Have you ever created an online store that felt like a total win—great gear, a clean design, easy to navigate—only to be met with underwhelming sales?
You’re not alone. A well-built web store is only half the equation. The other half? Promotion. And that part falls on your customers—the teams, schools, or organizations you're building the store for. But just because you can’t force them to promote the store doesn’t mean you can’t help them do it.
We put together a one-pager that outlines five simple steps your customers can take to promote their online store. Use it as a tool—but don’t stop there. Here’s how you can go one step further to make each of those steps even easier for your clients to follow.
1. Get Social
Tip for your customers: Share your store on Facebook, Instagram, or in group chats using the flyer and QR code Chipply provides.
Your move:
Besides the standard store flyer Chipply creates, go the extra mile by sending social-ready assets—logo files, header banners, and background graphics you used when designing the store. Keep them in .jpg or .png formats, sized appropriately for social posts and stories. To make it even easier, you can use Canva’s free templates to create polished, ready-to-share graphics in no time. The easier it is to post, the more likely they are to do it.
Use these Canva templates to get started!
Click on each image to find a Canva template you can use to make it your own.
2. Build the Buzz
Tip for your customers: Start teasing your store at least a week before it opens—use countdowns, sneak peeks, and teaser posts.
Your move:
Help them build anticipation by sending a few sneak peek images or mockups a few days before the store goes live. You can even create a short “Coming Soon” teaser flyer. Make sure all assets are formatted for quick posting. A simple nudge like, “Hey—here’s something you can share today to get people excited!” can go a long way.
3. Show Off the Gear
Tip for your customers: Use mockups or real photos to promote items once the store is live.
Your move:
If you created samples, take clean, styled photos (skip the desk clutter or warehouse backdrop). Not using physical samples? Tools like Canva or AI mockup generators can help you create elevated visuals that still show off the gear. Sharing polished images increases the chance they’ll get posted—and make a bigger impact when they do.
Use this prompt in ChatGPT along with an image of a shirt from your Chipply store to produce a similar image to this AI-generated example:
Please create a realistic mockup of a young adult wearing the shirt image I have shared. The person has a warm, confident expression and stands casually in front of a neutral brick or concrete wall that might be part of a school building. The lighting is soft and natural, giving a polished, lifestyle catalog look.
4. Spread the Word
Tip for your customers: Share a store announcement via email, text, or group messaging apps like WhatsApp, Signal, ClassDojo, and Remind.
Your move:
Write the message for them. Seriously—it works. Create a short, shareable announcement with a store link, order deadline, and a brief reason to buy. You can reuse this framework across multiple customers, swapping in store-specific details each time. Templates save time and make it easy for your clients to click send. And if you don’t want to spend time writing the messages yourself, let ChatGPT help you draft them in seconds.
Use the following ChatGPT prompt to create promotional messaging:
Can you help me write a short and shareable message promoting an online store? Include a reason to buy (like team spirit, fundraising, holiday gifts, etc.), a placeholder for the store link, and the order deadline. Make it sound clear, friendly, and easy for customers to understand and share. I’d like a few different examples I can reuse across different stores by just swapping in the link and details.
You should get messages like this:
Gear up, Mustangs fans! 🏈 Our official team store is now open—grab your apparel before the season kicks off.
🛒 [Store Link]
🗓️ Order deadline: August 1
Don't miss your chance to rep the team!
Start the school year in style! 📓 Our store is stocked with fresh gear for students, staff, and families.
🛒 [Store Link]
🗓️ Order deadline: August 15
Place your order today!
5. Finish Strong
Tip for your customers: Send a final “last call” message before the store closes.
Your move:
Use Chipply’s store countdown feature to create urgency, and when your store gets close to closing, send your client a final push message to post or send out. You can also adjust the “store close” email language in your account settings to include a clear reminder and a store link—just reach out to Team Chipply if you need help updating it.
Wrap-Up
You're the expert at building online stores for your customers, and you can be their coach for promoting their stores, too. Be proactive by sharing advice and resources that set your customers up for success. By sharing this one-pager below and being just a little more proactive, you’ll help your customers get better engagement, bigger orders, and more repeat business.
Need help prepping assets or customizing your promotion strategy? Team Chipply is here for you.
Resources
How to Promote Your Online Stores
Share this one-pager with your organizations to help them promote their stores and drive sales!
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