How to Get First Sale on Shopify? 14 Best Tips

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Getting your first sales on Shopify can feel tough, but it’s possible with the right approach. Many new stores struggle with sales because they may not reach the right customers or use effective strategies. 

If you’re wondering how to get first sale on Shopify, don’t worry – you just need to make a few changes. In this guide, we’ll share 14 of the best tips for attracting customers and starting to sell. With these steps, you can move closer to making your first sale and building a successful store.

1. Why is your Shopify store not making sales?

When a Shopify store isn’t generating sales, it typically boils down to two main issues: traffic issues or the website in general. Let’s explore these in more detail:

Traffic Source Issues

• No traffic

Numerous Shopify stores fail just because no one comes to visit them. This is a basic issue—if people do not visit your online store, you will not have any sales. It is like having a physical store in an area nobody can reach without prior information and directions. Lack of traffic keeps your products, regardless of how unique they are, hidden and not sold in the market.

• Low-quality traffic

Sometimes, the issue that affects the site is not traffic, but the quality of the traffic received. Low quality has two components: the ability of a visitor to become a customer and the relevance of customers’ interests to the website’s offers. This might be because the customer is not part of the targeted market, they are not interested in shopping at the moment, or perhaps they clicked the link by accident.

For example, if your business is selling jewelry, especially expensive jewelry, and your traffic is students buying cheap trinkets, you would sell little.

The Website Isn’t Optimized for Conversions

Even if you’re getting the right traffic, your website needs to be set up to turn those visitors into customers. Here are some common issues:

• No promotional offers

However, in the current e-business world, customers expect to find some form of discount. Without promotions, your store may appear less glamorous than other stores that offer discounts or special offers.

• Slow loading speed

Page download speed is especially important in the context of an e-commerce portal. Sometimes, customers do not see your products in your Shopify store due to the site’s slow loading. Web visitors are inherently impatient, especially now that the internet is more fast-paced and always available.

• Poor website design

Website layout and design are very important as they define the levels of trust people will have in the site and the levels of conversion rates the site is likely to have. A failure in site design can further create a wrong image of your business, making the consumer opt out of purchasing your products.

• Poor customer service

Another factor that needs to be mentioned is that customer service is not only about resolving complaints. It is about being ready and willing to respond to inquiries, clarify information, and assist consumers in decision-making. This is because customers may lose trust in your store and take their business elsewhere, setting your store back.

• No lead nurturing tactics:

This is why most customers require several exposures to a certain brand they intend to purchase. Suppose you are not applying lead nurturing strategies. In that case, you are losing chances to develop a relationship with clients who might be interested in your products but have not been convinced to make the purchase yet.

• No conversion strategy

A conversion strategy involves all the little details on your website that encourage visitors to become customers. This includes call-to-action buttons, page layout, product presentation, and checkout. Without a solid conversion rate optimization strategy, you might lose sales even from interested visitors.

Each of these issues can significantly impact your Shopify store’s ability to make sales. Most of the time, the issue is not just one but many that cause low sales output in a business. 

Acknowledging the possible negative factors is crucial, as this is the first step to identifying what is wrong with your store and, therefore, devising ways to correct these problems that may be causing no sales.

2. How to get first Sale on Shopify store? 14 Best tips

Starting a Shopify store is quite interesting. However, how to get your first sales on Shopify is always a question. New store owners often get stuck here, but there is always a promising path to apply different strategies and bring people to the store while gradually transforming the visitors into buyers. Let’s start checking them out!

2.1 Utilize Free Traffic Sources

Utilizing free traffic sources is the right thing to do for beginners and people who want to save money. 

First, register in the appropriate forums on the Web that are relevant to your niche. These are places where people come together with similar interests, and these platforms are perfect for advertising your store naturally without disturbing the users. After you have gained the members’ trust, respond to posts, give useful advice, and share links to your store. Platforms like Reddit or Facebook groups are common options​.

Next, make the most of your networks. This implies that for a newbie, the only way to kick off is to start with those who already know you and have confidence in you. Broadcast your store through social media and share it with your friends, relatives, and others. Although the sales from this group may be limited, they can serve as your first customers and give you critical feedback​.

Finally, create a content marketing strategy. Writing blog posts, making videos, or creating guides related to your products can drive traffic through search engines. Content that is well and specifically written to solve customers’ challenges is good shareable material; as such, you will witness a gradual growth in your profile. 

2.2 Invest in Paid Ads

After applying free marketing techniques, paid advertising can effectively reach thousands of people within a short span of time and find a specific group of people interested in the product. 

Popular platforms include Facebook Ads, Google Ads, Instagram Ads, TikTok Ads, Pinterest Ads, and YouTube Ads.

