Feedback Please

Store Feedback
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Topic summary

Keith seeks feedback on his redesigned Shopify store (thesmartgiftshop.com), struggling with pricing, discount strategies, and converting traffic to sales. Despite attracting visitors through TikTok campaigns (now suspended), he’s had only one sale in 12 months.

Key Issues Identified:

  • Homepage needs decluttering; FAQ section and “make a difference” content should be repositioned
  • All-caps headers are difficult to read
  • Unique value proposition (personalized gifts supporting charity) is buried in the footer and needs prominent placement
  • Mobile performance score is low (~40/100), potentially hurting conversions
  • Missing customer review section for social proof
  • Weak calls-to-action; needs clearer “Buy Now” buttons
  • Product images and search functionality could be enhanced

Recommendations Provided:

  • Improve homepage clarity with compelling taglines
  • Implement psychological pricing ($29.99 vs $30) and first-time buyer discounts
  • Add trust signals and testimonials
  • Optimize mobile speed by reviewing theme and apps
  • Study competitors’ pricing strategies
  • Take courses: Shopify Compass, Ecom Insider, Neil Patel resources

Current Status: Keith averages 100 daily visits with occasional cart additions but remains frustrated. He’s considering abandoning the venture due to mounting costs without results, despite working with a consultant pushing TikTok Shop integration.

Summarized with AI on October 31. AI used: claude-sonnet-4-5-20250929.
1

Hi my Community,

Could I get someone to take a look at my store and give me some honest feedback please as It has been redesigned by one of our Shopify partners. It’s still been currently loaded with products but having an issue understanding on how to correctly get this off the ground as I don’t have a lot of experience in sales or pricing or Discount strategies. I would love someone to recommend a course that may cover these topics as I have no idea what a good online store looks like that attracts customers. I ran a recent TikTok Campaign(Before it got suspended for reasons that I still don’t understand)and certainly attracted its fair share of people but unfortunately, no sales so would welcome any advice that would help me steer the ship in the right direction.

Regards Keith

www.thesmartgiftshop.com

2

Hello @PacificBlue the store is very well set up and it shows a lot of effort and thought was put into it. I’d suggest that you declutter the homepage a bit by maybe reducing the FAQ that initially appears to just 3 questions and changing the position and the “make a difference” section can maybe be put more towards the bottom side of the page.

3

Hi Keith,

First, the all-caps header texts are hard to read.

Second and more important, I scrolled down the page wondering what your uniqueness is and I think I found it in the footer:

“The Smart Gift Shop offers unique personalized gifts, focusing on charity. Every purchase supports communities and fosters generosity, extending our mission beyond memories to social impact.”

Make this message more visible, include it in your Social media and other ad campaigns, etc.

Good luck!

4

Hi @PacificBlue ,

I’m from Mageplaza, a Shopify solution expert.

I would be glad to review your website and provide feedback on improving its performance. Below are some suggestions to enhance website performance:

1. Enhancing the Landing Page

Your website isn’t turning visitors into customers as effectively as it should, despite your advertising efforts. Without reviewing your ads, I can’t give specific feedback on your landing page, but here are a few tips inspired by Databox. You can find more details in their article.

A high click-through rate (CTR) but a low conversion rate often signals an issue with the landing page, frequently due to weak or unclear calls-to-action (CTAs). Consider adding a more direct CTA like “Buy Now” or “Learn More,” which could be a clickable image or a simple button with a brief text description.

2. Improving Mobile Speed and Performance

Based on an analysis using PageSpeed Insights, your mobile site’s performance score is around 40, which is below the recommended threshold of 60. Given that much of your traffic comes from mobile users, this could negatively impact their experience and reduce your conversions. Slow load times often frustrate users, making them less likely to complete purchases, which can hurt your sales.

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Here are some ways to improve your mobile performance:

  • Review your store’s theme: Some themes are resource-intensive and can slow down load times. Opt for a lightweight, mobile-optimized theme.
  • Optimize your apps: While apps can enhance functionality, too many can slow down the site. Review and optimize or remove unnecessary apps.
  • Reduce extra code: Third-party scripts and tags may increase load times. Removing unneeded code can improve performance.
  • Compress images: Large images can drastically slow down page loading. Use compressed images that retain quality but load faster.
  • Seek professional help: For customized solutions, you may want to work with an expert to tackle performance issues unique to your store.

