Selling online - a dream for the new era. Sitting in your pajamas and counting money. It seems that more and more people are doing it - normal people - but how? Apparently a decent product is enough to be already on the right track. With a little research into your business possibilities, you may be joining that list of independent entrepreneurs soon. Skip to the first step to get started.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Refine Your Business
Step 1. Study the competition
Before selling anything online, you need to know your competitors. If you're offering a not-so-unique product, but yours costs twice as much, takes twice as long to ship, and your site is hard to navigate, customers won't arrive. And, to top it off, it will help you find your clientele. You will find the virtual void just waiting to be filled by you.
- Where is your competition located? In a specific area of the web?
- How much do their products cost? What are the parameters?
- What is their goal? How do their products add value to society?
- Who or what is the most popular? Can you understand why?
- What's missing? How could you improve the purchasing process for the consumer?
- What products would you use? Which ones wouldn't you use? Because?
- In a dynamic world, how unique is your brand proposition?
Step 2. Refine your product
The best shop without a good product to sell is useless. What do you have to offer people? What is different about what is already on sale? The customers you interact with have literally access to hundreds of other options similar to yours. Why is yours better? Here are some points to consider:
- Does your product sell easily without being seen? How can you make it so?
- What is the lowest price you can get off at?
- How is your audience formed? What do you expect? How can it be reached more easily online?
- In a highly competitive market, what is your online marketing strategy to win customer trust?
Step 3. Prepare a business plan
It might seem a little superfluous or a waste of time, but it's the exact opposite. Without a plan, you will end up with 100 orders to dispatch by morning, no resources, and in red for shipping costs. These things need to be addressed in the beginning to avoid the subsequent collapse. Start thinking in these terms:
- How will you handle the requests? Do you have a reseller? Are you creating it all by yourself? What are you capable of and what are you unable to manage?
- How you will ship products to your customers (Hint: we'll get into it shortly).
- And what about taxes and laws?
- What about unexpected expenses? A domain, an online hosting service, marketing, advertising, etc.? Have you thought of everything?
Step 4. Start a business
Online companies are the same as real ones; you will have to pay taxes and manage the local bureaucracy (state, country - depending on where you are) to make sure everything is in order. Otherwise, you risk hefty fines or even jail. No government likes backroom trading, so make sure yours follows the rules.
- It varies from region to region. To make sure you are doing everything right, talk to friends and family or local merchants to inform yourself.
- For international customers, there may be additional laws to consider.
Step 5. Use social networks
Nowadays, if you're not connected to Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Instagram and everything else, you don't exist. If a prospect finds you on one of those platforms, they can easily be led to your online store. Otherwise it may never find you!
And on those social networks, promote yourself. Talk about your shop. Show your products. Tweet your photos. Update status with promotions. Get the word out as much as possible
Step 6. Study your possibilities
It's a scary process, so break it down. Here are your 3 basic options when it comes to the shape of your online business:
- Use an existing structure. Like eBay, Amazon or Etsy. You don't have to do that much besides having a reliable product; the rest is ready.
- Use an online commerce site to set up your store. It's an open-source project or hosting service that basically constitutes your personal store but everything (analytics, templates, payment processes, etc.) is ready to go. It's a great middle ground between doing nothing and doing everything.
Step 7. * Design your own website
If you are familiar with HTML and CSS languages (or someone who knows how to use them and is willing to help you), this is the most satisfying option.
We will analyze these 3 scenarios in detail in the next section
Part 2 of 3: Set up the shop
Using an existing structure
Step 1. Consider a third party managed solution
BigCommerce, 3dcart, Shopify, Yahoo! Merchant Solutions or osCommerce (just to name a couple) are third parties who can set up a shop for you (the second option mentioned above). At moderate prices, they'll set up your site (various styles are available at various prices) and basically take the worry out of programming. All you have to do is choose the style, upload the product, choose your payment preferences, and advertise yourself.
