Learning Marketing for Shopify: Project UpdateWeek 2
Hey, thanks for dropping by!
Currently, I’m working on building a Shopify store from the ground up. Once finished, I’m experimenting with different types of marketing tools, such as Facebook Ads and Snapchat Ads. Additionally, follow along as I’ll be dropping tutorials and updates as well as other content all month, as part of a challenge where I’m blogging every day this month
What I Accomplished This Week
I’m starting to see how much actually goes into building a website or online store. One could optimize their website for months and still have more work to do. But, my goal is to launch my website to the world by the end of this week.
This is what I did behind the scenes to work towards that goal:
- I created image alt text and page heading and metadata to boost my store's SEO. Literally every picture and every page can be optimized this way, and if done correctly, it can make a lot of difference in organic store traffic.
- I found out how to add a“Contact Us” page for the store. I definitely want there to be a clear point of contact between potential customers and myself for ideas and issues they may encounter, so now I have an easy to find and navigate page for feedback.
- I added new products and created a few collections of similar products. There’s a section I added to my home page that shows a featured collection, and so I used that to display my main collection. It consists of a hat, hoodie, and t-shirt; each has a design that I created and I classified that as it’s own collection.
- I created a page called “Our Story” which tells the message behind my store, Raising Heaven. When someone clicks this link, it’s set up so that it takes them directly to an original blog post I created on the store’s personal blog. Click here to read the post!
- I connected my store with the Shopify apps for Facebook Ads and Snapchat Ads. This is a powerful capability where you can do much of the ad work from right inside your store.
- I created a few ad drafts for Facebook and Snapchat, so I’m ready to go with them when the store officially launches
- I wrote landing page copy for my store. I added a few sections where I could write some text that gives a better idea of what the store is about. I hope people visit and appreciate my store as much for the message as anything else. That would be a case of successful branding.
What Worked
Blocking out time slots for work has been incredibly helpful. Due to my rigorous job schedule, I make time to work on my project at the beginning and end of the day. I make sure that I don’t do anything else until I’ve made progress because, with the limited time I have, I need to use it efficiently.
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There’s nothing that says I have to blaze the trail. In other words, I’ve gained a lot from digging into the stories and experiences others have had doing this same type of thing. Shopify has a very comprehensive help center and I found a lot of great material there.
I’m not going to copy anyone’s work, especially if I’m trying to build my own brand. But if it has worked for someone else, there’s a good chance it will work for me too.
What Didn’t Work
At first, once I blocked out time slots, I would just sit down and twiddle around for awhile. I thought that simply by making time to work on it, I would magically get the right things done.
That’s not how it worked at all. I thought I was accomplishing tasks, but I didn't even know what I was trying to accomplish. I found myself looking back at the end of my time block and being disappointed with how little I’d achieved.
I have since decided to use a tool called Trello, which is an organizational and project management tool. Every time I think of something I need to do throughout the day, I drop what I’m doing and input it into my Trello board.
This is going to help me in the future as I look to make the most of every precious minute in the midst of a tight schedule.
Going Forward
It is with pleasure that I announce my store, Raising Heaven, is officially open for business. I like what I have produced, but the upcoming week will be a great opportunity to let others see it and appreciate it as well.
My main method will be through launching a Facebook Ad and a Snapchat Ad. It won’t be long before I’ll be able to glean some results, whether good or bad and adjust accordingly.
I’m looking to build up my Facebook page with posts and pictures as well. This is an important factor for showing others that you have a legitimate presence.
I will also make the most use of free marketing methods, such as networking and sharing. I’ll invite those that I know to check out the website, reach out to get likes for the Facebook page and ask those who like what they see to share it with friends.
I expect to come back with victories and defeats next week, but through it all, lessons learned.
I’ll talk to you all soon!
Check out next weeks update here!
