Twisting in the wind...

[Andrew65]

Hey gang, so I had to wait 2 weeks to get my EIN number from the IRS, and now since I can't afford to advertise on Facebook or any of the other big social media sites I'm focusing on SMS, and now I ha e to wait another week for my application for texting to be approved. All the while my shop has been open for a week with zero customers. I feel like my site is twisting in the wind while all the while my vendors and collaborators slowly eat me alive financially. Am I wrong? Is there something else I can be doing while I await approval?

[DaisyVo]

Hi @Andrew65 

I totally get how frustrating this waiting game can be. You’ve got everything set up, but now you're stuck waiting for approvals, and it feels like your store is just sitting there, burning money with no traction. Trust me, you’re not alone in this—it’s a common struggle for new businesses, but there are things you can do right now to move forward.

What You Can Do While Waiting for SMS Approval

1. Optimize Your Website for Conversions
   Since visitors aren’t rolling in yet, now’s the perfect time to make sure your site is actually set up to convert once they do arrive. Check for:

   • Clear, high-quality product images
   • Engaging product descriptions that highlight benefits (not just features)
   • A simple, smooth checkout process (test it yourself!)
   • Trust signals—customer reviews (if any), refund policy, secure payment badges, etc.

2. Leverage Free and Low-Cost Marketing
   Since paid ads aren’t an option, you need organic traffic. Here’s where I’d focus:

   • SEO: Optimize your product pages with keywords people actually search for. A tool like Ubersuggest or Google Keyword Planner can help.
   • TikTok & Instagram Reels: Even if you don’t have a budget for ads, short-form videos can still go viral and bring traffic. Show your product in action, behind-the-scenes clips, or even a personal journey about starting your brand.
   • Reddit & Facebook Groups: Find niche communities where your ideal customers hang out and engage genuinely—don’t just drop links. Offer value first.
   • Pinterest: If your product is visual or lifestyle-based, start pinning. Pinterest drives a ton of traffic, and it’s free.

3. Start Collecting Emails
   Since SMS is on hold, focus on email collection in the meantime. A simple pop-up offering a discount or a free guide (if applicable) in exchange for emails can help. Then, when you do get traffic, you have a way to nurture those leads.

4. Get Social Proof (If Possible)
   If you have any samples, consider sending them to micro-influencers in your niche in exchange for honest reviews. Even just a few real testimonials can help build trust.

5. Engage with Potential Customers Directly
   If you have an ideal customer profile, go where they are and start conversations. This could be through LinkedIn (if B2B), Twitter, or even DMing potential customers in a non-spammy way.

I know it’s tough, but you’re not just "twisting in the wind"—you’re in the building phase, which every successful business goes through. Keep taking action, and soon you’ll see movement.

If you need extra help, just let me know asap. Thanks
Daisy.

[Andrew65]

Thanks for your reply. I'm about to make my final round of changes
with the help of a collaborator. I've already hired Shopify to do my SEO,
but no one seems to know where the bill is coming from. It's under Bills in
my Shopify Admin account and it's not an app be used in my store. The
Shopify advisor said it was Google but I checked that too. All I know is
that I saw an ad on Facebook advertising Shopify as my SEO agent. All I
know is somebody is sending me a $60 bill each month & it shows a squiggly
line on my bar graph telling me I have 120 people coming through my store
everyday for the past 3 months & still no sales or email subscribers. Sadly
I might have ti close shop. I can't afford to keep throwing good money
after bad. Thanks anyway.