Driving traffic to your Shopify store is a fundamental aspect of e-commerce as it can help boost sales and business growth. However, In 2024, the online marketplace has become more competitive than ever.
According to Statista, the global e-commerce market size is expected to grow exponentially from $5.3 trillion in 2022 to about $8.1 trillion by 2027, making it essential to stand out and attract more visitors to your store.
This guide will provide you with nine (9) proven strategies to drive more traffic to your Shopify store, helping you overcome common challenges, and achieve success in the digital marketplace.
Before we dive in let’s take a look at the top sources of Shopify traffic.
Top 5 Shopify Traffic Sources
Before trying to drive traffic to a Shopify store, it is crucial to know the main sources of Shopify traffic so that your marketing resources can be channeled in the right direction.
According to a study by Similarweb on Shopify traffic, the top 5 sources of traffic are direct traffic, referral, organic search, paid search, and social media.
Source: Similarweb
Direct
Direct traffic comes from visitors who type your store’s URL directly into their browser. This traffic typically comes from people who are already aware of your brand. According to a study by First Page Sage, the average conversion rate of direct traffic for e-commerce B2C businesses is 1.6%
Referral
Referral traffic comes from other websites that link to your Shopify store. This can include blogs, news sites, social media platforms, and partner websites. The same study suggests that the conversion rate of traffic from this source is 1.8%
Organic search (SEO)
Organic search refers to the traffic that comes to your store from search engines like Google, Bing, and Yahoo. This traffic is usually unpaid and relies on adequate search engine optimization (SEO). When people search for products or information related to your business, please add a source appearing high in the search results that can drive significant traffic to your Shopify store. For organic search, First Page Sages says the conversion rate of this traffic source is 2.1%
Paid search
The paid search involves using platforms like Google Ads, Meta Ads, and Pinterest Ads to run paid ads to give your business a better chance of showing up when a user inputs search queries related to your business. When someone searches for keywords related to your products, your ads appear at the top or bottom of the search results.
In terms of sales and conversion, the same study by First Sage Page says paid search (PPC/SEM) has a conversion rate of 1.2%, while social media paid ads have a conversion rate of 2.1%
Social media
Social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, and TikTok are powerful tools for driving traffic. They allow you to reach a wide audience, engage with potential customers, and promote your products. As for conversion rate, while organic social traffic has a conversation rate of 2.4%.
Note: the average conversion of Shopify e-commerce stores is 1.3%. That said, it is evident that these traffic sources are reasonably high, making them a viable source of driving traffic to your Shopify store.
9 Strategies for Driving Traffic to Your Shopify Store
1. Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
Effort: medium to high
Traffic Source Category: Organic
Search Engine Optimization is a technique that requires patience to achieve, but the benefits are immense. Keep in mind that 3.5 billion Google searches are made every day. Optimizing your Shopify website for search (SEO) can help boost traffic way beyond your imagination.
If we are talking numbers, this strategy can help boost your website visibility by driving up to 53.3% of traffic to your website. The best part about it is that it is cost-effective. All you have to do is get it right.
Now you may be wondering what you need to do to get well-optimized and drive traffic.
Plan an SEO Strategy
Before diving into the specifics of SEO for your Shopify website, it’s crucial to plan your overall strategy. This involves understanding your business goals, target audience, and competitive landscape. Define clear objectives, such as increasing organic traffic, improving search engine rankings, or boosting sales. Analyze your competitors to identify gaps and opportunities. Develop a comprehensive plan that includes on-page, off-page, and technical SEO tactics. This foundational step will ensure your efforts are focused and aligned with your business goals, setting the stage for effective keyword research, content creation, and link building.
Do Keyword Research
Identify the words and phrases potential customers use when searching for products like yours. These words and phrases are commonly known as keywords. Identifying these keywords and creating pages targeting them on your website can help you rank for relevant queries when potential customers come searching on Google.
For keyword research, you can use tools such as Google Keyword Planner, Ahref, Semrush, Ubersuggest, etc. These tools will help you find relevant keywords.
Expert Tip: When doing keyword research, make sure you identify keyword intent correctly. Understanding whether the user is looking for information, ready to make a purchase, or seeking a specific website will help you create content that meets their needs
Keep in mind that a lot of these tools are paid while some offer very limited free versions.
Create Relevant Collection Pages
After finding relevant keywords that align with your products and services, the next line of action should be to properly utilize them to generate desired results. This is where collection pages come.
Create a collection pages on your Shopify website where you segment your products into different categories, depending on what you sell.
