Congratulations! You have an online store. You managed to get here. The question is what do we do next, how do we make money from it! How do we make it known? How do we make people find out about us, come, see, buy, and return? This issue is somewhat easier to approach (in the sense that there are more possibilities) when there is also a physical store, whether starting from it or running in parallel.

We will take them one by one, addressing in this first article those methods that can be applied by those who have both types of stores online, without the physical one yet being used.

1. Offer discounts and promotions regularly. Discounts attract people like a magnet, and many will be tempted to purchase an item or product if it is on sale, even if they don't need that thing right then. Moreover, offers are what drive traffic to the site because people talk, announce it to each other, and thus attract more visitors. More traffic, more people, more sales, higher in search engines, more traffic…

2. Email Marketing. Put a newsletter subscription box on the site and collect the email addresses of those who subscribe, then add those who have already ordered and periodically send them an email informing them about current promotions, new products added to the site, and what surprises you have prepared if they visit. Furthermore, you can make personalized offers to them or give them an advance when you have very good deals.

3. Create a blog. I have said countless times, and I will say it even more: the blog is no longer a whim, it is a necessity. It helps you create an image in the field, to be recognized and respected. Depending on the competition, this can be achieved more easily or more complicated, but the role and importance of the blog cannot be contested. It has countless SEO benefits without being aggressive or invasive. The good part is that you can easily find a company or someone to help you with writing articles if you are not very skilled at putting words down for others.

4. Know the bloggers in your niche. Promoting products or services through niche blogs has become increasingly sought after and appreciated because it works. So, you need to search and inform yourself about the most popular blogs operating in your area, in your field, in your niche. It doesn't have to be strictly defined because you probably won't find something so specific. If you have a handmade wax items store, you won't find large blogs dedicated to them, but you should look towards interior design blogs, handmade in general, or decoration blogs. You adjust as you go. After finding the strongest blogs in your area, contact the authors and present your products. You can offer them a free sample, but also something as a prize for a contest on the blog. This way, everyone wins: the blogger will agree to write something about you, their readers will win a prize besides the information, and you will reach your target audience more easily.

5. Offer video content. Recently, the "trend" of videos has reached unexpected heights, it is well known that these recordings attract our attention and we like to watch them. So we need to keep up with the current trend and offer customers or potential customers some images from the field. In some cases it is easier, in others more complicated, but not impossible. Thus, if you sell something handmade, film yourself while making them (or the person who makes them). If you have a clothing store, show ways clothes can be matched or film when they are tried on. Improvise. However, it is mandatory to create a special YouTube channel where you upload them, then distribute them on all the channels and social networks where you are present.

6. Social Media. You are probably wondering why I haven't talked about this yet. Maybe precisely because it is something everyone turns to. Unfortunately, not everyone does it properly or in a way that suits them. Entering Social Media requires time. There is also a paid option, but this is not recommended from the start; it should be started gradually to have an effect. Moreover, it takes quite a lot of time, so if you don't have the necessary and mandatory time, you can delegate the task or hire a specialized company.

Keep in mind that there are many social networks and not all fit your business. You can start with Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, YouTube, Google+, LinkedIn, and continue with Tumblr, Flickr, Foursquare, Quora. Test and see what suits you best.

7. Highlight the product. After you have a company page or account on social networks, the next step is to properly promote the products. Maybe 2-3 posts a day are needed, maybe one is enough, or maybe four. It all depends on the number of fans and the type of products. Choose the products on promotion, which you will highlight as best as possible: very good, attractive images, with texts explaining what it is about and putting them at an advantage without exaggerating. Don't forget to put a link to the product every time you talk about it.

8. Organize contests on Social Media. Contests with prizes are a very popular and effective way to attract attention to your social media page, but also to the site – which interests us too. However, contests must follow the rules, be organized correctly and fairly, and the prize must be delivered quickly and with maximum seriousness. This prize should be (if possible) a product from the site, one of those you sell, and one that anyone might want. I say "if possible" because if you have an auto parts store, it is harder to find a product that appeals to everyone – and you can't send 2 spark plugs or a timing belt. When you don't have much to choose from to please everyone, you can offer as a prize a voucher with which the winner can buy something they need from your site.

Promote the contest correctly and intensively, collect email addresses along the way, promote the site on every occasion, even by putting a call to action towards the site.

9. Try paid advertising on Social Media. Facebook, for example, offers the possibility to segment well the audience you address, based on many relevant criteria. However, it is good to choose as a measurement method the number of clicks on the link to the site, not to the Facebook page.

Continuation of this list… in the next article!