How to Get Customers on Shopify: 10 Budget-Friendly Strategies for 2025

Shopify has made launching an online store easier than ever. However, with over 4.12 million active stores worldwide, most Shopify store owners hit a wall when it comes to attracting willing buyers. 

You're asking the right question if you're wondering how to get customers on Shopify when the competition is this fierce. 

The challenge isn't just getting noticed anymore. 

The most important factor for stores today is earning trust from hyper-informed consumers who research every purchase, while competing with millions of other brands doing the exact same thing.

In this guide, we'll walk through strategies that solve the root problems holding your Shopify store from growing. 

You'll learn how to cut through the noise, build genuine trust, and create sustainable customer acquisition that compounds over time.

How to Get More Customers on Shopify with These 7 Strategies

Below are our top 10 strategies to help Shopify stores attract the right customers and keep them coming back.

1. Drive traffic and sales with UGC

User-generated content is one of the most effective ways to get customers on Shopify because it does something traditional advertising can't. 

It shows real people using and loving your products.

The secret is making your audience want to create content for you. To do that, make sure they're getting something in return, such as chances to be featured on your official social media pages. 

This will make customers more willing to engage and share their experiences with your products.

Here’s a simple UGC campaign example from Pura Vida bracelets. 

The best part is, it doesn’t have to be complicated. Start with a branded hashtag and invite your customers to join in. Then, build a simple campaign around it. You can ask them to:

• Share how they use your product in their everyday lives
• Post photos wearing or styling it
• Show off creative, unexpected use cases
• Tag their friends, etc

Is UGC really effective? 

Yes, it is. 

For example:

When Caddie Wheel, a brand selling an electric golf cart wheel, wanted to build trust with hesitant customers, they collected video testimonials, photos, and reviews from satisfied buyers. 

They turned this content into shoppable and interactive profiles that allowed potential customers to see real users in action. 

Their UGC strategy increased their sales by over 40%, influencing nearly three-quarters of all purchases through social proof.

How do you take this UGC strategy a notch higher?

To increase your UGC reach, partner with influencers in your industry. 

We recommend nano and micro influencers since they have more connected and engaged audiences, which equals higher conversion rates.

The sweet spot is using both UGC from regular customers and influencer marketing together. 

Influencers can create the initial buzz and content templates, while your regular customers provide the ongoing stream of authentic social proof.

2. Build trust with reviews

If you're serious about getting customers on Shopify, you need to earn their trust, and nothing does that faster than real, honest reviews.

When potential buyers land on your store, they don’t just want to see what you have to say. They want to hear from people who’ve already bought from you. 

Reviews are the best social proof, and carry more weight than any sales pitch you could write. 

In fact, 70% of consumers hardly visit new stores without first looking through online reviews.

NolahSleep.com is a great example of how to do this well.

They don’t display glowing testimonials from everyday customers only. They also feature quotes from well-known publishers in their industry. 

That mix of credibility (genuine user reviews plus nods from trusted media) helps build confidence. 

Even better, some of those articles sent a healthy stream of referral traffic straight to their Shopify store since they have thousands of monthly readers.

If you're just getting started and don’t have a lot of reviews yet, that's fine. 

You can ask friends or family to test your product and leave honest feedback. Another option is to run a giveaway and have the winners share their experience. 

What matters in this case is that the reviews are honest, authentic, and from people who have tested your products.

3. Optimize your product pages for search and people

Your product pages shouldn’t just look good. They need to sell, too. Unfortunately, most Shopify stores get this completely wrong. They either optimize for search engines and forget about humans or create beautiful pages that Google can't crawl and understand.

So, what does a great product page look like?

Let’s use Nolah as an example again because they absolutely hit it out of the park. Check out their Nolah Evolution 15 mattress page:

Let me walk you through why it’s such a winner:

• A strong hero section with a high-quality product image
• A clear, descriptive product description using SEO-friendly terms that their audience is searching for, such as 'luxury hybrid mattress,' 'high-density foam,' and 'cool-touch comfort'
• A review section showing that over 1,000 people have bought and rated the mattress
• An awards section that builds even more credibility, both for customers and for search engines

Scroll down the page and you’ll find lifestyle photos, additional product details, and even a video showing how the mattress is made. All of this builds trust and helps people visualize the product in their own lives.

How do you replicate this to your own Shopify store?

• Write SEO-optimized product descriptions to help customers find you on search engines like Google, Bing, etc.
• Use detailed descriptions, lifestyle images, and supporting media to sell your product
• Add snippets of credibility, like reviews, awards, or media features, right on the page

One of the best tips around product page copy comes from Jon Ivanco, founder of Formtoro. He says, 

"Every sentence should answer either why you made something a certain way, or how that design makes it better. For example: 'We decided to use seamless hems on our shorts to avoid chafing on your legs while running.'"