- In other words, if you don't know HTML or CSS and don't want to have to hire a web designer, this could be the solution. It gives you more control than, say, relying on Amazon, Etsy or eBay.
- You may want to think of it as a risk-lowering tactic. If anything goes wrong, the responsibility is theirs and not yours.
Step 2. Sell on eBay
Sure, it's a bit dated. But for selling unique items at affordable prices, eBay is still ideal. You can set prices, keep an eye on offers, and build a reputation pretty easily. It is a reliable and now historic site.
But it is also "historical" … in the sense that it is not very fashionable anymore. If you are looking for a steady stream of income, eBay may not be the right choice
Step 3. If you're selling artifacts, consider Etsy
This is an online shop for handicrafts and vintage items. If your product is described by any of these words, Etsy is the place for you. It's very easy to set up your shop and interact with customers - and the site is on the rise.
Etsy is also a community - if you have any questions, they'll be happy to help. You can join teams of buyers and sellers and get involved as much as you want
Step 4. If in doubt, turn to Craigslist
Perhaps the quickest way to make money online is by using Craigslist (if you have something people want, of course). All you have to do is write a short article in the appropriate section and wait for the answers. However, it is not seen as the most reliable of sources. Keep this in mind when considering the possibilities.
Craigslist mostly works in big cities. If you live in a small town, your articles are more likely to be ignored
Step 5. Become an Amazon Seller
Amazon isn't just for multinationals. Who would have thought that? All you have to do is create an account, list your products and wait for orders. Well, at least that's the idea.
Amazon is huge. Make sure you offer competitive prices and affordable shipping costs to begin with. It will get better when you have thousands of positive reviews
Step 6. Consider sites like Cafepress
It is a site where you design your products. You have templates, and when someone orders something, it's made for you. You can publish on the site anything you are able to create. If you don't know it, explore! Is what you have to offer already found or not?
A standard shop is free! You can, however, receive additional features for a monthly fee
Step 7. Try the advertisements and YouTube ads
Yep, online advertisements. That's exactly what it sounds like: videos promoting products (and you thought you've seen them all). Why not!?
And as for YouTube, it's probably self-explanatory. If the target loves you and you are a good seller, create your channel. Maybe you will be viral
By creating your own site
Step 1. Register a domain
If you've decided to go your own way (congratulations! It can turn out to be a lot easier in the long run), you need a domain. Some tips:
- Choose a ".com" site. It is the international standard.
- Avoid long, wrong, foreign and misleading words. "ilmigliorsitomaivistopervendereroba.com" is not a good idea.
- Try to avoid unnecessary dashes and other symbols. Potential customers may forget and get confused, and you may lose them.
Step 2. Choose a hosting service
You need a hosting that can give you the tools you need, provide you with enough bandwidth and storage space, and above all that can offer support when needed. It will cost around € 5-10 a month and may be perfect or not quite perfect. Some hosting to consider are DreamHost, Hostgator, Bluehost, Linode, and A Small Orange. Be sure to do your research before choosing!
You will probably want to install a "cart script". It's free and the right hosting will give you the option. When choosing hosting, make sure it offers "cPanel" with "Fantastico" scripts or, for Windows users, "Ensim Power Tools". That way, third party scripts won't be a problem
Step 3. Design your website
Remember when we said it was going to be a good move in the long run? It's because ultimately, you are in complete control. You can nitpick, you can take care of updates, switch hosting if you're not satisfied - essentially, you can do whatever you want. Excellent.
You could even hire a web designer if you don't trust your skills. However, make sure you realize the idea you have in mind - don't settle for the first thing they propose to you just to get rid of the thought
Step 4. Obtain a dedicated IP address and SSL certificate
Hosting will provide it to you, but it will likely come at a cost. A dedicated IP address will be very cheap, but an SSL certificate could cost at least € 30 a year. Why is it needed? Well, certify the site's security. In other words, it encrypts data, protecting customer information. Absolutely to consider.
