How to Stay on Track in Uncertain Times, Episode 265

How to Stay on Track in Uncertain Times, Episode 265

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How to Stay on Track in Uncertain Times (Without Spiraling or Shutting Down)

When things feel shaky, here’s how to steady yourself—and your business.

There’s nothing like uncertainty in the world to get you spiraling. You can work all day and feel like you’ve done nothing. You can spin your wheels mentally without ever moving forward. You can go from confident CEO to anxious disaster-prepper in 30 seconds flat.

And if you’re an ecommerce store owner right now, with talk of new tariffs, rising costs, and economic slowdowns — you might be feeling it even more.

 

“What I want you to know is that none of what’s happening right now in this period of time means that you are destined to fail.”

 

It just means you need a new approach — one that keeps you grounded in facts, not fear.

Get Clear About What’s Actually Worrying You

The first step to dealing with uncertainty isn’t fixing anything. It’s naming what’s wrong.

When you’re feeling overwhelmed, your brain tries to solve a thousand problems at once — without really knowing what any of them are. No wonder you feel stuck.

When you get to that place where you’re cycling all day long… you’re working really hard, but you’re not really getting anything done. You need to block off a little time and write it down. Get the worries out of your head and onto paper. Be specific.

Are you afraid you’ll lose customers if you raise prices?
Are you worried your supplier might go out of business?
Are you anxious that a recession would kill your sales?

It doesn’t matter what the fear is — just name it. Because when you can name it, you can start dealing with it.

Gather Facts, Not Feelings

Once you know what’s worrying you, it’s time to get curious — not catastrophic.

 

“You can gather a few facts so that you will be prepared to make decisions based on data when you have the facts.”

 

That means running some numbers, sketching out a few different scenarios, and being honest about what it would actually mean for your business.

For example, if you’re worried about needing to raise your prices:

  • Calculate what your cost increases would really look like.
  • Focus on maintaining your profit in dollars, not just percentages.
  • Would your retail prices need to go up 10%? 15%? Is that truly deal-breaking for your customers?

Or if you’re worried about supply chain disruptions:

  • Check how much inventory you have.
  • Figure out how many months’ worth of your best-sellers you’d need to feel secure.
  • Write down where you would start looking for backup suppliers — just in case.

The goal isn’t to fix the future. It’s to make a plan you can reach for if you need it — and then put it down until you do need it.

Do the Thinking Once — Then Let It Go

After you’ve made your list, explored your options, and run a few numbers, step away.

Seriously.

You don’t need to obsessively revisit your plan every day. You don’t need to solve problems you don’t actually have yet. You have your plan. You have your fallback. That’s enough.

 

“Once you’ve identified what’s keeping you up at night, you just need to block off some time to get it on paper… and then allow yourself to let it go.”

 

Now you’re ready to stop worrying about the future and start focusing on what matters: the present.

Focus on What Your Business Needs Today

When everything feels shaky, the best thing you can do is zoom back into the now.

What does your business need today?
What’s already working that you can do more of?
Where do you need a small fix, not a major overhaul?

To help with this, consider adopting the habit one of our Inner Circle members, Michelle Smith of Mama Suds, created. Michelle runs a thriving natural cleaning products business, and when she found herself overwhelmed with questions and uncertainties (especially from her MBA-holding husband!), she started writing a simple weekly update about her business. Every week, she would jot down her wins, roadblocks, and key numbers. Not only did it help her communicate clearly, it gave her a way to step back, see what was working, and stay grounded—even when the future felt uncertain.

You can do the same thing. Every week, just jot down:

  • Wins (big or small)
  • Challenges or roadblocks
  • Key numbers (like sales, website traffic, or inventory needs)
  • What you’re focusing on next

It doesn’t have to be formal. It doesn’t have to be fancy. It’s just a way to anchor yourself in what’s real, instead of spinning out over what-ifs.

You’re the Driver, Not the Forecast

Is the economy a factor? Sure.  Are rising costs frustrating? Absolutely. Are there things you can’t control? Of course.

But you are still the number one driver of your business.

 

“The store owner’s abilities have a much bigger impact on the success of the business than the economy.”

 

You’ve already solved a thousand problems to get here.  You can handle this, too.

So don’t get stuck waiting for certainty. Make a plan. Focus on today. And trust that your next good decision will lead you to the one after that.

You’ve got this.

 

RELATED LINKS:

Check out Michelle’s site Mama Suds: https://www.mamasuds.com/

Ditch your decision fatigue. I’m giving you my framework.
https://thesocialsalesgirls.com/ditch-your-decision-fatigue-im-giving-you-my-framework-its-brilliant-episode-186/

3 Things You Can Do To Be More Profitable Today
https://thesocialsalesgirls.com/3-things-you-can-do-to-be-more-profitable-today-episode-219/

This Will Get You Unstuck
https://thesocialsalesgirls.com/this-will-get-you-unstuck-episode-233/

New FREE Course

GROW YOUR SALES

(without breaking the bank)

Conversion School is a step by step process to grow your sales,
without spending a fortune on risky ad strategies, or discounting your products.

