How to Drive Traffic to Your resale website: Strategies for Consignment and Resale Business

‍

Introduction

Emma runs a vintage resale store in Toronto. She has been running a successful brick and mortar store for the last 7 years. She recently made a decision to start her website.
‍
Her question to me was, "so how do I drive traffic to my website to make more sales?"

Here are some strategies I came up with that have helped resale stores grow and scale in the past, including Tokki.
Amanda from Tokki, moved from selling in her basement during the pandemic to selling via her website and finally transitioning to a retail location.

‍

1. Boost Visibility with SEO

Emma’s website needs to be easy to find when potential customers are searching for consignment or resale items online. By optimizing her site for search engines, she can ensure her store shows up in relevant search results. This involves using keywords like “affordable designer resale,” “unique secondhand treasures,” or “consignment deals” throughout her product descriptions and blog posts.

Over time, these efforts will help Emma’s site climb higher in Google rankings and attract more organic traffic.

‍

‍

2. Participate in Local Events or Pop-Ups

Emma’s physical presence in local events or pop-up markets can do wonders for her brand visibility. Events like trunk shows or community flea markets are perfect opportunities to meet potential customers in person and direct them to her website or ask for their emails. By handing out business cards with her URL or QR codes, she ensures that event attendees know exactly where to go when they want to explore her offerings further.
‍

3. Leverage Social Media to Create Buzz

Emma's social media platforms, like Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok, are goldmines for building her online presence. By actively posting engaging content, showcasing her best consignment finds, and even offering behind-the-scenes glimpses of her process, she can draw people into her brand story. For instance, short TikTok videos showing "how to style a resale find" or Instagram Reels featuring a treasure hunt in her store can spark curiosity and get her audience clicking over to her website.

‍

‍

4. Implement a QR Code Campaign for Seamless Cross-Promotion

Emma can bridge the gap between her physical store and her online presence with a simple tool: QR code. Strategically placing QR codes in-store (on receipts, product tags, or at the checkout counter) can encourage shoppers to explore her website. A quick scan could take them to exclusive online collections or a signup page for special discounts, helping her effortlessly convert in-store customers into website visitors.

‍

5. Offer Incentives for Website Visits

Everyone loves a good deal, and Emma can use that to her advantage. Offering discounts or loyalty rewards exclusively for online purchases gives her audience a reason to check out her website. For example, she could promote a “10% off your first online order” campaign or exclusive access to limited-time items available only on the site.

‍

‍

6. Start by collecting customer emails

Emma can grow her email list by offering something of value, like a free styling appointment or discount on her items. She can collect emails via Mailchimp (embedded on her website) or any other email marketing platform.
Once she has a subscriber list, she can send out regular newsletters featuring updates, curated product highlights, and promotions. These emails serve as gentle nudges to bring customers back to her website.

For example, a subject line like “Just In: Designer Finds You’ll Love!” paired with a link to her new arrivals page can be highly effective in driving traffic.

‍

7. Collaborate with Influencers or Local Bloggers

Partnering with influencers or local bloggers who align with Emma’s brand is a fantastic way to tap into new audiences. She could invite a fashion-forward influencer to create content featuring her products, or collaborate with a local blogger on a giveaway or in exchange for clothing. For example, Emma could offer a $50 gift card to her store as a prize, with entry requirements like visiting her website or following her on social media. This not only builds brand awareness but also encourages immediate engagement with her online platform.

‍

‍

8. Analyze and Optimize for Continuous Growth

Finally, Emma should make it a habit to monitor her website analytics to see what’s working and what’s not. Is a specific blog post driving lots of traffic? Is one product page converting better than others? By diving into the data, Emma can fine-tune her strategies to maximize their impact. Whether it’s tweaking her email campaigns or testing a new social media strategy, a data-driven approach will keep her website growing over time.

‍

‍

Final Thoughts

Driving traffic to a website takes consistent effort, but for Emma, it’s more than worth it. After all, each visitor represents not just a potential sale, but a chance to share her passion for consignment and resale with the world. With these strategies, her website can become a bustling hub for customers who love discovering unique treasures.