Ecommerce is a multi-billion dollar industry. Make sure you get started right and learn how to sell products online successfully with our top tips.
If you’re looking to sell products in the online arena, it’s an excellent time to get started. Ecommerce is stronger than ever. Now’s the perfect time to tap into a market and attract customers who’ll love the products you sell!
Even though you’re ready to start an online shop, there are some tips to keep in mind. And, the more you prepare, the more likely you’ll succeed.
Check out these tips to make your experience as an online seller go off without a hitch!
Table of Contents
1. Create a Strategy
Before selling anything, come up with a strategy.
A strategy will help you establish goals. And, it’ll ensure you have a plan in place as you begin to sell products.
Your strategy doesn’t have to be elaborate. Mainly, you need to have a vision and know the audience you’re targeting. Learning about your competition should also be a part of your strategy.
Having a strategy in mind right from the get-go is wise. Then, as time goes on, you can change your goals and methods of doing things as needed.
2. Choose the Right Price
Selecting the right price for a product will dictate how many products you’ll sell. It’s not always easy deciding on the right price, so be patient with yourself.
It’s helpful to figure out the right price based on the time and labor you spent.
Also, check to see how your competitors price similar products. Seeing their prices will give you a good idea of how you can price like items.
Although, don’t price everything the same as your competitors. Follow your gut and sell things based on your research and experience instead.
3. Consider Your Customer’s Needs
Even though you’ve decided what to sell, stay open to selling different types of products. You may be selling lip gloss, for example, but are open to selling eyeshadow in the future as well.
Listen to what the needs of your customers are and the type of products they want.
If they love your lip gloss, then chances are they won’t be able to get enough of your eyeshadow, too!
4. Use What’s Available to You
Just because you’ve decided to sell products doesn’t mean you need to invest in a website right off the bat.
Use what is already available to you, such as Amazon or eBay, to sell your products. Both sites will make a profit from what you sell. But depending on how much you sell, it may not make that big of a difference.
Try out a site like eBay and see how it works. You can always change your mind later or decide to create your own website.
Some business owners sell their products on sites like eBay and also have their own websites. It depends on what you prefer and how well your online shop performs.
We’ll discuss a bit about what having your own website should entail next.
5. Have a Secure Website
If you decide to have your own site, the security must be top-notch. Your customer’s information must remain safe.
Make security your number one priority. That way, there’s no chance of hackers getting a hold of personal information.
If something happens, you’ll lose the trust of your customers, and it’s hard to recover from that.
6. Invest in a Good Camera
It’s challenging to sell products if the pictures aren’t exceptional.
Use a smartphone with a high-rated camera or buy a camera you can take outstanding photos with.
If budget isn’t an issue, consider hiring a photographer to take photos of your products. A professional knows how to use the proper lighting so that the products will stand out.
Not everyone has photos that highlight products well, so work hard to stand out that way.
7. Write Honest Descriptions
While it’s good to write exciting descriptions of a product, they need to be accurate.
Write about each product in detail and what it includes. Google’s updated search algorithm rewards product reviews that are well researched, instead of just keyword stuffed.
So, go beyond only describing a product. Google ranks sites higher in their search engines when they do.
In addition, your content should be unique and insightful. It should also be well-written and accurate.
Keep this in mind when writing your product descriptions, as you can gain Google’s favor. Customers will appreciate descriptions of products that are creative and well researched, too.
8. Build an Email List
One way to get a flock of customers is by building an email list. After gaining a new subscriber, offer them something free. Then, after they’ve subscribed, send out emails that add value and get them hooked.
You must be honest and genuine with your writing. You don’t want to come across as fake and only eager to win a subscriber’s favor.
Customers like shops that listen to their needs. Besides that, there may be other ways to connect with your audience. A few examples are running a giveaway and giving them a behind-the-scenes glimpse of how you run your shop.
9. Offer Excellent Customer Service
Offering top-notch customer service should also be at the top of your list. Questions will come up, and you should have a designated person follow up with them.
Whether it’s you that responds or someone else, you should get back to them in a timely fashion. If customers feel ignored, they may not return or let others know that your customer service isn’t excellent.
With social media at their fingertips, it’s easy for them to make comments online. So, it’s up to you to keep them happy.
To retain customers, it’s vital they get their questions answered as soon as possible.
Conclusion
Creating an online store is a fun experience that can fulfill you as a seller. It may take a while to get into the swing of things, but that’s how it is for everyone.
The harder you work, the more your efforts will pay off.
Even when you feel like quitting, don’t! Don’t stop until you’ve developed a store you’re proud of and have done everything possible to make it succeed.
Author bio:
Caitlin Sinclair is the Property Manager at Azure (CA) and has five years of experience in property management and many years in Customer Service. She shares her passion for her community in all that she does and thrives at making Azure the place to call home for current and future residents.