Works for Ecommerce stores at all stages.

Start getting consistent sales, and see significant sales growth every month.

New FREE Course

GROW YOUR SALES

(without breaking the bank)

Conversion School is a step by step process to grow your sales,
without spending a fortune on risky ad strategies, or discounting your products.

Works for Ecommerce stores at all stages.

Start getting consistent sales, and see significant sales growth every month.

2 Simple Steps To A Better Conversion Rate, Episode 268

2 Simple Steps To A Better Conversion Rate, Episode 268

No time to listen now? We'll send it to your inbox. No time to listen now? We'll send it to your inbox. or scroll down to get the highlights2 Simple Steps to a Better Conversion Rate—And the Fatal Mistake Most Store...

Advice From A Multi-Million Dollar Store, Episode 266

Advice From A Multi-Million Dollar Store, Episode 266

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Jen’s Coaching call: The plan for $20K months, Episode 264

Jen’s Coaching call: The plan for $20K months, Episode 264

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No time to listen now? We'll send it to your inbox.

or scroll down to get the highlights

What it looks like to scale a handmade business with strategy, simplicity, and staying power.

What do you do when you’ve built a business that works… but it’s starting to stall?

That’s where Jen O’Rourke of Bear & Roo found herself.

She was already running a multi-six-figure handmade clothing brand, powered by a super-loyal customer base and a killer Facebook VIP group. But something wasn’t adding up.

Her sales were slipping. She was sewing all the orders herself (with a little help cutting and shipping). And while her return customer rate was through the roof, her growth had hit a wall.

That’s when she decided it was time to make a change—and this year, she set a big goal:
👉 $250K in sales.
👉 $20K months.
👉 Without losing the handmade, custom-fit magic her customers love.

Here’s the exact strategy she’s using to make it happen.

A Made-to-Order Model That Puts the Customer First

Everything Jen sells is made-to-order. Custom inseams. Custom waistbands. High-quality fabrics that rival Lululemon. But unlike Lulu, her leggings are made to fit actual human bodies—and they’re worth the 6–8 week wait.

“I target the customers that want the customized option and are willing to wait because they can’t find it in a store.”

This is her superpower. And going the manufacturing route wouldn’t allow her to do it.

The Problem with an 80% Returning Customer Rate

Sounds like a dream, right?

Until it isn’t.

Jen has a customer who has placed 300 orders with her store. Yep, 300.

But as she started to see, having 80% of your sales come from returning customers is risky. Eventually, even the best customers stop buying—and when you’re not consistently bringing in new ones, your growth starts to slide.

Jen’s ONE THING for this year?  New customer acquisition.

Simplifying the Store—and the Strategy

One of the first things she did was work with strategy coach Tina to clean up her website and simplify her offering.

She trimmed her store down to a core collection of 10 bestselling products. That way, new customers aren’t overwhelmed—they just see what sells best (and what other people are raving about).

And then she layered in a few smart systems.

Outsourcing the Tech, Keeping the Magic

Jen’s not afraid to hire out what isn’t in her zone of genius—especially when time is tight.

She’s using our Reliable Revenue marketing system to build out her email flows and automations. But instead of slogging through the tech herself, she hired help to get it done faster (and better), while still writing the emails in her own voice.

This gives her more time to sew, ship, go live in her group, and build the relationships that actually drive sales.

Building Her Audience with Low-Budget Ads (That Work)

Jen’s running three simple ad campaigns:

  • A brand video ad to grow awareness ($5/day)
  • A conversion-based “view content” ad to bring in traffic ($3.75/day)
  • An engagement ad to keep her brand top-of-mind ($2.50/day)

She’s spending $11.25/day—and she’s not just watching vanity metrics. She’s tracking how many new customers she brings in and calculating how much it costs her to acquire each one.

That’s how she knows when it’s time to scale.

The Results: $20K Month (Without a Sale)

In March, Jen hit her first $20K month of the year. No big sale. No complicated promotion.

Just more new customers finding her brand, falling in love with the product, and placing orders.

 

“My first quarter is already up 12% from where it was last year.”

 

And she’s just getting started.

What’s Next: $250K, One $20K Month at a Time

With her average order value at $170 and a clear path to bring in new customers, Jen’s not just guessing anymore. She’s making strategic moves—one funnel, one ad, one email at a time.

If you’re trying to grow without doing more—this is the kind of story that will help you rethink what’s possible.

You don’t have to give up your process. You don’t have to do it all yourself. You do have to simplify, measure what matters, and get serious about bringing new people into your world.

That’s what Jen’s doing.

And it’s working.

