How to Improve Online Presence for an E-Commerce Business

In the ever-evolving digital landscape, the online presence of an e-commerce business can make or break its success. With more than 2.64 billion digital buyers in 2023, the competition in the online retail space is fierce. To cut through the noise, businesses need a strategic approach to building visibility, trust, and engagement with their target audience.

To uncover what truly works, we spoke with three seasoned e-commerce professionals who’ve successfully grown their brands online. They each shared one powerful strategy from their own toolkit that helped elevate their online presence and drive real results.

1. Leverage SEO to Build Sustainable Traffic

Olive Austin CEO ⁠ https://www.vug.style/

Olive Austin CEO vug.style

For Austin, an SEO consultant turned e-commerce entrepreneur, search engine optimization (SEO) has been the backbone of his online growth strategy.

“When we launched  All4KidsOnline, we realized paid ads could only take us so far,” Austin shared. “Investing in SEO helped us build sustainable organic traffic. We focused on optimizing product pages, writing long-form blog content targeting buyer intent keywords, and building backlinks from niche industry blogs.”

According to a study by BrightEdge, 68% of online experiences begin with a search engine, and SEO drives 1000%+ more traffic than organic social media. Steve recommends using tools like SEMrush or Ahrefs to identify high-performing keywords, and combining that with a content calendar focused on buyer questions and product comparisons.

“SEO is a long game,” he adds. “But the compounding effect is worth every bit of effort.”

2. Use Social Proof and Influencer Marketing to Build Trust

Leo Matthisen, CEO of EcoTrend Collective

Trust is a major conversion factor in e-commerce. Leo Matthisen, whose brand EcoTrend Collective grew 300% in 18 months, attributes a lot of their success to influencer partnerships and user-generated content.

“Shoppers today want authenticity,” Leo explains. “We started working with micro-influencers who genuinely used our eco-friendly products. Their content not only introduced us to new audiences but also created trust—because it came from real users.”

A recent Nielsen report supports this approach, stating that 92% of consumers trust recommendations from individuals (even if they don’t know them) over brands.

EcoTrend Collective also leverages product reviews and video testimonials.

“One tactic that worked wonders was featuring real customer reviews with photos on our homepage,” Leo says. “It drastically reduced bounce rates and increased time on site.”

He suggests using tools like Yotpo or Loox to collect and display social proof effectively.

3. Social Media & Content That Works

Ray Lauzums, Owner of Poggers

“Businesses don’t just post product photos nowadays — they tell stories. Whether it's a nostalgic throwback about a classic toy or a customer spotlight, content that resonates emotionally performs best,” said Ray. By tapping into emotion and authenticity, businesses have seen significantly higher engagement across all platforms.

“TikTok and Instagram Reels help e-commerce brands reach new audiences, while email marketing keeps the community engaged.” Short-form video content, in particular, has been a game-changer for visibility, and businesses have found that consistency and creativity are key to sustained growth.

Ray also highlights the importance of using tools like G