Introduction
“I have an online store, but orders are few and far between—what can I do?”
If this concern is familiar to you, you are not alone. Many small and medium-sized businesses in Greece have invested in online stores but are struggling to increase their sales. The good news? There are practical and actionable steps you can take to achieve sustainable growth by 2025.
Evaluating the eshop before advertising
Before you start any promotional activities, you need to make sure that your e-shop is working in your favor. What are the key points you need to evaluate?
- Speed & Mobile friendly: Over 70% of purchases are made on mobile devices. If your site is slow or doesn’t load properly, visitors will leave.
- UX (User Experience): Do you have clear CTAs? Functional filters and proper categorization?
- Basic SEO: Are product titles, descriptions, images, and URLs optimized?
- Trust elements: Are there visible reviews, payment security (SSL), return policies, and live chat?
If you need professional optimization, check out our service forα SEO & performance.
Interconnection with marketplaces: Skroutz & BestPrice
If you want to increase your sales quickly, being present on major Greek marketplaces such as Skroutz Marketplace and BestPrice can offer immediate exposure to a ready-made audience of buyers. However, you need a strategy to stand out from the competition.
Advantages of working with marketplaces
- Ready-to-buy audience: Thousands of users search for products on Skroutz and BestPrice every day. Your visibility there translates directly into traffic and potential orders.
➡️ Suggestion: Start with products that are in demand and competitively priced. - Built-in review system: Positive customer reviews increase credibility and boost future sales.
➡️ Suggestion: Politely request feedback with a follow-up email after purchase or with an insert in the packaging. - Simplified checkout: Purchases are made within the marketplace, without the customer having to visit your eshop.
➡️ Suggestion: Ensure you have up-to-date stock and immediate availability to avoid cancellations.
Disadvantages you should be aware of
- Commissions & fees: Marketplaces charge a commission per order, plus any management costs.
➡️ Suggestion: Calculate your net profit margin. Don’t upload all your products, only those that are financially viable. - Limited brand visibility: Users buy from the marketplace and not necessarily from your brand.
➡️ Suggestion: Use branded packaging (e.g., thank you card with a QR code linking to your website). - Price war: Users often filter by “lowest price” and prices are set competitively.
➡️ Suggestion: If you can’t be cheaper, offer extra value (e.g., a gift, bundle, better support).
Tips to stand out in competitive listings
- High-quality photos: Users click first on impressive images.
➡️ Suggestion: Avoid simple photos from manufacturers – take your own lifestyle photos with a white background and a clean product. - Descriptions with SEO & features: The description plays a role in conversion.
➡️ Suggestion: Write descriptions that answer customer questions and add technical features to appear in relevant filters. - Strategic pricing: You don’t always have to be the cheapest. You can win with offers or bundles.
➡️ Suggestion: E.g., “1+1 free,” “set of 3 items with 10% off,” or a package with an additional service (e.g., warranty). - Competitive shipping time: Skroutz shows how fast you ship—users see it and prefer it.
➡️ Suggestion: If you have an urgent delivery (e.g., within 24 hours), state this clearly. - Frequent account monitoring and management: Update your prices, inventory, and descriptions regularly.
➡️ Suggestion: Use ERP or a connection plugin to synchronize with your eShop, especially if you have a large volume of products.
Advanced Tip: Acquiring new customers through Marketplace
Even if the first purchase is made on Skroutz or BestPrice, you can direct the customer to your own e-shop for future orders.
- Add a QR code or card saying “visit our website for exclusive offers” inside the package.
- Offered a discount on the next purchase only from the site
Use Google Ads to immediately increase orders in your online store
Advertising through Google Ads is one of the most direct tools for increasing orders.
Formats that deliver results:
- Shopping Ads: Ideal for natural products – displayed directly with image, price, and name.
- Search Ads: For targeted searches such as “women’s sneakers sale”
- Performance Max: Automated campaigns aimed at sales
Strategies:
- Geotargeting: You target large cities with strong purchasing power
- Remarketing: Reactivation of visitors who did not purchase
- Abandoned cart campaigns: Reminders to those who left products in their cart
For optimized campaigns, see Firstidea’s Digital Marketing service.
