{ "componentChunkName": "component---src-templates-blog-posts-jsx", "path": "/blog/23/", "result": {"pageContext":{"postsPerPage":6,"categories":[{"id":"dGVybTox","name":"General Articles","slug":"general-articles","count":131},{"id":"dGVybToyMTc=","name":"Shopify","slug":"shopify","count":5},{"id":"dGVybToyMjE=","name":"Shopify Development","slug":"shopify-development","count":4}],"pagesCount":23,"currentPage":23,"categoryOriginPath":"/blog","pageHeader":{"background":null,"backgroundOpacity":1,"color":null,"fieldGroupName":"page_header","title":"Latest Articles: Stay Informed","opacity":1,"position":"on","size":{"desktop":64,"tablet":48,"mobile":32},"spaces":{"top":null,"bottom":null,"leftright":null,"units":"em"}},"posts":[{"id":"cG9zdDo1NTk=","title":"How to Build a Contact Us Page for Your Online Store","date":"10.08.2022","slug":"how-to-build-a-contact-us-page-for-your-online-store","categories":{"nodes":[{"id":"dGVybToyMjE=","name":"Shopify Development"}]},"levels":{"nodes":[]},"acfPost":{"fieldGroupName":"acfPost","excerpt":"It might seem like just another standard link in the navigation menu, but an online store’s Contact Us page is often one of the most under-optimized locations on its entire site. While you’ve probably put a lot of thought into making your homepage or landing page represent your brand and personality, other web pages tend to get a lot less love. This is a mistake. By making your Contact page more personable and more inviting, you’ll be giving customers who need to talk to you a better experience.","squaredImage":{"altText":"How to Build a Contact Us Page for Your Online Store","localFile":{"childImageSharp":{"gatsbyImageData":{"layout":"fullWidth","backgroundColor":"#e8f8d8","images":{"fallback":{"src":"/static/e75190765526a43e7ffaedda0ea28110/e1bd7/How_20to_20Build_20a_20Contact_20Us_20Page.webp","srcSet":"/static/e75190765526a43e7ffaedda0ea28110/7513b/How_20to_20Build_20a_20Contact_20Us_20Page.webp 750w,\n/static/e75190765526a43e7ffaedda0ea28110/e1bd7/How_20to_20Build_20a_20Contact_20Us_20Page.webp 1024w","sizes":"100vw"},"sources":[]},"width":1,"height":0.5244140625}}}},"metaData":{"title":null,"description":"Improve your online store's Contact Us page to build trust, enhance customer experience, and boost conversions. Learn why a well-optimized Contact page is crucial, what elements to include, and discover inspiring examples. Enhance accessibility, create a welcoming atmosphere, set clear goals, and customize your Contact form. Make it easy for customers to reach out and provide valuable feedback, turning your Contact Us page into a valuable asset for your e-commerce store."},"banner":{"title":"How to Build a Contact Us Page for Your Online Store.","showTitle":true,"image":{"altText":"How to Build a Contact Us Page for Your Online Store","localFile":{"childImageSharp":{"gatsbyImageData":{"layout":"fullWidth","backgroundColor":"#e8f8d8","images":{"fallback":{"src":"/static/e75190765526a43e7ffaedda0ea28110/e1bd7/How_20to_20Build_20a_20Contact_20Us_20Page.webp","srcSet":"/static/e75190765526a43e7ffaedda0ea28110/7513b/How_20to_20Build_20a_20Contact_20Us_20Page.webp 750w,\n/static/e75190765526a43e7ffaedda0ea28110/e1bd7/How_20to_20Build_20a_20Contact_20Us_20Page.webp 1024w","sizes":"100vw"},"sources":[]},"width":1,"height":0.5244140625}}}}},"timeToRead":"12 minutes read","sections":[{"fieldGroupName":"post_Acfpost_Sections_ArticleRichTextContent","content":"

It might seem like just another standard link in the navigation menu, but an online store’s Contact Us page is often one of the most under-optimized locations on its entire site.

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While you’ve probably put a lot of thought into making your homepage or landing page represent your brand and personality, other web pages tend to get a lot less love. This is a mistake. By making your Contact page more personable and more inviting, you’ll be giving customers who need to talk to you a better experience.

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Why have a Contact Us page?

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Trust is the most important currency ecommerce stores have. New visitors are more likely to purchase when they trust your brand, and existing customers are more likely to recommend you and make repeat purchases when they trust you.

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Being approachable and easy to talk to is a simple way of building trust with your website visitors. It’s easier to trust someone new who seems friendly right from the start. Brands are no different. When customers are reminded there’s a real person (or a team of people) powering your ecommerce store, they are much more likely to trust you compared to a faceless logo.

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Contact Us forms also help reassure customers there’s someone listening to complaints and feedback. Making it easy for customers to contact you if something goes wrong can save a sale (and a customer) who’s had a bad experience through a missing shipment or damaged product. Mistakes happen, and customers want to know you’ll be there to help when it does.

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Finally, being available to answer questions can convert curious website visitors into customers. When a customer delays a purchase, it’s often because they have lingering questions or need to come to a decision on a final important detail. Unfortunately, that sometimes means they’ll decide to leave empty-handed. If you’re easy to contact, customers can get the answers they need quickly.

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What should I include on a Contact Us page?

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1. All relevant contact information

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If there are ways your customers can contact you other than email, it’s important to include them on the page as well. For example, if you have a business phone number, a physical location, or a Twitter account, list them here.

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Other information you can convey to customers on your Contact page include:

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2. A relevant call to action

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Inevitably, someone will land on your Contact Us page and not fill out the form to contact you. This is a great opportunity to invite them to do something else, such as sign up for your newsletter, check out your sale products or follow you on social media.

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The bottom of a Contact Us page is the perfect place for an inviting CTA (call to action).

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3. FAQs

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You’ll find that a lot of shoppers have similar questions. They might want to know how long delivery times are, what your shipping costs are, or whether they need any additional products to go with their initial purchase.

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Adding an FAQs section to your Contact Us page can help customers self-serve and get their questions answered without having to wait for a response from your team.

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4. Links to a help center and relevant guides

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If the FAQ isn’t enough, shoppers might look for guides they can work through to find answers to their questions. Link out to your help center or support videos, or direct shoppers to specific blog posts that answer their questions.

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5. Customer reviews

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When a shopper visits your Contact Us page, they are either trying to solve a problem or they’re partway through the sales cycle and need some clarification. Adding positive customer reviews to your Contact Us page will add a dose of social proof and reassure shoppers that they’ve made the right decision by buying from you.

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9 Contact Us page examples that combine form and function

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Combining all the traits listed above into a beautiful on-brand Contact page can seem daunting. But it’s easier than you think. By using the Contact pages already included in their Shopify themes (or going even just a little out of the box), the stores below have transformed the simple Contact Us form into a valuable resource for their customers.

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The best thing about these pages is their uniqueness to each brand. It just shows that you can take the basic traits of a Contact Us page and make it something special for your store to better serve your customers.

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1. KeySmart

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This Contact page manages to fit a lot of information into a simple, clean layout. KeySmart provides a ton of options for different contact methods depending on your question. It also sets clear expectations on response times (a very reasonable one-business-day turnaround on emails!).

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\"How

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2. ban.do

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It’s just a simple form but ban.do does a great job of encouraging its customers to get in touch if there’s anything they need. The copy is very on brand—fun, light-hearted, and welcoming.

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\"Ban.do

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3. Kettle & Fire

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Kettle & Fire helps customers find the right team to contact (and potentially find an answer themselves along the way) by suggesting four topics on its Contact Us page. Customers can find their way to online documentation or contact information alongside a beautiful product image.

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\"Kettle

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4. Tommy John

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By embedding its Zendesk contact form and offering live chat directly on its Contact Us page, Tommy John makes it easy for customers to talk to the brand. There are also links and further information to make sure every visitor gets exactly what they need.

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\"Tommy

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5. Skims

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Skims offers shoppers a selection of ways to get in touch so they can choose their preferred method. Down the side of the page, it provides links to relevant information and FAQs.

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\"Skims

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6. Holland Cooper

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Holland Cooper keeps its Contact Us page simple with an illustrated guide to the different ways customers can reach support. It also offers a What’s Next section to keep shoppers on site.

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\"Holland

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7. Allbirds

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Allbirds provides a text number and a phone number for customers. It also has an extensive FAQ and a robust help center.

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\"Allbirds

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8. Blender Bottle

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Blender Bottle acknowledges that it gets a lot of similar questions and provides three options for customers to get them answered. If that doesn’t do the job, there are a number of different contact options and a form below.

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\"Blender

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9. Magnolia Market

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Magnolia Market splits its FAQ into categories to make it easier for shoppers to find what they’re looking for. Below that, there’s an illustrated guide to the different contact options.

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\"Magnolia

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5 tips for an effective Contact Us page

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Sticking to these five tips will help you make the most of your contact page to convert prospects into customers, and unhappy customers into advocates.

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1. Make your Contact page easy to find

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If no one can find your Contact Us page, there’s no point in having one. Being accessible means customers can navigate to your Contact page when they need to talk to you. There are two places that work really well: your main navigation bar and the footer at the bottom of every page.

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\"Example
Example from ban.do, which also includes its page in the site footer.
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2. Create a Contact page that’s welcoming

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Once site visitors find your website’s Contact Us page, do they know if you welcome emails, phone calls, and feedback? Or does your contact page resemble a series of hurdles designed to keep trespassers out? It sounds obvious, but depending on what your page actually says, your customers might not follow through with contacting you.

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At the top of the default Shopify Contact page, it’s possible to add copy to provide additional information and help customers complete the form. Including a request for customers to let you know if they need anything makes your brand feel approachable. Here are a few examples you can adapt to suit your needs:

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3. Choose the goals of your Contact Us page

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Not every Contact Us page serves the same purpose. Plus, you have other pages that serve different purposes, including a homepage and About Us page template. Deciding the potential audience of your Contact Us page helps determine what features or fields to include.

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Here are a few common purposes for Contact Us pages:

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Glossier does a great job of speaking to every type of visitor on its Contact Us page. Whether you’re a customer, a potential partner, or the media, it’s very clear how to get in touch with the displayed contact info.

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\"Glossier

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How to add a Contact Us page in Shopify

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1. In your Shopify admin dashboard, go to Online Store > Pages and click Add page.

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\"Shopify

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2. Add a title for your page, such as Contact Us or Get In Touch.

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\"Shopify

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3. Enter any text you want to show above the contact form in the Content box (you can leave it blank if you don’t want any text).

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\"Shopify

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4. In the Online store section, choose “Contact” from the theme template dropdown menu.

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\"Shopify

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5. Click save.

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Choose your form fields

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Shopify’s built-in simple contact form includes three fields: Name, Email, and Message. This might be enough for you if you’re just starting out because it easily captures enough information for you to respond to the customer and have a productive conversation.

