One Year, Zero Sales – Need Honest & Actionable Advice

Hi,

Thank you for your message and the helpful points.

At the moment, my store is getting traffic, and my Instagram currently has over 5,000 views today alone, so I believe the challenge lies more in converting visitors into buyers rather than attracting them.

I’d like to focus on identifying and fixing any product info, pricing, or trust-related issues that might be affecting conversions. I’m also open to hearing your thoughts on quick wins that could help generate sales right away, as well as long-term strategies for sustained growth.

Could you share how you’d approach this, along with your pricing and timeline?

Hi,

Thanks for the honest feedback and suggestions—I appreciate it. I already have a Facebook page and Instagram with good engagement, but I’ll look into Ben Heath’s tips and explore local events and giveaways as you suggested. Thanks again.

Hi,

Thank you for taking the time to share such detailed feedback. You’ve given me a lot of valuable points to think about, from brand presentation and product photography to traffic quality and marketing strategy.

I’ll review your suggestions carefully and see how I can start implementing some of them, especially around visual appeal, legibility, and refining my product selection.

I really appreciate you taking the time to provide such thorough advice.

Hi,

Thank you for reviewing my website and pointing out these issues. I appreciate your suggestions about linking images, adding contact details at the top, and making the sign-up offer more visible. I’m not sure how I could make it more noticeable than the current pop-up, so I’d be interested to hear your thoughts on that.

Hi,

Thank you for taking the time to share such thoughtful feedback about Chapters of Joy—I appreciate your kind words and detailed suggestions. You’ve given me some great ideas, especially around building more trust with reviews and policies, simplifying the mobile experience, and adding sales-boosting incentives.

Do you also offer services to help implement these kinds of changes? If so, could you share your pricing and estimated timeline?

Thank you for reviewing my site and sharing these ideas. I’ve already adjusted the font sizes based on your earlier suggestion, and I do work with influencers—some have shared my products on their social media, but unfortunately, the results haven’t improved much.

That’s why I’m feeling discouraged and uncertain about what the main issue really is. Is it SEO? Instagram? Giving more items to influencers? Someone even recommended a person on Kwork who claims they can fix my problems. Honestly, I’m overwhelmed and don’t know whom to trust. I started with a $15k budget, and after a year, I’m at zero sales and feeling hopeless.

Still, thank you from the bottom of my heart for all your suggestions and support.

Regarding trust issues – you absolutely need some kind of address, phone, business name/registration info.
This will make your visitors feel more safe knowing that they are not visiting yet another scamming website. Especially, given that your products are not cheap.

I’d try adding a cheaper product or some kind of significant promotion and see how your visitors react to this.

1 Like

Hello sir!

I understand how discouraging it can be to put so much work into your store without seeing results. As a Shopify designer, I focus on helping store owners like you get their first sales through my best targeted strategies.

If you’d like, I can review your store, identify key issues, and create a clear 30-day action plan to get traction without wasting time or money.

Hi, thank you and yes please share your plan.

Hey @C-O-J,

If you’re having good traffic but not able to convert it, try implementing product bundles or discount strategies. Do try to optimise your cart with upselling, cross-selling, progress bar or any other tactic that keeps the visitor till the checkout. Try apps like iCart to implement more than just upselling and convert more within the cart.

Try to focus on the WHY factor of your store. What’s special about your store that users can never get to any other store?

Do you find solution to the problem

Hi @C-O-J

I completely understand how discouraging it can feel to put so much effort into your store and still not get any sales. I took a look at your store and wanted to share a few ideas that might help you improve conversions.

One thing that could make a big difference is adding more photos showing the product being worn by real customers. For custom jewelry, which often carries high emotional value, shoppers tend to rely heavily on authentic reviews and lifestyle photos before making a purchase.

Example images for inspiration:

It might also help to gather more customer reviews for your products. An affordable way to start is to send some of your custom pieces to small fashion or lifestyle influencers. Many are open to receiving products in exchange for styled photos and honest feedback.

Once you have these, you can feature the photos and reviews directly on your product pages using any review app of your choice. This kind of setup makes it easier to show star ratings, display customer pictures, and even send automated review request emails after each order.

You can also consider offering small incentives, like a discount on a future purchase or a referral reward, to encourage customers to leave reviews and share your store with friends. This not only helps build social proof but also keeps customers coming back and spreading the word.