 

RELATED LINKS:

Want to see Jen’s products? Visit bearandroo.com

Follow her on Instagram: @bearandroo

Learn more about Reliable Revenue here:

https://classroom.thesocialsalesgirls.com/reliable-revenue

$100K Sales In One Year, By Focusing On One Thing

https://thesocialsalesgirls.com/100k-sales-in-one-year-by-focusing-on-one-thing-episode-240/

The Path To A Full-Time Paycheck From Your Business

https://thesocialsalesgirls.com/the-path-to-a-full-time-pay-check-from-your-business-episode-220/

New FREE Course

GROW YOUR SALES

(without breaking the bank)

Conversion School is a step by step process to grow your sales,
without spending a fortune on risky ad strategies, or discounting your products.

Works for Ecommerce stores at all stages.

Start getting consistent sales, and see significant sales growth every month.

New FREE Course

GROW YOUR SALES

(without breaking the bank)

Conversion School is a step by step process to grow your sales,
without spending a fortune on risky ad strategies, or discounting your products.

Works for Ecommerce stores at all stages.

Start getting consistent sales, and see significant sales growth every month.

2 Simple Steps To A Better Conversion Rate, Episode 268

2 Simple Steps To A Better Conversion Rate, Episode 268

No time to listen now? We'll send it to your inbox. No time to listen now? We'll send it to your inbox. or scroll down to get the highlights2 Simple Steps to a Better Conversion Rate—And the Fatal Mistake Most Store...

Advice From A Multi-Million Dollar Store, Episode 266

Advice From A Multi-Million Dollar Store, Episode 266

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What To Do When You Need New Customers, Episode 263

What To Do When You Need New Customers, Episode 263

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No time to listen now? We'll send it to your inbox.

or scroll down to get the highlights

How to build a simple, sustainable plan for growth when your current audience has already bought

There comes a time in every ecommerce business when the sales start to slow down—and it’s not because your products aren’t good or your customers don’t love you. It’s because the people who’ve already bought… have already bought.

If you’re relying on the same loyal group to keep your store going, and your numbers are starting to slide, it’s probably time to do something most business owners put off as long as possible:

Go get new customers.

Now before your brain spirals into “I don’t have time,” or “ads are expensive,” or “I have no idea how to do that,” stay with me. This post is going to walk you through a simple, repeatable plan for customer acquisition—and how to know when it’s actually the right time to make that shift.

Let’s start there.

Is it time to focus on new customers?

This is one of the most common questions store owners ask me. The easiest way to find out is by checking your Shopify dashboard and looking at your Returning Customer Rate.

If about 30–40% of your orders are from returning customers, you’re in a great place. That means your retention strategy is working and your existing customers are coming back—which is amazing.

But once your returning customer rate creeps above 40%, it’s time to shift gears.

 

“When you get over 40% [returning customers], I think it’s actually urgent that you focus hard on getting new customers.”

 

That doesn’t mean you stop serving your existing customers. It just means you stop relying on them to drive your growth. At some point, your audience becomes a well you’ve tapped too many times. And if you want to increase your sales, you need more people entering the funnel.

Choose one product to promote

One of the biggest mistakes I see people make when trying to attract new customers is that they try to sell everything. All the products. All at once.

It doesn’t work.

Instead, pick one product to promote—something you know people love, something easy to understand, something giftable or entry-level or just really good. This could be your best-seller, a bundle of related products, or even a curated “starter set” made up of existing items.

And then?

Focus all your marketing around that one product.

 

“Whatever I shine a light on and focus on is what people buy.”

 

You’re not trying to sell your whole store. You’re inviting new people into your world through a single, compelling entry point.

Build a simple system to promote it

Once you’ve picked your product, the next step is to build a marketing plan around it. And don’t worry—it doesn’t have to be complicated. You just want to make sure you’re showing the product to new people regularly, and giving them multiple ways to see, understand, and trust it.

Here’s what that might look like:

  • Create a short brand-style video focused just on this product, and run inexpensive video view ads to build awareness.
  • Run a review ad (if you’re using JudgeMe, you can do this right inside the platform) using your best social proof.
  • Create a simple static ad with an image of the product and a clear CTA—this can run as a conversion or traffic ad.
  • Email your list regularly, and feature the product in at least one mini campaign each month. Even better? Add a P.S. about it to every other email.
  • Feature the product in your site’s pop-up (especially if it has a discount tied to it), and include it in your welcome flow.
  • Once people start buying, set up automated review requests to collect even more social proof.

You don’t have to do it all at once—but the more places people see the product, the more likely they are to trust it and buy.

One product, one path: a real example

One of our longtime Inner Circle members is a maker in the cosmetics space. A while back, she created a bundle of her bestselling items and called it the “Start Here Bundle.” It’s the product she features everywhere—on her pop-up, in her welcome flow, in ads, and across her site.

She doesn’t discount her entire store—just that one bundle. And it works.

When I checked recently, that single product had almost 500 reviews.

Why? Because she’s not leaving it up to chance. She decided what product she wanted new customers to buy, and then she made a plan to support it from every angle.