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Route contact requests to the right team

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If you’d like to route contact requests to different departments or capture more information, you might want to customize your form fields.

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For example, if you use a help desk to keep track of your incoming customer requests, embedding their ticket form on your Contact page can automatically tag and route incoming emails to the right department.

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Customize your Contact Us form

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You have a few options available for customizing the Contact Us form. While the default Shopify form fields require some basic code editing to update fields, you can also embed the ticket forms from your help desk directly into a page, or use a Shopify App to design a more full-featured contact form. Here are a few of our favorite apps:

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These apps allow you to add as many fields as you’d like to your forms, so you can ask for order details and other information to respond to customers more effectively.

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But beware: make your forms too long and you end up creating a barrier for customers to contact you. No one wants to answer 20 potentially irrelevant questions before getting to talk to a human. Find a balance between asking for the information you need (like an email address) and making it easy for customers to get in touch.

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Feedback is how you learn and improve

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Your customers are field-testing your overall shopping experience at every stage, and they surface problems and opportunities you might never encounter on your own.

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A boring or confusing Contact page will only weigh you down, whereas a great page will put customers at ease and help them find solutions or provide better feedback when they have something to say. Making it easy for customers to get in touch is essential to building trust and learning how to create a better customer experience, which makes your Contact Us page one of your most valuable pages.

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\n"},{"fieldGroupName":"post_Acfpost_Sections_ArticleAccordions","title":"Contact Us page FAQ","accordion":[{"body":"

A Contact Us page is a dedicated page on a website where visitors can find out how to get in touch with the company.

\n","title":"What is a Contact Us page?"},{"body":"

Having a Contact page makes it easy for shoppers to get in touch if they have a question or issue. This helps build trust and relationships with your customers and ensures they get their questions answered before buying from you.

\n","title":"Does my online store need a Contact Us page?"},{"body":"

Many business Contact pages include one or more of the following elements: a contact form, an email address, a contact phone number, a live chat option, a text number, an FAQ, and links to a help center or guides. Local companies often include a map and a physical address.

\n","title":"What should be included on my Contact Us page?"},{"body":"

Yes, you can use phrases like “get in touch” or “reach out to us.” You want to make sure the phrase is something customers understand, so we recommend keeping it simple.

\n","title":"Are there alternative phrases to “contact us” we can use?"},{"body":"
    \n
  1. Go to Online Store > Pages in your admin dashboard.
    2. \n
  2. Click Add Page.
    3. \n
  3. Enter a title for your page.
    4. \n
  4. Add the text you want to show above the contact form.
    5. \n
  5. Choose “Contact” from the theme template dropdown.
    6. \n
  6. Click Save.
    7. \n
\n","title":"How do I make a Contact Us page for my Shopify store?"}]}]},"page_header":{"background":null,"backgroundOpacity":100,"color":null,"fieldGroupName":"page_header","title":"Creating a Contact Page 2023","opacity":100,"position":"on","size":{"desktop":64,"tablet":null,"mobile":null},"spaces":{"top":null,"bottom":null,"leftright":null,"units":"em"}},"link":"/blog/how-to-build-a-contact-us-page-for-your-online-store"},{"id":"cG9zdDo1NTU=","title":"Online Payments for Small Business Owners: An Overview","date":"10.08.2022","slug":"online-payments-for-small-business-owners-an-overview","categories":{"nodes":[{"id":"dGVybToyMjE=","name":"Shopify Development"}]},"levels":{"nodes":[]},"acfPost":{"fieldGroupName":"acfPost","excerpt":"Choosing an online payment processing system that doesn’t accept the payment methods your customers prefer is much like speaking Chinese at a Marrakech market: both approaches are unlikely to result in a successful transaction.","squaredImage":{"altText":"Online Payments for Small Business Owners: An Overview","localFile":{"childImageSharp":{"gatsbyImageData":{"layout":"fullWidth","backgroundColor":"#d8d8e8","images":{"fallback":{"src":"/static/9f1c10e9d52a644268bc5debd1ad49c8/e1bd7/online_20payment_20methods.webp","srcSet":"/static/9f1c10e9d52a644268bc5debd1ad49c8/7513b/online_20payment_20methods.webp 750w,\n/static/9f1c10e9d52a644268bc5debd1ad49c8/e1bd7/online_20payment_20methods.webp 1024w","sizes":"100vw"},"sources":[]},"width":1,"height":0.5244140625}}}},"metaData":{"title":null,"description":"Choosing the right online payment processing system is crucial for ecommerce businesses. Learn about different types of online payments, such as credit cards, ACH transfers, direct debit, wire transfers, and digital wallets. Understand how online payments work and what factors to consider when selecting payment options for your business"},"banner":{"title":"Online Payments for Small Business Owners: An Overview","showTitle":true,"image":{"altText":"Online Payments for Small Business Owners: An Overview","localFile":{"childImageSharp":{"gatsbyImageData":{"layout":"fullWidth","backgroundColor":"#d8d8e8","images":{"fallback":{"src":"/static/9f1c10e9d52a644268bc5debd1ad49c8/e1bd7/online_20payment_20methods.webp","srcSet":"/static/9f1c10e9d52a644268bc5debd1ad49c8/7513b/online_20payment_20methods.webp 750w,\n/static/9f1c10e9d52a644268bc5debd1ad49c8/e1bd7/online_20payment_20methods.webp 1024w","sizes":"100vw"},"sources":[]},"width":1,"height":0.5244140625}}}}},"timeToRead":"14 minutes read","sections":[{"fieldGroupName":"post_Acfpost_Sections_ArticleRichTextContent","content":"

Choosing an online payment processing system that doesn’t accept the payment methods your customers prefer is much like speaking Chinese at a Marrakech market: both approaches are unlikely to result in a successful transaction.

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Similarly, a merchant’s point-of-sale system needs to be able to speak the same language as their customer’s payment method. Brick-and-mortar stores speak a different payment language from online stores. That’s why it’s critical for ecommerce businesses to be fluent in online payments.

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What are online payments?

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Online payments are types of payment submitted and processed over the internet. These include credit card payments, ACH payments, wire transfers, and payments made using a mobile wallet.

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While online and in-store payments may use the same payment processors, the point of sale (POS) differs between them. For an in-store payment, POS is your physical checkout counter. For an online payment, POS is an online payment interface, and your software payment solution is your point-of-sale system.

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In addition to accepting customer payments via online payment methods, businesses may also use online payments to pay bills or payroll expenses.

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How do online payments work?

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Online payments involve a customer, a vendor, and the financial institutions of each party. They may also involve payment processing partners such as PayPal, Zelle, or Square.

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Online payment processes differ by payment method. Here’s a sample breakdown of how an online payment using ACH debit (automated clearing house debit) works:

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5 types of online payments

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  1. Credit card payments
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  2. ACH payments
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  3. Direct debit
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  4. Wire transfers
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  5. Digital wallets
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Different types of online payment offer different benefits for businesses and customers. Variables include cost, speed, security, and popularity with your customer base.

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1. Credit card payments

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Both businesses and individuals frequently used credit cards for online payments. The credit card company settles the purchase debt with the vendor, and the cardholder either pays off their total credit card balance at the end of each billing cycle or accrues additional interest debt in the form of an annual percentage rate (APR) fee. APR reflects the annual cost of the loan, including the interest rate plus other charges.

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Because many customers use credit cards as their primary means of payment, businesses that accept credit cardsonline and in-person have advantages over those that don’t. Many credit card processing partners charge merchants a per-transaction fee, which can range from between 2% and 5% of the total transaction cost.

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2. ACH payments

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Automated Clearing House (ACH) transfers are a type of online payment sent through the ACH network, an electronic network that serves as an intermediary between financial institutions.

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ACH transactions are processed in batches. This keeps fees down but can make ACH payments slower to process than other types of online payments. ACH payments typically process in one to three business days, while wire transfers and credit card transfers complete within 24 hours. Businesses frequently use ACH direct deposit to pay employees, and many financial institutions offer this type of transaction free of charge.

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3. Direct debit

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Direct debit is a form of ACH payment that transfers money from one bank account to another through the ACH network. When customers pay for goods or services using ACH direct debit, the merchant’s financial institution instructs the ACH network to take money from the customer’s bank account and put money into the merchant’s bank account.

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The ACH network processes direct debits within one business day, but the receiving bank often holds transactions for an additional one to two business days, bringing the total transfer time to one to three business days.

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4. Wire transfers

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Wire transfers are online payments from one bank to another without the use of an intermediary like the ACH network. Wire transfersmove money quickly, and tend to have higher per-transaction limits than ACH transfers. They also carry higher per-transaction fees, which frequently range between $20 and $30 per transaction. Although wire transfers themselves are secure, they are more often targets of fraud than ACH transfers because they process more quickly. The one-to-three-business-day payment processing period of ACH transfers allows a business to stop payment if fraud is suspected.

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5. Digital wallets

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Digital wallet is an umbrella term referring to any method of electronic payment (such as a debit or credit card) stored on a user’s devices (e.g., Apple Pay or Google Pay) or in the cloud. Digital wallets are not payment methods in themselves; rather, they allow customers to use existing payment methods without access to a physical card. Digital wallet purchases can be made both online and in person.

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What to consider when choosing online payment options for your business

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Ideally, online payment solutions make it easy for customers to pay you and are within your technology budget. A best-fit online payment system for your business is one easy to set up so your online store is up and running quickly.

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When choosing an online payment solution, consider the needs and preferences of your customer base. Younger customers, in particular, are likely to use digital wallets and be familiar with a range of payment processing partners, while older customers may be more comfortable using credit and debit cards.

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Another consideration is how much in fees you are willing to pay.

\n"},{"fieldGroupName":"post_Acfpost_Sections_ArticleAccordions","title":"Online payments FAQ","accordion":[{"body":"
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An online payment is any payment made over the internet. Many ecommerce businesses accept online payments to make it easier for customers to purchase goods and services. They also frequently use online payments to pay vendors and employees.

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\n","title":"What is an online payment?"},{"body":"
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Online credit and debit card payments, ACH payments, wire transfers, and digital wallet (e.g., Apple Pay, Google Pay) payments are all types of online payments. Third-party payment providers like Zelle, PayPal, Apple Pay, Venmo, and Square also offer online payments that are reconciled via debit or credit card, or through ACH transfer.

