New Online retail store & no visibility!

[SheepskinChic]

Hello All

I have launched a new business selling a brand of sheepskin boots. My online store is up and running so I now have the mammoth task of getting it noticed!! The site is currently no where to be seen on google:|

I am capable of the basics such as forum posting. I have tested a google ad campaign but this cost a lot of money for minimal results (very competitive area I suppose) So I have cancelled the search ad. I have kept the google shopping and display ads going as this seems to get a bit more visibility than search ads.

I also have a facebook and twitter page and post regularly. So with these things I am getting around 150 page hits per day. But its no where near enough and not generating the sales I need.

I have read a lot about SEO on here and there is so much advise about not paying companies a load of money as its a waste, but then a lot of people saying that if you do not understand SEO fully, then dont attempt it as it will cause more harm than good!

So my question is really, what ideas or advice can you offer in the way of things I can do to get my site more visible, and can anyone recommend a reputable SEO company or online marketing company that could help me?

Many thanks in advance

 

[JonathanSEO]

150 visits a day ain't bad for a new site. Although I guess that's what EKM stats report so might not be accurate. You should install Google analytics to start with. I think EKM powershop comes with a module for it.

SEO is such a vast topic that it's tough to think of a starting point or where to concentrate first. Decide which route you're going take - learn about it yourself or pay someone to do it for you.

I think you did a DIY job on your site right? Never a good idea.

 

[SheepskinChic]

Hello and many thanks for taking the time to reply.

If you dont mind me asking, why to you say that me doing the site myself is a bad idea? I have built other shops through EKM Powershop and they have all been successful (niche market - not much competition like this site)

EKM have offered me a SEO healthcheck for £300, which includes 10 pages and the addition of H tags (no idea what this is!) but I havent taken this up yet just because I dont want to just throw money at this unless I am sure I am throwing it in the right direction!!

I have looked at Google analytics but it looks quite complicated to understand - I will make the effort to figure this one out!

Ok so say I approach a company that specialises in SEO and online marketing etc. What should I look for and what should I expect for my money?

Thanks again

 

[JonathanSEO]

Hello and many thanks for taking the time to reply.

If you dont mind me asking, why to you say that me doing the site myself is a bad idea? I have built other shops through EKM Powershop and they have all been successful (niche market - not much competition like this site)

In my experience building a website for your own business never produces something that's of good quality or produces results. Design is very important, especially for a site like this where you're up against quite a few retailers.

Personally I'm not really into yours, it's not bad but it doesn't look that professional.

EKM have offered me a SEO healthcheck for £300, which includes 10 pages and the addition of H tags (no idea what this is!) but I havent taken this up yet just because I dont want to just throw money at this unless I am sure I am throwing it in the right direction!!

Doesn't sound like good value to me, they should come as standard. I don't know about other forum users but I'm not a fan of EKM Powershop, they're about 10 years out of date. Not only that you're effectively renting a site from them, what happens if you need to expand? You're tied to their service.

For this project I'd have use WordPress and WooCommerce. For something like your site with a few products it'd be perfect. And of course it would have a blog (helps with website traffic) to update which EKM Powershop doesn't provide. And you'd own it meaning expansion or switching to a new web company should you need to is much easier.

Ok so say I approach a company that specialises in SEO and online marketing etc. What should I look for and what should I expect for my money?

Thanks again

I think you need to find a small SEO company or a freelancer that has experience in the fashion industry and is also interested in the products. Sounds like this will be a lifestyle business so paying agency fees likely not gonna bring a good return.

This video might give you some idea of ways to get noticed - http://youtu.be/E0qDrRJT4zE

That'd be my sort of approach for the SEO for something like this. Gotta tap into fashion bloggers and get them talking.

 

[Alan]

I am capable of the basics such as forum posting.

No you are not. You are breaking a rule by having a link in your signature!, and you haven't even got it pointing to the right place !!
Always read forum rule first before posting links, or you will just waste your time getting banned.

 

[MASSEY]

I think the site needs a fair bit of work before you commit to spending money on ppc really. That big banner takes up too much room in my opinion.

It seems like you have been getting a fair amount of hits via social sites. Why not try and improve your site, and increase what you are doing socially. That would be cheaper than entering into the murky waters of SEO.

Just work on the basics for now and see how well your site does in the results pages for parting with money. Look at how other online stores that rank well do things - eg Lots of content on the homepage not just pictures of stuff.