If it’s not working, check these things—in order

When you’re trying something new and it’s not converting, it’s easy to assume the problem is the product or the offer. But more often than not, it’s just the numbers.

Here’s what I recommend checking—in this order:

  1. Traffic: How many people are actually seeing the product? If only a handful of visitors are landing on the page, you don’t have enough data to know if it’s working.
  2. Click-through rate on ads: Aim for 2% or better on a conversion ad. If you’re not getting clicks, test your visuals or messaging.
  3. Product page performance: Add a heatmap tool like Lucky Orange to see how people are interacting with the page.
  4. Pop-up opt-in rate: You should be getting at least 5% of visitors to subscribe. If not, tweak your offer or design.
  5. Email open and click rates: If people aren’t opening, try new subject lines. If they’re opening but not clicking, rework your call to action.

That’s really the key. Don’t throw out the whole plan—just keep adjusting the pieces that aren’t performing until they are.

Track what matters

If you’re going to focus on acquiring new customers, the most important thing you can do is track your progress. Not obsessively—but consistently.

Here’s what to look at each month:

  • How many new customers did you get?
  • How much did you spend on ads?
  • What was your cost to acquire a customer? (Total ad spend ÷ new customers)

Once you have that number, you can make smart decisions about scaling. If it costs you $10 to get a customer who spends $70 and buys again later… you’ve got a growth engine on your hands.

Just Start

There’s no magic bullet for getting new customers. But there is a method—and it’s much simpler than you think.

Start with one product. Build a system around it. Track what matters. And keep going until it works.

Because it will.

 

RELATED LINKS:

Do you even know what it costs to get a new customer?

https://thesocialsalesgirls.com/do-you-even-know-what-it-costs-to-get-a-new-customer-episode-187/

How Melissa reduced her cost of acquiring a customer by 44%

https://thesocialsalesgirls.com/how-melissa-reduced-her-cost-of-acquiring-a-customer-by-44-percent-episode-191/

Growing your sales: what you must know first

https://thesocialsalesgirls.com/growing-your-sales-what-you-must-know-first-episode-261/

10x’ing Jane’s Sales

https://thesocialsalesgirls.com/10xing-janes-sales-episode-251/

 

New FREE Course

GROW YOUR SALES

(without breaking the bank)

Conversion School is a step by step process to grow your sales,
without spending a fortune on risky ad strategies, or discounting your products.

Works for Ecommerce stores at all stages.

Start getting consistent sales, and see significant sales growth every month.

New FREE Course

GROW YOUR SALES

(without breaking the bank)

Conversion School is a step by step process to grow your sales,
without spending a fortune on risky ad strategies, or discounting your products.

Works for Ecommerce stores at all stages.

Start getting consistent sales, and see significant sales growth every month.

2 Simple Steps To A Better Conversion Rate, Episode 268

2 Simple Steps To A Better Conversion Rate, Episode 268

No time to listen now? We'll send it to your inbox. No time to listen now? We'll send it to your inbox. or scroll down to get the highlights2 Simple Steps to a Better Conversion Rate—And the Fatal Mistake Most Store...

Advice From A Multi-Million Dollar Store, Episode 266

Advice From A Multi-Million Dollar Store, Episode 266

No time to listen now? We'll send it to your inbox. No time to listen now? We'll send it to your inbox. or scroll down to get the highlightsFrom Etsy Side Hustle to Multi-Million Dollar CEO: What Bethany Would Do...

What to Do When You Have More Time Than Money in Your Business, Episode 262

What to Do When You Have More Time Than Money in Your Business, Episode 262

No time to listen now? We'll send it to your inbox.

No time to listen now? We'll send it to your inbox.

or scroll down to get the highlights

What to Do When You Have More Time Than Money in Your Business

One maker’s real-life decision filter for outsourcing, inventory, and staying sane

At some point, every ecommerce store owner hits the same wall:
“I know I need to get help… but can I afford it?”
And even if you technically can afford it, there’s another question right behind that one:
“Is this really the right thing to spend money on right now?”

In this week’s podcast episode, we got into it with Inner Circle member and ceramics artist, Sara Scheuermann of Steeped Slow. She’s a full-time maker who’s building a business intentionally—without burnout, without hustle, and with just 40 hours a week.

So when she posted in the Inner Circle asking if she should start outsourcing some of the tech and bookkeeping tasks in her business, we decided to talk it out. Because she’s not the only one wondering.

If you’re wrestling with time vs. money trade-offs in your own business, this episode will help you make clearer, faster decisions—without spinning in circles for weeks.

From UX Designer to Full-Time Potter—with 40 Hours and a Kiln

Sara left a long career in UX to pursue her passion: functional, handmade ceramics. After navigating COVID, market cancellations, and a return to her old job, she’s now back in the business full-time and building with intention.

 

“I’m a slow-made business and I’m leaning into this idea of a slow lifestyle… I did not wanna hustle and grind for this.”