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\n
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\n","title":"What are different types of online payments?"},{"body":"

There are many types of online payments. Examples include:

\n\n","title":"What are examples of online payments?"}]}]},"page_header":{"background":null,"backgroundOpacity":100,"color":null,"fieldGroupName":"page_header","title":"Small Business Online Payments","opacity":100,"position":"on","size":{"desktop":64,"tablet":null,"mobile":null},"spaces":{"top":null,"bottom":null,"leftright":null,"units":"em"}},"link":"/blog/online-payments-for-small-business-owners-an-overview"},{"id":"cG9zdDo1NTA=","title":"How to Get Backlinks: 15 Proven Strategies","date":"10.08.2022","slug":"how-to-get-backlinks-15-proven-strategies","categories":{"nodes":[{"id":"dGVybTox","name":"General Articles"}]},"levels":{"nodes":[]},"acfPost":{"fieldGroupName":"acfPost","excerpt":"Credibility is important in marketing. It’s better to have someone else vouch for you than preach credibility yourself. Backlinks that point from one site to another are ranking factors in many search engine algorithms. These backlinks act as a vote of confidence: another website owner is stating your page offers value and that your domain has authority on the article topic. Knowing how to get backlinks is an important part of search engine optimization (SEO), as it helps your website rank higher in search engine results pages (SERP) and delivers a steady stream of traffic. Realistically, there are likely hundreds—if not millions—of sites very similar to yours. How do search engines choose which to show on the first page?","squaredImage":{"altText":"How to Get Backlinks: 15 Proven Strategies","localFile":{"childImageSharp":{"gatsbyImageData":{"layout":"fullWidth","backgroundColor":"#f8f8e8","images":{"fallback":{"src":"/static/026c208f7a7bda427cdbed86b289e0ad/e1bd7/How_to_build_backlinks.webp","srcSet":"/static/026c208f7a7bda427cdbed86b289e0ad/7513b/How_to_build_backlinks.webp 750w,\n/static/026c208f7a7bda427cdbed86b289e0ad/e1bd7/How_to_build_backlinks.webp 1024w","sizes":"100vw"},"sources":[]},"width":1,"height":0.5244140625}}}},"metaData":{"title":null,"description":"Learn how to get backlinks and improve your website's credibility and search engine rankings. Discover 15 effective strategies, including being a resource for journalists, using HARO, publishing original research, repairing broken links, and more. Boost your ecommerce SEO and drive organic traffic to your site. Read on to find out how to get valuable backlinks for your website."},"banner":{"title":"How to Get Backlinks: 15 Proven Strategies","showTitle":true,"image":{"altText":"How to Get Backlinks: 15 Proven Strategies","localFile":{"childImageSharp":{"gatsbyImageData":{"layout":"fullWidth","backgroundColor":"#f8f8e8","images":{"fallback":{"src":"/static/026c208f7a7bda427cdbed86b289e0ad/e1bd7/How_to_build_backlinks.webp","srcSet":"/static/026c208f7a7bda427cdbed86b289e0ad/7513b/How_to_build_backlinks.webp 750w,\n/static/026c208f7a7bda427cdbed86b289e0ad/e1bd7/How_to_build_backlinks.webp 1024w","sizes":"100vw"},"sources":[]},"width":1,"height":0.5244140625}}}}},"timeToRead":"17 minutes read","sections":[{"fieldGroupName":"post_Acfpost_Sections_ArticleRichTextContent","content":"

Credibility is important in marketing. It’s better to have someone else vouch for you than preach credibility yourself. Backlinks that point from one site to another are ranking factors in many search engine algorithms. These backlinks act as a vote of confidence: another website owner is stating your page offers value and that your domain has authority on the article topic.

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Knowing how to get backlinks is an important part of search engine optimization (SEO), as it helps your website rank higher in search engine results pages (SERP) and delivers a steady stream of traffic. Realistically, there are likely hundreds—if not millions—of sites very similar to yours. How do search engines choose which to show on the first page?

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This makes ecommerce SEO ultra-valuable for merchants in a world where paid ads are getting expensive.

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Studies show a strong correlation between organic traffic and the number of backlinks a site has. And link building is a tactic that’s not going anywhere: The vast majority of SEO practitioners believe Google will continue to use backlinks as a ranking signal for the next five years.

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So it’s necessary to know how to get links for your website.

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How to get backlinks: 15 ways

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  1. Be a resource for journalists
    2. \n
  2. Use HARO or hire a HARO agency
    3. \n
  3. Publish original research or data
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  4. Create statistic roundup pages
    5. \n
  5. Publish free tools
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  6. Find unlinked mentions and ask for a backlink
    7. \n
  7. Repair broken links
    8. \n
  8. See who’s linking to your competitors
    9. \n
  9. Utilize your business network
    10. \n
  10. Analyze existing referral traffic
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  11. Pitch inclusion on a resource page
    12. \n
  12. Have your products reviewed
    13. \n
  13. Join communities
    14. \n
  14. Be a podcast guest
    15. \n
  15. Don’t forget about internal links
    16. \n
\n

Now that you understand the importance of backlinks, how do you get them?

\n

1. Be a resource for journalists

\n

Journalists are always looking for sources to feature in their stories.

\n

Find journalists who write about topics that overlap with your website. If they’re writing a piece relevant to your topics of expertise, there’s a strong chance you’ll be featured—and earn a backlink in the process. Ecommerce beauty business owners, for example, would want to connect with journalists who write for publications their audience reads, such as Grazia or Cosmopolitan. Locate the About Us page for each publication and find the journalist most likely to need your expertise.

\n
\"Cosmopolitan’s
Find journalists who work for your target publication on the About page.
\n

Once you’ve got your list, get on the journalist’s radar. Connect with them on social media and reach out to share your expertise. Keep it short and sweet—they likely get hundreds of direct messages each day. State what you do, your unique value proposition, and how your input will help their readers.

\n

The best part? If you’re an ecommerce website, logos from well-known publications go a long way in building trust/social proof. The “featured in” logo wall gives first-time website visitors confidence your products are credible, and that can increase sales page conversions by up to 34%.

\n

While backlinks from The New York Times might seem unattainable right now, start with smaller, local publications and work your way up to larger news sites.

\n

2. Use HARO or hire a HARO agency

\n

Services like Help a Reporter Out (HARO) make it easier for website owners to connect with journalists who write for high authority websites. Register as a source and receive emails when journalists look for contributions that align with your expertise.

\n

HARO is the most popular platform of its kind. As a result, journalists can be overwhelmed with responses, making it harder for your own outreach email to stand out. Diversify your link building strategy with similar, less crowded platforms like:

\n\n

Using this link-building tactic, SEO Consultant Blake Smith saw a 327% year-over-year increase in organic search impressions by responding to journalist requests.

\n
\"Google
An increase in search impressions Blake Smith saw from his backlink strategy.
\n

3. Publish original research or data

\n

It’s almost impossible to get backlinks if your website doesn’t have content that’s worth linking to. That’s why 40.7% of SEO professionals say content marketing provides the strongest passive link building results.

\n

Typical content marketing programs will create blog posts, case studies, and white papers. Use your content program to produce research reports using proprietary data. Since journalists won’t be able to find your brand-produced research anywhere else, this will net you more backlinks.

\n

Create and publish surveys, then analyze the findings and share with your audience. It doesn’t have to be a massive report, either. Ask five to 10 questions and create a mini report with the findings. Low effort, high impact!

\n\n
\n

Mike Brown, Director of Communications at Breeze, took this approach and published 16 data-driven reports in one year.

\n

“I create original research reports, whether it’s a survey or from publicly available data resources, and pitch these to the media/high-quality websites in the hopes they cover the data and link back to meetbreeze.com,” Mike says. “It’s an incredibly affordable way to build a ton of high-quality backlinks and rapidly increase your site’s domain rating.”

\n

The content strategy has paid off. Talking about Breeze’s survey on remote work, Mike says, “As of today, this has built 133 unique backlinks for the low survey cost of $1,350—$10 per backlink.”

\n
\"Ahrefs
\n

Breeze’s original research has backlinks from major news sites in the industry.

\n

For extra brownie points, design an infographic that summarizes the original data you’ve collected. Site owners often embed these on their website to cater to visual learners, while crediting the original source (i.e., your website) with a backlink.

\n

4. Create statistic roundup pages

\n

Speaking of statistics, you don’t have to invest resources into producing data. Round up existing data from other sources and compile them into a statistical roundup.

\n

Writers and journalists often search for data to support their stories. Make their job easier with a roundup page that compiles external data from third-party sources. There’s a strong chance the writer will link to your roundup page instead of the original source.

\n

To find this data:

\n\n
\"How
Google News retrieves unique data in the gaming industry.
\n

“This strategy works incredibly well because journalists are likely to link back to data as a point of reference, and they always need fresh data,” says Holly Lawton, Sales and Marketing Head at Pearl Scan.

\n

“As long as you can do an initial outreach blast of your statistics page to relevant journalists and then ensure that your page ranks highly, there isn’t actually a lot of effort required aside from actually building the page itself.”

\n

5. Publish free tools

\n

The stronger the reason to link to your website, the easier it’ll be to get backlinks to your website. Free tools are amongst the strongest reasons. By linking to your tools, other site owners are achieving their own goals: providing value to their readers … even if that means directing them elsewhere. That includes:

\n\n

While producing free tools can be an expensive investment (both in terms of time to create and money to maintain), they speed up your link building efforts (answering your question about how to get backlinks) and can help new websites rank quickly.

\n

Let’s take a look at some examples of free tools and their backlink profiles:

\n\n
\"Ahrefs
CoSchedule’s Headline Analyzer has an impressive backlink profile.
\n

6. Find unlinked mentions and ask for a backlink

\n

If your website has been around for a while, there’s a good chance people already talk about your brand. Reach out to them and ask the website owner to turn that mention into a backlink.

\n

To find unlinked brand mentions:

\n\n
\"Google
Potential backlink opportunities for Shopify
\n

Once you’ve found them, find the contact information for the website owner. Use this template to turn the unlinked mention into a backlink:

\n
\n

Hi [name],

\n

Thanks for mentioning [brand] in your article on [topic]. It was a superb read that we shared with our audience on [social media platform].

\n

Over the mention of our brand name, could you please link to our website? It’d help your audience find us where you’ve recommended [reason surrounding their brand mention].

\n

Here’s the link to our website: [link]

\n

Thanks!

\n
\n

Depending on how established your brand is, this list can be long. Prioritize those with the highest domain authority. They’ll have the biggest SEO impact on your website.

\n

Claiming unlinked mentions is a low-effort, high success backlink building strategy. There’s no need to convince a website owner to mention you; all that’s required, on their part, is turning an existing line of text into a link.

\n

When you request these backlinks, add in an exact match anchor text that points toward your homepage. Should someone search for your brand name and this anchor text in a search engine like Google, you improve the chances of your website coming up top.

\n

7. Repair broken links

\n

Pages are deleted, links are edited, content is replaced. There are many reasons why a once fully functioning backlink can end up broken. Don’t let your previous link-building efforts go to waste.

\n

Use an SEO tool like Ahrefs to uncover broken links pointing to your website. For each one:

\n\n
\"Ahrefs
Top broken inbound links for Content Marketing Institute.
\n

Aaron Anderson, Link Building Strategist at LinkPitch, used this broken-link-building strategy for an attorney client: “We found some pages in legal dictionaries that were broken, so we recreated the pages of those definitions and then did outreach to all the sites linking to the broken pages,” he says.