For example, if you are selling beds and have multiple color options, it makes sense for you to leverage that and create the following categories; pink beds, pink single beds, pink ottoman beds, pink day beds, etc.
Just as Wayfair has done. See the image below.
Optimize Your Product Pages
Use Meta Titles: Use captivating product names or Meta Titles for your product pages and insert relevant keywords into these titles to boost your chances of ranking top.
Meta Titles are texts used to label a product category or webpage. When website users insert search queries that match the product, inserting the right keywords in your Meta Title can cause your product page to come up in the search results.
For example, Dreams, a bed store brand has optimized their product page for the keyword “erin bunk bed” by using a meta title that contains the keyword. So, when a user searches for erin bunk bed, the result is what you can see below.
Write Captivating Product Description: another way to optimize your product page is by writing descriptions that convey what the product page is all about. Also, include relevant keywords in your product descriptions.
For example, when we search for “Pink Daybed” on Google, the search result shows product pages with “Pink Daybed” as their Meta Title and a meta description that amplifies the title. 
Use High-Quality Images: images and other graphic elements play a significant role in your product page optimization. Use images that capture the very essence of your products. These images should be taken from different angles and with proper lighting to ensure they give your customers an idea of what to expect.
While using quality images is important, ensure that these images are not heavy or they might reduce your website speed, which is not good for business. At this point, you should consider using image compressor tools such as Tiny PNG, Squoosh, Optimizilla, etc. These tools allow you to reduce the size of your images while maintaining quality.
Also, use ALT text while uploading images to your Shopify store and insert relevant keywords. Alt texts are alternative words that describe images. These texts help search engines understand what the images are about for better site visibility in image searches. They also come in handy in cases where there is a poor network connection and pictures wouldn’t load. This allows your website visitors to have an idea of the image context.
Link Building
Linking building is another excellent way to improve your SEO. Link building simply means getting other reputable websites to point to yours. This can be done through guest blogging, partnerships, and creating high-quality content that others want to link to.
Websites with a strong backlink profile tend to rank higher in search results. According to Backlinko, the number one result in Google has an average of 3.8x more backlinks than positions two to ten.
For example, if a high-authority blog references your product with a link to your product page, it can boost your site’s credibility and improve your search rankings.
We can see from the image below that a renowned health and beauty blog has recommended several brand products,with hyperlinks. Since those brands sell health-related products, a backlink from an authoritative health website is going to boost their page authority in Google’s eyes.
Google considers backlinks valuable when they are:
Relevant: The linking site is related to your content or industry, providing context and relevance to the backlink.
Authoritative: The linking site has high domain authority and is considered a credible and trustworthy source.
Natural: The backlink is earned organically rather than being bought or manipulated, indicating genuine interest in your content.
Diverse: Backlinks come from a variety of domains rather than a large number from a single source, showing widespread recognition.
Contextual: The link is placed within relevant and high-quality content, adding value to the reader.
Building quality backlinks to your website can help boost your page authority on Google and drive more traffic to your store.
Cover Relevant Blogs
Regularly publishing blogs related to your product niche can help improve your website’s visibility on Google, driving more traffic to your Shopify store. A study suggests that 26% of marketers say blogging drives strong marketing results.
To get into blogging;
Identify the keywords you wish to rank for: we have covered how to do your keyword research in the section above.
Create a content strategy: creating a content strategy will help you decide the types of content you want to post, how often you will post, and what you aim to achieve from it.
Insert links to your product pages: as you cover blogs around your niche, it makes sense to insert links to your product when necessary, directing customers to check out your products.
Let’s use Adoric, for example, while we offer software services, we also have a blog section on your website where we publish helpful articles. This helps Adorci build topical authority around the topics relevant to our product.
Also, within this article, we talk about our product and services when necessary and encourage readers to choose our brand.
Want to know more about Search Engine Optimization? You can check out this post: Shopify SEO
2. Use Video Content
Effort: medium
Traffic Source Category: Social Media
Typically, videos are more engaging than text or images as people are more likely to watch a video than read a long article. Due to how engaging video content can be, it can help drive traffic to your Shopify store, leading to more sales.
A study by Wyzowl found that 82% of people say they’ve been convinced to buy a product or service by watching a brand’s video.
Also, since creating videos allows you to showcase your products in a real-life, this makes it an excellent way to build trust with your potential customers. Not to mention that the engagement it brings can help boost your brand visibility.