 

She’s doing it all: designing, making, glazing, firing, shipping, listing, and yes—trying to figure out her email automations and bookkeeping.

Sound familiar?

The Question That Sparked It All

Here’s what Sara posted in the Inner Circle:

“When do you know you’re ready to outsource? My two focuses right now are getting the tech set up for Reliable Revenue and getting my bookkeeping set up properly. Both are big lifts on my brain and well outside my zone of genius.”

The problem with DIY’ing all of that is that only has so many hours in a day – if she’s bookkeeping, she’s not making more inventory for the sales that will (allegedly) start rolling in.

That’s when we decided it was time to help Sara (and everyone else listening) create a clear filter for making these decisions.

The Decision Filter: 5 Questions to Use When You’re Stuck

When you’re trying to decide whether to outsource or DIY, use these five questions to break out of the spin:\

What does the business need right now?
→ For Sara: More inventory to hit her sales goals.

Are there roadblocks to fulfilling that need?
→ Yes. She’s the only one who can make the product, and time is limited.

Does doing this task herself bring more value than creating inventory?
→ Not really. Tech setup is one-time, but inventory drives sales.

Is this task recurring or one-and-done?
→ The tech was a one-time setup—perfect for outsourcing.

What does it actually cost to outsource?
→ Don’t guess. Find out. “Instead of letting it swirl in your head, figure out the outcome you want, and go get a price.”

Once you know what the task will cost, ask: How many sales would it take to pay for that?
And then, instead of hoping sales come in, make a plan to get them.

When Outsourcing Didn’t Make Sense

Tech was easy to hand off. But bookkeeping felt different.

Sara looked into hiring a bookkeeper and found it would cost around $300/month. But she didn’t feel ready to hand it off—not because of the money, but because she didn’t understand the process well enough to manage it.

 

“I didn’t even know what I needed to ask for somebody to do my books.”

 

She wasn’t just overwhelmed—she was unsure. And that’s where most of us get stuck. But instead of staying there, Sara got proactive.

She posted in the Inner Circle, got recommendations, and ended up buying spreadsheets and templates from Paper and Spark—specifically made for handmade business owners.

“Now when I go to outsource this to someone in a couple years, I can tell them what to track, what to show me. I can be the boss that knows what I want.”

Oh—and the $300/month she would have spent? She’s paying it to herself now instead.

The Inventory Problem—and the Realization That Changed Everything

Sara’s shop was full of sold-out listings. And while that’s flattering on the surface, it’s not a sales strategy.

She told me it takes about six weeks to make a batch of product. So if she wants to restock and be ready for the holidays, that clock needs to start now.

And here’s the big shift:

 

“I thought I had more time than money. But when I looked at it, I actually have no time.”

 

She’s the only one who can make the inventory. Which means her time is actually more valuable than anything else in her business. The more time she spends learning tech or messing with bookkeeping, the less she earns—because she has fewer products to sell.

The Simple Sales Strategy That Helped Her Decide

We talked through the importance of keeping bestsellers in stock—and eliminating the ones that don’t move.

 

“All products are not created equally, and they don’t sell at the same rate.”

 

Instead of trying to make everything, all the time, Sara now has a strategy:

  • Identify her top 10 products by revenue.
  • Keep those in stock as consistently as possible.
  • Discontinue the bottom 20.
  • Streamline listings, photography, and production.
  • Use limited-edition pieces to fuel creativity and reward VIPs.

She’s also creating a private “vault” page on her website for those one-of-a-kind or retired pieces, where collectors can shop first.

Final Thoughts: It’s Not About Hustle—It’s About Clarity

 

“I feel confident in my business. I feel proud of myself for where it’s come, and it feels… real.”

 

That was Sara’s vision for her business on New Year’s Day 2026. Not a 24/7 hustle machine, not a chaotic mess of tasks, but a business that works—on her terms.

If you’ve ever felt torn between spending time to save money—or spending money to save time—use this decision filter:

  • What does the business need now?
  • What’s standing in the way?
  • What’s the real cost of doing this yourself vs. outsourcing?
  • Is it recurring or one-time?
  • How will you fund it?

Then, make a plan. Sell a few extra pieces. Focus your energy. And buy back your time.

“It’s almost like a bartering system… how many products do I need to make to outsource this?”

Such a great question. And one you get to answer however works best for you.

 

RELATED LINKS:

Sara’s Shop: steapedslow.com

 Bookkeeping tools: Paper & Spark

Ditch your decision fatigue. I’m giving you my framework

https://thesocialsalesgirls.com/ditch-your-decision-fatigue-im-giving-you-my-framework-its-brilliant-episode-186/

The Path To A Full-Time Paycheck From Your Business

https://thesocialsalesgirls.com/the-path-to-a-full-time-pay-check-from-your-business-episode-220/

New FREE Course

GROW YOUR SALES

(without breaking the bank)

Conversion School is a step by step process to grow your sales,
without spending a fortune on risky ad strategies, or discounting your products.