\n

“The results were really awesome. Even without building any links to priority or ‘money’ pages, that site saw a significant increase in organic traffic. Those pages weren’t even necessarily related to the attorney’s area of expertise, but, as an attorney, it made sense for him to be able to clarify legal terms.”

\n
\"Ahrefs
An increase in backlinks as a result of Aaron’s SEO strategy.
\n

While you fix broken links on your website—point to either an external website or another page on your own domain. It’s these small user experience factors that influence a search engine’s ranking position.

\n

8. See who’s linking to your competitors

\n

Searching for new backlink opportunities? Look no further than your competitors, many of which have already done the hard work for you. Some 72% of SEOs said links from sites specifically related to your niche are more likely to positively influence organic rankings.

\n

Creating something better than your competitors have—be that a higher-quality product, free tool, or piece of content—can influence the website owner to replace a competitor’s link with yours.

\n

Enter your competitor’s domain into an SEO tool like Ahrefs, Moz, or Semrush. Comb through each backlink profile and determine which popularly linked-to pages you can improve on.

\n
\"Ahrefs
Peak Freelance’s Ahrefs report shows the most popular pages on the website.
\n

Let’s put that into practice. Say your competitor has a handful of backlinks pointing to its “how to make your own candles” blog post … but it’s only 1,000 words long. If your content team has the expertise to expand on their blog post and add even more value to readers, you have a shot at competing for this backlink.

\n

Create a better content piece and reach out to the website that linked to your competitor’s weaker version using this template:

\n
\n

Hi [name],

\n

I’m reaching out because you link to a page on [competitor’s] website that talks about [topic]. We just published a more comprehensive guide to this topic—it covers [extra detail] and more. Here’s the link: [link]

\n

I’m sure your readers would appreciate this added information. Feel free to update the link on your website to point them in our direction.

\n

Thanks!

\n
\n

9. Utilize your business network

\n

Examine your business network and see if there are some reasonable ways your contacts can backlink to your site. After all, links represent relationships.

\n

Pay especially close attention to people in your network who:

\n\n

Reach out to each person on your list and offer something in exchange for a backlink—be that a guest post, free tool that’s useful to their audience, or reciprocal backlink.

\n

“We’re all struggling with rankings and updates, so by offering a collaboration opportunity, you’re not just opening the door for long-term relationships, you’re actually offering a benefit that your partners can leverage.” —Estrella Alvarado, SEO Specialist at Brafton

\n

Freelance SEO Consultant Daniel Foley adds, “In addition to developing ties with other professionals in your industry, you should interact with and engage your audience. This strategy won’t work overnight, but you can start immediately by introducing yourself via email, engaging with people on social media, and giving real comments on the stuff that others provide.

\n

“There is a very high likelihood that others in your network will link to your content due to their personal connection, mutual respect, and admiration for your work.”

\n

10. Analyze existing referral traffic

\n

Backlinks obviously provide domain authority, but it’s not just SEO that benefits when you build links to your website. You can drive higher quality traffic—people with a genuine interest in your content or are more likely to convert—through backlinks.

\n

Uncover these link building opportunities by analyzing existing referral traffic through Google Analytics. Do most visitors arrive from sponsored reviews, directories, or company news announcements? Double down on what works best.

\n

Similarly, if you’re doing SEO for an ecommerce store, use Google Analytics segments to see where your highest converting customers come from. For example: if backlinks from influencers’ blogs convert 20% better than those on publications like Vogue, prioritize influencer marketing as a backlink strategy that raises conversions and rankings.

\n
\"Google
Google Analytics referral source segment shows the top converting visitors from referring domains.
\n

11. Pitch inclusion on a resource page

\n

Website owners publish resource pages to build topical relevance and improve user experience. The reason is, it’s better to satisfy user intent with a resource page than to miss out on the touchpoint altogether.

\n

In a time where no one hands out free links anymore, you need to approach link building with an account-based relationship. No matter how big or small your company, your cold outreach should be more about giving than receiving. Take the time to understand what publishers and editors are looking for.

\n\n
\n

Take advantage of resource pages by pitching your products, services, or free tools. Explain why their readers would find the resource helpful for the best chance at securing a backlink.

\n

Here’s a quick template to get you started:

\n
\n

Hi [name],

\n

I came across your resource page on [topic]. I loved how you mentioned [linked-to resource]—I also find that useful when [use case].

\n

Speaking of helpful resources, I wanted to share [your resource] in case it’s useful for your readers. Our customers say [USP]. I’d love to see it included in your roundup if readers would feel the same.

\n

Thanks!

\n
\n

12. Have your products reviewed

\n

If you’re building backlinks for an online store, you have one advantage over non-ecommerce websites: the ability to send products to authors.

\n

One of the most popular ways to get backlinks and drive high-quality traffic to your website is to reach out to bloggers with a free sample of your product. These written testimonials will naturally garner a link back to your site, especially if combined with an added incentive (such as affiliate commission).

\n
\"Food
Avec Drinks secured backlinks from a high-quality publication in its niche, Food & Wine, through product reviews.
\n

Familiarize yourself with the blogs in your niche and their relative size. Spend some time getting to know the authors and engage with their current posts to get on their radar. Once you’ve built some rapport with the authors, pitch them on your product.

\n

Use the outreach email template below by making some minor modifications to it.

\n
\n

Hi [name],

\n

My name is [name], and I’m a fan of your blog. I’ve been a reader for [X weeks/months/years] and especially enjoyed a recent post on [similar topic].

\n

We’ve recently opened an online store to sell [products]. They’re special because [your value proposition].

\n

I’ve sent a sample of [product] to the address listed on your contact page. If you love it as much as I do, perhaps you’ll consider sharing with your audience? Please let me know if you’re interested in learning anything at all about these. 

\n

Thanks!

\n
\n

13. Join communities

\n

Communities are secret havens for link builders because the people within them all have one thing in common: their interest.

\n

Find communities in your niche across Facebook Groups, Slack channels, or Reddit forums. Be active in the community by starting conversations and responding to others. An increase in brand awareness often correlates with an uplift in backlinks since more people are aware of your content.

\n

“The biggest mindset shift for me with link building has been moving away from cold outreach and into link building and digital marketing communities,” says Jakub Rudnik, Head of Content at Scribe. “I invest roughly two hours each morning and build more links than my full-time link builders in a week at past companies.

\n

Jakub takes this approach because “these people are online and actively seeking to build their own links. No more guessing who is the right contact at a company or waiting for an email response. I’m often able to make a connection and build a backlink within minutes.

\n

“Our blog is brand new, and I’ve been able to build 150+ do-follow referring domains in our first two months, mostly using communities.”

\n
\"Ahrefs
Jakub Rudnik of Scribe built backlinks from 173 referring domains through communities.
\n

14. Be a podcast guest

\n

Podcasts have exploded in popularity in recent years, with an estimated 424.4 million worldwide listeners. Capitalize on the trend by appearing as a guest on someone else’s podcast. It’s common practice to link to a podcast guest’s website in the show notes.

\n

“I believe you can advertise your company and obtain a brand new link by appearing on podcasts. Although you might be tempted, relevance to your issue is more crucial because engagement is what you desire above all else.

\n\n
\n

The best part about this link building strategy is that you can get several links off the back of a single podcast appearance. Many podcasters syndicate episodes—and subsequently, the show notes containing your backlink—to streaming sites like Spotify, YouTube, and Apple Podcasts.

\n
\"Spotify’s
Brands like BlueJeans, Huel, and Crafted get backlinks from Spotify by sponsoring the Diary of a CEO podcast.
\n

If you have more cash than time, go the sponsorship route. Research shows it costs $18 to reach 1,000 listeners through a 30-second podcast advert, or $25 for a 60-second shoutout. Make a backlink to your website part of the deal.

\n

15. Don’t forget about internal links

\n

Backlinks from external websites aren’t the only types of links your website should build. Internal links that point from one page on your site to another also tell search engines what the page is about and what it should rank for. It can get new web pages ranked quickly, too.

\n

To find internal linking opportunities, do a site: search for the topic you’re writing about. Find a natural mention of that keyword and link to your new content over it.

\n

For example, there are opportunities to build internal links that point toward this article from existing, already-indexed content:

\n
\"Google
Internal linking opportunities elsewhere on the Shopify blog. 
\n

“Internal links are an essential component in the efficient operation of a blog,” says Gerrid Smith, Ecommerce Growth Specialist at Joy Organics.

\n

“They are directing link juice in your direction, and you are free to use your anchor texts. You may help people easily navigate across your website by having a good internal linking structure, which will boost the overall quality of the experience for users of your website.”

\n

Grow your backlink profile today

\n

Link building is one of the most important elements of any website’s long-term SEO strategy. There’s only so much you can do to tell search engines you have a great store, content, and products. You need others to vouch for you. That’s exactly what backlinks do.

\n

Set a goal and devote a few hours to link building each week. Over time, you’ll build more domain authority, will rank for more keywords, and will deliver an ever-growing steady stream of organic traffic, day in and day out.

\n"},{"fieldGroupName":"post_Acfpost_Sections_ArticleAccordions","title":"Backlinks FAQ","accordion":[{"body":"

Backlinks are connections between your website and another. Also known as incoming or inbound links, they divert traffic between two sites and influence search engine rankings.

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Backlinks are important because they prove to search engines that your website is trustworthy and, therefore, should rank higher in search results. Quality is better than quantity when building backlinks, since the reputation of one website passes through to another when they’re linked.

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The easiest ways to get backlinks to your website include:

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\n

Often, the hardest part about running a business is finding the right idea—one that fits in with your day job, allows you to work from home, or monetizes a skill you already have. If you’re an entrepreneur in a creative lull, this guide shares 16 ecommerce business ideas that generate profit fast.

\n

16 profitable ecommerce business ideas worth pursuing

\n
    \n
  1. Start a dropshipping business
    2. \n
  2. Private label beauty products
    3. \n
  3. Sell handmade items
    4. \n
  4. Create merchandise
    5. \n
  5. Sell subscription boxes
    6. \n
  6. Create online courses
    7. \n
  7. Start a clothing line
    8. \n
  8. Flip children’s toys
    9. \n
  9. Sell on marketplaces
    10. \n
  10. Resell books
    11. \n
  11. Sell your photos
    12. \n
  12. Create natural products
    13. \n
  13. Sell NFTs
    14. \n
  14. Refurbish smart home products
    15. \n
  15. Sell your services
    16. \n
  16. Become an affiliate marketer
    17. \n
\n

1. Start a dropshipping business

\n

If you’re looking for an ecommerce business idea that requires no startup capital, dropshipping is a safe bet.

\n

Dropshipping is an order fulfillment method that doesn’t need you to buy, store, or ship inventory. You’ll work with a dropshipping supplier who takes those responsibilities off your plate, meaning you only pay for products once you sell them.

