When an online store isn't making sales, the cause is almost always one of three things: not enough of the right people are visiting, the people who visit don't trust or understand the offer, or paying is harder than it should be. Check your visitor numbers first. If few people visit, you have a traffic problem. If many visit and few buy, you have a page or checkout problem. Each one has a different fix, so diagnose before you change anything.
Step 1: Look at your numbers
Open your store analytics and check the last 30 days:
| What you see | What it means |
|---|---|
| Under ~100 visitors | Traffic problem: people don't know you exist |
| Many visitors, few checkouts started | Page problem: the offer isn't convincing |
| Many checkouts started, few paid | Checkout problem: something stops them paying |
On Paylead, your dashboard shows visitors, top pages, where people came from and which devices they use. See how to see who visits your online store.
Traffic problems
"I posted the link once"
One post reaches a small slice of your followers. Post about the product several times a week, in different ways: tips, proof, behind the scenes, offers. See 30 content ideas.
Talking to the wrong people
Selling skincare to your coding friends won't work. Go where your buyers already are: the right WhatsApp groups, TikTok niches, Facebook groups, or influencers they follow.
No reason to share
Give people something to pass on: a free checklist, a giveaway, a referral reward, or affiliates who earn when they bring a sale.
Page problems
The first screen doesn't explain the offer
On a phone, the top of the page must say what it is, who it's for and the price. If someone has to scroll to understand, many won't.
Bad photos
Dark, blurry or stolen photos kill trust. Use clear, real photos in daylight. For digital products, show inside pages, a lesson screenshot or a short preview video.
No proof
Add customer reviews, buyer messages (with permission) and a short "who I am" section. Ghanaian buyers have been burned by fake sellers, so proof matters.
Price with no context
GH₵ 300 feels expensive until you show what it replaces: "less than one private lesson" or "saves you GH₵ 1,000 in mistakes."
Unclear delivery
Say exactly how and when they get it: "Instant download by email" or "Accra delivery in 24 hours, other regions 2–3 days."
Checkout problems
"DM to order"
Every message you require loses buyers who don't want to chat or who message at midnight. Let them pay on the page by MoMo or card.
Surprise costs
A delivery fee that only appears at the end makes people leave. Show it early, or offer free delivery above a certain amount.
MoMo prompts that time out
Networks drop and prompts expire. Turn on cart reminders so people who didn't finish get a link back by email and SMS.
Only one way to pay
Some buyers want card, some MoMo, some pay on delivery. Offering the right mix for your product removes excuses.
A 7-day fix-it plan
- Day 1: check your analytics and decide which of the three problems you have.
- Day 2: rewrite the first screen of your best product page.
- Day 3: retake the photos.
- Day 4: add three reviews or testimonials.
- Day 5: turn on cart reminders and check delivery fees.
- Day 6: post about the product three times, three different ways.
- Day 7: compare visitors and sales with last week.
Frequently asked questions
How many visitors do I need to make a sale?
It varies widely, but many small stores convert somewhere around 1–3 in 100 visitors. If you have 30 visitors a month, focus on traffic before anything else.
Should I lower my price?
Usually not first. Fix trust and clarity before cutting price. A cheaper product nobody trusts still doesn't sell.
Would ads fix it?
Ads bring traffic. If the page or checkout is the problem, ads just make you pay for visitors who don't buy. Fix the page first, then run ads.
Read next: how to get your first online sale and how to get customers to pay before delivery.