Works for Ecommerce stores at all stages.

Start getting consistent sales, and see significant sales growth every month.

New FREE Course

GROW YOUR SALES

(without breaking the bank)

Conversion School is a step by step process to grow your sales,
without spending a fortune on risky ad strategies, or discounting your products.

Works for Ecommerce stores at all stages.

Start getting consistent sales, and see significant sales growth every month.

2 Simple Steps To A Better Conversion Rate, Episode 268

2 Simple Steps To A Better Conversion Rate, Episode 268

No time to listen now? We'll send it to your inbox. No time to listen now? We'll send it to your inbox. or scroll down to get the highlights2 Simple Steps to a Better Conversion Rate—And the Fatal Mistake Most Store...

Advice From A Multi-Million Dollar Store, Episode 266

Advice From A Multi-Million Dollar Store, Episode 266

No time to listen now? We'll send it to your inbox. No time to listen now? We'll send it to your inbox. or scroll down to get the highlightsFrom Etsy Side Hustle to Multi-Million Dollar CEO: What Bethany Would Do...

Growing your sales: what you must know first, Episode 261

Growing your sales: what you must know first, Episode 261

No time to listen now? We'll send it to your inbox.

No time to listen now? We'll send it to your inbox.

or scroll down to get the highlights

The 3 Things Every Ecommerce Store Owner Must Learn to Grow Sales (Without Spending a Fortune on Ads)

If you’re looking for a way to grow your sales without pouring money into ads, you’re about to hear one of the most effective (and misunderstood) strategies for ecommerce store owners.

This is the very first thing to learn as an e-commerce store owner. To get sales, we need to acquire customers.

That’s the short-term strategy that works—and it really works—but if you keep doing it past a certain point, it can actually stall your growth.

Here’s what you need to know about the three things every ecommerce store owner must learn: how to get customers, how to keep them coming back, and when to stop doing what’s worked so far and pivot to something new.

Let’s break it down.

Step 1: Get Customers—It’s the First (and Most Expensive) Thing You’ll Learn

Acquiring a customer simply means getting that first time buyer. That’s the whole game when you’re just starting out. And getting that first-time customer is going to cost you. Not just in money, but in time, brain space, and effort. Basically the sum of all your marketing is how you get customers. And marketing doesn’t come to most of us naturally.

You might be using organic posts, SEO, email, SMS, Meta ads, Google ads, influencers, maybe even Pinterest or TikTok. Whether it costs dollars or just your time and energy, it all counts.

Want to know what it’s actually costing you to acquire customers?

“Choose a defined period of time – at least six months,  a year is even better. Simply add up the cost of all your marketing and divide that cost by the number of first-time customers you get.”

That number is your Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC). And it’s probably higher than you think.

 

Step 2: Make Each Customer Worth More

Once you’ve figured out how to acquire customers, it’s time to get smart about keeping them—and getting them to buy again. We’ve got to set ourselves up for success by maximizing the lifetime value of that customer.

If your product is replenishable, make it easy for them to re-order. If it’s not? You still need other products that appeal to the same person—don’t go inventing something totally different for a new audience.

This is where your profit starts to show up. This is where your sales become predictable and reliable.

So how do you do it? Stay visible.

Here are a few ways to stay top of mind:

  • Set up a post-purchase email automation: It’s a thank you for becoming a customer, and a warmup to place a second order.

  • Include them in weekly email campaigns and events: Give people a reason to buy

  • Launch new products or variants: Even a new scent, a new color, or a collectible can get existing buyers excited to come back.

  • Create VIP offers or memberships: If you have customers who buy regularly… consider a group, like a Facebook VIP group.

  • Keep posting organically: Frequency is key

 

The Strategy Most Store Owners Rely On

Here’s what most ecommerce owners do once they’ve got a customer base: they launch more products to the same audience.

They don’t have to have a big ad spend. These are mostly things that they can do without a lot of cost, and it leads to an increase in their conversion rate.

It works. It gets sales. It builds momentum.

But…


The Metric You MUST Watch

There’s one number that tells you when it’s time to shift gears: your Returning Customer Rate.

Go to your Shopify dashboard and  have a look at your returning customer percentage.

Here’s how to read it:

  • Under 30%? You’ve got room to grow with your current customer base.

  • 30–40%? Sweet spot. You’re balancing new customer acquisition and keeping current customers happy.

  • Over 40%? That’s a red flag.

When you’re too reliant on returning customers, your growth starts to shrink. You’re constantly creating new SKUs just to keep up. Inventory bloats. Profit slips. And the number of new customers coming in isn’t enough to replace the ones who stop buying. You’re actually losing more customers than you’re gaining, and so your pool of buyers is actually shrinking every month.


Step 3: Know When It’s Time to Shift Gears

If your Returning Customer Rate is climbing too high, it’s time to pivot. You want to shift your focus to going out and looking for more customers. Knowing full well that you are already set up to maximize your lifetime value.