\n

Popular products to dropship include;

\n\n

To get started, find a dropshipping supplier that stocks the items you want to sell. Apps like DSers, Spocket, and DropCommerce integrate with Shopify stores. Once you sell a product through your ecommerce website, it’ll automatically route to your supplier to ship to the customer.

\n

2. Private label beauty products

\n

Private labeling is a business model in which entrepreneurs work with a manufacturer to produce custom products. Capitalize on the $59.2 million health and personal care industry by private labeling makeup, skin care, and cosmetics.

\n

DaKira Taylor took this approach when starting a beauty line. She now operates two ecommerce businesses, byREDD Beauty and byREDD Wholesale—both of which include private label skin care products as part of its offering.

\n

When you think about it, Kylie Jenner and Rihanna are not in their kitchen or their warehouse making products. They’re using private label. So why not start off with the same mindset of those big people?

\n
DaKira Taylor, founder of byREDD
\n
\n

To start a private label beauty business, contact manufacturers that already make the product you want to sell. Work together on a formula, order samples to test their quality, and check reviews left by entrepreneurs already working with them.

\n

Once you’ve found a manufacturer, create your online store and upload product listings, then start marketing your new beauty products to spread the word.

\n

\n

3. Sell handmade items

\n

Do you enjoy making handcrafted items? Turn your hobby into a successful business, and earn additional money on the side, by selling handmade products through your own online store.

\n

Popular items to make and sell include:

\n\n

Reach extra potential customers by listing your handmade products on marketplaces. Etsy, for example, serves almost 90 million buyers—many of whom use the marketplace to find handmade and/or personalized items.

\n

Custom-made products are hard to beat, as not only do they give customers specifically what they want (demand), but you can be the only source (supply) for these products.

\n
Richard O’Connor, director of First Mats
\n
\n

However, it’s worth noting that Etsy takes a cut out of any sale you make. A combination of both Shopify and Etsy gives you the best of both worlds: you tap into an existing customer base looking to buy handmade items, while maintaining strong profit margins on orders made through your ecommerce website.

\n

4. Create merchandise

\n

Do you have a following on social media? Whether you’re an artist, musician, or fashionista, monetize your audience by selling fan merchandise.

\n

Use a print-on-demand service like Printful to create a custom design, such as your logo or slogan. Then, upload the design to mugs, t-shirts, phone cases—anything your target audience would be interested in—and sell them online.

\n
\"Printful’s
Printful allows entrepreneurs to upload custom designs onto t-shirts.
\n

Don’t have the passion or time to become an influencer? Take advantage of well-known brands’ existing recognition.

\n

Household names like Disney offer trademark licensing deals so you can monetize their logos, characters, and slogans through unofficial merchandise. Upload them to mugs, clothes, or home décor and sell the merchandise through your own website.

\n

5. Sell subscription boxes

\n

Consumers will spend $38.2 billion on ecommerce subscriptions in 2023, making it a product idea worth considering if you want to earn recurring revenue. You’ll bill customers every month (unless they cancel) in exchange for a subscription box.

\n

Choose an industry where the subscription business model is already popular with customers. According to Statista, those are:

\n\n
\"BarThe leading subscription service types among worldwide consumers.
\n

Fresh Patch is one business using this model to make money online. The retailer sells grass patches for pets to use the toilet inside. Over 80% of its sales come from subscriptions, with its founder, Andrew Feld, advising people who are thinking of starting a business to “try and find something that is necessary and needs to be replenished.”

\n

6. Create online courses

\n

The online education market is projected to be worth $300.3 million in 2028, at a compounding annual growth rate of 23.6%. Capture the millions of customers who pay for premium education with an online course.

\n

“Self-paced online courses are one of the most lucrative digital products to sell,” says Stephen Light, co-owner and CEO at mattress company Nolah. “You need only select a skill that you’re highly knowledgeable about and market yourself as an expert in the online space.

\n

“Many course creators are leveraging social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook to nurture inbound leads and launch their digital products. With the continuation of remote or online work, the digital course creation industry is expected to grow exponentially. It’s best to curate your offer now before the market becomes overly saturated.”

\n

Monetize your skill by creating an online course around something you have deep knowledge in. From pottery to cooking, there’s bound to be someone looking to get better at whatever you have to share.

\n

7. Start a clothing line

\n

Sell clothes online to claim your share of the $180.5 billion US consumers spend on fashion and apparel each year.

\n

While you could maintain high profit margins by handcrafting the clothes yourself, business models with a lower barrier to entry include:

\n\n

Sarah Donofrio is one entrepreneur who took this ecommerce business idea and ran with it. She’s a successful designer with her own clothing line, and advises new business owners to follow fashion trends: “Take athleisure. I don’t make tights, I don’t make sports bras, but this cool woven crop would look kind of awesome with tights, so that’s how I would incorporate the trend.”

\n
\"CategorySarah Donofrio sells t-shirts she’s designed through an online store.
\n

8. Flip children’s toys

\n

Global parents and caregivers spend $94.7 billion on children’s toys every year. But if you’re looking for a startup business idea with the ability to make money fast, flip broken, faulty, or unloved toys and sell them for a profit.

\n

 

\n

People do not mind reusing things as long as they are of high quality and in good condition. You only need to begin collecting these used products, such as clothing, jewelry, and furniture and posting them on your ecommerce website.

\n
Ricardo Pina, founder of The Modest Wallet
\n
\n

To find unloved kids toys:

\n\n

Refine your DIY skills to bring the toys back to life. List them for sale on your ecommerce website, and capture parents looking for new toys without the brand new price tag.

\n

9. Sell on marketplaces

\n

Marketplaces like Amazon give consumers access to almost everything they’d want to buy online. It’s why 63% of shoppers start their shopping journey on Amazon, spending $367.19 billion each year.

\n

Look at Amazon’s bestsellers category and see whether you can capitalize on existing interest from shoppers. Chances are, you could source cheaper products in bulk from a wholesaler and list them for sale on Amazon.

\n

Amazon aside, other popular marketplaces to sell products online include:

\n\n

While marketplace selling gives you access to a purchase-ready customer base, it does come with its downsides—notably cuts to your profit margins. There’s also the risk of a marketplace taking down your mini-store and cutting sales overnight.

\n

Mitigate that risk by operating an online store alongside your marketplace listings. That way, should the worst happen, you’re still able to keep your business afloat.

\n

10. Sell books

\n

Some 65% of Americans have read at least one print book in the past year, with each consumer spending an average of $113.87 per year on reading.

\n

Monetize your writing skill by self-publishing your own book. Publishing platforms like Kindle Direct Publishing, Lulu, or Reedsy make it easy to sell books online. They print and ship books at the point of sale, meaning you don’t need to keep a stack of unsold books at home.

\n

Not a great writer? Other business models to sell books include:

\n\n

I tend to shy away from trendy or most popular lists, so I don’t usually have the same books that people see in Barnes & Noble. That experience alone makes my customers willing to pay to purchase from me rather than a big-box store.

\n
Dominique Lenaye, owner of Itty Bitty Bookstore
\n
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11. Sell your photos

\n

Keen photographer? Grab your camera (a phone can do the trick), snap some images, and sell your photos online to earn extra cash on the side.

\n

The following sites pay out each time your photo is licenced or downloaded:

\n\n

To squeeze more cash out of your budding business, sell photography services on the side. List your photography packages on freelance sites like Fiverr and Upwork, or apply to become a Shopify Expert. You can often charge higher prices for these custom photoshoots.

\n

How to Sell Photos Online: 7 Ways to Make Money With Photography

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12. Create natural products

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Health-conscious consumers spend $32.09 billion per year on natural cosmetics and personal care products. Create and sell your own natural, quality products online, such as:

\n\n

Customers are becoming more interested in natural and organic products as a result of increased consumer awareness of their lifestyle choices. You can begin selling natural products online to support people living an all-natural and sustainable lifestyle.

\n
Justina Blakeney, founder and owner of NiaWigs
\n
\n
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13. Sell NFTs

\n

Non-fungible tokens (NFTs) are unique digital files that can be bought and sold online. Wealthy NFT enthusiasts have been known to spend $6.2 million on a single asset. Even a fraction of that spend would make a lucrative ecommerce business.

\n

Create a digital asset to turn into an NFT, such as:

\n\n

Then, choose an NFT marketplace to sell on, like OpenSea or Rarible, and open a digital wallet (customers will buy your NFTs using cryptocurrency). Link your marketplace account with your digital wallet, set a price for the NFT, and let people bid to buy it.

\n

14. Refurbish smart home products

\n

We’re a hyperconnected nation—at least with our gadgets. More than 87.7 million Americans have a smart speaker in their home. Muttering the words “Hey, Alexa” gives them instant access to all the information they’d ever need.

\n

But smart home products are expensive—not everyone has $100 or more to drop on brand new gadgets.

\n

If you’re looking for a part-time business idea, search for smart home products to refurbish. Find old, broken, or faulty versions of:

\n\n

… and use your DIY skills to bring them back to life. List them for a higher price on your ecommerce site and recoup the profit.

\n

15. Sell your services

\n

Products don’t need to be the only thing you sell through an online store. Monetize your skills and turn them into a service, such as:

\n\n

Michael Keenan is a freelance marketer who uses his SEO skills to sell freelance services online. He says, “I started ghostwriting for companies and made $20 per article on the side of my day job. As I began to refine my service offering and get more experience under my belt, I went full-time and started making six figures per year.”

\n

The most important thing to remember when starting an ecommerce business is to choose a niche you’re passionate about. This will help you build a successful brand and stand out from the competition.

\n
Helen Armstrong, founder of Apsley and Company
\n
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16. Become an affiliate marketer

\n

No skill to monetize? No interest in manufacturing your own products? Affiliate marketing is an ecommerce business model that doesn’t require either. It happens when you partner with a brand, promote their products or services, and earn commission on any sales you make.

\n

To drive traffic to your affiliate partners’ website:

\n\n

The key to success as an affiliate marketer is to diversify your partners within a specific niche. If you’re promoting pet products, for example, partner with brands that sell food, toys, and medication. That way, you’re not left income-less if one brand shuts down its affiliate program or denies your commission.

\n

Use these ecommerce business ideas today

\n

You don’t need a spark of genius to start an online business. As these ecommerce business ideas show, it’s possible to make money online by monetizing your existing skills, hobbies, and interests.

\n

The best part? Many ecommerce business ideas don’t need upfront cash to start. Business models like dropshipping, print on demand, and self-publishing books take inventory and fulfillment tasks off your plate entirely. That leaves you with more time to do what you do best: create and sell.

