Local Visibility, Online Sales: Your Free Guide to the Shoppi Map

Imagine launching your new candle business, 'Wick & Bloom,' online. You've poured your heart into crafting unique scents, but now comes the hard part: getting discovered. You're competing with countless other brands, and advertising costs feel overwhelming. How do you cut through the noise and reach real customers, especially those right in your neighbourhood? This isn't just about having an online store; it's about making sure local buyers know you exist from day one, without spending a fortune on ads.

Step 1: Create Your Digital Home on Shoppi Cloud

Before local customers can find you, you need a central place online where your brand lives. Shoppi Cloud lets you quickly build an online presence tailored to your needs. Whether it's a simple E-commerce Landing Page for your products or a Mobile Checkout / QR Code system for in-person sales, you can get set up in minutes.

You don't need to buy a custom domain to start. Shoppi Cloud provides premium subdomains like .shoppi.site or .shoppi.menu for free, complete with an automatic SSL certificate. This removes technical friction and allows you to focus on your products.

• Choose a .shoppi.site or .shoppi.menu subdomain for instant online presence.
• Upload your product catalog and engaging photos.
• Set up your E-commerce Landing Page or Mobile Checkout (for restaurants/physical stores).
• Connect your Stripe account for seamless payments.

Step 2: Get Discovered on the Shoppi Map (Shoppi Local)

This is where your brand gains its free local visibility. Every merchant using Shoppi Cloud can list their business on local.shoppi.app, our dedicated discovery map. This map connects local buyers with independent businesses in their vicinity, allowing them to find unique products and services nearby.

Think of it as your digital storefront on a bustling local street, but without the rent. Local shoppers looking for a specific item or simply wanting to support local businesses will find you organically, driving valuable traffic directly to your online store or physical location without any ad spend.

• Verify your business location and operating hours on Shoppi Local.
• Add compelling descriptions and photos to your business profile.
• Keep your profile updated with new products or special offers.
• Encourage customers to leave reviews directly on your Shoppi Local page.

Step 3: Leverage 0% Platform Commission on Direct Sales

A significant pain point for many small businesses is the high percentage of each sale lost to platform commissions. With Shoppi Cloud, your direct sales — whether from your e-commerce landing page or in-store QR codes — incur 0% platform commission from us. This means you keep more of every sale.

You'll only pay the standard processing fees from your chosen payment gateway (like Stripe, typically 1.5-2.9%) plus a small 0.4% on-top transaction fee charged by Shoppi. Your funds go directly into your Stripe account, giving you immediate control over your liquidity without waiting for payouts from the platform.

You can set this up in a few minutes with a free Shoppi Cloud account — create yours here.

• Connect your existing Stripe account or create a new one.
• Ensure your E-commerce Landing Page or Mobile Checkout is set up to receive direct payments.
• Understand your total transaction costs are transparent and direct.

Step 4: Diversify with Shoppi Touchpoints

Don't limit yourself to a single sales channel. Shoppi Cloud's multi-touchpoint architecture allows you to activate various ways for customers to buy from you, all managed from a single account. This flexibility ensures you're ready for any selling scenario, from online orders to pop-up shops.

Consider activating different touchpoints based on your business model. For restaurants, a Mobile Checkout / QR Code streamlines table orders. For event vendors and pop-up sellers, Events & Ticketing links make sales quick and easy. Freelancers or service providers can use Payment Links for quick invoicing, or Service Booking for appointments.

• Activate Mobile Checkout / QR Code for seamless in-person or table-side orders.
• Utilize Events & Ticketing links for pop-up shops, fairs, or workshops.
• Create Payment Links for quick invoices, social media sales, or B2B transactions.
• Explore Social Checkout for direct sales on platforms like Instagram and TikTok.

Step 5: Share Your Shoppi Store Everywhere

Once your Shoppi Cloud store is set up and visible on the Shoppi Map, make sure your unique link is everywhere your customers are. Your Shoppi subdomain (e.g., yourbrand.shoppi.site) is your direct pathway to sales and discovery.

Every physical interaction is an opportunity for online engagement. Printing QR codes for your storefront, including your link in email signatures, and consistently posting it on social media bridges the gap between your physical presence and your digital store, driving continuous organic discovery and sales.

• Add your .shoppi.site link to all your social media bios and posts.
• Display QR codes in your physical store, at events, or on product packaging.
• Include your Shoppi link in email signatures, business cards, and printed materials.
• Encourage customers to visit your online store for repeat purchases and new product drops.

By following these steps, your brand, like our 'Wick & Bloom' example, isn't just another needle in the digital haystack. You've established a robust online presence, gained free local visibility, and optimized your sales channels to keep more of your hard-earned money. You're now genuinely discoverable by local customers, fostering growth and community, without the drain of constant ad spend.

Ready to put your brand on the map and connect with local buyers? Try Shoppi Cloud today.