Helping Your Online Store Find a Wider Audience

It does not matter how amazing your products are or how cool your online store looks, if no one is visiting to take a look, right? But, don’t worry if your only “customers:” are your mum and her friends because, you can soon change that by doing all of the following:

1. Master the Art of SEO

Okay, so we’ll start with the most obvious point but if people cannot find your online store, then they are not going to come along and buy anything from you, so the first thing you need to sort out is your search engine optimisation. This is basically the process of doing a range of things to get your business to rank higher up in Google (and other search engine) results, so people are more likely to click on your links than the competition’s.

Keywords, meta descriptions, and alt text are your new best mates, but don’t stress if all this sounds like another language. An SEO consultant, like the ones at https://tonimarino.co.uk/, can help you optimise your site, making sure it’s the first thing people see when they search for, say, “handmade llama-themed tea cosies.” (You do you.)

2. Get Social

Social media isn’t just for sharing cat videos—it’s a powerful tool for promoting your store. Whether it’s TikTok, Instagram, or even LinkedIn (yes, really), find where your target audience hangs out and start engaging. Post regularly, use relevant hashtags, and don’t be afraid to show off your personality.

Pro tip: Experiment with different content formats like stories, reels, and live videos. People love a peek behind the scenes, so why not share how you make your products or pack orders? Bonus points if there’s a pet involved.

3. Collaborate Like a Boss

If you have a limited budget but you want to be able to reach whole new audiences who might not have been aware of you before, then collaborating with other brands, influencers, or even content creators, is sure to be a winner. Why? Because you get to tap into their audience and they yours, so it is a mutually beneficial way of drumming up business. The key is to team up with people who are doing things that relate to your business in some way. For example, if you sell eco-friendly candles, pairing up with a blogger who writes about sustainability would be smart.

Send them a freebie, let them rave about it, and watch their followers flock to your site. It’s like borrowing someone else’s megaphone to shout about your amazing products.

4. Email Isn’t Dead, It’s Just Misunderstood

If you think email marketing is old-school, think again. A well-crafted email campaign can be one of the most effective ways to engage with your audience. Send newsletters with updates, special offers, and fun tidbits about your store. Just don’t spam people—nobody likes that.

5. Ads, Ads, Ads (But Smart Ones)

Paid advertising can be a game-changer, but it’s all about targeting. Platforms like Google Ads or Facebook Ads let you reach specific demographics, ensuring you’re not wasting money showing ads to people who aren’t interested. Start small, test what works, and refine your campaigns as you go.

6. Make It Shareable

Word of mouth is powerful, and the digital version is even better. Make sure your website and products are easy to share. Add social sharing buttons, run giveaways, or create content so good people can’t help but repost it.

Your audience is out there just waiting for you to help them find you, and now you have the tools to do just that, so what are you waiting for?