The online marketplace is a great venue for all kinds of entrepreneurs. It’s open 24/7. Another good reason to sell products online is the global reach of the internet. Anybody can buy your product even if they’re on the other side of the planet. However, selling on the internet also has drawbacks. There are shady characters that are looking for ways to break into your website so steal information. There is also a lot of competition on the web. If you want to boost sales and make your brand well-known, consider these 5 tips when selling in cyberspace.
1. Highlight Your Advantage
One of the easiest ways to stand out and sell products online is to highlight your advantage over your competitors. Online shoppers want to know about your product right away without having to wade through tons of information. Give it to them immediately by telling them the benefits of using your product. What do they have to gain by choosing you?
2. Keywords
The world of internet searches is dominated by keywords. If you haven’t received inquiries about your product it’s probably because you’re using the wrong keywords. Find out which words are being used by potential customers by using tools like Google AdWords Keyword Tool, Google Insights for Search, or WordTracker. For example, you are selling black shoes by Gregg, you can’t expect to appear on the first page of search results if you simply capitalize on “black shoes”. Be more specific and use “black shoes by Gregg” as keywords to get better search results.
3. Let Them Try It Out
Tea bags started out as giveaways to customers to let them try a new batch of tea leaves. The idea stuck and years later we are still using teabags to make a cup of tea. Letting customers sample a product is easy when you have a physical store but it can be a challenge for online merchants. One way to entice people to try your product is to offer attractive discounts or to offer promos like buy one get one.
4. Image Is Everything
Make sure that you have good quality photos of the products you are selling online. Photos are worth a thousand words and they can help drive the point home. If you have poor quality pictures, guests and potential clients will think that you are not a professional and will go somewhere else. Before taking a picture of the product, make sure your lighting is good and you have a good quality camera to ensure that your images are clear. Make sure that you also have minimal background. If this is too much for you, consider hiring a professional photographer to take pictures.
5. The Right Platform
The right digital platform can make sharing easier when you sell products online. E-commerce platforms like Shopify and Etsy are good options. You can also build your own website in user-friendly platforms like SquareSpace. When choosing a platform make sure that it is easy to understand and manage orders. This will make it easier for you to continue making products or offering your services. Also make sure it is mobile-friendly so that you can also capture customers who prefer to use tablets or smartphones.