Video Content Strategy;
Identify Your Audience: Understand your target audience and what type of content they enjoy. For example, if you sell fitness equipment, create workout videos or tutorials.
Plan Your Content: Decide what message you want to convey and how you will present it. Create a storyboard or script to guide your video production.
Use Keywords: Use relevant keywords in your video title, description, and tags to improve search engine visibility. For example, if your video is about a new skincare product, include keywords like “skincare routine” and “how to use x product.”
Keep It Short and Engaging: Aim for videos that are 1-2 minutes long to keep viewers’ attention. Make sure your content is interesting from the start to capture viewers’ interest.
Showcase Your Products: Demonstrate how your products work, highlight their benefits, and show them in use. This helps potential customers see the value of your products.
Post Video on Social Media Channels: Share your videos on social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube. Also, use hashtags to improve visibility.
Include CTAs and Product Page Links: Encourage viewers to visit your Shopify store by including a clear CTA at the end of your video, such as “Shop Now” or “Learn More.” don’t forget to add the link to your product page in the description to direct viewers to your Shopify store.
Analyze Performance: Use analytics tools to track video performance, including views, engagement, and click-through rates. Use this data to improve future videos.
For example, Dollar Shave Club posted a humorous and engaging video explaining their subscription service on YouTube. The video went viral, receiving millions of views. This video helped Dollar Shave Club attract 12,000 new customers within 48 hours and significantly boosted their brand visibility.
3. Connect With your Audience on Social Media
Effort: low
Traffic Source Category: Direct/Social media
Connecting with your audience on social media is another powerful way to bring more people to your Shopify store. This can be attributed to the fact that most of the platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and X (Twitter) have millions of users. For example, Facebook has over 2.9 billion monthly active users. By posting on these platforms, you can reach many people.
Interacting with your audience helps you build trust and keeps your brand on their mind. That way, when they are ready to shop, your store becomes the go-to option for them. Earlier we talked about direct traffic as one of the major traffic sources. Keeping in touch with your audience on social media is a great way to leverage this traffic source.
How to utilize this strategy:
Add Links to your product page in your bio: while you are trying to build trust around your brand, it doesn’t stop promoting your Shopify store when necessary. That said, ensure that you have the link to your Shopify product page on your social media bio.
Post-engaging content and captions: post engaging content on your page. This could be images, videos, reels, memes, GIFs, etc. Then write captions that will get your audience talking.
Talk about your product page in the caption: after writing the caption that will get people talking. It is also necessary to remind them about your products and services and encourage them to visit your Shopify website to make a purchase.
Reply to comments: now that your followers are interacting with your post, it makes sense to reply to their comments as this can help you build a community.
Repost user-generated content: potential customers want to know what existing customers have to say about your brand before making a buying decision. In fact, 79% of people say UGC influences their buying decisions.
Take Fashion Nova, a beauty brand, as an example. The brand has a link to its website on its Instagram bio.
Also, the brand often replies to comments under their post and shares user-generated content, making their followers feel valued and keeping their brand name in the minds of their audience.
4. Run Contests and Giveaways
Effort: low
Traffic Source Category: Direct/Social media
Online visitors tend to follow websites and social media pages that do giveaways and run contests. A study suggests that giveaways have helped 62% of businesses increase their awareness, making an effective strategy for generating more traffic.
This is why it’s important also to organize contests and giveaways as often as you can. You use your social media channels to create awareness for the giveaway. Then use any Shopify giveaway app of your choice to create the contest.
For example, Pig of the Month BBQ ran a 12-day Christmas giveaway by directing their audience to their Facebook store. You can use a similar approach but rather than sending them Facebook, direct them to your Shopify store to get the offer.
Of course, you shouldn’t do giveaways for the sole sake of it; you need to have an overarching goal. This could be driving traffic to your Shopify brand, creating brand awareness for a product you newly launched, boosting your social media following,
When they arrive at your Shopify store, your giveaway offer could look something like the image below, depending on the app you have chosen.
Likewise, offer discount sales on your website and social media pages on special occasions and holidays or just run promotional campaigns on your pages to help increase traffic to your page.
How to Implement Contests and Giveaways
- Set Clear Goals: Determine what you want to achieve, which in your case would be to increase website traffic.
- Choose the Right Platform: Decide where to run your contest: Instagram, Facebook, or your website.
- Create Simple Rules: Make it easy for people to enter. For example, ask them to follow your account, like the post, and tag friends.
- Promote the Contest: Share the contest on your social media pages, email newsletter, and website to reach as many people as possible.