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\n
\n
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\n
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From: https://www.shopify.com/blog/10580693-how-to-start-an-ecommerce-business-without-spending-any-money
\n
\n
\n"},{"fieldGroupName":"post_Acfpost_Sections_ArticleAccordions","title":"Ecommerce business ideas FAQ","accordion":[{"body":"

Dropshipping is considered one of the best ecommerce business models for new entrepreneurs. You don’t need to hold inventory, handle fulfillment, or ship products to your customer. A dropshipping provider does that automatically when a sale is made through your ecommerce store.

\n","title":"Which ecommerce business is best?"},{"body":"

Data shows that the cost to start an ecommerce business is around $40,000. However, this varies depending on your business model, marketing budget, and industry. If your budget is tight, open a Shopify store for just $9 per month.

\n","title":"How much does it cost to start ecommerce?"},{"body":"

Handmade items often have the highest profit margins of all ecommerce products. Small-business owners can source materials at low cost, and create high-ticket handmade goods that people splurge on.

\n","title":"What kind of online stores are most profitable?"},{"body":"

It’s easy to open an ecommerce store, but the day-to-day of running an online business can be time consuming. Set aside a few hours each week to source new products, market your store, and connect with existing customers. That effort can compound and result in a profitable online business.

\n","title":"Is ecommerce easy?"}]}]},"page_header":{"background":null,"backgroundOpacity":100,"color":null,"fieldGroupName":"page_header","title":"Profitable Ecommerce Ideas","opacity":100,"position":"on","size":{"desktop":64,"tablet":null,"mobile":null},"spaces":{"top":null,"bottom":null,"leftright":null,"units":"em"}},"link":"/blog/16-ecommerce-business-ideas-to-generate-profit"},{"id":"cG9zdDo0ODE=","title":"How to Sell Art Online in 2022: A Complete Guide","date":"10.08.2022","slug":"how-to-sell-art-online-in-2022-a-complete-guide","categories":{"nodes":[{"id":"dGVybToyMTc=","name":"Shopify"}]},"levels":{"nodes":[]},"acfPost":{"fieldGroupName":"acfPost","excerpt":"Many artists graduate from formal art programs adept in color theory, brush techniques, and composition—but don’t know the first thing about business. How can artists sell art and paintings online? How will they market themselves? Making a living as a career artist means understanding how to build an audience, how to price art products, and the unique requirements for shipping art. It means thinking like an entrepreneur.","squaredImage":{"altText":"How to Sell Art Online in 2022: A Complete Guide","localFile":{"childImageSharp":{"gatsbyImageData":{"layout":"fullWidth","backgroundColor":"#e8e8e8","images":{"fallback":{"src":"/static/5f45ccf2884f2fb5b621e0dc3ce3de7d/94493/Shopify_ArtWindowsmany_HEADER.webp","srcSet":"/static/5f45ccf2884f2fb5b621e0dc3ce3de7d/8c326/Shopify_ArtWindowsmany_HEADER.webp 750w,\n/static/5f45ccf2884f2fb5b621e0dc3ce3de7d/94493/Shopify_ArtWindowsmany_HEADER.webp 1024w","sizes":"100vw"},"sources":[]},"width":1,"height":0.5263671875}}}},"metaData":{"title":null,"description":"Learn how to sell art online and build a successful career as an artist. This comprehensive guide covers everything from creating and pricing art to marketing strategies and choosing the right platforms to sell your work. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced artist, this resource will provide actionable advice to help you thrive in the online art market."},"banner":{"title":"How to Sell Art Online in 2022: A Complete Guide","showTitle":true,"image":{"altText":"How to Sell Art Online in 2022: A Complete Guide","localFile":{"childImageSharp":{"gatsbyImageData":{"layout":"fullWidth","backgroundColor":"#e8e8e8","images":{"fallback":{"src":"/static/5f45ccf2884f2fb5b621e0dc3ce3de7d/94493/Shopify_ArtWindowsmany_HEADER.webp","srcSet":"/static/5f45ccf2884f2fb5b621e0dc3ce3de7d/8c326/Shopify_ArtWindowsmany_HEADER.webp 750w,\n/static/5f45ccf2884f2fb5b621e0dc3ce3de7d/94493/Shopify_ArtWindowsmany_HEADER.webp 1024w","sizes":"100vw"},"sources":[]},"width":1,"height":0.5263671875}}}}},"timeToRead":null,"sections":[{"fieldGroupName":"post_Acfpost_Sections_ArticleRichTextContent","content":"

Many artists graduate from formal art programs adept in color theory, brush techniques, and composition—but don’t know the first thing about business.

\n

How can artists sell art and paintings online? How will they market themselves? Making a living as a career artist means understanding how to build an audience, how to price art products, and the unique requirements for shipping art. It means thinking like an entrepreneur.

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Before ecommerce platforms, artists relied on third party gallerists, agents, and retailers to distribute work. The creator tools and sales channels of today were nonexistent. Now, independent artists can own their distribution streams, creating and selling their art online—and on their own terms.

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For gallerists and curators, the shift in how we buy and sell in the past two decades has allowed these businesses to represent more artists and expand into selling affordable art prints online to reach larger audiences worldwide.

\n

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How to sell art online

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\"An

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Whether you’re a creator or a curator looking to make money selling art online, this step-by-step guide is for you. No matter what type of art you’re into—original acrylic paintings, digital art prints, sculpture—this resource has actionable advice for every artist.

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In the following sections, we’ll cover the basics of selling art online for beginners and seasoned artists alike. Explore topics for every level including working with printers and dealing with plagiarism.

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\n

Contents

\n
    \n
  1. Meet the artist experts
    2. \n
  2. Selling your own art versus selling works by other artists
    3. \n
  3. What to sell: original art versus reproductions
    4. \n
  4. Reproductions of art: open edition versus limited edition
    5. \n
  5. Printing art and choosing printers
    6. \n
  6. Photographing and scanning art
    7. \n
  7. Building your brand as an artist
    8. \n
  8. Setting retail prices for your art
    9. \n
  9. Where to sell art online: Your own ecommerce store
    10. \n
  10. Where to sell art online: More channels for selling
    11. \n
  11. Gallery exhibitions, pop-ups, and offline events for selling art
    12. \n
  12. Working with galleries to sell your art
    13. \n
  13. Marketing for art brands
    14. \n
  14. Packaging and shipping art
    15. \n
  15. Plagiarism issues and copyright protection when selling art
    16. \n
  16. FAQ
    17. \n
\n
\n

\n

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Meet the artist experts

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We consulted successful artists, curators, and gallerists for their advice on everything you need to know to sell your art online. In this guide to selling your own artwork, their anecdotes will be woven into practical and actionable advice for any creative entrepreneur. Let’s meet our experts.

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Cat Seto, owner and artist, Ferme à Papier

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\"Cat

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Cat Seto is an artist and author, and founder of Ferme à Papier, a San Francisco–based boutique representing unique goods from independent designers. Her stationery has appeared in multiple publications and landed her partnerships with brands like Anthropologie and Gap.

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Maria Qamar, artist, Hatecopy

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\"Portrait

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Best known by her artist moniker Hatecopy, Maria Qamar quit her advertising career to focus on art when her pop art paintings began to catch fire on Instagram. Now she works full time on her art, selling her own paintings in multiple formats, from art prints to books to printed merch.

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Ken Harman, curator and gallerist

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\"Portrait

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Ken Harman is the man behind the art empire that includes Spoke Art, Hashimoto Contemporary, and publishing company Paragon Books. Together, these businesses represent many global artists through physical galleries, online shops, and pop-up exhibitions.

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What’s right for you: selling your own art or selling works by other artists?

\n

There are two ways to sell art online: create or curate. Cat built her career on both by creating and selling her own work and representing the work of others in her boutique. Which one is right for you?

\n

Create and sell your own art

\n

\"Portrait

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Artist Kelsey Beckett in her studio. Spoke Art
\n

As an artist, you are the creator, producing original art and/or reproductions of originals and selling directly to your customers or indirectly through a gallery, retail partner, or agent.

\n

It’s never been easier for artists to sell directly, with emerging creator tools popping up seemingly every day. Depending on your style and medium, choose a sales channel where your desired audience hangs out. This is arguably the easiest way to sell art online for many.

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Maria runs her own online shop, where she sells art prints and merchandise, eliminating the middleman and keeping her costs low. But she also leans on relationships with experienced galleries for exhibiting and selling original artwork.

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If you’re learning how to sell your art, note that galleries can expose your work to new audiences. They may also have access to resources and professionals to help promote, exhibit, handle, and ship artwork.

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Curate the works of other artists

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\"Spoke

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Galleries can expose your work to new audiences and expand your reach. Spoke Art
\n

If you’re not personally an artist but you have a great eye and a love of the art world, you can still get into the game of selling art as a curator. Some artists may be disinterested in marketing or figuring out the best way to sell art online and instead rely on gallerists, curators, and retail partners to handle this aspect of the business. As a partner to artists, you make a percentage of the selling price in exchange for your business knowledge and service.

\n

There are several ways to work with artists to sell their art online—be it selling originals or prints to licensing works to be printed on merchandise or used in publication. “Most galleries offer an industry standard 50% consignment split for original art,” says Ken. “The artist provides the artwork, we do our best to sell it.”

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What to sell: original art versus reproductions

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The best way to sell your art online will depend on the nature of your art and your chosen medium. You may choose to sell your art, reproductions of that work, or both.

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Fine artists using classic mediums and selling at high price points may choose to only sell originals, for example, while digital art, which can be reproduced without loss of quality, is great for prints and merch. However, most art created in 2D mediums have multiple options for generating unlimited sales on a single work.

\n

Consider the following formats:

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\"An

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Stationery and greeting cards are just some of the products you can sell featuring your art. Ferme à Papier
\n

Some mediums, like sculpture, are more difficult to reproduce or use for merchandise applications. But for those impossible to scan and print, there are still ways to generate additional income from a single design. For example, clay works may use the same mold to generate similar pieces, and 3D designs can be created over and over with a 3D printer.

\n

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Reproductions of art: open edition versus limited edition

\n

\"Hatecopy

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Hatecopy art adorns merch, apparel, and other goods on Maria’s own website. Hatecopy
\n

Reproducing art on t-shirts or mugs, or as art prints means that a single work can bear fruit indefinitely—or for a limited time. There are two ways to approach selling your art as prints: open edition or limited edition.

\n

What is open edition?

\n

Open edition means printing and selling an unlimited number of products (reproductions or prints of an original work).

\n

Benefits

\n\n

Downsides

\n\n

What is limited edition?

\n

Limited edition means printing only a certain number of prints before they are gone. These are often numbered and signed by the artist to add value and authenticity.

\n

Benefits

\n\n

Downsides

\n\n

\"A

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This print by Mike Davis has a limited run of 50 prints available on Spoke’s website, each of which is signed and numbered by the artist. Spoke Art
\n

Spoke often opts for the limited edition strategy. “We work really hard to find things that are very special to sell. Things that are special should be treated like they’re special,” Ken says.

