August 7, 2025
by Joel Atkinson

What to Do When You’re Getting Traffic But No Sales

You’ve done it. People are finally visiting your website.

You’re running ads, you’ve got organic traffic trickling in, maybe even a few influencers gave you a shoutout. You open your analytics, see hundreds (or thousands) of visitors… and yet, barely anyone is buying.

Sound familiar?

This is one of the most frustrating problems ecommerce founders face. At Gro, we call this the traffic trap. And it’s a sign that your problem isn’t visibility. It’s conversion.

In this post, we’ll break down exactly why this happens, what to fix, and how to turn your visitors into paying customers without rebuilding your entire website.

 

Why More Traffic Doesn’t Equal More Sales

There’s a big myth in ecommerce that traffic solves everything. “If I can just get more eyes on the store, sales will follow.”

But if your store isn’t converting, more traffic just means more people leaving.

We’ve worked with founders who’ve spent £500 or more on ads with zero return. Not because their product was bad, but because the journey from click to checkout was broken.

Your job isn’t just to get people in the door. It’s to guide them to the buy button.

Step 1: Know Where the Traffic Is Coming From

Not all traffic is equal. Before you start tweaking your store, you need to understand who’s landing on it and why.

Ask yourself:

  • Are they coming from Google, TikTok, Instagram or blogs?
  • What did they see just before they clicked?
  • What mindset are they in — are they just curious or ready to buy?

Here’s why it matters:

If someone comes from a viral TikTok, they might be excited but not ready to purchase. If someone finds you on Google searching “best natural shampoo for kids,” they’re much closer to conversion.

Action: Use your analytics to find top traffic sources. Then look at bounce rate and time on page. High bounce means wrong message or wrong people.

Step 2: Check Your Landing Experience

Once they click, what do they see?

One of the most common mistakes we see at Gro is ecommerce founders sending traffic to a homepage, rather than a focused product or landing page.

If your visitor has to scroll, click or search just to understand what you sell, they’ll leave. Fast.

Ask yourself:

  • Is it clear within 5 seconds what I sell and who it’s for?
  • Is there one clear call to action or multiple distractions?
  • Is my message aligned with where they came from?

Fix: Create specific landing pages for your main traffic sources. Make sure the headline speaks directly to the need or promise that brought them in.

Step 3: Build Trust (Immediately)

People don’t buy from brands they don’t trust, especially if you’re new.

Founders often think they need a more polished design, but the real win is social proof. What proof do you show to say “yes, people have bought this and loved it”?

Here’s what builds trust fast:

  • Reviews and testimonials (with names and photos if possible)
  • UGC or customer videos
  • Trust badges or clear policies (returns, delivery, etc.)
  • Real founder story or mission

Tip: Place these above the fold or near the add-to-cart button. Don’t bury your proof. Use it where hesitation happens.

Step 4: Remove Friction

Every click, scroll or confusion point is a chance to lose the sale.

You’re not just selling a product. You’re selling ease.

Here’s what to check:

  • How many clicks to buy? (Should be two or fewer)
  • Is your checkout page mobile-friendly?
  • Are you showing the final price early, including shipping?
  • Do customers know when the product will arrive?

Founder’s Rule: If Amazon can do it in 2 clicks, your brand shouldn’t take 6.

Step 5: Match Your Messaging to Your Customer

At Gro, we coach founders to build offers and pages using their Customer Discovery notes and Avatar insights. If your copy is vague, general or filled with buzzwords, people will click away.

Ask:

  • Does your page clearly say what it is and why it matters?
  • Does it answer the questions customers are already asking?
  • Are you using language they actually use?

Test this: Show your page to a stranger in your target audience. Give them 10 seconds and ask: “What does this brand do, and who is it for?”

If they hesitate, your copy isn’t clear enough.

Bonus Step: Add Urgency or Incentive

Sometimes people like your product. They just need a little nudge.

Try:

  • Low-stock indicators or limited quantities
  • First-time buyer codes
  • “Order in the next X minutes” for same-day dispatch
  • Free shipping thresholds

These don’t need to be pushy. Just helpful. You’re helping them make a decision now, not “maybe later.”

 

What You Should Do Next

If you’re getting traffic but not sales, don’t panic. Diagnose.

  1. Identify your top traffic sources
  2. Review what people see when they land
  3. Add social proof and trust signals early
  4. Simplify your buying journey
  5. Check if your message is clear, fast and specific

Growth isn’t about guessing. It’s about improving the right steps in the journey. That’s exactly what we teach inside Gro.

You don’t need more people. You need more action from the ones already visiting.

 

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