- Announce the Winner: After the contest ends, announce the winner publicly to show transparency and build trust.
- Analyze the Results: After the contest, check the results. Look at how much traffic increased, how many new followers you gained, and how many email addresses you collected.
You can learn more about this strategy by reading our detailed guide on how to increase sales with giveaways.
5. Share Product Podcast
Effort: low
Traffic Source Category: Direct
Most store visitors and users are gradually pivoting towards listening instead of reading. To this end, podcasts are becoming a big niche that most brands and businesses have yet to utilize.
According to the 2022 Podcast statistics, there are roughly 385 million active podcast listeners as of November 2022, and that number is estimated to increase to 505 million listeners by 2024.
That means podcasting can connect you to a large audience.
One advantage of podcasts is that people can listen to them at any time and place, and it does not require you to read from a screen or paper. Once you have gained your listener’s loyalty, leaving your site and brand alone is difficult.
On the other hand, one disadvantage of podcasting is that it is not as straightforward as blogs where you can easily insert a call to action. Therefore you have to devise other ways to do so.
For example, Glossy, a beauty brand, has a podcast collection called The Glossy Podcast where they share industry-related content with their audience.
Sometimes, within the podcast, they talk about their brand and products, using it as a means of directing listeners to their website. Also, if a podcast directly revolves around their product, they can add the link of the specific product page within the podcast description.
6. Google Ads
Effort: Low to medium
Traffic Source category: Paid
No matter the size of your store, Google Ads should be your friend as it can be a powerful way to drive traffic to your Shopify store.
Google Ads allows you to target people who are actively searching for products like yours. For instance, if you sell running shoes, your ads can appear when someone searches for ” where to buy running shoes.” This means you reach people who are already interested in what you offer.
For example, when a website user searches for “buy swing set” Kingswingset paid ad comes up in the search result. The Ad attached to it is an indicator that has paid to rank for relevant keywords using the Google Ads tool.
Also, with its Analytics feature, you can make informed decisions as it gives a concise and detailed interpretation of your website inflow. The tool allows you to see the sources your visitors came from, how they got to your site, and their activity when on your site.
This will help you focus on the areas that generated more traffic and run promotional campaigns and adverts to help drive more traffic to your store.
Steps to Implement Google Ads for Your Shopify Store
- Set Up Your Google Ads Account: Sign up for a Google Ads account and link it to your Shopify store.
- Choose Your Campaign Type: Decide whether to use text ads, display ads, or shopping ads based on your goals.
- Select Your Keywords: Use Google’s Keyword Planner tool to find relevant keywords that potential customers are searching for.
- Create Compelling Ads: Write clear and engaging ad copy. For shopping ads, ensure your product images are high quality and your prices are competitive.
- Set Your Budget and Bidding: Determine your daily budget and choose a bidding strategy that aligns with your goals, such as cost-per-click (CPC) or cost-per-acquisition (CPA).
- Launch Your Campaign: Start your campaign and monitor its performance regularly. Use Google Ads’ analytics tools to track clicks, conversions, and other metrics.
- Optimize Your Ads: Based on the performance data, make adjustments to your keywords, ad copy, and bids to improve results. Test different ad variations to see what works best.
7. Meta Ads (Facebook and Instagram)
Effort: low to medium
Traffic Source Category: Paid
If you do not want to use Google Ads for your marketing, another effective means of running paid advertisements is via Meta ads.
Using Meta Ads (formerly known as Facebook Ads) can help you reach a larger audience on social media. Studies have shown that Facebook has the largest social media advertising reach in the US with over 188 million users.
The platform can also help you create eye-catching ads and target specific audiences based on their interest, demographics, and behavior.
Also, Meta ad allows you to add a clickable link to your website when creating your campaigns. With this, people who take an interest in your ad can easily click on the link to visit your Shopify website.
For example, the image below is what a Meta Ad looks like when it appears in front of your audience. If you notice, there is a tag right underneath the brand name that says “sponsored” This is an indication that it is not an organic post.
You can also see the link to the website page that NatureBox wants its potential customers to visit.
Steps to Implement Meta Ads for Your Shopify Store
- Set Up Your Meta Ads Account: Create a Meta Ads account and link it to your Facebook and Instagram pages.
- Choose Your Campaign Objective: Select an objective that aligns with your goals, such as increasing website traffic or boosting sales.
- Define Your Audience: Use Meta’s targeting options to define your audience based on age, gender, location, interests, and behaviors.