\n

To help minimize reselling, Spoke will limit quantities of certain prints per customer. “Making sure that the real fans are actually the ones who are able to get the things that we sell is always a priority,” Ken says.

\n

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Printing art and choosing printers

\n

\"An

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Choosing the right printing materials, technology, or partner for your art is an important step in the process. Ferme à Papier
\n

Understanding how to sell your prints of your artwork comes down to getting very friendly with a printer, whether that’s your at-home inkjet or a company that handles the task for you. There are multiple options, from DIY to completely hands off, to help you sell art prints and other merchandise to your audience.

\n

DIY printing

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It’s possible to start selling your own artwork by creating quality prints yourself with high-quality paper, ink, and an at-home office printer. As a new artist, this method can keep costs low, but may be unsustainable as you scale over time.

\n

“In the beginning, I would print, package, and deliver by hand every single poster that was ordered,” says Maria. “At some point the volume became so much that I couldn’t make time to draw. I was spending all of my days delivering and in transit.”

\n

This method is usually limited to selling art prints on paper, but some specialty home printers may allow you to print on canvas paper or fabric designed specifically for this purpose.

\n

Using a printing company

\n

A local or online printing company can reproduce your work en masse and can even offer bulk discounts if you are printing many of the same piece. This can be the best way to sell art online if you have a small catalog and high sales volume of those pieces.

\n

With this method, you’ll still be responsible for packaging and shipping the prints you sell online. These companies can often produce high-quality prints due to more advanced printers.

\n

It’s important that we are the last sets of eyes inspecting, packaging, and shipping the product to our customers.

\n

Cat Seto, Ferme à Papier

\n

Cat often prints large batches for collection releases. While she does use print-on-demand services, the prints arrive at her studio first, rather than shipping directly to the customer. “It’s important that we are the last sets of eyes inspecting, packaging, and shipping the product to our customers,” she says.

\n

\"A

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Working with a trusted printer and requesting samples can ensure that your work is reproduced in a way that respects the original. Hatecopy
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Print on demand

\n

Print on demand is the most hands-off and versatile option and the easiest way to sell art online—especially if you plan to sell your work printed on merch like t-shirts or caps.

\n

Print-on-demand services generally integrate with your online store. When an order is placed, the integration triggers that piece to be printed and shipped directly to the customer. This is a great option for selling art on a budget, as there is no need to invest in equipment or inventory.

\n

When the number of orders exceeded her capacity to print and ship work herself, Maria upgraded to using a print-on-demand company. “All I have to do is upload and let it do the work for me,” she says. “Now I can focus on actually creating the artwork and connecting with people.”

\n

Print-on-demand products don’t just stop at paper prints. Your art can be printed on a number of items from phone cases to stickers to sell.

\n

💡 Tip: Before you start selling your own artwork this way, request samples from the printer so you can inspect the colors and quality of the print. This is especially important if printed items will be sent directly to your customers.

\n

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Photographing and scanning art

\n

\"A

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Unsplash
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Photographing and representing your products clearly and accurately is important for any online small business. Without the ability to feel a product, potential customers need to get the best sense of what they’re buying through clear and detailed images.

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If you have a bad image of your work or the image doesn’t represent the work accurately, you’re going to have a harder time selling it.

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Ken Harman, Spoke Art

\n

Selling art online is no exception. “If you have a bad image of your work or the image doesn’t represent the work accurately, you’re going to have a harder time selling it,” says Ken. Or, you’ll be stuck dealing with unhappy customers and processing returns.

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Photographing art to sell

\n

Product photography for art is a little trickier than other products, and a basic light setup may still cause glare or color irregularities. Consider hiring a professional to shoot larger works or art with any three-dimensional or glossy elements.

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\"Two

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📚 Read more:

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Building your brand as an artist

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\"The

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Unsplash
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As an artist learning how to sell your artwork, your brand may evolve as a natural extension of your art. Your chosen style and medium will define you as an artist and you will naturally attract fans and buyers based on this alone. However, there are many decisions you will need to consciously make when you start to think of yourself as a business as well as an artist.

\n

Because art is a personal and sometimes emotional purchase, your brand story as an artist could factor into someone’s decision to buy. And other business assets like packaging and site design should mirror or complement the visual aesthetic of the work itself.

\n

Your branding exercise should answer the following:

\n\n

The answer to these questions will help you build a set of brand guidelines that will form the foundation for website design, marketing materials, etc. If you eventually scale your business, these guidelines will help you maintain brand consistency as you delegate tasks to staff or other partners.

\n

Many artists build fan bases based on their online personas or personal brands that are closely tied to their art. Tatiana Cardona, also known as Female Alchemy, has chosen to put her face at the center of her social media strategy:

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\"Screengrab

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Tatiana Cardona/Female Alchemy on Instagram
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In collaborating, I think it’s important to not only stay true to your brand, but to be able to listen and be proactive to whomever you are collaborating with.

\n

Cat Seto, Ferme à Papier

\n

For Cat, the causes closest to her heart are central to her brand. While she recently refocused to work on AAPI themes, this isn’t the first time she’s made a statement with her work. Ferme à Papier launched a Saving Faces collection highlighting the stories of women and underrepresented groups.

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\"A

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Causes close to Cat’s heart are central to her brand. Ferme à Papier
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Cat’s brand values influence the types of projects she takes on with brands and clients. “In collaborating, I think it’s important to not only stay true to your brand,” she says, “but to be able to listen and be proactive to whomever you are collaborating with.”

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📚 Read more:

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Setting retail prices for your art

\n

\"Illustrated

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When setting retail price for art, consider more subjective aspects like value, demand, and popularity of the art or artist. Ferme à Papier
\n

How do you sell art online—and actually make money doing it? Making a living as a working artist is possible if you know how to value and price your work. Pricing art is challenging because it doesn’t necessarily fit neatly into typical pricing strategies.

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Pricing original art

\n

Running any business that will be sustainable in the long term involves being profitable at some point. To achieve this, you will need to price your art accordingly. If you’re just beginning to experiment with how to sell your art and don’t have a widely known name, you can start with a simple formula to price your original art:

\n

Your cost to sell and market the piece + material costs + other expenses + your markup (profit) = retail price

\n

For this method, it’s helpful to factor in the time you spent creating the art. It is typical for artists to undervalue their time and work, especially at the beginning.

\n

Knowing what your products stand for and what you aren’t willing to compromise are key components in driving decisions about pricing.

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Cat Seto, Ferme à Papier

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Where the formula above fails is that the value of art is subjective and not necessarily dependent on concrete details like material cost or labor hours. Famous artists can fetch exponentially more for a piece that has roughly the same creation costs as that of a new artist. Check the market to compare your pricing to similar artists at similar levels and adjust accordingly.

\n

💡 Tip: If you are selling through a physical or online gallery, the gallery will usually take half of the final selling price. You can usually work with gallerists, who are experts at valuing and pricing art, to set a price that makes sense for you, the gallery, and the market.

\n

Pricing art prints

\n

Selling art prints or other types of reproduction can follow a more simple pricing formula:

\n

The cost of printing + your cost to sell and market the print + other expenses + your markup (profit) = retail price

\n

Your markup may be on a scale depending on whether you sell open- or limited-edition prints. Other expenses may include office supplies, software or app fees, professional services, studio rent, and more.

\n

“Knowing what your products stand for and what you aren’t willing to compromise are key components in driving decisions about pricing,” says Cat. For her, printing on sustainable paper was a must-have, even though it would drive up material costs and ultimately the retail price. Communicating these decisions to the customer is important, especially if your prices are higher than average.

\n

Where to sell art online: Your own ecommerce store

\n

\"Top

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Unsplash
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The best way to sell your art online is through your own ecommerce store. First, take a few minutes to create your store. At this point, you can set it up as a trial and tinker with it for two weeks before committing. You’ve already done a lot of the work if you’ve established brand guidelines, pricing, and business model (originals, prints, or merch)—this part is simply assembly.

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From: https://www.shopify.com/blog/211990409-how-to-sell-art-online

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\n"}]},"page_header":{"background":null,"backgroundOpacity":100,"color":null,"fieldGroupName":"page_header","title":"Selling Art Online 2022","opacity":100,"position":"on","size":{"desktop":64,"tablet":null,"mobile":null},"spaces":{"top":null,"bottom":null,"leftright":null,"units":"em"}},"link":"/blog/how-to-sell-art-online-in-2022-a-complete-guide"},{"id":"cG9zdDo0ODc=","title":"How to Sell on Twitter, Direct From Shopify","date":"10.08.2020","slug":"how-to-sell-on-twitter-direct-from-shopify","categories":{"nodes":[{"id":"dGVybToyMTc=","name":"Shopify"}]},"levels":{"nodes":[]},"acfPost":{"fieldGroupName":"acfPost","excerpt":"It would take a lot more than 280 characters to cover all the ways selling on Twitter is different from selling on Facebook or Instagram. The “blue bird” has long been a dark horse among social media marketing channels. While brands like @Wendys have famously managed to make it work for awareness, PR, and community building, Twitter was mostly built for conversations, not conversions.","squaredImage":{"altText":"How to Sell on Twitter, Direct From Shopify","localFile":{"childImageSharp":{"gatsbyImageData":{"layout":"fullWidth","backgroundColor":"#f8f8f8","images":{"fallback":{"src":"/static/7ceb6429e9b7da32163575a3af526a15/fe33c/pexels-2.png","srcSet":"/static/7ceb6429e9b7da32163575a3af526a15/9e217/pexels-2.png 750w,\n/static/7ceb6429e9b7da32163575a3af526a15/23bd6/pexels-2.png 1080w,\n/static/7ceb6429e9b7da32163575a3af526a15/b5ab0/pexels-2.png 1366w,\n/static/7ceb6429e9b7da32163575a3af526a15/fe33c/pexels-2.png 1920w","sizes":"100vw"},"sources":[{"srcSet":"/static/7ceb6429e9b7da32163575a3af526a15/7513b/pexels-2.webp 750w,\n/static/7ceb6429e9b7da32163575a3af526a15/c1ace/pexels-2.webp 1080w,\n/static/7ceb6429e9b7da32163575a3af526a15/fbbe2/pexels-2.webp 1366w,\n/static/7ceb6429e9b7da32163575a3af526a15/28a8f/pexels-2.webp 1920w","type":"image/webp","sizes":"100vw"}]},"width":1,"height":0.5239583333333333}}}},"metaData":{"title":null,"description":"Discover how to turn Twitter into a powerful sales channel. Learn about the unique strengths of Twitter, setting up a shoppable profile, finding potential customers through advanced search, building Twitter lists, and running effective Twitter ads. Start selling your products on Twitter and leverage its active communities and influential user base"},"banner":{"title":"How to Sell on Twitter, Direct From Shopify","showTitle":true,"image":{"altText":"Shopify","localFile":{"childImageSharp":{"gatsbyImageData":{"layout":"fullWidth","backgroundColor":"#f8f8f8","images":{"fallback":{"src":"/static/686e78d8b3741a70f0f5442fb12d411e/16474/pexels.webp","srcSet":"/static/686e78d8b3741a70f0f5442fb12d411e/57584/pexels.webp 750w,\n/static/686e78d8b3741a70f0f5442fb12d411e/16474/pexels.webp 1024w","sizes":"100vw"},"sources":[]},"width":1,"height":0.6669921875}}}}},"timeToRead":"10 minutes to read","sections":[{"fieldGroupName":"post_Acfpost_Sections_ArticleRichTextContent","content":"

It would take a lot more than 280 characters to cover all the ways selling on Twitter is different from selling on Facebook or Instagram.

