The e-commerce industry is expected to continue to rise in the coming years. An article published in Forbes mentions that a report by Forrester Research indicates that projected sales can reach as much as $370 billion. The report mentioned two factors leading to the unstoppable growth of the ecommerce industry.
First, more retailers are investing in ecommerce. It’s not just Amazon, Wal-mart, or Apple Inc. who are successfully selling products online. Almost all established and well-loved brands have joined the ecommerce bandwagon. From clothing to services, almost everything a person needs can be bought online. Companies have recognized that the internet provides an ideal venue and a huge income-generating opportunity for their business. Building and maintaining an online shop require less financial investment, but with the right marketing strategies, the profits can equal or even exceed that of a brick and mortar shop.
The second factor that fuels the growth e-commerce according to the Forrester report is the inundation of smartphones and tablets on the market. Mobile shopping has become easier than ever with 24/7 internet connection and the gadgets that help you stay connected with the people and the brands you love. With online shopping, customers no longer have to wait for their favorite stores to open—they can shop anytime, wherever they are in the world.
Gone are the days when you have to hop from one store to another in search of your perfect item and wait in line to pay for your purchase. A few clicks and basic keyword search can lead you to your desired product. For businesses, it is no longer a question of whether they should go online or not. They know they need to market and sell their services online in order to survive and to thrive. The questions most entrepreneurs ask nowadays are these: How can I successfully sell my products online? Should I still keep my physical store?
This article lists four important tips on how to sell products online a highly profitable business for you.
A Quick Success Guide for Selling Products Online
The key to attaining success in the shortest possible amount of time is by learning from the example of those who have already succeeded doing what you are planning to do, adapting these learnings, and improving on them. This article gathers the best practices of businesses that have flourished in the e-commerce industry. These best practices have been summarized into four bite-size tips to help you get started in selling products online.
1. Choose your niche.
What are you planning to sell online? Ecommerce is not a new industry, and it is not an unlikely scenario that your business might also be competing with hundreds of other shops who are offering the same products or services. Choose your niche carefully. Think of the size of your market. Who are your potential buyers? Who else are offering your products and services? If you have a small niche, the competition may not be tough, but the market size may not bring you huge profits. You have to strike a balance between the competition level plus the current size of your target market.
2. Build a consumer-oriented website.
Your website is where all the online shopping happens. Successfully selling products online needs a professional and attractive website to start with. This is a concept that does not veer away from the basic principles of retail success. With a physical shop, you need to create an inviting store ambiance and an eye-catching window display to attract customers. With your online shop, you need to have an attractive website that is easy to navigate. Hire a professional web designer who will work with you to build your brand online. Your web design and copy should convey what your business is all about. Your customers should be able to easily find what they are looking for in your site. Browsing through your catalog should be a pleasant and a hassle-free experience for your customers. Remember, your site has to operate 24/7, so choose a reliable and trustworthy web hosting service and an e-commerce platform.
3. Write descriptive content and use compelling product images.
With selling products online, you do not have a sales representative to talk about your products or services in person. This is why you need to have a product description that is detailed enough to entice customers to buy. Anticipate what your potential customers would ask. Highlight the advantages of your products. Explain how it can address a need or solve a problem.
Your customers can’t examine your product or service in person. What you can do is present and re-create the experience online. Post beautiful images of your product from different angles. Hire a professional photographer who specializes in product photography.
4. Promote your business.
There are several strategies that you can try to promote your business. You have to get the word out there. Take advantage of the social media. Create social media pages on Facebook and Twitter and update them with the latest news about your company or products and services. You can also use social media to announce special promotions. Blogging is also a great way to promote your site. You also need to optimize your site’s content so your customers will find you through search engines.
