesitation, especially for new visitors who might be unsure about making a purchase from a new store.
Place these badges in strategic areas—typically below the call-to-action (CTA) buttons or near the payment information—where they’re easy to spot without overwhelming the page. By displaying trust signals clearly, you build confidence and encourage visitors to follow through with their purchases.
6. Reach Out to Bloggers
Connecting with niche bloggers or micro-influencers is a great way to get exposure without the high cost of big-name influencers. Look for bloggers who already cater to your target audience and ask if they would be interested in giving your product a shoutout or writing a product review.
Instead of focusing on large influencers, aim for smaller, relevant voices who have a dedicated, engaged following. Offering free samples or affiliate links is a win-win: they get products to try, and you get authentic promotion. This type of partnership feels more personal and can help you build credibility and trust with potential customers.
7. Run Paid Ads
Running paid ads is an effective way to reach a broader audience quickly. Start small by testing ads on Meta (Facebook/Instagram) or Google Shopping. These platforms allow for detailed targeting, so you can focus your ads on the right audience based on age, interests, and location.
To optimise your ad spend, consider running retargeting ads to reach people who visited your store but didn’t make a purchase. This helps remind potential customers of what they left behind and encourages them to come back and complete the transaction.
8. Improve Product Pages
Your product pages are crucial for converting visitors into buyers, so it’s important to get them right. Start by ensuring your product photos are high-quality and show the product from different angles. Clear, detailed descriptions help customers understand the benefits and features, while strong CTAs (like “Buy Now” or “Add to Cart”) should be prominent and easy to find.
To address potential buyer questions, consider adding a FAQ section, sizing information, or even product videos if relevant. This additional content helps reduce hesitation and provides customers with the information they need to make an informed decision.
Lastly, don’t forget about mobile optimisation. With many customers shopping on their phones, your product pages should load quickly and look great on any device. This can significantly improve the user experience and boost conversions.
9. Launch a Loyalty Program
A loyalty program is a great way to encourage repeat purchases and build long-term customer relationships. Offer points for actions like making purchases, referring friends, or leaving reviews. These points can be redeemed for discounts or exclusive offers, making customers feel valued and rewarded.
Tools like Smile.io and Yotpo integrate seamlessly with Shopify to help you set up and manage your loyalty program. Keep it simple—don’t make it complicated for first-time users. The goal is to make it easy and fun for customers to earn rewards, which will keep them coming back to your store.
10. Build Social Proof
Social proof is a powerful tool for building trust and credibility with potential customers. Showcasing reviews and testimonials from satisfied customers reassures new visitors that others have had positive experiences with your products. User-generated content (UGC), like photos or videos of customers using your products, adds an authentic touch and encourages others to follow suit.
Place these elements strategically—on product pages to highlight the quality of specific items, and on the homepage to give an overall sense of your brand’s trustworthiness. Positive reviews and UGC not only help influence buying decisions but also make your store feel more genuine and approachable.
11. Write Blog Posts
Writing blog posts is a great way to attract more visitors and drive organic traffic to your Shopify store. Focus on creating useful content that provides value to your audience, such as tips, how-to guides, or gift guides related to your products. This not only helps users discover your store but also positions you as an authority in your niche.
Optimise these blog posts with search engine optimisation (SEO) techniques—such as targeting relevant keywords—but keep the content natural and engaging. For example, if you sell fitness products, you could write about “10 Tips for a Successful Home Workout” or “The Best Fitness Gifts for Gym Lovers”. By doing this, you’ll improve your search engine visibility and increase the chances of people finding your store through Google.
12. Add Live Chat
Installing a live chat tool on your Shopify store can significantly enhance the customer experience and reduce cart abandonment. Tools like Tidio, Zendesk, or Shopify Inbox allow you to communicate with visitors in real-time, answering their questions quickly and efficiently. Quick responses help build trust and can prevent potential customers from leaving without making a purchase.
If you’re not always available, consider setting up auto-replies for frequently asked questions (FAQs) to assist customers even when you’re offline. This ensures that visitors receive immediate help, making them more likely to complete their purchases.
13. Learn from Fellow Shopify Store Owners
Connecting with other Shopify store owners can provide valuable insights and support. Join Facebook groups, Reddit threads, or the Shopify Community to ask questions, share your successes, and learn from others’ experiences—both their wins and failures. Engaging with real people who are facing similar challenges can offer practical tips and new ideas to improve your store.
Additionally, there are many free YouTube channels and podcasts that focus on Shopify success stories, eCommerce strategies, and digital marketing. These can be excellent resources to further your knowledge and stay updated on the latest trends.
Conclusion
Building sales on Shopify is a journey, but with consistent effort and the right strategies, you’ll start seeing results. Focus on taking action with a few key steps—whether that’s improving your product pages, using popups to boost conversions, or leveraging social proof. The key is to start small, stay focused, and keep refining your approach as you go. Success will follow with persistence and the right tactics. And while you’re at it, don’t forget to set up a reliable shopify payment gateway to ensure smooth and secure transactions for your customers.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Why am I getting traffic but no sales on my Shopify store?
If you’re getting traffic but not conversions, it could be due to unclear product descriptions, poor images, or a complicated checkout page design. Ensure your product pages are optimised, your payment options are secure, and your website loads quickly. Analysing your visitors’ behaviour can help identify specific issues.
2. What’s the easiest way to get first few sales on Shopify?
The easiest way to get the first few sales can be promoting your store to friends and family on social media and offering a discount or free shipping to encourage initial purchases.
3. Is Shopify good for beginners with zero tech skills?
Yes, Shopify is user-friendly and doesn’t require technical skills. Its drag-and-drop builder and numerous tutorials make it easy to set up and manage your store without needing coding knowledge.
4. How much money should I spend on ads as a beginner?
Start with a small budget of around ₹2,000–₹5,000 per month for Facebook/Instagram ads or Google Shopping ads. This allows you to test ad performance and optimise targeting before scaling up your ad spend based on results.
5. What are some free ways to promote my Shopify store?
Promote your store through social media platforms, join relevant Facebook groups or Reddit threads, and share your store. Write SEO-optimised blog posts and offer referral discounts to encourage customers to share your store.
6. Can I run a Shopify store from India and sell globally?
Yes, Shopify allows you to run a store from India and sell worldwide. You can set up international shipping, accept global payments, and cater to different currencies and tax rules.
7. How long does it usually take to start getting sales?
It can take anywhere from a few weeks to a couple of months to start seeing consistent sales, depending on your marketing efforts and customer targeting.
8. What kind of products sell best on Shopify?
Products that cater to specific niches, like fashion, beauty, fitness, home decor, or tech accessories, tend to sell well. Products that solve problems or are unique often perform better.
9. Do I need a blog on my store to get more sales?
A blog is not mandatory but can help improve SEO and drive organic traffic. Creating informative, useful content related to your niche can increase visibility and customer trust, leading to more sales.
10. How to bring repeat customers to a Shopify store?
To encourage repeat customers, focus on building long-term relationships. Implement a loyalty program that rewards customers for repeat purchases or referrals. Regularly engage them through personalised email campaigns, offering exclusive discounts or early access to new products
