How to Increase Sales on Shopify. Top 15 Strategies

Shopify regularly rolls out updates to power up your business. And new features come with numerous opportunities for merchants. However, innovation also intensifies the already tough competition. As of summer 2024, nearly five million live websites are powered by Shopify, with many among them being direct competitors vying for your market share.

It’s no wonder that store owners actively look for ways to increase online sales. It’s surely easier with sales and special occasions. To recall the recent Black Friday and Cyber Monday, Shopify merchants generated record sales of $9.3 billion. Over 17,500 generated their first Shopify sales back then. But waiting for November to outperform isn’t the best business strategy, right?

Fortunately, there are plenty of other ways to attract new shoppers and re-engage your loyal audience. That's exactly what we'll discuss in this article. We'll touch on discounts briefly, but our main focus will be on strategies that don't rely on price cuts. To give a sneak peek, achieving this might involve some tech upgrades, design tweaks, or shifts in mindset.

Strategies to increase sales on Shopify

When aiming to boost sales, understanding conversion rates is crucial. The top 10% of Shopify merchants have a 4.8% conversion rate. According to Shopify’s data, 2.5% is a solid baseline. However, your store's specific metrics — such as specialization, region, and operational history — will dictate where you fall within this range. Regardless of your current performance, aiming for improvement is a natural goal.

So, how to increase sales? There are obvious things that can help you with this. For example, good customer service and working with feedback let you understand your customers better. This, in turn, enables building a better user experience. That’s the starting point, for sure. But there are many more strategies to try out. Take a look at them.

#1 Optimize the store for mobile users

Let’s start with some statistics:

In other words, three in four people visit your store via their smartphones. A Shopify store that looks good on mobile drives more sales.

If you’re wondering how to increase online sales fast, start by analyzing your mobile presence. It’s crucial to keep your website responsive. Shopify offers adaptive themes. Still, you need to set them up and test your store across various devices. Pay attention to layout, functions, and loading times. Compress images and minimize code to speed things up. Mobile-specific designs, like larger buttons and simplified forms, can also come in handy.

#2 Design informative product pages

Consider the following:

What can we learn from these facts? Quick and compelling product pages help you sell more. Make sure your product titles are clear and descriptive. Include all necessary information: dimensions, materials, care instructions, colors, etc. Highlight the features and benefits of the product, focusing on how it addresses customer needs, improves their lifestyle, or solves a problem they may have. Optimize the store’s speed and performance.

#3 Use compelling visuals

How to get more sales? Stay innovative and creative. Merchants who have 3D content on their pages have 94% higher conversions. The reason is simple. Such detailed visualization compensates for the online experience. When implemented correctly, 3D content can make virtual try-ons nearly as effective as physical ones.

Good imagery can make a huge difference even if you can’t implement 3D models right now. Use multiple high-resolution images, showcase your products from multiple angles, offer zooming and rotation, and let customers see details up close. Add videos to demonstrate the item effectively. They don’t need to be elaborate, just clear and informative.

#4 Implement a loyalty program

Returning customers generate a significant share of revenue.

A loyalty program rewards repeat customers and encourages them to keep coming back. So, how to boost Shopify sales with this strategy? The mechanisms can vary. You can offer points for purchases, reward referrals, provide early access to items, etc. The main thing is to create value and make the program easy to use.

#5 Offer discounts and promotions

Lowering prices from time to time helps you sell more.

How to boost sales with discounts? Limited-time offers, seasonal and flash sales, coupons, and individual offers – all of these encourage quick purchases. Consider implementing discounts for first-time buyers, bulk purchases, or loyalty program members. A good deal always motivates a visitor to look into it closely.

#6 Simplify the checkout process

Did you know that 70% of shopping carts never become completed orders? Users cite numerous reasons for abandoning a store at this stage. Some customers refuse to finalize a purchase if a site requires creating an account, and others refuse to buy from a store with a too-long checkout flow. This hints at how you can increase sales on Shopify.

The conclusion is clear. Analyze and improve the checkout process. Make it as easy and quick as possible. Offer a guest checkout option. Reduce the number of fields in the forms. Request only the essential information. Use progress indicators to show how many steps are left. Offer auto-fills for standard rows. It all simplifies the checkout and enhances the overall shopping experience, reducing friction and encouraging higher conversion rates.

#7 Offer multiple payment options

Offering various payment options ensures you don’t lose customers. Include popular methods: credit cards, PayPal, Apple Pay, and Google Pay. It’ll simplify completing purchases, regardless of the customer’s age and preferences. If you have an international audience, think about adding local payment methods.

#8 Implement abandoned cart recovery

How to get more sales on Shopify? Work with abandoned carts. Many items added to a cart are never purchased, but sending timely reminders can often recover these potential sales. Also, abandoned cart flows have over 3% conversion. While not massive, they outperform most other automated flows except for welcome emails.

Automated reminders about users' abandoned shopping carts can help you bring back some of them. Don’t make these emails pushy. Keep them friendly and helpful. Use a clear call to action. Think about personalization. Consider offering a small discount or free shipping in return to encourage completing the purchase.

#9 Set up email marketing campaigns

Emails are an effective marketing technique for Shopify stores. The average conversion rate of emails is almost 4.29%. That’s more than what search, direct, and social media normally bring. If this doesn’t sound convincing, consider the following: one email drives $36 for every dollar spent.

How to use emails to improve online sales? Stay in touch with your customers. Send regular newsletters. Tell them about updates, promotions, and new product announcements. Segment your audience and personalize the letters you send to them. Automate emails for key events – welcoming, onboarding, post-purchase follow-ups, and special occasions. Well-designed letters with clear calls to action may be more effective than you might suppose.