Here’s what that looks like in practice:

  • Stop creating endless new SKUs.

  • Focus on selling your existing products to new buyers.

  • Resist the voice that says your customers “need something new.”

“Everything you have in your store is new to the people that aren’t your customers yet.”

That’s the mindset shift. You don’t need more products—you need more people.

 

Take Action: What’s Your Next Move?

Here’s what I want you to do next:

  1. Check your Returning Customer Rate in your Shopify dashboard.

  2. If it’s under 30%, focus on getting current customers to buy again.

  3. If it’s over 40%, switch gears and put your attention on acquiring new customers.

That’s the fastest way for sure to grow your sales without spending a ton of money on ads.


Growth Isn’t Magic—It’s Knowing What to Do Next

Growing your sales isn’t just about more hustle. It’s about learning these three things:

  1. How to get customers

  2. How to keep them buying

  3. When to go find more of them

If you want to grow your sales, you have to make this switch. So go check your dashboard. Then get to work!

 

RELATED LINKS:

How Melissa reduced her cost of acquiring a customer by 44%

https://thesocialsalesgirls.com/how-melissa-reduced-her-cost-of-acquiring-a-customer-by-44-percent-episode-191/

Do you even know what it costs to get a new customer?

https://thesocialsalesgirls.com/do-you-even-know-what-it-costs-to-get-a-new-customer-episode-187/

The piece of the puzzle you’ve been missing

https://thesocialsalesgirls.com/the-piece-of-the-puzzle-youve-been-missing-episode-258/

Ready For Results? I Think You Should Hear This

https://thesocialsalesgirls.com/ready-for-results-i-think-you-should-hear-this-episode-243/

New FREE Course

GROW YOUR SALES

(without breaking the bank)

Conversion School is a step by step process to grow your sales,
without spending a fortune on risky ad strategies, or discounting your products.

Works for Ecommerce stores at all stages.

Start getting consistent sales, and see significant sales growth every month.

New FREE Course

GROW YOUR SALES

(without breaking the bank)

Conversion School is a step by step process to grow your sales,
without spending a fortune on risky ad strategies, or discounting your products.

Works for Ecommerce stores at all stages.

Start getting consistent sales, and see significant sales growth every month.

2 Simple Steps To A Better Conversion Rate, Episode 268

2 Simple Steps To A Better Conversion Rate, Episode 268

No time to listen now? We'll send it to your inbox. No time to listen now? We'll send it to your inbox. or scroll down to get the highlights2 Simple Steps to a Better Conversion Rate—And the Fatal Mistake Most Store...

Advice From A Multi-Million Dollar Store, Episode 266

Advice From A Multi-Million Dollar Store, Episode 266

No time to listen now? We'll send it to your inbox. No time to listen now? We'll send it to your inbox. or scroll down to get the highlightsFrom Etsy Side Hustle to Multi-Million Dollar CEO: What Bethany Would Do...

Do This If You Aren’t Reaching Your Goals, Episode 260

Do This If You Aren’t Reaching Your Goals, Episode 260

No time to listen now? We'll send it to your inbox.

No time to listen now? We'll send it to your inbox.

or scroll down to get the highlights

Struggling to Reach Your Goals? Here’s the Simple Fix Every Store Owner Needs

There’s nothing worse than setting a goal for your business, feeling excited about it, and then… failing to hit it.

You start wondering, What’s wrong with me? Why is everyone else growing while I feel stuck? You see other business owners posting wins in your Facebook groups or showing off their latest sales milestone, and suddenly, you feel like you’re doing everything wrong.

Here’s the thing: you’re not the problem, but your goal-setting strategy might be. And I can show you how to fix it.

The difference between store owners who reach their goals and those who don’t isn’t luck, talent, or some magic marketing hack—it’s how they set, qualify, and stick to their goals. And today, I’m giving you a simple, four-step process that will help you set goals you can actually achieve—without the constant frustration.

Why You’re Not Reaching Your Goals (And Why It’s Not Your Fault)

One of the biggest mistakes I see store owners make? Chasing vague, long-term “one day” goals instead of setting clear, measurable short-term ones.

Here’s how that usually plays out:

  • You decide, I want to grow my email list (but you don’t define what that means).
  • You start working toward it, but after a few weeks, it doesn’t seem to be growing fast enough.
  • You get discouraged and pivot to something else (Maybe I need to work on my social media instead!)
  • A few months go by, and… you’re right back where you started.

Sound familiar?

The real issue isn’t that you’re not capable—it’s that you’re setting yourself up for frustration by not defining exactly what success looks like.

 

So many of us don’t have clear goals. And these are goals that make sense and are achievable for you and your business, and they’re in a defined period of time. They’re not like a somewhere-out-there goal—it’s a clear goal, a short sprint.

 

 

So let’s fix that.

Step 1: Stop Chasing “One Day” Goals—Set Clear, Measurable Goals

Your first task: define your goal in a way that makes it impossible to ignore.

