Announcing your website to your audience

When you create a website for your brand, whether it’s a landing page, online shop, or a branded website without Ecommerce, you need to introduce it to your audience to increase your site traffic from day one.

Announcing your site to a broad audience can lead to more brand recognition, higher sales conversions, and increased sign-ups through a contact form if you run a landing page.

Use your physical store to promote your site

The easiest way to introduce your new site to people who are already interested in your brand, is to use your in-store space and product packaging.

Create a QR code that leads to your site. QR code is a low-cost method to engage with customers when they are communicating with your brand. You can print and place QR codes near the counter, in the fitting rooms if you have any, on banners or signs outside the store, on the entrance door or window. Provide a brief message explaining where this QR code leads. For example, you can say “Check our new arrivals on the site before they appear in store”.
Upgrade your product packaging. Include a small card or flier with a QR code that directs them to your new site to each shopping bag you give your customers. Consider adding a personalized message on the insert that thanks the customer for their purchase and invites them to explore more on your website. You can also print the site link or QR code directly on bags and packaging materials.
Add the site address on receipts. You can include a link with your site address at the end of your receipts to make it more visible for in-store customers.
Mention site during customer interactions. Train your staff to always mention your site during customer interactions, especially at checkout. They could highlight benefits like online discounts or the ability to browse the full collection from home.

Use social media to announce your site

Social media is an excellent tool for introducing your new site, as your followers are a highly engaged audience already familiar with your brand. Using platforms like Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok will most likely bring traffic to your website.

Here’s what you can do on social media when introducing your new site:

Update the profile info. Add a link to your site to the profile bio. You may include a short note why people should visit your site. For example, “See full collection on site” or “Learn about delivery on site”.
Share the site link in a post. Add a short, catchy message to your link that makes people want to click. For example, try something like, "Excited to finally launch!” or ask for feedback: "What do you think of our site's new look? Let us know in the comments!"
Create reels and stories showcasing site visuals. Show eye-catching visuals, full product catalog, or the checkout process on your site to engage with the audience.
Offer discounts or giveaways. Launch short-term discounts that will apply specifically for online purchases. Announce it across your social media: “Visit our new site and get 10% off for your first online purchase."

Promote your site with paid advertising

Paid promotions include running ads and partnering with influencers. When you connect your Retail POS catalog to Lightspeed eCom, you can advertise products in Google and across social media.

Here’s what paid promotions you can choose from:

Partner with influencers. Influencers in social media such as Instagram or TikTok have established trust with their followers. Their endorsement can quickly generate buzz, drive traffic to your site, and establish credibility for your brand among their followers. You can include a limited-time discount code to encourage people to purchase items on your site.
Google ads. You can use Google free listings, Shopping campaigns, search text ads, and other types of campaigns to showcase your products and navigate people to your site. The ads display and location will depend on the advertisement type that you choose.
Facebook and Instagram ads. Facebook and Instagram, two most popular social media where people spend their time. You can connect your online catalog to Meta to advertise products from your website directly in peoples’ feeds. When they click the ad, they will be redirected to your site. For better performance use high-quality visuals and concise messaging to engage people.
TikTok ads. The most buzzworthy social media platform today, TikTok can spotlight your product and introduce people to your brand. By connecting your online catalog to TikTok, you can include direct links to your products in the ads.

Announce your site to customers via email

There are dozens of email marketing email softwares that offer email campaigns, both free and paid. You can also send emails manually to customers listed on the Customers page in your Retail POS admin.

Here are some tips for creating an email:

Make a catchy subject line. For example, ‘Buy [our product] anytime anywhere’, or ‘Get 10% off your first online order.
Make a clear announcement. Briefly introduce the new site and what it has to offer. You can specify what pages or sections it contains.
Add a special offer. Encourage immediate visits with a promo code or exclusive deal for early shoppers. For example, you can offer a discount for a first online sale.

Keep the email concise, visually appealing, and focused on driving clicks.