#10 Use upselling and cross-selling techniques

How to boost online sales by increasing an order value? Encourage customers to buy more at a time. Upselling and cross-selling drive over 20% of revenue each for companies. Product recommendations are responsible for 10-30% of revenues in ecommerce. So, if you aren’t using any of these yet, it’s high time to begin.

Upselling encourages customers to buy a higher-end product than the one they plan. Cross-selling suggests related products users might also be interested in. You can display and highlight both on product pages. Also, it’s a good idea to show extra items on a shopping cart page, making it possible to add to an order in one click.

Remember: it's crucial not to be pushy with upselling and cross-selling efforts, as this can have a negative effect on customer trust and satisfaction. Instead, focus on subtly suggesting relevant products that genuinely enhance the customer's shopping experience.

#11 Apply scarcity-based marketing techniques

The data on the effectiveness of scarcity-based marketing techniques vary. Multiple studies suggest that their impact on consumer behavior can vary based on factors such as product type and market environment. HubSpot shared case studies by Girlfriend Collective and Nike, illustrating how these strategies can be effectively implemented.

Creating a sense of urgency often motivates customers to buy now rather than later. Showing low stock levels or limited-time offers creates the fear of missing out on a good offer. At the same time, false scarcity can affect your credibility. But the technique itself is certainly worth testing.

#12 Set up an omnichannel experience

Creating a seamless and integrated shopping experience is essential for driving sales and building customer loyalty. An omnichannel strategy ensures that your brand delivers a unified and consistent presence across all touchpoints, whether online or offline.

How to increase Shopify sales through a strong presence? Keep consistent branding, messaging, design, and offers across channels. Allow customers to start shopping on one device and continue on another without losing their cart contents. Integrate all online and offline touchpoints so they function like a wholesome system.

#13 Use social media advertising and retargeting

Reminding a customer about a product of interest is what often pushes them to complete the purchase. Meanwhile, 47% of social media users feel comfortable buying from social media apps directly. Facebook shopping is the most popular and trusted experience.

How to boost sales on Shopify using social media? Social media presence and advertising help you reach a broader audience. Targeted ads will help you attract new customers. You can retarget visitors who have already shown interest in your products, and they can be highly effective in converting window shoppers into buyers.

#14 Use customer reviews and testimonials

Reviews build trust and provide social proof. Real customer experiences reassure potential buyers, helping make more confident purchase decisions. Positive feedback on your product pages drives traffic and purchases. Responding to both positive and negative reviews demonstrates to potential clients that you value feedback and are ready to improve.

#15 Consider influencer marketing

Influencer marketing relies on the reach and credibility of popular personalities. Partnering with influencers who have a relevant audience lets you showcase your products in a genuine way. This, in turn, drives trust, traffic, and sales. Just make sure their posts align with your brand values and messaging.

What can hinder your sales

There are many strategies to increase Shopify sales, but just as many potential pitfalls. Don't let this discourage you. By understanding what can hinder your sales, you can take proactive measures to address these issues. We’ve outlined common reasons why high traffic may not be converting into sales.

• Overpriced goods. Between two stores with identical items but different prices, users tend to choose a more budget-friendly option. Keep your prices competitive and reasonable. If your products are more expensive, highlight their unique features or benefits that justify the cost.
• Poor product pages. Unclear, too short, difficult to read, or unconvincing product descriptions don’t illustrate their specifications and benefits. Misleading descriptions undermine trust in your store. Low-quality images spoil even the best text copy.
• Checkout process. A long or confusing checkout process discourages visitors from completing their purchase. A number of steps and required details, as well as a lack of preferred shipping or payment options, can frustrate customers.
• Slow website speed. Shoppers find stores that take too long to load irritating. Most would leave without waiting more than three seconds. Poor mobile experience. With more people shopping on their phones, an unoptimized website equals lost clients. It should work equally well across various devices.
• Shipping costs and times. Yes, you don’t have full control over this factor. Still, it’s possible to offer shipping by different providers, consider occasional discounts and promotions, etc.
• Hidden fees. Any unexpected extra costs trigger store abandonment. Shoppers want to know about all the taxes and commissions upfront before they make it to the payment.
• Lack of promotions. Some shoppers wait for discounts before ordering something online. Many wait for a better deal if it’s not something urgent they plan to buy.
• Inconsistent branding. Design and messaging that vary across pages and social media can confuse visitors. They can make people doubt your credibility. A cohesive brand identity across all touchpoints builds recognition and trust.

Finally, a lack of trust from shoppers can impact conversion. This point may seem too vague, but it comes from inconsistency. As you intend to boost sales on Shopify, keep the store convenient and consistent with branding.

If your store looks unprofessional, has broken links, or illogical design, or lacks visual integrity, customers may hesitate to buy. Pay attention to the theme design and showcase reviews and security badges to avoid this.

To wrap up

How to increase online sales the easiest way? Shopify merchants should always stay tuned. It’s critical to keep up with industry trends, platform updates, and competitor activity. It’s crucial to analyze your own marketing and sales efforts and stay flexible. It is easier to grow sales if you are ready to experiment and pivot.

When choosing your next strategy to boost online sales, remember that there’s no magic solution to fix everything immediately. Strategies take time. They work best in the complex. So, if you start feeling lost in all of this or don’t know how to implement changes technically, don’t hesitate to ask for help.

The DigitalSuits team will gladly guide you through these changes. Our Shopify development experts know the ins and outs of the platform. With over a decade of experience in ecommerce and with a strong focus on Shopify, they know well what works and what doesn’t. Contact us to discuss your challenges in more detail. Let’s find the fitting solutions together.