- Create Compelling Ads: Use high-quality images or videos that showcase your products. Write clear and engaging ad copy. Include a strong call-to-action (CTA) like “Shop Now” , “Buy Now”, or “Learn More.”
- Add Your Shopify Store Link: add the link to your Shopify store during the ad setup. This could be your landing page, product page, or another page you want your potential customers to visit.
- Set Your Budget and Schedule: Determine your daily or lifetime budget and set the duration for your ad campaign. Start with a small budget and increase it as you see results.
- Launch Your Campaign: Publish your ads and monitor their performance. Use Meta’s analytics tools to track key metrics such as clicks, impressions, and conversions.
- Optimize Your Ads: Based on the performance data, make adjustments to improve results. Test different ad formats, images, and copy to see what works best.
8. Create Shoppable Pinterest Ads
Effort: low
Traffic Source Category: Paid
Using Pinterest ads is another effective way to promote your business. Pinterest is a popular social media platform where people discover new ideas and products. These ads are called Pins and they appear as “Promoted Pins” in users’ feeds, search results, and category feeds.
Pinterest ads can help increase brand awareness, drive traffic to your website, and boost sales. They are particularly effective because the platform users often look for inspiration and ideas, making them more likely to engage with your ads.
To leverage this strategy;
Create a Business Account: first, you need to set up a Pinterest account to create your Shoppable pins.
Provide your website link: While creating your campaign offer, the platform allows you to provide a link to your website.
Use High-Quality Images: Eye-catching visuals attract more attention.
Include Keywords: Make your pins discoverable by adding relevant keywords.
Try Different Pins: Test various images and descriptions to find out what works best.
Below is an example of a Pinterest ad. You can see that the pin has a link that leads to a website where you can purchase the item.
9. Influencer Paid Promotion
Effort: low
Traffic Source Category: Paid
Influencer marketing involves reaching out to popular persons with a large following and paying them to talk to their followers about your products. As a rule of thumb, the influencer should have built a brand around your niche. For instance, if you sell fitness gear, it only makes sense to reach out to a fitness influencer.
In some cases, larger companies use celebrities as brand ambassadors because of the large audience as a means to reach out to a wider range of people in a short period. You can do the same if you have the resources.
For example, Orelia Jewellery, a jewelry brand uses Instagram influencers to promote their products. Influencers posted pictures wearing the jewelry as a means of promoting the brand.
In the image, Wenyiteong, a fashion influencer has posted a paid ad about the brand while wearing its product.
4 Common Causes of Low Shopify Website Traffic and How to Fix Them
Running a Shopify store can be exciting, but it can be frustrating if you don’t get much traffic. Here are five common reasons why your Shopify website might have low traffic and how to fix them.
1. Poor Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
Issue: If your website isn’t optimized for search engines, people won’t find it when they search for products like yours on Google.
Solution: Use the right keywords in your product titles and descriptions. Make sure your website loads quickly and is mobile-friendly. Create valuable content like blogs to attract more visitors.
2. Targeting the Wrong Audience
Issue: If you’re aiming your marketing at the wrong people, those who visit your site might not be interested in what you’re selling.
Solution: Understand who your ideal customers are. Research their preferences and habits. Tailor your marketing messages to attract these specific people, so you’re more likely to draw in visitors who are genuinely interested in your products.
3. Poorly Designed Website
Issue: If your website looks unprofessional or is hard to navigate, visitors might leave quickly without exploring your products.
Solution: Make sure your website is clean, attractive, and easy to use. Use high-quality images, and clear fonts, and ensure that your site works well on mobile devices. A good first impression can keep visitors on your site longer.
4. No Return/Refund Policy
Issue: If customers don’t see a clear return or refund policy, they might hesitate to buy from your store, fearing they’ll be stuck with products they don’t want.
Solution: Clearly display your return and refund policy on your website. Make it easy to find and straightforward to understand. A good policy can make customers feel more secure about their purchases.
Expert Summary
“To drive traffic to your Shopify store in 2024, focus on optimizing your website and improving SEO to attract search engine users. Use social media, targeted ads, and content creation to reach potential customers and keep them engaged. Monitor your performance and adjust your strategies to ensure your efforts are effective.”
Tal Revivo, Founder at Adoric.
Conclusion
Driving traffic to your Shopify store in 2024 can be challenging, but with the right strategies, you can attract more visitors and boost your sales. Following the strategies in this guide can better equip you to stand out in a crowded market, reach your target audience, and grow your business.
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