What to do Next!..

[e-niche]

Ok so I launched my first e-commerce store in the middle of September, after a months hard work setting the website up (hosted on Bigcommerce.)

The store is focused on a popular niche product (although not hugely competitive.) I am adding content to the site 2 times per week, I then tweet links to the new content, G+, and facebook. I post regularly on twitter, and have had a couple of reviews from bloggers for my website. I am targeting my websites content around key searches related to my product.

As for backlinks, people say about forum posts but nearly all of the forums in my niche do not allow links, and blog commenting can be spammy?!

I am now 3 months down the line and the site is not really growing. I have an adwords campaign running which is really just breaking even.

I know people always say it takes time but I would expect to start seeing an increase by now. I am considering using an SEO service, but the charges really vary and some of the methods companies offer seem to be a bit outdated and could maybe harm the site!

If anyone would take a look at my site I can PM you the link and would be open to SEO service suggestions.

Thanks
George

 

[HighRank]

Hey George,

Send me a PM with a link to your site! I'd be interested to see if I can spot anything that would explain why the website hasn't grown as much as you had hoped.

Using forums as an effective backlinking strategy is pretty unlikely. As you said, many forums don't allow links and the ones that do will have 'no-follow' tags. Usually, the best you can hope for from forum links is some targeted traffic (which is never bad, but won't really help your SEO).

Try and get a keyword backlink on the blogs that reviewed you (at the end of the article as a source) if you haven't already. Then just keep on doing whatever you did to get reviewed in the first place!

How much are you spending per click on Adwords (on average)?

I would be pessimistic about the ROI if outsourcing SEO, but it really does depend on your business. It might be cheaper and equally effective to just do it yourself (especially since you seem to have a solid grasp on the techniques) .

Hope that helps!

 

[Jon_B]

Are you making video content?

 

[threenine]

if you're making sales after a couple of months, then I'd say you're doing exceedingly well, and carry on doing what you're doing, because it's working.

I would look into things like email marketing, Telemarketing and other online/offline marketing strategies. Relying purely on online marketing (SEO, PPC etc.) is not going to get you far, and besides anything else will cost you a small fortune without any real tangible results.

You have to fish where the fish are! If you're looking for sardines, you have to go where the sardines are! It is a misconception that all you need to do is get Good SEO and the sales will come flooding in, because you're in that "Golden Triangle". All that counts for nothing if your primary users don't search for your product using Google!

Have you thought about, listing your products on Ebay? Personally I hate ebay, I don't buy anything on it! But one the businesses I am involved in sells a huge majority of it's products on ebay alone! I am sure a number of folk on here would tell you the same for there business. There are a few guys on here, that find it next to impossible to sell there products directly on there website, but are able to generate great sales numbers using Amazon and Ebay stores!

How about profiling and targeting your customers? Have you thought about what the characteristics of your ideal customer are? Thought about what sites they frequent etc. then try and engage with these sites to either guest blog etc.

There are literally 101 free marketing ideas you can try before even thinking about relying on SEO.

 

[TimS]

I am considering using an SEO service, but the charges really vary and some of the methods companies offer seem to be a bit outdated and could maybe harm the site!

Two thoughts on this, first learn some SEO yourself before jumping in hiring a service, that will give you the confidence to know that whomever you hire (if you do) actually knows what they are doing. http://moz.com/beginners-guide-to-seo is a good start.

Secondly, have you looked at ways to improve the conversion rate of the visitors you already have? If you haven't, it may be something to look at before delving into SEO.

Hope this helps

 

[stender]

Without knowing your products and sites it's just going to be a general answer but as mentioned above do you sell on ebay or amazon? it's a massive shop window. Sell items on there and when posting to buyers include a discount voucher for use on your own site. That way you entice them to shop via your site next time.

There are lots of off site ways for pr depending on what it is your selling. if you want to send me your site I may be able to suggest some ideas.

 

[shanayas]

There are many ways to promote your website but it is useful only if you have a plan for it. it means, make a tricks to grab more visitors in your site. Use social media will be helpful to promote your business but if you haven't any idea how to use these sites so it worthless. If you have a budget so its a good idea to hire SEO professionals.

 

[RCSEPoS]

How about profiling and targeting your customers? Have you thought about what the characteristics of your ideal customer are? Thought about what sites they frequent etc. then try and engage with these sites to either guest blog etc.

Fully back this approach. Guest blogging is one of the best ways to build traffic and links (at the moment). John Marrow provides some good tips for Guest Blogging on his website (just add .com to guestblogging for his website).