When I first started with Shopify, I thought building a store meant picking a nice theme, uploading some products, and waiting for the sales to roll in. That illusion faded fast.
Running a Shopify store is simple — but it’s not easy. There’s a lot that no one tells you upfront: how SEO works on Shopify, which apps actually help, what to do when people abandon carts, or why your pages aren’t converting.
This guide is everything I wish I had when I was starting. No fluff, no theory — just practical tips I’ve tested myself across multiple stores over the years.
Let’s get into what actually works.
TL;DR – Shopify Tips That Actually Work
- Use a fast, mobile-friendly theme (not just a pretty one)
- Nail the basics of SEO — metadata, ALT tags, clean URLs
- Optimise product pages like landing pages: clear CTAs, reviews, urgency
- Set up abandoned cart recovery emails — it’s free money
- Only use apps that directly help with conversions or retention
- Upsell and cross-sell smartly to boost average order value
- Create blog content that ranks and drives targeted traffic
- Use social media with a strategy — focus on retargeting and product tagging
- Compress images and limit apps to speed up your site
- Automate customer reviews and make them visible everywhere
- Split test CTAs and pricing regularly to improve sales
- Use tags, bulk actions, and CSVs to manage your backend efficiently
- Automate shipping updates and tracking to improve buyer experience
These aren’t guesses. I’ve used them all — and they work.
1. Choosing a Shopify Theme That Sells (Not Just Looks Good)
When I first opened my store, I was obsessed with finding a theme that looked perfect. Turns out, what actually matters is how well it converts. A beautiful store that doesn’t load fast or guide people to buy? Useless.
Here’s what I learned:
- Speed > Looks: Avoid bloated, image-heavy themes. Fast themes like Debut, Dawn, or Turbo from Out of the Sandbox are proven winners.
- Mobile-first: 70% of my traffic is mobile. You need a theme that looks good and functions well on phones.
- Customisability: Make sure your theme supports drag-and-drop sections and has flexible homepage layouts.
- Check reviews: I always read theme reviews inside the Shopify Theme Store and compare support quality too.
Verdict: Don’t get sucked into aesthetics. Pick a clean, fast, mobile-optimised theme. It’s the difference between a store that loads sales or collects bounces.
2. SEO Basics Every Shopify Store Owner Must Nail
I ignored SEO in the beginning and relied on ads. Big mistake. Paid traffic stops the moment you stop paying. Organic traffic keeps coming.
Here’s the low-hanging fruit to fix first:
- Meta titles + descriptions: Add your target keywords here. Use unique ones for every page.
- ALT text: Describe your images properly. Helps Google understand them.
- URL structure: Keep them short and keyword-focused. Don’t leave default product URLs.
- Sitemap.xml + Robots.txt: Submit your sitemap to Google Search Console. Shopify auto-generates it at
/sitemap.xml.
A quick tip: use a tool like Ubersuggest or Keywords Everywhere to find keywords. Target commercial intent keywords like “buy [product] online UK”.
Verdict: You don’t need to be an SEO wizard. Just get the basics right and let Shopify’s structure do the heavy lifting.
3. Make Your Product Pages Convert Better
Your product page is the money page. I used to just throw up a title, price, and description. That’s lazy. Now I use a full checklist:
- Clear headline
- High-quality images (3–5 angles)
- Short, benefit-driven description
- Reviews
- Urgency triggers (low stock, limited time)
- Shipping info and returns
- Trust badges
- Add-to-cart button above the fold
Example:
| Element | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Star Ratings | Build trust immediately |
| Scarcity Alerts | Pushes urgency |
| Delivery Info | Reduces objections |
Verdict: This is your closing page. Treat it like a landing page. Get rid of clutter and sell the solution, not the product.
4. Reduce Cart Abandonment Automatically
One of the most painful things is watching people add items and leave. Luckily, Shopify makes it easy to follow up.
What works for me:
- Use Shopify’s built-in abandoned cart emails: You can find this under “Settings > Checkout”.
- Add a countdown or scarcity message in cart.
- Install apps like Recart or Klaviyo: Set up sequences like:
- 1st email: Reminder (1 hour later)
- 2nd email: Discount (12 hours later)
- 3rd email: Testimonial + urgency (24 hours later)
Also, allow guest checkout. Making people create an account kills conversions.
Verdict: Recovering 10% of abandoned carts can add hundreds or thousands to your monthly revenue. Don’t skip this.
5. Apps That Are Actually Worth It
Not all Shopify apps are helpful. In fact, most slow down your site. These are the ones I use and recommend:
| App | Purpose | Free Plan? |
|---|---|---|
| Judge.me | Product reviews | ✅ |
| Klaviyo | Email marketing | ✅ |
| ReConvert | Post-purchase upsells | ✅ |
| Plug in SEO | Basic SEO audits | ✅ |
| Loox | Visual reviews | ❌ (7-day trial) |
Install only what you need. Too many apps = slower load speed = lower rankings.