These are the kind of details that give people a reason to trust you, and of course, buy from you.

4. Create paid ads to get ahead of the competition

Getting your products in front of the right people is harder than it used to be. 

Google search results have become a near-zero-click zone because users can get answers without ever visiting your site. 

Therefore, publishing your product pages and hoping traffic rolls in isn’t a reliable growth strategy anymore.

If you want to get ahead in 2025, you’ll need to run Shopify advertising on platforms where your customers already spend time.

Meta, TikTok, Snapchat, and Google Shopping are currently the modern-day product discovery engines. 

People go there to be entertained, yes, but they’re also searching, scrolling, and shopping. Your job is to show up in those moments with products that match what they care about.

The best ad formats for this job are catalog and dynamic product ads.

These ads let you show shoppers the exact items they’ve already looked at, or products similar to what they’ve engaged with. 

You can actually create your first catalog ads completely free for your first 100 products. Cropink handles the technical setup, product feed optimization, and ad creation while you focus on strategizing your growth.

Cropink also integrates with your Shopify store, automatically pulls your product information, and creates professional-looking catalog ads across multiple platforms. 

Instead of spending weeks learning ad platforms and troubleshooting product feeds, you can have ads running in minutes.

5. Optimize your Shopify store for AI shopping

Back in April, OpenAI announced they were experimenting with ChatGPT showing products directly in AI answers. 

According to Analyzify, "More than 1 billion searches now happen inside ChatGPT each week, and a growing share of those involve commercial intent."

Think about what this means for your Shopify store. 

People are already using AI to research purchases, and soon they'll be able to buy directly through these platforms.

When does ChatGPT showcase products? 

"When a user query implies shopping intent, such as 'gifts for someone who loves cooking' or 'best noise-cancelling headphones under $200', ChatGPT may surface relevant products,” OpenAI recently shared on their site.

Source: OpenAI

For now, results are not influenced by advertising. Products featured are chosen based on relevance and quality, not ad spend.

What should you start doing to optimize your store for AI?

• Use structured product data. Make sure your titles, descriptions, images, prices, and reviews are complete and clearly formatted in your Shopify backend.
• Add key code strings. Elements like buy_now, product_offer_rating, and shopify_checkout_url help AI understand and display your products.
• Write like a human. Use natural, benefit-focused language in your product descriptions, the way real people search and speak.
• Keep a consistent brand. Your tone, visuals, and messaging should be aligned across your site to signal trust to AI engines.
• Build your brand name. AI platforms don’t just pull from Shopify. A strong brand presence on social media, review sites, and content platforms increases your chances of being surfaced in AI-powered product recommendations.

6. Make current customers your brand marketers

Customer referrals are one of the most cost-effective ways to get more customers to your Shopify store. Referrals are usually cheaper than paid ads and faster than building trust from scratch.

Even better, referred customers tend to stick around. 

On average, they bring in 25% more profit and show 18% higher loyalty than customers acquired through other channels.

You might be wondering, ‘Will my customers be willing to refer others?’

The answer is yes. According to recent referral marketing statistics, 91% of customers are willing to provide referrals; they just need someone to ask.

Start by building a referral program that benefits both sides. Reward the person making the referral and the one they bring in. 

This model is sustainable because you only pay out when a new customer converts.

To start, you can try to:

• Offer a free product after a customer refers a certain number of people
• Give store credit to both the referrer and the new customer
• Create tiered rewards based on how many referrals they make

If you need inspiration, look at what Gymshark did.

They didn’t just create a loyalty program to drive sales. They designed it to reward people for engaging with the brand. 

Customers earn experience points(XP) not just for purchases but also for sharing content or using their workout app. 

As Carly Natalizia, Gymshark’s Chief Digital Officer, explained, “ It basically comes down to getting paid for sharing, shopping, and most importantly, showing up.”

Whatever approach you take, make sure it’s easy for your customers to spread the word, and worth their while when they do.

7. Host a giveaway 

Everyone loves free stuff, and your customers are no exception.

In fact, giveaways are one of the most engaging ways to get customers on Shopify while building genuine excitement around your brand.

The point is to run the giveaways strategically, not just for vanity metrics.

Most brands make the mistake of asking people to 'like this post and follow our page' without thinking about what happens after the giveaway ends.

You get a temporary spike in followers, pick a winner, and then... nothing. Those new followers rarely convert into paying customers.

Here's a better approach.

Structure your giveaway to collect email addresses, not just social media follows. 

When only three people win your giveaway, you'll have hundreds of other qualified leads you can market to long after the contest ends.

One other thing, make sure your giveaway prize is something your ideal customers want. 

Don't just give away your cheapest product or random gift cards. 

