What to Fix First When Your Online Store Isn’t Getting Sales
Hey there,
You built your online store, added your products, and launched it with excitement… but sales? They’re just not coming in. It’s frustrating, but don’t panic—this is a common problem, and the good news is that there are simple fixes to turn things around.
If your online store isn’t making sales, let’s start by fixing the most common issues first.
1. Your Website is Too Slow
🚨 Problem: If your website takes more than a few seconds to load, visitors are clicking away before they even see your products.
✅ Fix it:
Use smaller, optimized images that load faster.
Upgrade to a better hosting provider if your site struggles with speed.
Enable caching so pages load faster for repeat visitors.
💡 Why it matters: A slow website isn’t just annoying—it drives away customers before they even start shopping.
2. Your Product Pages Aren’t Convincing
🚨 Problem: Are your product pages giving customers everything they need to hit "Buy Now"? If your descriptions are vague, your images are low quality, or your pages look empty, visitors won’t feel confident enough to make a purchase.
✅ Fix it:
Use high-quality images from multiple angles.
Write clear, benefit-driven descriptions (not just features—tell customers why it’s useful to them).
Add customer reviews and testimonials to build trust.
💡 Why it matters: Online shoppers can’t touch or try your products, so your product page has to do all the convincing for them.
3. Your Checkout Process is a Hassle
🚨 Problem: If customers have to jump through hoops to buy something, they’ll give up before they finish.
✅ Fix it:
Reduce the number of steps to as few as possible (ideally 3-4 clicks from cart to confirmation).
Offer guest checkout—not everyone wants to create an account just to buy one item.
Make sure you offer multiple payment options (credit card, PayPal, Apple Pay, etc.).
💡 Why it matters: A confusing or frustrating checkout process is one of the biggest reasons customers abandon their carts.
4. You’re Not Getting the Right Traffic
🚨 Problem: Maybe you’re getting visitors, but if they’re not interested in what you’re selling, they won’t convert into buyers.
✅ Fix it:
Check where your traffic is coming from—are you targeting the right audience in ads or social media?
Improve your SEO so you show up in searches for relevant keywords.
Run small A/B tests on ads to see which audience responds best.
💡 Why it matters: More traffic doesn’t always mean more sales—what matters is getting the right visitors who are actually interested in your products.
5. Your Call to Action (CTA) is Weak
🚨 Problem: If your "Buy Now" or "Add to Cart" button isn’t clear or visible, customers might hesitate or leave.
✅ Fix it:
Use clear, action-oriented text ("Add to Cart," "Get Yours Now," "Shop the Collection").
Make sure the button stands out with a bold color.
Position it above the fold (meaning customers see it without scrolling).
💡 Why it matters: Your CTA is what guides customers to take action—if it’s hidden, unclear, or weak, they won’t know what to do next.
Don’t Panic—Start Fixing One Step at a Time!
If your online store isn’t getting sales, don’t feel discouraged. These are all common issues that can be fixed with a few adjustments. Start with the most obvious problems (like slow speed or a complicated checkout) and work your way down the list.
And if you’re not sure where to begin, I can help. Let’s take a look at your site together and figure out what’s holding your sales back. Reach out for a free consultation—I’d love to help you turn things around.
Looking forward to seeing your store thrive,
Jonathan Santini
Lead Front-End Engineer & Partner at SwiftKick Web | Helping Businesses Improve Their Online Stores
