Grow your ecommerce store · Conversion · 2 min read
10 Ways to Get Traffic to Your Online Store
Short answer
The most dependable traffic sources for an online store are search (SEO and Google Shopping), short-form video, creator partnerships, paid social, email and SMS to your own list, marketplaces, communities and referral programs. Pick two or three that fit your product and budget and do them well.
"How do I get traffic?" is the most common question new store owners ask. The honest answer is that there is no free, effortless source. But there are reliable ones, and most stores only need two or three working well.
1. Search engine optimisation
Write unique product and collection descriptions, use clear page titles, compress images and earn a few links from relevant sites. It is slow, but search visitors arrive with intent. Start with SEO tips for a Shopify store.
2. Free listings on Google Shopping
Google lets merchants show products in free listings across the Shopping tab and other surfaces through Google Merchant Center. Shopify's Google & YouTube app connects your catalog.
3. Content that answers questions
Buying guides, comparisons and how-to articles bring in people researching a purchase. One genuinely useful guide can bring traffic for years.
4. Short-form video
TikTok, Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts reward products that are easy to show: before and after, unboxing, a quick demo. Post consistently and reuse what works.
5. Creator partnerships
Send product to creators whose audience matches yours. Pay a flat fee, a commission or both. Small creators are easier to work with and often more trusted.
6. Paid social ads
Meta ads remain one of the most scalable traffic sources for ecommerce. Start small, test creative, and measure purchases, not clicks. See ecommerce advertising strategies.
7. Paid search and Shopping ads
Google Search and Shopping ads catch people already looking for your product category. Useful when search demand exists.
8. Marketplaces
Amazon, Etsy, eBay and others bring their own traffic. You pay fees and give up some of the customer relationship, but they can fund growth. Read Amazon dropshipping 101 for the rules.
9. Communities
Relevant Reddit communities, Facebook groups, forums and Discord servers. Be a member first and follow each community's rules on self-promotion.
10. Email, SMS and referrals
Your own list is the cheapest traffic you will ever get. A referral program turns customers into a traffic source as well.
Matching channels to your situation
| Situation | Start with |
|---|---|
| Little budget, lots of time | SEO, content, communities, short video |
| Budget but little time | Paid search/shopping, paid social, creators |
| Searchable product category | Google Shopping and SEO |
| New product nobody searches for yet | Social video, creators, paid social |
| Existing customers | Email, SMS, referrals |
Tracking traffic sources properly
Add UTM parameters to links you share on social profiles, emails, creators' posts and partnerships so analytics show where visits come from. Review traffic and conversion by source monthly, and double down on channels that bring buyers, not just visitors.
Traffic is only half the job
Doubling traffic to a page that converts at 0.5% does less than fixing the page so it converts at 2%. Before you buy visitors, read how to optimise your ecommerce website for conversion.
Frequently asked questions
What is the fastest way to get traffic to a new store?
Paid ads and creator partnerships are the fastest. SEO and content are slower but compound over time.
Is free traffic really free?
It costs time instead of money. SEO, content and social posting take consistent effort before they pay off.
How do I know which traffic source is working?
Compare sessions, conversion rate and revenue by channel in Shopify Analytics or Google Analytics, and use UTM tags on links you share.
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.