Choose something that represents your brand well and appeals specifically to people who would buy from you.

8. Create YouTube videos to show off your products

YouTube remains one of the most effective channels for getting customers on Shopify, yet most ecommerce brands barely scratch the surface on this platform.

The reason YouTube works so well for Shopify stores is simple. 

It lets potential customers see your products in action before they buy. 

You can create videos showing how your products work, discussing trends in your industry, or taking viewers behind the scenes of your production process. This will build trust and connection in ways that product photos and descriptions simply can't match.

Shopify actually has a YouTube integration that lets you tag products directly on your YouTube videos and shorts. Viewers can discover and shop directly from your videos, YouTube Shorts, and live streams without ever leaving the platform.

You can also team up with creators through the YouTube Shopping affiliate program. Verified creators can tag your products in their own videos and help you reach new audiences without doing all the heavy lifting yourself.

How many videos should you create?

That depends on your budget and what other marketing channels you're using, but a couple of fresh videos per month is sustainable for most stores. 

Thankfully, videos are evergreen assets that continue driving customers to your Shopify store months after you publish them.

9. Take advantage of free advertising sites

Not every effective marketing strategy requires a big budget. 

Free advertising sites like Craigslist, Google Business, and Facebook groups can help you connect with your target audience without spending a dime.

These platforms are valuable for local businesses or products that solve specific regional problems. People actively browse these sites looking for solutions, so they're already in a buying mindset when they find your listing.

On sites like Craigslist and Google Business, upload your product catalog with optimized descriptions that include relevant keywords. 

Google Business deserves special attention because it helps you appear in local search results and Google Maps. Complete your business profile with accurate information, high-quality photos, and regular updates about your products or services to get the most value.

On the other hand, Facebook groups can be helpful for targeted marketing, especially if you can provide genuine value to the community. 

To avoid a permanent ban, share helpful tips about your industry, answer questions, and build relationships before promoting your products.

10. Retarget past visitors to win easy conversions

Your existing audience is always the best place to start when you want more customers on Shopify. 

These people have already shown interest in your brand, which means they're much more likely to buy than complete strangers. 

Plus, it's usually cheaper to remind past visitors that you're still in business than to find new customers.

Who should you retarget?

Start with people who visited your Shopify store but didn't buy anything. 

Focus on dynamic retargeting, which shows them the specific (or related) products they looked at. This approach increases conversion rates by 3x compared to generic ads. After all, you're reminding them about products they were already interested in.

Next, target people who engaged with your Facebook page or posts. They've already shown they care about your brand and are prime candidates for conversion.

Don't forget about people who added items to their cart but never completed the purchase. This is a huge deal because shopping cart abandonment rates drop by 26% when you use retargeting to bring these almost-customers back to finish their purchase.

According to our retargeting statistics guide, these ads can increase conversion rates by up to 150% compared to regular advertising.

Bonus strategy

Add a ‘how did you hear about us?’ question at checkout or signup. It’s a simple way to track which channels drive tangible results so you can focus your budget where it counts.

List all the platforms you currently use, but leave a blank option so customers can write in any platform you have missed. 

FAQs

Wrapping up

Yes, there's stiff competition, but as this guide has shown you, there are still plenty of ways to get customers on Shopify. 

All it takes is some testing, a better understanding of your audience, and moving with the times (like Shopify AI optimization).

However, if you choose just one strategy to implement first, we recommend creating catalog ads on the Meta ecosystem. It's the fastest way to get more eyeballs and sales to your Shopify store. 

Once you start getting customers, use their experience to build up your credibility through reviews, then test the rest of the strategies.

Sources

1. Cropink. 50+ Shopify Statistics That Will Change How You See E-Commerce
2. Moast.io. How to Add Shoppable UGC to Your Shopify Store
3. Cropink. 55+ Customer Experience Statistics You Can’t Afford to Ignore
4. Nolah. Nolah Evolution 15" Luxury Hybrid Mattress
5. Cropink. Shopify Advertising: How to Drive More Sales with Smart Ads
6. Cropink. Meta DPA Guide: How Dynamic Product Ads Drive Real ROI
7. Cropink. Product Feed Management: Best Practices to Boost Sales & Efficiency
8. Cropink. Design Ads
9. Cropink. What is a Product Feed, and Why Does Your eCommerce Business Need One?
10. Analyzify. Shopify + ChatGPT: How AI Is Changing Online Shopping
11. Cropink. What Is a Brand Kit? A Simple Guide to Building Your Brand Identity
12. Cropink. 40+ Referral Marketing Statistics Your Competitors Don't Know Yet
13. Cropink. 50+ Retargeting Statistics Marketers Need to Know
14. Cropink. How to Create Profitable Facebook Catalog Ads [Tips + Updates]