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Growing your online store is a journey.
Whether you’re attracting your first potential customers, striving for your next traffic milestone, or looking to convert more visitors into customers, website optimization is a powerful tool to help you achieve your goals.
In this article, we’ll focus on conversion optimization for Shopify stores. We’ll explore its benefits and share 10 proven strategies to help you fine-tune your online store for increasing sales (and conversions).
Are you ready?
Why is it important to optimize your online store for more conversions?
Let’s start with the basics: why conversion rate optimization is crucial, and 5 reasons it’s so important for your Shopify store.
1. Increased revenue
Conversion rate optimization (CRO) is all about getting more sales from your existing web traffic. Even small improvements in conversion rates can lead to significant increases in revenue.
For example, even a 1% increase in conversion rate can translate to thousands of dollars in additional sales (depending on your traffic volume).
2. Cost efficiency
Acquiring new customers through advertising can be expensive. Optimizing your store pages to convert more existing visitors is a cost-effective way to grow and it allows you to reduce your customer acquisition costs.
This maximizes your current marketing budget and delivers a higher return on investment (ROI).
3. Improved user experience
Well-optimized online stores create a smooth and enjoyable customer experience. When customers find it easy to navigate your site, locate products, and complete purchases, they are more likely to be satisfied with their experience.
And satisfied customers are more likely to return and recommend your store to their friends or relatives, building a positive cycle that benefits your business in the long run.
4. Data-driven decisions
Website optimization involves analyzing user behavior and testing different elements of your store. This data-driven approach gives you valuable insights into what works and what doesn’t, allowing you to make informed decisions for increased sales.
5. Scalability
As your store grows and you attract more customers, a solid foundation of optimized conversion strategies makes scaling easier.
You can implement successful tactics across new products, categories, or markets with greater confidence, knowing you have a proven approach that delivers results.
How to drive traffic to your Shopify store?
First things first: you need to drive traffic to your store, then you can increase conversions. But how can you do that? Let’s break it down.
Step 1: Focus on SEO
Keyword research
Do you ever wonder what people search for to find products like yours online? Free keyword research tools (Moz and Semrush both have them, or you can use Google’s Keyword Planner) can help you unlock this secret. Use these tools to discover the exact words and phrases potential customers are using in their online searches.
Optimize your product pages
Sprinkle those magic keywords throughout your product descriptions, page titles, and even website meta descriptions. Search engine optimization tools can help with this task. This allows search engines like Google to understand what your store offers, making it easier for potential customers to find you in the search results.
Mobile-friendliness matters
Ensure your Shopify store is optimized for mobile devices. More and more people shop online using their phones, so a mobile-friendly experience is crucial for capturing their attention and driving traffic.
Step 2: Target the right audience with your ads
Consider running Google Ads and paid social ads on platforms like Instagram or Facebook.
Paid advertising allows ecommerce brands to target their ideal customer based on demographics and interests.
Craft clear, compelling ad copy that highlights your products’ benefits and watch targeted traffic flood your store!
Step 3: Create high-quality content
Blog posts, engaging social media content, or even guest posts on other relevant websites are fantastic ways to showcase your expertise and attract potential customers organically.
Share informative and engaging content that resonates with your audience.
Content marketing can help you establish yourself as a thought leader in your niche, drive organic traffic to your store, and position you for long-term success.
Bonus tip: Consider offering a free tool or resource related to your products. This can be a great way to generate traffic and establish trust.
10 proven tips to increase conversions in your Shopify store
Now for the best part: we’re bringing you 10 proven tips on how to improve your Shopify website and watch your sales soar!
1. Grow your list with a non-annoying popup
Does growing your email list seem like a hassle? Welcome popups often seem annoying to users, which makes them unlikely to convert and sign up for your email list.
If you want to upgrade your email marketing efforts, try something else: a subtle discount popup.
Triggered by exit-intent technology, these perfectly-timed popups ensure a smooth browsing experience for your Shopify store visitors.
But that’s not all! Strategic use of a small, eye-catching teaser upon arrival grabs attention and sparks curiosity about your enticing offer.
The result? A potential doubled conversion rate for your email list compared to traditional welcome popups.
Get started with these templates:
2. Display your free shipping limit
Free shipping is like the magic word for online shoppers.
If you offer free shipping, it instantly sweetens the deal and motivates browsers to buy. But how can you take advantage of this powerful incentive and increase sales in your Shopify store?
Display a free shipping bar that sits at the top or bottom of your website, constantly reminding visitors of the free shipping reward that awaits them once they reach a certain spending threshold.
They will likely add an extra item or two to their carts (which means you’re increasing your average order value) and they get the feeling of being rewarded. It’s a win-win!
Display your free shipping bar now:
Make free shipping your secret weapon!
3. Decrease cart abandonment with a last-minute offer
Cart abandonment… as an online store owner, this probably gives you the ick every time you hear it. The average cart abandonment rate is around 70%, so it’s no wonder Shopify store owners want to tackle it.
The good news is that you can turn abandoners into buying customers with the power of urgency and limited-time offers.
By using a countdown popup, visitors see a clock tick down on your limited-time offer, and a sense of urgency kicks in. They fear missing out on a great deal, driving them to complete their purchase before the timer expires.
Use countdown popups and decrease your cart abandonment by 20%.
Try one of these templates:
4. Show dynamic product recommendations on exit intent
If the majority of your traffic comes from Google Shopping Ads and lands on your product pages, then those visitors are probably already aware of your pricing.
Not all of your visitors are looking for discounts, so why not show them something slightly more personal than that?
