How to Grow Your OpenCart Store for Free

Posted by JackBudd on December 6, 2024

Did you know you don’t have to spend thousands on marketing to drive traffic to your website? Many ecommerce businesses believe that success relies on big advertising budgets. The truth? You can grow your OpenCart store organically without spending a penny - if you focus on the right strategies.

Here’s the hard truth: Paid ads might bring traffic, but without a solid foundation, they won’t guarantee long term success. Before you invest in advertising, you need to optimise your store and build an engaged audience organically.

1. Drive Free Traffic with SEO

Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) is like a slow cooker. It takes time to see results, but when done right, it delivers consistent, free traffic to your store.

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The Hard Truth About SEO

It takes time - there's no magic button to instantly get customers. But the results are long lasting. Unlike paid ads, which stop working when your budget runs out, a strong SEO strategy keeps delivering traffic for months or even years.

How to Improve SEO for FREE

  • Optimise Product Pages:
    Include relevant keywords in product titles, descriptions, and meta tags. For example, instead of “Blue Shirt,” use “Men’s Slim-Fit Blue Shirt for Summer.”

  • Improve Page Load Speed:
    Compress images, use caching tools, and choose a lightweight theme like one of our own to ensure your store loads quickly. Google favors faster sites.

  • Start Blogging:
    Use your blog to answer common customer questions or highlight the benefits of your products. Articles like “Top 5 Ways to Use [your product]” can bring in readers and drive conversions.

  • Earn Backlinks:
    Collaborate with bloggers or influencers in your niche to get links back to your site. Join forums and answer questions with helpful insights, linking back to relevant pages.

  • Use Free SEO Tools:
    Tools like Google Search Console and Ubersuggest can help you identify opportunities and track progress.

When to Add Paid SEO Tools

Only once your traffic grows and you see consistent results, invest in tools like Ahrefs or SEMrush for deeper insights. You can also explore Google Ads to amplify your reach.

2. Build Relationships with Free Email Marketing

Email marketing is like sending love letters to your customers. Done right over time, it makes them feel special and keeps them coming back. Done poorly, and it’s basically spam - no one wants to be "that guy"!

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The Hard Truth About Email Marketing

Email lists take time to grow. But once you have one, it’s like owning a direct line to your customers - no algorithm to fight, just a clear path to conversions.

How to Leverage Email Marketing for Free

  • Start with Free Tools:
    Platforms like Mailchimp offer free plans for up to 500 subscribers. Use their tools to set up automated welcome emails, cart reminders, and product updates. These can be integrated into OpenCart.

  • Offer Incentives:
    Entice visitors to subscribe by offering a 10% discount, free shipping on their first order, or exclusive access to sales.

  • Send Valuable Content:
    Don't just pitch your products. Share useful tips, guides, or behind-the-scenes stories and reviews. For example, if you sell fitness equipment, send a weekly workout tip.

  • Segment Your Audience:
    Even with free tools, you can organise your subscribers into segments, such as first-time buyers or repeat customers, to send more personalised emails. 

  • Also, remember to include their name! A person's name is the sweetest sound to their ears - it's the ultimate compliment and shows you value them as an individual. But beware: misspelling or forgetting their name is one of the quickest ways to offend.

Scaling Email Marketing

When your list grows and email revenue covers the cost, upgrade to a paid plan for features like advanced segmentation, A/B testing, and the ability to send more emails.

3. Build an Engaged Social Media Following

Social media isn’t just for mindless scrolling, it's a powerful tool to showcase your brand, connect with your audience, and build trust. Best of all, you don't need to spend a penny to get started.

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The Hard Truth About Social Media

It’s not a quick fix. Growing an organic following takes LOTS of time and effort, but the results are worth it. Before spending on ads, you need to have a polished, engaging profile with an audience that already cares about your brand.

How to Grow Social Media for Free

  • Optimise Your Profile:
    Make sure your bio is clear, your profile picture is professional, and your link drives traffic to your store. Use Instagram highlights to showcase top products, FAQs, or reviews.

  • Post Consistently:
    Create a content schedule and stick to it. Share a mix of posts, including product photos, tutorials, customer testimonials, and behind-the-scenes content. Use free tools like Canva to create professional looking visuals.

  • Engage Actively:
    Reply to comments, answer DMs, and interact with accounts in your niche. This builds relationships and increases your visibility.

  • Leverage User-Generated Content (UGC):
    Encourage customers to share photos of your products and repost them. This adds authenticity to your profile.

  • Run Giveaways:
    Host a contest that requires users to follow your page, like your post, and tag friends. This helps you grow your audience quickly.

  • Use Hashtags Strategically:
    Research and use a mix of popular and niche hashtags to increase reach.

When to Invest in Social Media Ads

Once you have an optimised Instagram profile and at least 1,000–2,000 followers, start experimenting with paid ads. Your strong organic presence will make these ads more effective, as you'll already have proof of what resonates with your audience.

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