A good goal should have:

✅ A specific number (e.g., grow your email list from 1,000 to 5,000 subscribers)
✅ A deadline (e.g., within six months)
✅ A why (e.g., “Once I hit 5,000 subscribers, I should be able to increase my sales by $3,000/month”)

Write it down. Seriously, this step alone makes a huge difference. Put it on a sticky note, in your planner, or as your phone wallpaper—anywhere you’ll see it daily.

Step 2: Qualify Your Goal—Is It Actually Doable?

Before you commit, let’s do a quick reality check.

A great goal isn’t just about what you want—it’s about what’s actually achievable based on:

  • Time: Can you realistically do this in the timeframe you’ve set?
  • Money: How much will this cost?
  • Past Results: Have you done anything before that got you similar results?

For example, let’s say your goal is to grow your email list from 1,000 to 5,000 subscribers in six months. That’s 4,000 new leads.

If your current pop-up is bringing in 200 new subscribers a month, you’re not going to hit 4,000 just by doing what you’ve always done. You’ll need additional strategies—maybe a quiz, a giveaway, or some paid ads.

More importantly, you need to know what a lead costs you. If it’s costing you $3 a lead, 4,000 leads are going to cost you $12,000. But most e-commerce stores can get leads for $.30- $1. So if you need 4,000 leads, and they cost $1 each, are you able or willing to spend $4,000?

If the answer is no, adjust your goal to something you can commit to.

Step 3: Make an Action Plan—And Stick to It

Now that you have a clear, realistic goal, it’s time to map out exactly how you’ll get there.

Start by asking:

  • What has worked for me before? (Look at past list-building efforts)
  • What can I do for free? (Think: collaborations, referral programs, pop-ups)
  • What will I need to invest in? (Paid ads, giveaways, etc.)
  • Who can help me? (A coach, a business friend, or an accountability partner)

The key here is focus. Don’t get distracted by shiny new tactics every few weeks—commit to a plan and give it enough time to work.

 

You have to do the same thing longer than you thought you ever should have to actually get the results you want.

 

Step 4: Track Your Progress + Hold Yourself Accountable

If you’re not tracking your progress, how do you know if what you’re doing is working?

You need a simple tracking system to monitor:

Your key metric (e.g., number of new subscribers per week)
Your ad spend vs. cost per lead
Your progress toward your goal

The best way to stay on track? Set up accountability.

  • Book a coaching call every two weeks (or find an accountability partner).
  • Have a “check-in” meeting with yourself every Friday to review what’s working.
  • Commit to sticking with your plan instead of switching strategies too soon.

Stay the Course

Reaching your goals isn’t about trying harder—it’s about having a system that works.

If you’re constantly setting goals but never quite reaching them, it’s time to change how you approach goal-setting.

💡 Write your goal down.
💡 Make sure it’s realistic.
💡 Create a focused action plan.
💡 Track your progress + stay accountable.

Most importantly? Stick with it. The only way to guarantee failure is to keep giving up too soon.

And to make it even easier, I’ve created a Good Goals Worksheet that walks you through the entire goal-setting process. Download it [HERE]

Let’s make this the year you finally hit those milestones.

 

 

RELATED LINKS:

Download my Good Goals Worksheet HERE

How long will it take to reach your goals?

https://thesocialsalesgirls.com/how-long-will-it-take-to-reach-your-goals-episode-203/

The powerful work that will get you to your goals

https://thesocialsalesgirls.com/the-powerful-work-that-will-get-you-to-your-goals-episode-159/

How to Create Profit Goals

https://thesocialsalesgirls.com/how-to-create-profit-goals-episode-209/

 

New FREE Course

GROW YOUR SALES

(without breaking the bank)

Conversion School is a step by step process to grow your sales,
without spending a fortune on risky ad strategies, or discounting your products.

Works for Ecommerce stores at all stages.

Start getting consistent sales, and see significant sales growth every month.

New FREE Course

GROW YOUR SALES

(without breaking the bank)

Conversion School is a step by step process to grow your sales,
without spending a fortune on risky ad strategies, or discounting your products.

Works for Ecommerce stores at all stages.

Start getting consistent sales, and see significant sales growth every month.

2 Simple Steps To A Better Conversion Rate, Episode 268

2 Simple Steps To A Better Conversion Rate, Episode 268

No time to listen now? We'll send it to your inbox. No time to listen now? We'll send it to your inbox. or scroll down to get the highlights2 Simple Steps to a Better Conversion Rate—And the Fatal Mistake Most Store...

Advice From A Multi-Million Dollar Store, Episode 266

Advice From A Multi-Million Dollar Store, Episode 266

No time to listen now? We'll send it to your inbox. No time to listen now? We'll send it to your inbox. or scroll down to get the highlightsFrom Etsy Side Hustle to Multi-Million Dollar CEO: What Bethany Would Do...