If you’re reading this, I assume you’re considering marketing your online store in some way, shape, or form. Maybe you’re just getting started or you’re looking for ways to improve the performance of your store. No matter your reasons for exploring this space, you’ve probably come across the same questions over and over again:

• How exactly do I market my online store?
• What platforms do I use?
• Which marketing strategies should I pursue?
• Am I limited by budget?

Let’s look at these questions one by one.

How Do I Market My Online Store?

If you’ve ever explored the question of online store marketing, you’re probably familiar with three terms: SEO, PPC, and CTR.

SEO, or search engine optimization, is all about getting your website to rank well on search engines for relevant keywords. While there are free tools like Google Keyword Planner and free tools like SEO Checker that can help you discover the best keywords to target, it’s important to note that you can’t just throw out any old keyword and expect your site to rank well without knowing anything about the subject matter of your blog or website. You also need to make sure that the keywords you choose are supported by a healthy search volume.

For example, if you’re selling men’s suits, you might want to look for keywords such as “suits for men” or “mens suit” as opposed to just “suits” or “men’s clothes” because the first two terms are supported by a lot more search volume than the latter two.

PPC, or pay per click, is when you pay each time a user clicks on your ads (e.g., Google AdWords). You can use this type of advertising to gain organic links to your site that naturally occur as a user clicks on an ad or visit a sponsored link on a social media platform like Twitter. Just remember, you’ll need to set a basis price for each keyword you choose, so make sure you set your prices reasonably. Also, make sure you research the competition for each keyword and set a budget for each campaign to avoid wasting money.

CTR, or click-through rate, is the number of people who visit your site as a result of an ad or sponsored link on social media platforms like Google. To gain organic clicks, you’ll want to focus on gaining media coverage using traditional PR channels like article contributions and industry events.

What Platforms Do I Use?

While you might be able to get by just fine with a simple blog on WordPress.com, you’ll want to consider moving to a self-hosted WordPress installation or a static blog engine like Jekyll or Hugo if you want to truly maximize the marketing potential of your blog. Why? Well, as much as possible, platforms like WordPress and Ghost allow you to customize the look and feel of your blog. This means you can fit the look and feel of your brand or business into your blog. To achieve this, you’ll need to make sure that each piece of content you create (e.g., blog posts, product reviews, etc.) follows a general guidelines laid out by your brand or business. Keep these guidelines consistent across all your blog content to create a cohesive visual and written experience.

If you decide to go this route, be sure to invest in a quality head of writing for your business. A good head of writing will help you craft clear, concise content that’s eas to understand and implement. Having a written policy and procedure manual is also essential to ensure that all of your content is presented consistently across all your channels.

Which Marketing Strategies Should I Pursue?

Depending on your limited budget and what type of marketing tools you decide to use, you’ll need to make some strategic decisions about which marketing strategies to pursue. While SEO, PPC, and CTR can be profitable and effective, you’ll want to make sure you don’t overdo it. Why? Because eventually, these strategies will become cost-prohibitive and you’ll find yourself in a rut. So, it’s important to find the right balance between being effective and affordable.

Am I Limited By Budget?

Budget is always a question that comes up whenever you’re discussing online store marketing. However, it’s important to keep in mind that you may not be limited by budget if you choose your advertisers and platforms wisely. Just remember, quality doesn’t have to cost a fortune. With a little bit of research and some savvy ad shopping, you can often find an affordable option that will meet your needs and expectations.

Summary

If you’re reading this, I assume you’re considering marketing your online store in some way, shape, or form. Maybe you’re just getting started or you’re looking for ways to improve the performance of your store. No matter your reasons for exploring this space, you’ve probably come across the same questions over and over again:

• How exactly do I market my online store?
• What platforms do I use?
• Which marketing strategies should I pursue?
• Am I limited by budget?

Let’s look at these questions one by one.

How Do I Market My Online Store?

If you’ve ever explored the question of online store marketing, you’re probably familiar with three terms: SEO, PPC, and CTR.

SEO, or search engine optimization, is all about getting your website to rank well on search engines for relevant keywords. While there are free tools like Google Keyword Planner and free tools like SEO Checker that can help you discover the best keywords to target, it’s important to note that you can’t just throw out any old keyword and expect your site to rank well without knowing anything about the subject matter of your blog or website. You also need to make sure that the keywords you choose are supported by a healthy search volume.

For example, if you’re selling men’s suits, you might want to look for keywords such as “suits for men” or “mens suit” as opposed to just “suits” or “men’s clothes” because the first two terms are supported by a lot more search volume than the latter two.

PPC, or pay per click, is when you pay each time a user clicks on your ads (e.g., Google AdWords). You can use this type of advertising to gain organic links to your site that naturally occur as a user clicks on an ad or visit a sponsored link on a social media platform like Twitter. Just remember, you’ll need to set a basis price for each keyword you choose, so make sure you set your prices reasonably. Also, make sure you research the competition for each keyword and set a budget for each campaign to avoid wasting money.

CTR, or click-through rate, is the number of people who visit your site as a result of an ad or sponsored link on social media platforms like Google. To gain organic clicks, you’ll want to focus on gaining media coverage using traditional PR channels like article contributions and industry events.