Grow your ecommerce store · Shopify · 2 min read
10 Proven Shopify Marketing Strategies to Boost Online Sales
Short answer
The Shopify marketing strategies that work most reliably are capturing email and SMS subscribers, running automated flows (welcome, abandoned checkout, post-purchase), improving product pages, basic SEO, creator partnerships, retargeting ads, bundles and a referral or loyalty program.
Most Shopify stores do not need more tactics. They need the basics working in the right order. These ten strategies are listed roughly in the order we would tackle them on a new store.
1. Capture email and SMS from day one
A sign-up form with a clear reason to join (early access, a guide, a first-order discount) turns one-time visitors into an audience you can reach for free. See the best email pop-ups for Shopify.
2. Turn on the three core flows
- Welcome series for new subscribers.
- Abandoned checkout reminders. Shopify includes this automation.
- Post-purchase emails that thank, explain use and ask for a review.
These run every day without you. Our guide to email automation for ecommerce walks through each.
3. Fix the product page before buying traffic
Clear photos, a specific headline, benefits before features, shipping and returns near the add-to-cart button, and real reviews. If your page does not convert organic visitors, ads will not save it.
4. Get the SEO basics right
Unique titles and meta descriptions, descriptive product copy, clean collection pages and fast images. Shopify handles sitemaps and canonical tags. See SEO tips for a Shopify store.
5. Work with creators
Shopify Collabs and direct outreach let you send product to creators in your niche in exchange for content or an affiliate commission. Small creators with engaged audiences are often better value than big names.
6. Retarget visitors who did not buy
Meta, Google and TikTok ads can reach people who viewed a product. Retargeting is usually the first paid campaign worth running because the audience already knows you. Start with our ecommerce Facebook ads strategy.
7. Raise order value with bundles and upsells
Bundles, "frequently bought together" offers and post-purchase upsells increase average order value without new traffic. See the best bundle apps for Shopify.
8. Reward referrals and repeat buyers
A simple referral program ("give $10, get $10") and a loyalty program give existing customers a reason to come back and bring friends.
9. Publish content that answers buyers' questions
Buying guides, comparisons and how-to posts bring in search traffic and make good email content. They also help AI search tools cite your store.
10. Use social media for discovery, not just posting
Short video showing the product in use, user-generated content and quick replies to comments. We cover this in three ways to use social media for ecommerce.
A 90-day roadmap
| Month | Focus |
|---|---|
| 1 | Email capture, core flows, product page fixes |
| 2 | SEO basics, first content pieces, review collection |
| 3 | Creator outreach, retargeting ads, bundles |
Review conversion rate, average order value and returning customer rate at the end of each month and adjust.
How to prioritise
If you only have a weekend, do strategies 1 to 3. They improve every other channel you add later. Then measure: conversion rate, average order value and returning customer rate tell you which lever to pull next. Our conversion rate benchmarks guide helps you read the numbers.
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest marketing strategy for a new Shopify store?
Email capture plus Shopify's built-in abandoned checkout email. Both cost little or nothing and recover sales from traffic you already have.
Should a new store start with paid ads?
Only after the product page converts and email capture is in place. Ads magnify whatever the store already does, good or bad.
Does Shopify have built-in marketing tools?
Yes. Shopify includes marketing automations, Shopify Messaging, discount codes, customer segments and sales channel integrations, with more features through apps.
Sources and further reading
Platform features, prices and policies change. Check the official help pages linked above before you act on a detail that matters to your store.