Each of the above platforms has its advantages depending on the targeted market. For instance, if you’re selling elegantly appealing items such as clothing, accessories, home interiors, or related items, Instagram and Pinterest will be most suitable.

However, if your products align with specific keywords (e.g., special gadgets or electronics), Google Ads can become a rather effective tool because of its approach based on search intent.

Here are some tips to get started:

• Start small: Choose the daily budget you wish to spend and then try out a variety of ad formats and target audiences. Monitor the performance and notice changes so that the strategy can be adapted to match the outcome​.
• Use retargeting: This enables you to send them advertisements indicating that they need to come back to your site and complete their purchase.

Read more: How to Get Sales on Shopify Without Ads? 13 Best Tips

2.3 Collaborate with Influencers

Working with influencers is one of the fastest methods of marketing to reach the target audience. This makes the process quite helpful for those facing the question of how to get your first sales on Shopify. 

It is found that influencers, whether on Instagram, YouTube, or TikTok, have already earned the trust of their followers, and thus, when they refer to any product, the followers are inclined to buy it. 

Beginning with micro-influencers (those with 1,000 to 100,000 followers) is essential. These are often cheaper, and their audience engagement level tends to be higher than that of the larger influencers. 

Be mindful of the influencers you select. They should be from your brand. For instance, if you sell fitness wear and apparel, target to partner with fitness influencers, active fitness devotees, and followers.

2.4 Use Affiliate Marketing and Referral Programs

Affiliate marketing and referral programs attract others to advertise your products by offering a cut from each sale they make on your behalf. 

Rule of thumb: With Shopify, you can easily set up an affiliate program by utilizing certain apps like Refersion or ReferralCandy​.

For affiliates, this might include bloggers, social media personalities, or even regular customers who recommend your products to their friends. This approach allows you to reach a broader audience without spending upfront marketing costs​.

2.5 Write Blog Content

Blogging not only brings traffic to your store but also helps you connect with potential customers by providing valuable information. Each blog post should address a topic relevant to your products. For example, if you sell skincare products, your blog could cover topics like “How to Build a Skincare Routine” or “The Best Ingredients for Dry Skin.”

These posts not only drive traffic via SEO but also establish your authority in the niche. Customers are likelier to buy from a store with helpful, educational content​.

2.6 Optimize Your Product Pages

Ensure you utilize quality images and videos to give different perspectives of the products. Customers may prefer a short video, for instance, to have a better look at the product and how it can be used. 

Create attention-grabbing headlines that focus on your product’s value proposition rather than its functions. Please write clearly and convince the customer why they need this product. 

Ensure that the call-to-action buttons you want the viewers to click are easily noticeable. Subtle “Add to Cart” or “Buy Now” button placement can facilitate the purchasing experience.

Read more: Troubleshooting Add to Cart But No Sales on Shopify

2.7 Get Creative with Promotions

Sales promotions are one of the best strategies for attracting clients’ attention. If you want to know how to get your first sales on Shopify, automatic discounts or special offers can help clients buy something quickly. In this case, BOGOS is a smart choice for several reasons. 

Firstly, BOGOS offers a variety of powerful promotion types, such as Buy One Get One (BOGO), Buy X Get Y, free gifts with purchase, product bundles, volume discounts, and quantity breakers. This flexibility lets you craft offers that resonate with your customers.

Secondly, the app is super easy to use, with an intuitive interface that makes setting up promotions a piece of cake. You don’t need to be tech-savvy to create effective campaigns.

Thirdly, BOGOS integrates very smoothly with Shopify, working directly in your admin panel and with the latest themes. This means less hassle for you when implementing promotions.

Fourth, the app has an impressive 4.9 ⭐from 2,000+ reviews, showing that other store owners have found it extremely valuable.

One cool feature is the ability to add sub-conditions to your offers. This means you can get really specific with your promotions. For example, you could set up a deal that only applies to customers who:

• Click through a special link
• Have a certain tag applied to their account
• Have a specific order history
• Are located in particular areas

This level of targeting helps you create personalized and exclusive promotions, which can boost sales and customer loyalty.

With pricing starting at $29.99/month and a free trial available, BOGOS is worth trying to see how it can help grow your business.

Read more: An Ultimate Guide on How to Increase Sales on Shopify?

2.8 Have a Lead Nurturing Plan

It is also important to note that not every visitor will purchase during his or her first visit to your site; therefore, a well-developed and highly effective lead nurturing program is needed. 

