This blog was updated on 05 May 2025, for more information connect with our team: https://www.easystore.co/contact 

10 Proven Strategies to Get Your First 100 Customers Online

You’ve just launched your online store—what’s next?

Customers won’t just appear without effort. You need to actively promote your brand, products, or services to attract your first buyers. 

In this blog, I’ll walk you through 10 effective strategies to help you get your first 100 customers while building your brand at the same time.

In short, here’s the approach:Create awareness → Build trust → Drive purchases

1. Spread the Word to Friends and Family

Your first customers might already be in your contact list. 

Reach out to friends and family—ask them to support your new business by placing an order or sharing your store with their networks. 

Even if they don't buy, a simple shoutout can create valuable awareness.

Word of mouth remains one of the most powerful marketing tools, especially in the early stages.

2. Leverage Social Media Effectively

Social media offers a free and powerful way to grow your presence. 

Choose a platform that matches your target audience and start creating engaging content.

To succeed on social media, you must stand out and offer content your audience cares about.

Tips to attract customers through social media:

• Make your content relevant: Understand your audience’s needs, pain points, and desires. Tailor your content to address them directly.

• Use attention-grabbing visuals: You only have 1.7 seconds to capture attention. Use high-quality images or videos to increase engagement. Free tools like Canva and CapCut offer beginner-friendly templates.

• Post content that adds value:

  • Share product care guides

  • Answer FAQs

  • Ask for audience opinions

  • Post short, engaging videos

  • Host a giveaway

3. Partner with Other Brands for Visibility

Build credibility by associating with more established brands. Collaborate with suppliers, distributors, or service providers. Offer them a revenue share, sponsorship perks, or a discount in exchange for a public endorsement.

Opportunity alert: During the pandemic, initiatives like Visa #WhereYouShopMatters helped feature small businesses for free—giving them both exposure and credibility.

4. Optimize Your Store for SEO

Most customers Google before they buy. To be discovered, you must make your site search-friendly. SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is a long-term strategy that brings in free traffic over time.

EasyStore provides an SEO editor to help optimize your website easily.

Pro tips:

• Focus on long-tail keywords. Instead of "college fashion wear," go for something like “best fashion wear to stand out on campus.”

• Publish helpful content regularly to increase your visibility.

Learn how to grow your traffic even in a saturated market with our step-by-step guide.

5. Run Paid Ads for Fast Results

Paid ads are a fast way to drive traffic and measure your return on investment.

Different platforms suit different goals:

• Google Ads: Ideal for reaching users with purchase intent.

• Facebook/Instagram: Great for hyper-targeting audiences by interest, location, and behavior.

Make sure you identify your target audience before choosing a platform.

6. Use Affiliate Marketing

Instead of hiring a sales team, get others to promote your product in exchange for a commission.

Affiliates can be anyone—friends, customers, influencers, or even bloggers.

This method is low-risk and scalable: you only pay when they bring in actual sales.

To make tracking easier, try EasyStore’s affiliate marketing system to automate the process. Set a commission rate, generate unique links, and let the system track everything.

7. Showcase Customer Testimonials

Social proof builds trust. In fact, 70% of customers say positive reviews make them more likely to trust a business.

Use testimonials on:

• Product pages

• Social media

• Emails

• Packaging

• Ads

How to collect testimonials:

• Check your Facebook/Google reviews

• Add a thank-you card in your packages requesting feedback

• Send follow-up emails post-purchase

Check out examples like Jobbie Nut Butter to get inspired.

8. Establish Yourself as an Expert

When you don’t yet have customer reviews, position yourself as an expert in your niche. Show your knowledge and how your product can solve customer problems.

How to appear as an expert:

• Create “how-to” content. It’s the most-searched phrase on YouTube and Google.

• Be proactive in answering questions. Provide a helpful FAQ section.

Examples:

• “How to dress well for college girls”

• “How to care for your handmade leather bag”

By consistently offering value, you’ll attract loyal followers—and potential customers.

9. Run Limited-Time Promotions

Everyone loves a good deal. Use time-sensitive discounts to create urgency and encourage first-time purchases.

Ideas to try:

• Add a discount timer on your product pages

• Offer promo codes for new customers

• Distribute exclusive coupons through email or social media

These tactics help spark interest and drive conversions—fast.

10. Build a Beautiful, User-Friendly Website

Your store design matters. Shoppers decide within seconds whether to stay or leave. A clean, attractive, and easy-to-navigate site increases conversion.

Tips for a high-converting website:

• Choose a brand color palette and stick to it

• Use high-quality product photos

• Simplify navigation with clear menus and product categories

Take inspiration from Claire Organics—their site is clean, welcoming, and professional.

Final Thoughts

Getting your first 100 orders won’t happen overnight—but with the right strategy, it’s totally achievable. 

Start implementing these tips today and watch your store grow steadily with loyal customers.

Make Customers Love Buying From You

EasyStore empowers your brand to prioritize customers and enhance their experience, creating a unified customer experience (UCX) that makes customers love buying from you.

Over 50,000 brands have grown their businesses by embracing unified customer experiences (UCX) strategy through EasyStore across multiple sales channels - online store, retail outlets, marketplaces, and social media, ensuring consistency in product and service offerings for a seamless shopping journey.