Because your keepsake jewelry is so personal and meaningful, it’s a perfect fit for this kind of trust-building approach. Sharing genuine customer experiences across your site and social media can help you connect with buyers and make those first sales.

Hope this helps, and wishing you the best of luck with your store!

Clary

Try to make changes in Color combination. use the color which seen by distance and noticeable.

Hey @C-O-J

First off, don’t be too hard on yourself. Most of us have been through that stage where it feels like nothing is working, and it can be really discouraging.

One thing you might want to try (since you’re worried about wasting money) is affiliate marketing. It’s zero upfront risk, you only pay a commission when someone actually makes a sale. Tools like UpPromote make it really simple to set up, and you can recruit micro-influencers or creators who already have trust with their audiences. That way, you’re not burning cash on ads, and you can test what messaging/angles really resonate.

Also, keep in mind with custom keepsake jewelry, storytelling is everything. Share your process, the meaning behind the pieces, and real-life examples (even if you start with friends/family). Sometimes the emotional connection is what unlocks those first sales.

You’ve already done the hard work of building the site, now it’s just about getting the right eyes on it. You’ve got this. Best of luck!

Best,
Moeed

Hi @C-O-J,

I know you’ve put in so much effort over the past year, and even if the results haven’t shown yet, your hard work and determination are really admirable.

Just a quick tip: many of the Fiverr messages you get are from non-professional devs or even scammers. Not all of them, but it’s usually better to just skip those.

After checking your site, here are a few suggestions I’d like to share with you:

  • Redesign the store interface to make it clearer and more visually appealing. After a year, it’s evident that this should be the first area to rebuild. Focus on creating a clean and compact header, using engaging banner images, and showcasing products in a way that encourages customers to click and explore further. I recommend hiring professional e-commerce designers to ensure a high-quality redesign. You may also consider working with certified Shopify Partners, as they are recognized for their expertise and proven experience.
  • I recommend optimizing your SEO to improve visibility and organic traffic. You can try some of Shopify’s top-rated SEO apps, such as TinyIMG or Plug In SEO, to get started.
  • Consider collaborating with trusted KOLs to increase traffic, and explore affiliate marketing apps such as UpPromote. This approach helps you minimize cost risks, since you only pay commissions when actual sales are generated.

Good luck — I hope everything goes your way! :blush:

Thank you for being so transparent about your journey it takes courage to share the challenges as openly as you did. I had a look at your website (chaptersofjoy.com), and the concept behind your keepsake jewelry is both meaningful and unique. The foundation you’ve built is solid; now it’s about getting visibility and building trust with your target audience.

Here are a few insights from a digital growth perspective:

1. Driving First Sales

  • Start with social proof: Your product is very personal, so customer stories, testimonials, and photos/videos of real people wearing your pieces will resonate more than any ad. If you don’t have customers yet, consider gifting a few products in exchange for authentic reviews.

  • Focus your ads on specific life moments: memorial gifts, anniversaries, Mother’s Day, weddings. Running small, targeted campaigns around these emotional occasions will perform far better than broad “gift” ads.

  • Experiment with micro-influencers: People with small but highly engaged followings on TikTok/Instagram (especially in family, grief support, motherhood, weddings) can help showcase your pieces authentically.

2. Choosing Trustworthy Help

  • Be cautious with unsolicited Fiverr offers—many use copy-paste pitches. Instead, look for specialists with case studies in jewelry/e-commerce, and always ask for references.

  • A strong partner won’t promise instant results. They’ll talk about testing, learning, and iterating. That’s a sign they understand real growth.

  • If budget is limited, start with consulting sessions rather than long-term retainers. This way, you can get strategy guidance without overcommitting.

3. Optimizing Your Store

  • Consider adding more lifestyle imagery and emotional storytelling to your product pages your pieces are tied to memory and meaning, so every page should reflect that.

  • Offer clear guarantees (like “free design preview” or “replacement if engraving isn’t accurate”) to reduce hesitation from first-time buyers.

  • Add urgency triggers where relevant (limited-time collections, holiday deadlines for delivery).

Your brand has real potential the key is getting those first few wins that build momentum and confidence. With the right targeting and social proof, I believe you’ll start seeing traction.