The most common approach is to divide the customers based on their behavior to identify their needs. Common customer bases on Shopify are:

• New Visitors – who have visited your store but have not engaged in any buying spree.
• First-time buyers – who have made a single purchase from our organization.
• Cart Abandoners – who abandoned products in their virtual shopping carts without paying.
• Email Subscribers –  who have subscribed to your mailing list but haven’t made any orders with you.

Once you’ve segmented your audience, the next step is to reach out to each group with tailored content that nudges them closer to a sale:

• New Visitors: To engage them, show them your store and present them with the products your store offers most.
• First-Time Buyers: Thank them for purchasing and offer related products to persuade the customer to purchase again.
• Cart Abandoners: They will receive a list of items they left in the cart and a small percentage discount to motivate them to buy them.
• Email Subscribers: Make sure to communicate with them with beneficial information, news about new products, or special promotions on products.

Retargeting is another effective tool to bring back leads who haven’t converted yet:

• Use Retargeting Ads: Show targeted ads to visitors who’ve browsed your store but didn’t make a purchase. Highlight the products they viewed or promote your bestsellers to reignite their interest and guide them back to your store.

To further enhance your nurturing efforts, it’s important to provide value beyond just your products:

• Offer Value Beyond Products: Share useful content related to your niche, such as tips, industry insights, or guides. This not only keeps your brand top-of-mind but also builds trust and positions you as a valuable resource, even when the lead isn’t ready to buy.

Finally, understand that nurturing leads takes time:

• Be Patient and Persistent: It often requires multiple interactions before a lead is ready to convert. Keep reaching out in a helpful and non-pushy way, and over time, your consistent efforts will turn those leads into loyal customers.

2.9 Reward Your High-Spending Customers

Another way is to give priority to regular customers, especially the ones who spend a lot of money. Loyal or high-churn customers make up a large segment since they generate most of the store’s income. For this reason, giving them special privileges will make them purchase again and become loyal customers.

It is prudent to offer your customers different levels of rewards to urge them to spend more money. For example, you could provide free shipping for VIPs, priority customer support, and early access to specials.

You can also give them something they may want or need, such as a discount for something they want or bonus points they can use to purchase something in the future.

2.10 Have a Loyalty Program

There is a loyalty program in which customers are provided points each time they purchase from your store. In turn, they can redeem these points for discounts, free vouchers, or other privileges. According to recent studies, customers who participate in loyalty programs are more frequent and see higher future spending​.

It is possible to set up various types of rewards, with the help of which you can create points-based, tiered, or even a referral program​. For instance, rewards are earned from every dollar spent and tiered up top for higher-end exclusivity. Shopify apps like Smile or LoyaltyLion make it easy to set up such systems​.

2.11 Create Social Proof

Social proof, such as customer reviews and testimonials, is essential for building trust. Potential customers often rely on previous buyers’ reviews to decide whether to make a purchase​.

To build social proof, encourage your customers to leave reviews after they make a purchase. Shopify apps like Yotpo can display these reviews on your product pages. Additionally, highlight user-generated content where customers post about your products on social media. Sharing this content builds credibility and strengthens the connection between your brand and customers​.

2.12 Provide a Live Chat Option

A live chat option allows you to resolve customer concerns in real-time, significantly increasing your chances of closing a sale. This is especially important when you’re figuring out how to get your first sale on Shopify. Many customers prefer live chat over email or phone support because it answers their questions immediately​.

You can easily integrate live chat into your Shopify store using tools like Tidio or Willdesk. These tools offer features like real-time visitor tracking, allowing you to see which products. A well-implemented live chat can reduce cart abandonment and lead to higher conversion rates.

2.13 Improve Your Website Speed

The website’s response time is another key customer success factor. If your store is slow, a potential customer will close the page before checking your products. Some research indicates that when a site loads faster, a user will have a better experience, directly impacting sales.

To improve your site speed, optimize your images, reduce the number of plugins, and use a fast, reliable hosting service. Tools like Google PageSpeed Insights can help you identify areas for improvement.

2.14 Create a Smooth Checkout Experience

Your checkout process is where many potential customers abandon their carts. To prevent this, ensure the process is as simple and user-friendly as possible. Offer guest checkout options so customers don’t have to create an account to complete their purchase. Additionally, provide multiple payment options like PayPal, credit cards, and buy now, pay later options like Klarna or Afterpay​.

Simplifying the form fields and reducing distractions during the checkout process also helps. The fewer steps between selecting a product and completing the purchase, the more likely customers are to follow through.​

3. Conclusion

I hope this post gives you the confidence to start selling on Shopify. It might seem hard at first, but with the tips shared here, you can get closer to how to get your first sales on Shopify. Whether using free traffic, paid ads, or focusing on a smooth checkout process, each step helps build momentum.

4. FAQs