If you want to get started selling physical products online, you’ll be glad to know that you are getting in at precisely the right time. Never before in the history of the Internet have consumers been more comfortable with the ways of ecommerce. For decades brick-and-mortar stores have ruled retail, especially around the holidays, but for the past few years physical products and ecommerce have stolen the show; and these trends are only expected to continue. Here is a short list of steps you can take to help you become successful at the ecommerce of physical products. With the right products, a targeted audience, the proper price points and thorough marketing, you could become one of the top ecommerce sellers of the coming year.
Finding Products to Sell
The ecommerce of physical products starts with the process of actually securing the products you plan to sell. There are several options available to you, including the following.
Manufacturers: You can save money on product sales by obtaining your products directly from the manufacturer. With the right deal, you might be able to negotiate massive profit margins that allow you to make a lot of money with very little effort.
Distributors: Many ecommerce professionals get their products from product distributors. These are third parties that obtain their products from manufacturers and then pass the products onto you. Of course the third parties will get paid, which eats into your margins; but you can still make great money by engaging in this type of ecommerce of physical products.
Wholesalers: An even better option is to obtain your products from a company that can offer you bulk products at massively discounted rates. Look for physical products and ecommerce wholesale networks that can put you in contact with viable business partners that offer a range of products and that are located all over the world.
Unwanted Products: Of course you can always raid your closets and storage units and get rid of unwanted products as your ticket to the world of physical products and ecommerce. You can even advertise in your local area that you will sell others’ unwanted products for sale on eBay and Amazon. More on that in a moment.
Market Research
Once you have your product supply line secured, you will want to conduct a little market research so that you know that your ecommerce business is viable. Here is how to do just that.
Social Marketing & Popular Forums: Before you get started offering your physical products and ecommerce business to consumers, use the search functions of Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Tumblr and any other social networks you feel are appropriate for your niche and see what consumers are talking about as it relates to the products you plan to offer. Get on popular forums and read the posts that relate to your products; and maybe even post and ask your own questions. This is a great way to conduct free research that can pay off in dividends later on.
Surveys & Polls: People love to give their opinions. Construct a few surveys and polls and release them on social networks and forums. You can get many great ideas this way, including the types of products consumers prefer and the price points they will be willing to pay.
Offering Your Products Online
Now it’s time to actually sell your products. This can be accomplished by completing the steps below.
The Proper Platform: The ecommerce of physical products can be conducted on a dedicated website, on a third-party ecommerce platform or on a site like eBay or Amazon. Choose the avenue that’s right for you or choose them all if you have the time, the inventory and the dedication to really succeed.
Multi-Channel Marketing: Get on social networks to promote your physical products and ecommerce business, start an email marketing list and blast out notifications to your subscribers; and get on popular forums and let others know where they can find their favorite products for less. Whatever you do, however, don’t forget about your mobile device using customers. The world is going mobile, so definitely don’t leave them out when it comes to the ecommerce of physical products.
Customer Service
To become truly successful, you must let your customers know that they are very important to you. Here’s how to do it.
VIP Treatment: Start an exclusive club that is only accessible by your paying customers. This exclusivity is a great way to convert customers into loyal customers; which is exactly what you want when you want your physical products and ecommerce business to reach record numbers.
Freebies, Discounts and Special Offers: Whether it’s through social media, email marketing or via any other means, promote your business regularly by offering your valued customers free products, discounts on their favorite products and special offers that only they are privy to.
This has been a quick breakdown of the ecommerce of physical products. If you take things step-by-step, if you can manage to control your emotions and remain strong even through down times, you will succeed at achieving your ecommerce goals. It won’t be easy, but if you think about it, nothing worth achieving in life ever is. Maintain that attitude and anything is possible.
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