Following these recommendations will improve the speed of your mobile site, leading to better user experiences and higher conversion rates. You can also check Shopify’s performance optimization tips for more detailed advice

3. Lack of a Review Section

Including a review section where customers can leave feedback will help build trust and provide valuable social proof for new buyers. Customer reviews play a significant role in boosting conversions by reassuring potential buyers of your product’s quality. Here is a reference:

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4. Enhance Search and Visuals

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Improving your product images by making them larger and more detailed, displaying pricing and discount information, and adding features like brand or collection search to your search bar will allow customers to find what they’re looking for faster. These improvements will enhance the overall shopping experience. Here is a reference:

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I hope my suggestions are helpful, feel free to give me any feedback.

Good luck!

5

Hi @PacificBlue

I checked out your store and read through your situation carefully—I get where you’re coming from. Starting an online store can be overwhelming, especially when it comes to pricing, discounts, and marketing strategies. Since you already ran a TikTok campaign and got traffic but no sales, there are a few key areas you might need to tweak to turn visitors into buyers.

1. Store Design & User Experience

Your site looks clean, but I noticed a few things that could improve conversion rates:

  • Homepage Clarity: Right away, I don’t get a clear sense of what makes your store unique. Adding a short, engaging tagline or banner that highlights your best-selling products or unique value proposition can help.
  • Navigation & Product Organization: Make sure categories are well-structured and product descriptions are clear. If visitors have to “think too much” to find what they need, they’ll leave.
  • Trust Signals: People buy from stores they trust. Consider adding reviews, testimonials, or a “Why Shop With Us?” section to build credibility.

2. Pricing & Discount Strategies

Since you’re new to pricing and discounting, here are a few strategies to consider:

  • Check Competitor Prices: Look at stores selling similar products and price competitively. Tools like Koala Inspector or EverBee can help analyze competitor pricing.
  • Psychological Pricing: Prices like $29.99 instead of $30 can improve conversions.
  • Discounts & Bundles:
    • First-time buyer discount (e.g., 10% off for new customers)
    • Bundle discounts (Buy 2, Get 1 Free, or tiered discounts)
    • Flash sales to create urgency

3. Why Didn’t TikTok Ads Convert?

Since your campaign got traffic but no sales, it’s likely a targeting, trust, or offer issue.

  • Check Your Audience Targeting: Ensure you’re hitting the right people. TikTok’s audience is younger and loves impulse buys—was your product a good fit?
  • Landing Page Experience: Did the TikTok ad direct visitors to a specific, high-converting product page, or just your homepage? A dedicated landing page usually works better.
  • Ad Copy & Offer: If visitors came but didn’t buy, either the offer wasn’t compelling enough, or they didn’t trust the store yet. Adding urgency (limited stock, social proof) can help.

4. Learning Resources for You

To build your skills in sales, pricing, and discount strategies, I’d recommend:

  • Shopify Compass (free courses by Shopify) – Shopify Academy
  • Ecom Insider by Smart Marketer – Great for eCommerce marketing insights
  • Neil Patel’s Blog & YouTube – Covers pricing, conversion optimization, and digital marketing

Final Thoughts

You’re on the right track, and you already have data from your TikTok ads—now it’s about tweaking things for better conversions. Start by refining your store’s messaging, improving pricing strategies, and running a new ad campaign with optimized targeting.

If you need any other assistance, feel free to ask, and I will try my best to support you.
Best regards,
Daisy

6

Thank You, Daisy

I have been at this for quite a while now as you may have guessed, and have had one sale in 12 months although my site has undergone quite a few changes since then including Niche , design etc. I have even utilized the services of a third party who seems to be hell bent on getting me involved in the TikTok shop which in her view, will solve all problems ( I Disagree) Although she is quite knowledgeable in the Socials ,it really hasn’t helped,

I Average around 100 visits a day with the occasional added to cart activity. I’m hooked up to all sorts of apps to help but in the end, its just costing me a lot of money with no results and am seriously thinking of just pulling the plug on the whole thing before it sends me down a financial path that I don’t want go. This was meant to be a retirement solution for when I eventually do retire but now I’m not sure. Thank you Daisy for your advise.

Keith

SolaCheap