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The “blue bird” has long been a dark horse among social media marketing channels.

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While brands like @Wendys have famously managed to make it work for awareness, PR, and community building, Twitter was mostly built for conversations, not conversions.

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That’s no longer the case, with new social commerce features that take the friction out of selling your products on Twitter.

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Whether you have a Twitter following you want to monetize with a product, or you think your product’s target audience is on Twitter, here’s how to turn Twitter into a sales channel by harnessing its unique strengths.

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Start selling on Twitter

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Make your Twitter profile shoppable

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Install the Twitter sales channel and start featuring your products on your profile with a Shop Spotlight or Twitter Shop. Currently available only to US-based merchants selling physical products.

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Install Twitter sales channel

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Why sell on Twitter?

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With 436 million monthly active users, Twitter’s user base on the surface pales in comparison to TikTok or Facebook, both of which exceed a billion.

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Yet Twitter’s influence on culture and politics can’t be ignored when screenshots of tweets circulate on Reddit and Instagram, and world leaders, journalists, investors, founders, and industry thought leaders use the platform to share ideas, connect with others, and engage in discourse.

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It may have fewer users and less shopping intent than social giant Instagram, but in exchange, you can:

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In fact, it’s for these reasons you’ll find Shopify is very active on Twitter 😉.

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What can you sell on Twitter?

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You can sell almost anything on Twitter that you’d be able to sell on other social media channels, including:

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Or some combination of all of the above—as long as you can build a community around your Twitter presence.

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A better question is: What tends to sell well on Twitter?

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Productivity, wellness, humor/memes, technology, and business are popular niches given Twitter’s big focus on sharing ideas, laughs, and self-improvement tips and journeys.

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Visualize Value, a community-driven business started by former advertising industry creative Jack Butcher, is a masterclass in making money on Twitter, with a diversified offering of physical products, digital templates, courses, and consulting services. Butcher uses the platform to bridge the gap between his personal brand and his business to help knowledge workers divorce their time from their money.

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\"A
Source:@jackbutcher and @visualizevalue
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Amanda Goetz, who owns House of Wise, a luxury CBD and wellness brand, is also active on Twitter and has even used the platform to get her products in the hands of tennis superstar Serena Williams.

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\"A
Source: @AmandaMGoetz
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WholesomeMemes amasses over a million followers on Twitter by taking popular memes and giving them a wholesome spin. Now the account has an online apparel store with a portion of profits going to charity.

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\"A
Source:@wholesomememe
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How to sell on Twitter by playing to its strengths

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  1. Set up your Twitter profile to convert attention into action.
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  2. Make your Twitter profile shoppable.
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  3. Find potential customers using Twitter’s powerful search features.
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  4. Build Twitter Lists of potential customers and the people who influence them.
    5. \n
  5. Run Twitter ads for your products.
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Effectively monetizing Twitter as a sales channel means setting up your profile to convert profile visitors into sales, driving attention to your profile, and nurturing relationships between yourself and members of your community.

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Let’s break down some of the actions you can take to start making sales on Twitter.

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1. Set up your Twitter profile to convert attention into action

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Marketing on Twitter requires regular monitoring and manual work. You can’t just tweet and hope the algorithm serves your post to the right audience. You’ll be spending most of your time going to where the right conversations are.

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You can get the most out of that effort, however, by optimizing your profile to make every profile visit count.

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\"An

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Nail these 5 key elements of your Twitter profile to amplify the impact of the rest of the tactics in this guide:

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  1. Cover photo. Feature your brand or product prominently to make the first impression you want (recommended dimensions are 1500 pixels by 500 pixels)
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  2. Bio. Describe exactly what you’re about and what you sell, in 160 characters or less. Be clear and make it easy for profile visitors to decide if they should follow you or not. You can mention other accounts in your bio, such as your personal Twitter handle, or feature additional links besides the one in your URL.
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  3. URL. Promote a link on your profile—to your website, a specific page, or LinkPop curating your highest priority links and products.
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  4. Shop Spotlight. Use the Shop Spotlight (covered in the next section) to directly showcase up to five products in a carousel.
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  5. Pinned tweet. By default, your last tweet will appear first on your profile. But you can tap the “…” on any of your tweets and then choose “Pin to profile” to feature the tweet. Make a great first impression with a shoutout from a customer, a new product drop, an announcement, or a sample of your best tweet to convince people you’re worth following.
    6. \n
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2. Make your Twitter profile shoppable

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If you have a compatible online store, Twitter Shopping can help put your products front and center for profile visitors by using the mobile app in one of two ways:

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  1. Twitter Shop. A “Shop now” button visitors can tap to display up to 50 products.
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  2. Shop Spotlight. A carousel embedded on your profile that shows off up to five select products.
    3. \n
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\"Side-by-side

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Luckily, if you’re using Shopify, it’s as simple as installing the Twitter sales channel and syncing your products.

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In order to use the Twitter sales channel at this time, you must be based in the US, sell physical products, and switch your account to a free Twitter Professional Account. If you meet those requirements, all you have to do is:

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  1. Install the Twitter sales channel from the Shopify app store.
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  2. Create your first Product Set and add products to it.
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  3. Choose how you want to display your products: as a Shop Spotlight carousel or a more extensive Twitter Shop.
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  4. Publish it to your Twitter profile.
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From there, you can manage the products you want to feature from within Shopify.

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\"Install

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3. Find potential customers using Twitter’s powerful search features

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The search bar is one of the most underrated features on Twitter.

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A common mistake brands will make on Twitter—and why so many write it off—is taking a broadcast-only approach to the platform.

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Almost 50% of Twitter users are lurkers who tweet less than five times a month, but the ones who participate on Twitter share their thoughts and updates … kind of flippantly. It’s considered a “micro-blogging” site after all.

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That’s great for brands, since Twitter has tools that few other social media sites have for monitoring the conversations that matter most to you, making it easy to engage with tweets that mention:

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Twitter’s advanced search lets you include or exclude specific keywords, user accounts, hashtags, and time frames.

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Let’s say I sell hot sauce. All I have to do is run a search for “best hot sauce” to find tweets from users I can follow or engage with. Better yet, if the tweet is fresh and still gaining traction, I can leave a clever or helpful reply that may earn a customer, a follower, or profile visits.

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\"An

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This can be a manual and time-consuming process, but depending on what you sell and who your target customer is, you may consider investing in a social listening tool to monitor multiple conversations at once or hiring a community manager to own the strategy to grow your Twitter following and engage with prospective customers.

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Just remember: The key to effective social selling is to focus on being helpful, funny, or generous—to provide value—and let your profile do the actual selling for the most part.

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4. Build Twitter Lists of potential customers and the people who influence them

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Lists are another underused Twitter feature.

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With Lists, you can create curated feeds of tweets from a select group of users. This might not seem all that helpful for selling products until you realize it allows you to create lists based on your best customers, competitors, prospective customers, potential influencers and affiliates, or brands you want to become friends with.

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If I’m selling a product in the productivity niche, let’s say templates I built for the project management software Notion, I might create a private Twitter List that lets me monitor key productivity experts who regularly tweet about Notion.

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\"A

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I can then retweet or reply to their tweets and participate in their communities, hopefully attracting a few people to my own.

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If there’s a specific person you know your customers follow, you can even turn on post notifications on the mobile app by hitting the bell icon after following them, to get notified whenever they tweet.

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\"Sean
Source: @seanseaevans
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5. Run Twitter ads for your products

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Like all social media channels, Twitter has its own advertising platform you can use to pay to reach customers.

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What works on other platforms may not work here though, as Twitter ads are typically viewed as better for brand building than direct response conversion campaigns.

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If you plan on experimenting with Twitter ads, it may be better to focus on campaign objectives that generate awareness, followers, or engagement instead of direct conversions. You can then let your optimized profile do the converting for people who visit it or follow but aren’t ready to buy yet.

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\"The

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Here are some tips for getting the most out of your Twitter ads:

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This Twitter ad from Apple promoting the launch of its new MacBook Air is clearly focused on awareness first, with all essential details upfront, from feature set to price. Twitter moves fast, so you need to communicate faster.

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\"A

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Opening up shop in the internet’s public square

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If Reddit is the front page of the internet, Twitter is often considered its public square.

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Treat it like Instagram and Facebook, where the focus is on scaling reach and sales, and you won’t find much traction. But take it for what it is and you’ll have better luck selling your products.

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Twitter is where conversations happen out in the open for anyone to jump in and participate. The best way to sell on Twitter is to participate as well, use your voice, and treat it like a big party where you can meet new people who might need your products too.

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From: https://www.shopify.com/blog/how-to-sell-on-twitter
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\n"},{"fieldGroupName":"post_Acfpost_Sections_ArticleAccordions","title":"How to sell on Twitter FAQ","accordion":[{"body":"

Yes, you can make money on Twitter by selling products and services. While Twitter isn’t as easy to scale as other channels for product sales, you can leverage it in direct and indirect ways to generate sales.

\n","title":"Can you make money selling products on Twitter?"},{"body":"

You don’t need a huge following on Twitter to monetize it. It’s more important to actively participate in conversations on Twitter. You’ll also grow a larger following over time this way.

\n","title":"Do I need a huge following on Twitter to make money?"},{"body":"

Products that sell well on Twitter typically serve its most active niches, which can include productivity, wellness, gaming, technology, and business.

\n","title":"What kinds of products sell best on Twitter?"},{"body":"

You can start selling products on Twitter by setting up a Shopify store for $29 a month and connecting it to Twitter by installing the free Twitter sales channel to add a shop to your profile.

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\n","title":"How do I start selling products on Twitter?"}]}]},"page_header":{"background":null,"backgroundOpacity":100,"color":null,"fieldGroupName":"page_header","title":"Sell on Twitter with Shopify","opacity":100,"position":"on","size":{"desktop":64,"tablet":null,"mobile":null},"spaces":{"top":null,"bottom":null,"leftright":null,"units":"em"}},"link":"/blog/how-to-sell-on-twitter-direct-from-shopify"}],"totalCount":138,"currentCategorySlug":"","pageTitle":"Blog"}}, "staticQueryHashes": ["1083880928","2115852241","2249625599","2590265254","3117944600","3394409019","3777654359","589588126","842661457"]}