Verdict: Be ruthless with apps. Use only the ones that directly increase sales, not vanity metrics.
6. Upsell and Cross-Sell Like a Pro
I used to think upselling was pushy. Now I realise it’s good customer service if done right. If someone’s buying from you already, they’ll likely buy more — if you offer it smartly.
Try this setup:
- Before checkout: Offer a bundle deal.
- In cart: Show related products.
- Post-purchase page: Offer a one-time discount on a complementary item.
Tools like ReConvert or Frequently Bought Together let you do this automatically.
Verdict: Upselling isn’t optional. It’s the most overlooked profit lever in ecommerce.
7. Use Content to Build Trust + Traffic
Content marketing felt like a chore until I started getting leads from blog posts. Now it’s baked into my routine.
Here’s what I post:
- How-to guides around the products
- Customer stories and reviews
- Comparison posts (“X vs Y”)
- SEO-driven listicles (e.g. “10 best travel bags under £100”)
Each post targets a keyword and has a clear CTA back to the product page.
Use tools like Frase or Surfer SEO to optimise content with LSI keywords and structure.
Verdict: Blogging isn’t dead — bad blogging is. Create helpful content and tie it back to your products.
8. Social Media That Actually Drives Sales
Not every platform works the same. I wasted months posting randomly. What works now:
- Instagram: Product tags on images
- Facebook: Retargeting with video ads
- Pinterest: Long shelf-life for posts
- TikTok: Product demos (if you can be consistent)
Install the Facebook Pixel and TikTok Pixel early on. They help you retarget and build lookalike audiences later.
Use Buffer or Later to schedule posts in bulk.
Verdict: Pick 1–2 platforms. Go deep, not wide. Organic reach is harder now — use paid traffic to amplify best posts.
9. Speed Up Your Store Without Coding
Speed affects sales and SEO. I didn’t take it seriously until I saw my bounce rate skyrocket.
Do this:
- Compress images with TinyPNG
- Minimise app bloat
- Use Shopify’s free Dawn theme — super lightweight
- Avoid popups that load on entry
- Test your site speed at pagespeed.web.dev
Pro tip: Lazy load images and videos with apps like Hyperspeed or Booster: Page Speed Optimizer
Verdict: Even 1 extra second of load time can kill conversions. Make speed a priority from day one.
10. Customer Reviews = Social Proof That Converts
People don’t trust your product descriptions. They trust other buyers.
What I do:
- Use Judge.me for automated review emails
- Add reviews under every product
- Allow photos and videos in reviews
- Share top reviews on social
You can incentivise reviews with small discounts or loyalty points.
Verdict: Real reviews build real trust. Automate the process and feature them everywhere.
11. Split Test Everything — Especially CTAs
Small tweaks in copy can lead to huge jumps in conversions.
Here’s what I test regularly:
| Test Element | Variation Examples |
|---|---|
| CTA text | “Add to Cart” vs “I Want This” |
| Price | £29.99 vs £30 flat |
| Product title | Descriptive vs emotional |
| Images | Lifestyle vs product-only shots |
Use Convert or Optimizely for more advanced testing. Shopify doesn’t do split testing natively, so you’ll need third-party tools.
Verdict: Don’t assume. Test. Let data guide decisions — not your gut.
12. Organise With Tags, Bulk Actions, and CSVs
Shopify is powerful, but when your store grows, it gets messy.
These tools save me hours weekly:
- Tags: Label products by category, season, or supplier.
- Bulk actions: Update prices, publish/unpublish, change inventory in seconds.
- CSV imports/exports: Manage large product lists fast in Google Sheets.
Trust me: if you’re doing 1-by-1 edits, you’re wasting time.
Verdict: Treat your backend like a system, not a to-do list. Structure = scale.
13. Track Your Shipping and Keep Buyers Updated
One late delivery can tank a 5-star review.
Here’s how I manage shipping:
- Use Shopify Shipping with Royal Mail or Evri (UK)
- Send automatic email updates at each stage
- Add a branded tracking page using AfterShip
- Show estimated delivery dates on product pages
Also, create a shipping FAQ that answers:
- How long does it take?
- Do you ship internationally?
- What happens if it’s late?
Verdict: Great shipping keeps customers happy and reduces refund requests. Automate it as much as possible.
Final Thoughts
I’ve built and managed Shopify stores since 2018. I’ve made the mistakes. Burned cash on bad themes, wasted time on the wrong traffic, and spent weeks fixing broken SEO.
These tips above are the ones I still use — because they work.
Start small, track results, and tweak as you go. Shopify has the tools, but you still need to use them smartly.
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