Definitive Guide to Drive Traffic to Your Online Shop in 2024

Are you finding it tough to keep up with the ever-changing ecommerce landscape? As a store owner, you've probably noticed that the old traffic-driving strategies just don't work the same way anymore. It can be really stressful to see your visitor numbers staying the same, especially when you're not sure how to get them back up.

In the ecommerce world, traffic isn't just about getting eyes on your site. It’s a tricky balance of visibility, engagement, and conversion. The good news is that we are here to help you out.

In this guide, we'll look at the latest trends like personalization, and how they affect your online shop's traffic. If you're just getting started or if you're a pro looking for new ideas, you've come to the right place.

How to increase your ecommerce store’s traffic?

For ecommerce beginners, certain channels are particularly important for driving initial traffic and establishing an online presence. Here's a prioritized list of channels that are crucial for those just starting out:

Social Media

Social media is a great way to get more traffic to your ecommerce store. You can engage directly with potential customers, which is really valuable. You can show off your products in a visually appealing way on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok, which creates an engaging experience for users. Another great thing about social media is that you can target your ads to specific groups of people, even if you're on a budget.

If you're looking to level up your social media strategy, look no further than AfterShip Feed. This TikTok management software is a game-changer for anyone looking to streamline their TikTok marketing efforts. This tool helps you schedule posts, manage content, and analyze performance, so your brand stays consistent and engaging on one of the fastest-growing social platforms. If you use tools like AfterShip Feed, you can reach more people and get more traffic to your ecommerce store through social media marketing that's actually effective.

Email Marketing

Email marketing is still one of the best ways to develop leads and keep customers happy. Email marketing lets you connect with your audience on a personal level, building strong relationships that encourage repeat purchases and customer loyalty. When you get it right, it’s a great way to get a good return on your investment, so it’s a key part of any ecommerce marketing strategy.

If you want to make your email marketing really effective, think about using AfterShip Mail. It's a great email marketing software that'll help you create, send, and manage your email campaigns in no time. AfterShip Mail lets you create different lists of email addresses, add your own personal touch to your messages, and set up automated workflows. This makes sure your messages get noticed by the right people. Sending tailored content and promotions directly to your customers’ inboxes can really help you get more traffic to your ecommerce store.

Organic Search (SEO)

If you’re aiming to grow your ecommerce store long-term, it’s really important to focus on organic search – also called search engine optimization or SEO. You can boost your site’s visibility in search results by making sure your website content, structure, and technical aspects match up with what search engines are looking for.

Once you've got this organic visibility up and running, it's cost-effective because you don't have to keep spending money on paid advertising. Plus, a high ranking in search results builds credibility and trust with potential customers, as they are more likely to view your store as authoritative and reliable.

If you spend the time to do SEO right, you’ll see results. Keyword research, on-page optimization, and quality backlink building are all part of the process. They’ll drive consistent, targeted traffic to your store over time.

Referral and affiliate marketing

Referral and affiliate marketing are becoming pivotal strategies for driving new customer acquisition. However, the use of multiple platforms may result in the need for scattered information and manual work, which could lead to inefficiencies in program management.

AfterShip Affiliates is a centralized platform that enables businesses to manage invitations, awards distribution, and performance metrics for their brand advocates. By automating the creation of affiliate links, sending email invitations, and managing incentive applications, it is simple to expand your campaigns, gain the trust of your advocates, and achieve remarkable success.

Content Marketing

Content marketing is a great way to support your SEO efforts and establish your authority in your niche. If you make sure you've got lots of great, useful stuff online—like blog posts, videos, infographics, and guides—you can show potential customers how you can meet their needs and get them interested in your brand while also driving more traffic to your website. Content marketing isn't just about improving your search engine rankings. It also builds trust with your audience by providing valuable info that speaks to their needs and interests.

If you get your content marketing strategy right, your ecommerce store will become the go-to resource in your industry. If you keep your audience engaged with relevant and interesting content, they’ll keep coming back for more, which means more traffic and potential sales. On top of that, sharing your content on social media and in email newsletters can get it in front of a wider audience, which could lead to more traffic and sales for your store.

Paid Search (PPC)

Paid search, or pay-per-click (PPC) advertising, offers immediate visibility for your ecommerce store by placing your ads at the top of search engine results pages. This method allows for precise targeting based on keywords, demographics, and user behavior, ensuring your ads reach the right audience. PPC campaigns can be a valuable supplement to your organic search efforts, providing quick results and driving targeted traffic to your site.

