Running a Shopify store can be incredibly rewarding, but it’s also easy to make mistakes that can hurt your sales. The truth is, even small missteps can add up and cause bigger issues down the road. Whether you’ve been selling for a while or you're just starting, it's important to recognize the mistakes that could be holding you back. In this post, we’ll go over 10 common mistakes hurting your Shopify store sales and give you tips on how to fix them. The goal is to make sure you’re setting your store up for success and boosting those sales!
★ Even simple tweaks to your store’s navigation, design, and checkout process can lead to big improvements in sales.
★ Focus on building trust with customers, improving your product images, and getting your SEO right.
★ Effective marketing, great customer service, and mobile optimization are key to boosting Shopify store sales.
Picture this: you’re online shopping, and it’s taking forever to find the product you want. Frustrating, right? If your store’s navigation is confusing or difficult to use, it can cause potential customers to bounce right out. Bad navigation is one of the fastest ways to lose a sale.
How to Avoid It:
• Organize your products into categories that make sense to your customers.
• Make sure your menu is simple and easy to follow.
• Add a search bar so customers can find what they need quickly.
• Use a clean, mobile-friendly design — especially since so many people shop from their phones.
When your site is easy to navigate, customers are more likely to stay and make a purchase, helping boost your Shopify store sales.
Think about how you shop online. Would you buy a product if the image was blurry or if you couldn’t see all the details? Probably not. Your product images are one of the most important factors in convincing people to hit that "Buy Now" button.
How to Avoid It:
• Invest in high-quality photos that clearly show your products from different angles.
• Use zoom functionality so customers can get a close-up look.
• If possible, show your products in action or in real-life settings.
The better your images, the more confident customers will feel in their purchase — which means more Shopify store sales for you.
If your store isn’t showing up on Google, you’re missing out on tons of potential customers. SEO is how you make sure search engines like Google know what your store is all about and can direct people to your products.
How to Avoid It:
• Optimize your product descriptions, titles, and images with keywords that customers are likely to search for.
• Write SEO-friendly blog posts that drive traffic to your store.
• Use Shopify’s SEO features or apps to help you optimize your store’s pages.
Good SEO is essential to bringing in organic traffic, which can lead to more people finding your store and boosting Shopify store sales.
When shopping online, trust is everything. If customers feel uneasy or unsure about your store, they’re not going to hand over their credit card details. Building trust is key to making a sale.
How to Avoid It:
• Make sure your store is secure by using SSL certificates (this gives your URL a padlock symbol, showing that it’s safe).
• Display customer reviews and testimonials on product pages.
• Clearly explain your shipping and return policies.
• Add trust badges and security seals to your checkout page.
When people trust your store, they’re more likely to buy — and come back again. That trust is a huge factor in increasing Shopify store sales.
More people than ever are shopping on their phones. If your store isn’t mobile-friendly, you could be missing out on a big chunk of your audience. A website that’s hard to navigate on mobile will frustrate potential customers and drive them away.
How to Avoid It:
• Choose a mobile-responsive Shopify theme that automatically adjusts to different screen sizes.
• Make sure your images load quickly on mobile devices.
• Simplify the checkout process so it’s easy to complete a purchase from a phone.
A mobile-optimized store ensures that customers have a smooth experience, no matter what device they’re using — which means better Shopify store sales.
You’ve done the hard work of getting someone to your product page, but if your checkout process is too complicated, all that effort can go to waste. If a customer has to fill out too many forms or jumps through too many hoops, they’ll probably just give up.
How to Avoid It:
• Simplify the checkout process. The fewer steps, the better.
• Offer guest checkout so people don’t have to create an account.
• Provide multiple payment options to suit your customers’ preferences.
• Make sure the total cost (including shipping) is clear before they get to the checkout page.
A simple, fast checkout process will help you close more sales, increasing your Shopify store sales overall.
If customers have a question or issue and can’t easily get help, they’re not going to feel comfortable completing their purchase. Good customer support can make or break the shopping experience.
How to Avoid It:
• Offer multiple ways for customers to contact you (email, live chat, phone).
• Create a detailed FAQ section to answer common questions.
• Be responsive — quick replies can make a big difference.
Excellent customer service goes a long way in creating positive experiences, turning first-time buyers into loyal customers who come back for more, increasing your Shopify store sales.
If you’re not using email marketing, you’re missing a huge opportunity. Email marketing lets you stay in touch with your customers, keep them engaged, and encourage them to come back and shop again.
How to Avoid It:
• Collect email addresses through opt-ins on your site.
• Send personalized, segmented email campaigns to different customer groups (like new customers, repeat buyers, or abandoned carts).
• Regularly send out newsletters with promotions, new product updates, and special offers.
Email marketing is a great way to nurture your relationship with customers and keep your sales numbers growing.
Social media is one of the best ways to reach potential customers, build brand awareness, and drive traffic to your Shopify store. If you’re not active on platforms like Instagram, Facebook, or Pinterest, you’re missing out.
How to Avoid It:
• Post consistently on social media about your products, promotions, and behind-the-scenes content.
• Use paid ads to target specific audiences and drive traffic to your store.
• Collaborate with influencers or other brands to expand your reach.
Social media can help you connect with your audience, increase brand recognition, and ultimately boost your Shopify store sales.
Abandoned carts are one of the most frustrating parts of running an online store. But if you’re not retargeting those customers, you're leaving money on the table. Retargeting ads and email campaigns can help bring those customers back to finish their purchase.
How to Avoid It:
• Use Shopify apps like Recart or Abandonment Protector to send automatic recovery emails.
• Offer incentives like discounts or free shipping in your abandoned cart emails.
• Set up retargeting ads on Facebook and Google to reach customers who left items in their cart.
By bringing those customers back, you can recover lost sales and boost Shopify store sales in the process.
Running a successful Shopify store is all about continuously optimizing your site, your marketing, and your customer experience. By avoiding these common mistakes, you can build a store that converts visitors into loyal customers and keeps your sales numbers growing. If you're unsure how to start a Shopify store or need more information on pricing plans for Shopify store, these resources are perfect for you.
Ready to take your Shopify store sales to the next level? Tips for a winning handmade Shopify store can help guide your strategy. N&A Collectives can help you optimize your store, streamline your processes, and implement smart strategies that will help you see real results. Get in touch with us today, and let’s start turning your Shopify store into a sales powerhouse!