Social Media: Sales via Instagram, TikTok & Facebook
The right social media strategy can turn a casual visitor into a buyer.
Content-first approach:
- Instagram Reels & TikTok videos showing actual use of the product
- User Generated Content (UGC): republishing customer photos
- Live presentations or giveaways for engagement
Ads that deliver:
- Carousel Ads: Ideal for collections
- DPA (Dynamic Product Ads): Automatic ads based on user history
- Lead Gen Ads: For collecting emails
Need help with Instagram and TikTok? Check out our service for Social Media Marketing.
Influencer Marketing in Greece: How to leverage it for your online store
Influencer marketing in Greece continues to deliver results, especially in niche communities.
Micro vs Macro Influencers:
- Micro: 3K–30K followers with high engagement – most effective for local SMEs
- Macro: Wide exposure, but higher cost
How to find them and what to offer
- Use tools such as Heepsy or collaborations via DM
- Offer affiliate links, discounts for followers, or flat fees
Beware of fake stats:
- Check comments for authenticity
- Request reports on clicks or conversions
Email Marketing for Eshops: The Forgotten Gold
Email marketing remains one of the most effective tools for increasing orders in e-shops, with the highest ROI per euro compared to other media. And yet, many companies ignore it or apply it superficially.
What should an email marketing strategy include?
- Newsletters: Weekly or monthly updates with new arrivals, offers, or seasonal trends (e.g., Black Friday, Easter, summer sales).
- Segmentation: Separation of lists according to purchase history, interest, or geographic location (repeat clients, new leads, VIP customers).
- Automatic email sequence for abandoned carts: Triggered when someone adds products to their cart and leaves without completing the order.
Why are abandoned shopping carts a sales opportunity?
Approximately 7 out of 10 users abandon their shopping cart before checking out. If there is no follow-up, that sale is lost. With a well-structured series of automated emails, you can bring the customer back and complete their purchase.
How does it work?
The system recognizes the customer (via login or email capture) and triggers an automated sequence of emails with personalized content.
Best Practice: Series of 3 automated emails
- Email 1 – Reminder (after 1 hour):
Friendly message showing what they left in their basket. Includes product images and call to action. Subject: Did you forget something? Your products are waiting for you! - Email 2 – Reinforcement of need (after 24 hours):
Emphasizes that products may sell out or presents a review that builds trust. Subject: The products in your cart are about to sell out! - Email 3 – Offer or Incentive (after 48–72 hours):
Includes a discount coupon or free shipping to complete your purchase. Subject: -5% extra to get everything you love ❤️
Technical implementation recommendations
- Use specialized platforms such as Mailchimp, Klaviyo, Moosend, or ActiveCampaign that offer abandoned cart automations.
- Request the email early (e.g., via guest checkout or popup) so that the sequence can be activated.
- Add dynamic blocks that display the specific products that the user has left in their cart.
Extra tip: Combination of SMS + Email
If you also have the customer’s mobile number, sending a reminder SMS alongside the email dramatically increases the conversion rate. SMS messages have open rates of over 90%.
Develop your eshop’s email marketing with Firstidea
Service and reliability: Market criteria in Greece
Good service makes all the difference, especially for purchases from unknown online stores.
- Fast shipping: We work with reliable couriers and keep you updated on the progress of your order.
- Return policy: Clear, with instructions & no fine print
- Notifications: Automated emails for each order stage
If you need hosting and security solutions, Firstidea offers full support.
Exports & international sales: Amazon, Etsy, and Facebook Ads
If your product has export potential, start promoting it outside Greece.
- Amazon & Etsy: Ιδανικά για εξειδικευμένα ή χειροποίητα προϊόντα
- Facebook/Instagram Ads: Targeting Greeks abroad in England, Germany, Australia
- Multilingual eshop: With payment and shipping options outside Greece
Summary
There is no single answer to the question “how can I increase orders on my e-shop?” It requires strategy, technical infrastructure, and consistency. In 2025, the tools are available—they just need to be used correctly and methodically.
If you want an e-shop that really sells, with professional guidance and support, the Firstidea team is here for you.