One of the key advantages of PPC is the valuable data it provides, which can inform your other marketing efforts. By analyzing the performance of your PPC campaigns, you can gain insights into customer preferences and behavior, helping you refine your overall marketing strategy. While PPC requires a budget, the immediate visibility and targeted reach it offers can lead to a significant increase in traffic and sales for your ecommerce store.

By leveraging these strategies and incorporating tools like AfterShip Feed and AfterShip Mail, you can create a comprehensive marketing plan that drives consistent and targeted traffic to your store, ultimately boosting your sales and growth.

Which traffic increase srategy suit my online shop and how to measure?

Following are recommended processes that can help you to select the best approach and measure its effectiveness:

1. Assess your current situation:

   • Analyze your existing traffic sources
   • Identify your target audience
   • Evaluate your budget and resources

2. Consider your product type:

   • Visual products may benefit more from social media and influencer marketing
   • Complex or technical products might require content marketing and SEO

3. Evaluate your competition:

   • Research their traffic strategies
   • Look for gaps you can exploit

4. Match strategies to your goals:

   • Quick sales boost: PPC or social media ads
   • Long-term growth: SEO and content marketing
   • Customer retention: Email marketing

5. Start with one or two strategies:

   • Implement them thoroughly before adding more
   • This allows for better tracking and optimization

6. Measure your results:

   • Use Google Analytics to track traffic on your website
   • Set up conversion goals to measure effectiveness
   • Monitor key metrics like:
     • Sessions
     • Users
     • Pageviews
     • Bounce rate
     • Average session duration
     • Conversion rate

7. Use attribution models:

   • Understand which channels drive the most valuable traffic
   • Popular models include:
     • Last-click attribution
     • First-click attribution
     • Linear attribution

8. Calculate Return on Investment (ROI):

   • (Revenue - Cost) / Cost x 100
   • Compare ROI across different strategies

9. A/B test your approaches:

   • Try different versions of ads, content, or email campaigns
   • Use the results to refine your strategies

10. Monitor industry trends:

    • Stay updated on new platforms and technologies
    • Be ready to adapt your strategy as needed

Remember, the best traffic increase strategy is one that brings qualified leads to your site. It's not just about increasing raw numbers, but attracting visitors who are likely to convert. Choosing can be difficult, and AfterShip is here to help! Let AfterShip help you choose the best srategy for you!

Conclusion

It can be tough for online shop owners to figure out the best way to drive more traffic to their site. If you're looking for more info on driving traffic to your online shop, just chat with our expert to find the best solution for your needs.

FAQ

What is the definition of website traffic in ecommerce?

Traffic in ecommerce refers to the number of visitors or customers who access an online store or platform. More specifically, the volume of users visiting an online store within a specific timeframe.

Can you tell me the types of traffic?

• Organic:This refers to visitors who arrive at a website by clicking on non-paid search engine results. It's a result of effective search engine optimization (SEO) strategies.
• Paid: Visitors from advertising campaigns on platforms like Google Ads or Facebook.
• Referral: Users clicking links from other websites to reach your store. It's valuable as it shows that other sites find your content worth linking to.
• Social media: This includes visitors who come to a website through links shared on social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn.
• Direct: Users typing the store's URL directly into their browser.

How to calculate how much traffic does a site get?

If you want to get a gain a comprehensive understanding of your site's traffic, you can follow these steps:

Use website traffic checker tools
Several free and paid tools can provide traffic estimates for websites. These include:
SE Ranking's Website Traffic Checker
Ahrefs' Site Explorer
Neil Patel's Website Traffic Checker
SiteWorthTraffic

Calculate website traffic growth

This metric measures the increase or decrease in visitors to a site, typically month-over-month or year-over-year. The formulas are:

Analyze different traffic types
Most traffic checker tools provide data on various traffic sources, including:

• Organic traffic (from search engines)
• Paid traffic (from PPC campaigns)
• Referral traffic (from other websites)
• Direct traffic (typing the URL directly)

Check specific metrics
Look for tools that provide detailed information such as:

• Monthly visitors
• Traffic sources
• Keywords driving traffic
• Geographical distribution of visitors
• Historical traffic data

It's important to analyze traffic trends over time rather than focusing on a single data point to get a more comprehensive understanding of a website's performance.