With Smart Recommender Popup, you can automatically suggest products that complement what each visitor is browsing based on their behavior and preferences.
This way, you can elevate their experience and show how these products can enhance their lives.
The best part? You can enlist AI to do all the heavy lifting for you.
Find out more about Smart Recommender Popup here.
5. Remind returning visitors where they left off
Returning visitors are really important for your business, so you don’t want them to leave empty handed.
Customers tend to take a look around, compare prices, or even check social media platforms for reviews before returning to your store to make a purchase.
Once they do return, your main goal should be making their journey smooth, and a browsing reminder popup can definitely help with that.
This popup can be their guide, helping them jump back in where they left off last time by displaying their recently viewed products.
This allows them to continue browsing seamlessly with a single click (or easily dismiss the message if they’re no longer interested).
Take a look at how Vegetology did it on their own website:
Inspired? Get started with these templates:
Learn how to set up a browsing reminder.
6. Remind users about their coupons to encourage redemption
Ever forget you had a coupon code to use? You’re not alone!
As a shop owner, it can be annoying to give away coupon codes that customers never use.
To avoid this frustration and ensure your valuable discounts get used, consider a Discount Reminder Bar.
This strategic bar keeps your offers top-of-mind for customers by following them around on the site, preventing them from forgetting about them during checkout.
Give these templates a try:
7. Launch a post-purchase attribution survey
Don’t be left guessing about where your sales come from! Post-purchase attribution surveys ask customers directly where they discovered your brand.
This valuable data—which is incredibly helpful if you want to keep increasing traffic—allows you to understand which marketing channels are most effective so you can optimize your strategies and maximize your return on investment (ROI).
Launch your survey today by getting started with these templates:
8. Recommend the most popular products within a category
Online shoppers tend to wander around sometimes, especially if you have a huge inventory. With the category favorites bar, you can showcase your best-selling products for whichever category they’re currently browsing.
This tool can automatically display the most popular products within each category on your Shopify store.
By highlighting these customer favorites, you can nudge visitors towards high-performing products and boost conversion rates.
Get started with these templates:
Recommend your bestsellers to your customers!
9. Recommend relevant products in blog articles
Shop owners often drive organic traffic to their stores through their blogs. If you want to capitalize on your blog and achieve an even more seamless flow, try embedded product recommendations.
These targeted suggestions appear within your blog articles, showcasing relevant products based on the content a visitor is reading.
This personalized approach bridges the gap between content consumption and purchase, creating a smooth shopping experience for your audience.
Wanna give it a try? Start with one of these templates:
Enhance your blog with embedded product recommendations.
10. Test landing pages with different value propositions
Tired of guessing why your landing page conversions are low? There’s a better way!
A/B testing allows you to experiment with different headlines and value propositions, which communicate the core benefits you offer.
By analyzing visitor behavior and conversion rates, you gain invaluable data. You can see which message or headline sparked the most interest and ultimately drove more conversions.
Ecommerce brand Bukvybag tested multiple headlines with OptiMonk’s Dynamic Content tool to see which would resonate best with their target audience.
By finding the right USP, they were able to increase their online orders by 45%!
Learn how to set up a landing page A/B test.
FAQ
How can I make my Shopify website look better?
Let‘s see some key areas to focus on:
- Visual appeal: Use high-quality product photos, clean layouts, and a consistent color scheme.
- Mobile-friendly design: Ensure your website looks great and functions smoothly on all devices, especially mobile phones.
- Easy navigation: Make it simple for visitors to find what they’re looking for with clear menus and intuitive navigation.
How do I optimize my Shopify website?
There are a number of ways to do it…we’ve already highlighted 10, but here are a few more:
- Search engine optimization (SEO): Research relevant keywords and use them strategically in your product pages, titles, and meta descriptions.
- Fast loading speed: A slow website frustrates visitors. Optimize your images and code for faster loading times.
- Compelling content: Create valuable content like blog posts or product descriptions that inform and engage your audience.
What are some ways to enhance my Shopify store?
Several strategies can elevate your store’s functionality and appeal:
- High-quality product descriptions: Provide detailed descriptions that clearly highlight benefits and features.
- Customer reviews and ratings: Social proof builds trust. Encourage customer reviews and showcase positive ratings.
- Live chat support: Offer real-time assistance to answer questions and improve the customer experience.
How do I make my Shopify store successful?
Real success requires taking care of your store at full capacity.
- Target the right audience: Identify your ideal customers and tailor your marketing efforts to reach them.
- Run targeted ads: Consider paid advertising on platforms like Google Ads or social media to reach a wider audience.
- Email marketing: Build an email list and send engaging email campaigns to nurture leads and drive sales.
- Promotions and offers: Run strategic promotions like discounts or free shipping to attract new customers and boost sales.
- Track and analyze: Use analytics tools to track website traffic, conversion rates, and customer behavior.
By implementing these strategies consistently and analyzing results, you can optimize your Shopify store for long-term success.
Wrapping up
We hope you’ve found one or two (or maybe even more!) great ideas that you can use in your online store.
If you need a powerful ally to help you implement them, OptiMonk (and our forever-free account) is here to help you out.
Dream big, and sprinkle some magic on your Shopify store!
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What should you do next?
Thanks for reading till the end. Here are 4 ways we can help you grow your business:
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Written by
Barbara Bartucz
Barbara is a Content Marketer at OptiMonk. She takes pride in creating different forms of content, whether it’s an article, a video, or an e-book.
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Product updates: September Release 2024
