Our shopify store is on Starter plan. Most of traffic to the store is through Instagram boosted reels and posts. But the conversion is almost zero. Can you share feedback about the store and what can be improved ?
Topic summary
A Shopify store owner on the Starter plan is experiencing high traffic from Instagram boosted posts but near-zero conversions. They’re seeking feedback on what to improve.
Key Issues Identified:
- Starter Plan Limitations: No full storefront or homepage, only basic product pages and checkout, making it harder to build trust and brand authority
- Cold Traffic Problem: Instagram boosted posts attract users unfamiliar with the brand, requiring stronger product page optimization for impulse purchases
- Missing Trust Elements: Lack of customer reviews, unclear CTAs, and insufficient trust signals at checkout
Recommended Improvements:
- Optimize product pages with high-quality images, compelling descriptions, and clear call-to-action buttons
- Add customer review sections to build credibility
- Implement cart abandonment recovery through email reminders and incentives
- Enhance search functionality with larger product images and pricing information
- Create an FAQ page or help center to address customer concerns
- Refine Instagram ad targeting to focus on buyer-intent audiences and implement retargeting campaigns
- Consider upgrading to Basic plan for better store experience and branding capabilities
Discussion Status: Multiple experts provided detailed recommendations with visual examples. The conversation remains open for the store owner’s response and implementation.
Hi @myplayskool ,
I am from Mageplaza - Shopify solution expert.
I would be happy to review your website and provide feedback on the performance.
Here are my recommendations to improve your conversion rate:
Your website isn’t effectively converting visitors into buyers despite your advertising efforts. Without seeing your ads, I can’t offer detailed recommendations on your landing page. However, here are some suggestions from Databox that you might find useful. You can read more in their article.
“When the click-through rate (CTR) is high but the conversion rate is low, it usually indicates an issue with the landing page. This is often due to a lack of effective calls-to-action (CTAs). To address this, create a clear CTA, such as a “Buy Now” or “Read More” button. This CTA can be a clickable image with a small amount of text or a simple button.”
1. Monitor Your Cart Abandonment Rate
Additionally, a high cart abandonment rate can be particularly frustrating for your business, especially after investing significantly in attracting visitors to your site. This issue indicates that many potential customers are deciding not to complete their purchases, contributing to low conversion rates.
To address this, you can remind customers about the items left in their carts and encourage them to complete their purchases by:
- Email Reminders: Send emails to customers who abandon their carts, reminding them of their items.
- Incentives: Offer a discount or free shipping to motivate them to finalize their purchases.
- For more detailed guidance, refer to an article from the Shopify Help Center
- Improve SEO
Taking the time to ensure your web pages are properly optimized can help increase your organic traffic, meaning more potential customers browsing your products. SEO strategies can drive site traffic to your Shopify website effectively.
For an average small e-commerce store, you should get at least 1000 visitors per month to start having a stable source for sales.
Here are some basic elements you should check:
Title Tags & Meta Descriptions:
- Each page should have unique, descriptive title tags and meta descriptions.
- Include relevant keywords without overstuffing.
You can also check this SEO checklist by Shopify to learn more about optimizing your e-commerce store and blog. This will boost your online presence and bring more traffic to your website.
Besides, here are some suggestions about your site UX/UI
3. Adding favicon logo
A favicon is a tiny logo that usually shows up in a browser tab. It is particularly crucial for new websites as it enhances user experience by helping visitors quickly recognize your site when they have several tabs open in their browser.
4. Domain name
Currently, you are using the default “myshopify.com” subdomain. It may lower brand awareness among markets and might give your potential buyers doubts or hesitation to make a purchasing decision
You must acquire a custom domain to maintain and strengthen your online presence. Using a domain that matches your brand can help you build trust in your online store.
5. Adding navigation bar
To make the navigation bar more informative, you should add several sections:
5.1. About Us page
An About Us page is a section on a website that provides information about a company, organization, or individual. It’s an opportunity to tell your brand’s story, share your vision, introduce team members, and outline your history, values, and achievements. This is where you build trust and credibility with customers.
Here is a reference
5.2. Support section
You should move privacy policy and return policy on the footer to the navigation bar - an easy to spot position. This will address purchasing hesitation quickly and encourage them to buy your products.
Here is a reference
6. Adding banner on Homepage
You should add seasonal banners for current promotions or collections (e.g., Summer Sale, Winter Collection) to catch the attention of customers.
Here is the reference:
7. Featured product and related product
- Instead of showing all products on the homepage, you should group them to such as: Best sellers, On sale, New arrivals to catch the attention. The remaining products should be on the Category page.
- You should add ATC, add to wish list, quick view buttons and make price and discount labels more noticeable to encourage customers to buy products.
- Below is a reference
8. Search bar
- You should enhance the search by making larger product images, including pricing and discount information to improve search bar
- Below is a reference:
9. Adding review section
You should add a review section. Reviews from previous customers will provide visitors more information about the product. It will enhance trust in your products and address buying hesitation. Here is a reference:
I hope some of my suggestions are helpful, feel free to give me any feedback.
Good luck!
Hi @Myplayskool,
Thanks for reaching out to the community. We are MooseDesk, a comprehensive Live Chat, FAQ & Helpdesk App designed to elevate your customer support experience.
