There are multiple ways in which your OA shop might not be facilitating sales with clients.

1. Product images: This is the first impression of your product so if you don't have a set-up to take high-quality photos, try adding multiple photos that showcase the product from multiple angles. Clean white background with natural lighting are a good way to achieve a professional clean look.

2. Tags: Tags are THE most important way to have your products found so make sure to add multiple tags to your products including the name of your shop so the products appear when people search for your name. Use descriptives and think of how you would search for your product.

3. Product description: Do you offer free shipping? Delivery? What does your product do? What is it made of? Make sure to have a clear description that concisely explain what you are selling. Keep in mind that if a buyer finds your product by the search engine, they will not see your seller profile so add all crucial information in the description of your product.

4. Bundle products: Can you sell multiple of your products with a deal? Create a product that is 3 for the price of X and advertise that bundle. It can be temporary but will allow you to clear some merchandise and drive traffic.

Even if you don't have a large following, you can use social media to make more sales.

1. Increase your social media following: A great way to increase your following on Instagram is to find your competitors! Go to their accounts and follow the people who follow them. They have already ''found'' the people with an interest in your products so capitalize on that. Facebook is a harder nut to crack as people are not so keen to like and follow pages. Tap into your own network to share your page but use Facebook as a place to acquire new clients in groups and send them directly to your shop.

2. Get better visual: Canva, Easil, Stencil, Crello... many platforms allow you to create free photo montages to showcase your products and your brand. Try to pick a font and a style and stick to it for your visual. You can dedicate a template for your 'New products', one for your 'Sales', etc. that way people easily recognize what is going on in your shop as they are familiar with your design style.

3. Use Hashtags properly: Generic hashtags will get you exposure all over Instagram but you want to focus on potential clients (local or who are interested in what you sell). As you are business, it's not so much about the quantity of followers but the quality as you want people interested in being informed about your shop. For example, using the hashtag #toy won't do much for you but #ottawatoy or #handmadetoycanada will do better to bring you potential clients. This is also a great place to see what hashtags your competitors are using. You can even find some apps in the app store that allows you to get some metrics on your Instagram account (who unfollowed you, what hashtags work best, your engagement rate, etc.)

4. Do coupons and sales: Try to have an 'event' at least once a month. It can be a coupon, a sale, a new product you release, a bundle, a giveaway... You don't have to lose money by always offering coupons but play with your price point to offset that cost. Chances are that your products are priced too low as most are on the platform! People will like feeling like they are seeing an exclusive deal by following your account and will want to participate and continue following you.

5. Facebook group: Find Facebook groups where people are likely to purchase your products (Buy and sell groups, neighbourhood group (ie. Stittsville Moms), etc.). I often see people posting their products in fellow vendor's group and while it might sometimes work, it's not the best place to get new clients or interested buyers.

6. Reduce steps in your buying process: ALWAYS have a direct URL to your shop when promoting a product on social media. You want to reduce the steps as much as possible to the sale as it gives people time to reconsider and change their mind about their purchase. If you have them send you a DM to see your collection (1), then a message to select a product (2), then an e-transfer (3)... these are all moments where they can back out of the purchase. You want them to get to your checkout page as quickly as possible. Same thing when responding for request for products on Facebook, always link to your shop so people can click and buy. More often than not, they will not contact you if you just share your business FB page as a lot of people will spam them your shop. If they can click and buy easily, they will take the path of least resistance.

7. You have a full shop, use it!: Bring people not just to your products but to your shop! You want them to see your other products as they are buying the one they came for and potentially add to their cart or buy a more expensive one. Link that shop to your FB or Instagram directly - not to a portfolio website where they can't buy your products.

8. Follow-up on your sale: Make sure you follow-up with your buyers and invite them to leave a review in your shop or follow your social media. You can easily create an effective templatized follow-up email that you can send to all your clients with that information.