Domain registries also offer certificates. If your hosting is asking too much in terms of money, look around and make some comparisons. You may be able to find cheaper ones somewhere else
Step 5. Marketing and advertising constantly
You are your own boss. You are on your own and now your job is to make yourself known. It's great, but very challenging. To get a stable flow of customers, you need to press. Here are some ideas:
- Stay active on social networks. Do you have to tweet again today? Yes. The answer is yes.
- Connect with other bloggers. Being active in a community will solidify your reputation. Especially if bloggers are part of a niche.
- Use Google Analytics. It is also completely free. You will see where your customers come from and what they are looking for.
- Consider online banners. Hey, you have to invest to make money, after all.
Step 6. Find a reliable way to get paid
Unless your customers are all dinosaurs, you will need some means of payment. It is usually an elegant way of saying "PayPal". Based on the size of your sales, they will retain a commission between 2.2% and 2.9% per transaction. A small price to pay for the incredible convenience.
You could also open a dedicated credit card account, yes. You could also use a different route, such as "2Checkout" or "Authorize.net". Do a little research online to find the cheapest option that best suits your needs, just in case PayPal isn't enough
Part 3 of 3: Earning
Step 1. Find out about the shipping options
You have your shop and your product and the orders arrive - now how do you forward them? Fortunately, you don't have to go to the post office every half hour! Here are 2 possibilities to consider:
- You can use an external supplier to take care of your warehouse inventory. It will save you on shipping and you just have to tell them when to ship your orders.
- Then there is a spell called "drop ship". Practically the merchant takes on all inventory and shipping risks, and keeps his own inventory, but you transfer the incoming orders to him. You have significantly less control, but also fewer expenses.
Step 2. Use online analytics
In particular, Google Analytics. Technology being fantastic, we might as well take advantage of it. You can see where customers are coming from, what they are looking for, and how much time they spend at various points on the site - in essence, what can make you successful. And it's free, so why not?
- Let's be honest: Your store is unlikely to get off to a flying start right away. Google Analytics will help you refine the page, improving it with analytics.
- Promote Your Business Online: Never ignore the importance of promoting an online store. Until you take the initiative to promote your virtual store, you may not achieve the final result you intend to achieve.
Step 3. Be pleasant
Your store will only last if you have more than just a product. Many people sell a product - it needs to have its own personality as well. What's your?
-
Here is a good example:
- You, the best salesman in the world
-
Here is a bad example:
Your order has been completed. We are handling it and will ship it later. If you have any questions, please fill out the questionnaire on the 'Contact' page and you may receive an answer. Fingers crossed.
- Your impersonal business, run by bots
Do you notice the difference? The pleasant, honest, we-know-you-are-a-real-person attitude makes you memorable and, above all, builds customer loyalty
Step 4. Prepare mailing lists and newsletters
You want to stay in the minds of your customers first and foremost. You want them to come back before they realize they need to return. How you do it? Newsletter! When customers sign up on your site, you get their email, and they will receive updates and special offers later; this will increase their desire for your product. Everyone wins.
- Obviously, in that case, you must have offers to propose! It is a good idea to organize sales periods to keep the attention high.
- Also make them feel special. Provide offers modeled on previous orders. It will be an added bonus of your site, which few have.
Step 5. Stay in touch with customers
Once the product has been shipped, your work is not done. Building a relationship with your customers is in your best interest. Keep a couple of things in mind:
- Send a confirmation email for each order. Make sure you also send an email when everything has been sent. In case of unforeseen events, always keep them updated by e-mail.
- Ask for their opinions! At the end of the process, send a quick email asking for feedback on their experience. The more feedback you get, the better your business will be - and the more word gets out!
- Feel free to bid after your first purchase. It can often turn an occasional customer into a loyal one. Show them the attention they deserve!
Step 6. Learn HTML and CSS
While not essential, it is definitely a good idea. If you have the ability to manage your store design, you will also be able to keep it under control. Otherwise, you leave everything in the hands of others. Learning these things will help you create a product you believe in and customers can care about. Without intermediaries, everything will be smoother.