If you’d like, I can point you toward some trusted resources and frameworks to help you structure your next steps without wasting time or money.

Wishing you renewed motivation you’ve already done the hardest part by building a meaningful product. Now it’s about amplifying it strategically.

Hi @C-O-J ,

I understand how much effort you’ve put into building your store and how disheartening it can be to see no sales after all that hard work. It’s a tough situation, but keep in mind that it takes time to establish trust and build momentum.

About the issues you’ve mentioned, I recommend steering clear of unsolicited offers you might receive from platforms like Fiverr. While some freelancers are good, there’s always a risk involved with cold outreach. Many of these offers may end up being unproductive or even scams. If you’re looking for help, I suggest finding someone with proven experience and real reviews.

Now, about your store. The foundation is there, but there are a few key areas you can improve to boost conversions:

  • Content & Text: Your product images are fantastic, but your website could benefit from more detailed descriptions. Right now, there’s very little content explaining the benefits of the products or telling the story behind them. Consider adding more text that not only explains the features but also connects with the customer emotionally. Also, the text on your site, especially for product descriptions, is quite small (12.5px), which might make it hard to read for some people. Increasing the font size could make it much more user-friendly.

  • Design & Layout: The Dawn theme is solid, but there are design tweaks you could make to give it a more luxurious feel. I’ve seen many great jewelry stores, and they have certain design elements that draw people in more effectively. For example, when users land on your homepage, they will likely click on the images first, but your images aren’t clickable. This could be a small frustration. I also recommend showing more images of happy people, smiling faces, and emotions. This helps customers connect with your brand. User-generated content like videos or reviews would work wonders here.

  • Product Pages & Trust: For the product page, it might help to add reassurance elements like trust badges and product reviews to build confidence. You can also incorporate product videos, which can add a personal touch and answer any concerns. Offering bundles with discounts is always a good strategy since people love getting more value. You could also think about creating a video that walks customers through the “How to Upload Your JOY” process, addressing potential issues and making them feel more at ease.

  • SEO & Descriptions: Your collection pages currently lack descriptions. This is a great opportunity for SEO, as you can add keywords and explain what each collection is about, which would not only help with search engine rankings but also provide more context for your visitors.

  • Storytelling & Contact Info: The “Our Story” section is fantastic and very relatable. People love to feel connected to a brand. However, I would recommend making the design a bit more engaging with more images. Also, it would help to include detailed contact information such as your business name, address, phone number, and registration number. This will enhance trust, as customers often look for these details before making a purchase.

  • Social Media Expansion: Your Instagram looks great! You’ve established a good presence there, but expanding to other platforms like TikTok and YouTube Shorts could help you reach even more potential customers. Regular posts and engaging content on these platforms can drive traffic to your store and increase conversions.

I hope this feedback helps! Keep pushing forward, and I’m confident you’ll start seeing those orders come in soon.

Best,

Felix

Hi Felix,

Thank you so much for taking the time to share such detailed and helpful feedback. I truly appreciate the effort you put into reviewing my store and providing these valuable insights.

Ever since I posted my question on the Shopify platform, I’ve received many responses — including several private messages on WhatsApp from people offering their services. It’s been a little overwhelming, and honestly, I’m finding it difficult to know who to trust.

Your email stood out to me because it felt genuine and thoughtful, and I really got a positive and honest vibe from your recommendations. I was wondering if you might be available to help me implement the improvements you mentioned. If so, I’d love to know more about your services and pricing.

Thank you again for your time and advice — it means a lot.

Best regards,
Mahsan

@C-O-J

I have seen you top matter and you made first mistake, you missed 1 important thing. It is you not mentioned your website link. The true advisor will ignore your matter ad move on next page. So you will not get true advice.

And If after you mentioned your website just in next same post message then it is your seconds mistake. You must modify/update your first post matter and add your website link.

So, the instance is if you made similar types of many mistakes in your website then you spent one year with Zero sales.

First, Rectify you mistakes.

@tktechseo

What is the point of your post? Because of a small mistake of a new user of not posting a link to the store but in second, that user do not have sales for a year. Really helpful from your side.

“The true advisor” will ask for a link and not ignore, what kind of point is that?
The link is in the second post, all saw that link, and there are 40 total posts, and some true advice.