Congrats on your new store! Your store looks stunning. You have put a lot of effort into building this. However, I have some comments to make the good get even better. Here are some of my recommendations for a better customer experience, please kindly check.
1. Optimize the header bar
A well-organized header bar helps users navigate your site easily and find what they need quickly. Besides, it can improve your web search engine visibility.
A few things you can consider adding to your header bar:
- Logo: Represents your brand and should be easily recognizable.
- Navigation Menu: Clearly outlines the main sections of your website.
- Search Bar: Allows users to find specific content quickly
Example of a good header bar:
2. Add a hero section
The hero section is the first thing visitors see and it sets the tone for the entire experience of your web visitors, so try to take advantage of this by adding these elements:
- A high-quality image or video: Create a desgin that aligns with your brand
- A compelling headline: It should be your brand’s slogan or key message that highlights your unique selling proposition.
- A prominent CTA button: Use strong action-oriented language (e.g., “Shop Now,” “Learn More”) and make the button stand out
Take a look at this example
 **3. Add more information to the footer section**The footer is often overlooked, but it’s a valuable piece that can significantly enhance user experience and boost your website’s effectiveness. Some of the elements you can consider adding are:
- Copyright notice: Clearly state the copyright owner and year.
- Privacy policy link: Link to your detailed privacy policy.
- Terms of service link: Link to your terms and conditions.
- Contact information: Include your address, phone number, and email.
- Social media icons: Link to your social media profiles.
4. Add an FAQ page
I can see that you’ve already created a Chat widget. However, you can make it even better by adding a FAQ page. It serves multiple purposes such as improving customer experience, reducing customer support load and enhancing SEO.
I suggest exploring MooseDesk, a free Live chat, FAQ & Helpdesk App. MooseDesk provides live chat, auto-reply features during non-business hours, a proactive help center, and a user-friendly widget layout, offering an effective solution to enhance customer support on your platform.
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As an expert/enthusiast in UX, I recommend implementing these changes to improve customer experience when scrolling through your store.
If this is helpful for you, please let me know by giving me a ‘LIKE’. If your question is answered please mark this as 'SOLUTION’.
Thank you for reading. Wish you a nice day ahead!
MooseDesk - All-in-one Shopify FAQ & Helpdesk App
Hi @myplayskool
I took a close look at your Shopify store myplayskool.myshopify.com and your situation with traffic coming mostly from Instagram boosted posts but seeing almost no conversions. That’s definitely frustrating, but it’s a common challenge when relying on social media traffic. Let’s break down a few key things you can improve to turn more visitors into buyers.
1. Starter Plan Limitations
Since you’re on Shopify’s Starter plan, you don’t have a full storefront—only a simple product page and checkout. This means:
- There’s no homepage or traditional website layout, which makes it harder to establish trust and brand authority.
- You rely entirely on product pages, which need to do all the selling.
Solution: Make sure your product page is visually engaging and has a strong, clear call-to-action (CTA). Use high-quality images and persuasive descriptions. If you plan to scale, upgrading to the Basic plan might be worth it for a better store experience.
2. Instagram Traffic Might Not Be Buyer-Intent Focused
Your traffic is coming from Instagram boosted posts, which means:
- It’s likely cold traffic (people who don’t know your brand yet).
- Instagram ads work well for impulse buys, but only if the product page is optimized.
- The audience targeting might not be specific enough to attract actual buyers.
Solution: Try retargeting ads for visitors who clicked before but didn’t buy. Also, experiment with audiences (e.g., interests, behaviors) to focus on those more likely to purchase.
3. Product Page Optimization
Since your Starter plan is product-focused, your product page must be strong. Some key areas:
- Clear, compelling product descriptions – Don’t just list features; explain benefits and why it’s useful.
- Trust signals – Add social proof (testimonials, customer photos, or reviews if possible).
- Urgency & incentives – Limited-time offers, free shipping, or discounts can push hesitant buyers to convert.
Solution: Test different product descriptions, include a few testimonials if possible, and see if a special offer boosts conversions.
4. Checkout Experience
With Shopify Starter, you’re using Shopify’s checkout, but there could be friction if:
- Buyers feel unsure (lack of trust, unclear policies).
- The payment options don’t fit their needs.
Solution: Make sure shipping, returns, and payment options are clearly mentioned on the product page. If visitors hesitate at checkout, adding trust badges or reassuring messages near the “Buy” button can help.
5. Instagram Link Optimization
If Instagram is your main traffic source, make sure your link in bio is optimized:
- If you’re using Linktree or similar, check that it’s clear and directs visitors straight to the product page.
- If possible, use a custom landing page (even a simple one) instead of sending people directly to checkout—it can help warm them up.
Final Thoughts
Your main issue is likely cold traffic and a lack of strong product page optimization. The Shopify Starter plan is okay for quick selling but limits branding, so your product page must work extra hard to convert visitors. Focus on:
- Refining your Instagram targeting (test different audiences)
- Improving your product page with trust signals & urgency
- Making sure your checkout experience feels smooth and safe
If you need any other assistance, feel free to ask, and I will try my best to support you.
Best regards,
Daisy.









