Selling online isn’t as difficult as many people think. If you’ve already got your business set up, then you simply need to start trying out platforms and marketing strategies. Check out the easiest ways to sell online down below.
Social Media
Social media is great for getting the word out about your business in an easy, digestible format. Showcase your products and services on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, YouTube, Pinterest, and TikTok.
To sell on these platforms, simply open an account on the platform that best fits your target market. Make sure to have high quality images that are interesting and tell a story. Get customers interested in what you offer by making your products and services easy to understand. Follow people who would be a good fit for your business, and respond to comments and questions you get on your social media account.
Marketplaces
If you’re a small business, getting into the big chain stores like Walmart and Target can be difficult. Instead, consider other marketplace platforms like Etsy, eBay, Shopify, or Amazon that make it easy for anyone to sell online. While some marketplaces have a transaction fee for using their platform, selling with them can be worth the fee if enough people get interested in your brand.
Try to see what makes other businesses stand out on these marketplaces, as often there are a lot of competitors. Do they provide free shipping? Do they have the lowest priced item? Does your business sell something unique that would be difficult for other businesses to replicate? Test different aspects and see what helps you gain the most business.
Google Shopping makes it easy to get a ton of views on your listings. If you advertise with Smart Shopping Campaigns on Google Shopping, your business can be presented at the top of the list. You’ll easily be able to outshine your competitors.
You’ll also be able to get a lot of views if your listing matches what people are specifically looking for. For example, if someone is shopping for shoes, try to think from the buyer’s perspective. They may be looking for a specific color, shoe size, heel height, material, or style. You’ll also need to think about how much your items are priced in comparison to other businesses who sell something similar.
Organic Search
If your business shows up naturally on the top results of Google, you’ll easily be able to sell online. While getting your business to rank in the number one spot can sometimes be difficult, it isn’t rocket science. Consider creating a website that is both stunning and easy to use. Double check that mobile view looks good, too, as many people use their phones to shop online. Have a storefront on your website, so people can purchase something directly there.
You’ll also need to make sure your website has good on-page search engine optimization. Have keywords or phrases people search on Google scattered throughout your site. Create intriguing but not click bait meta descriptions for people to read when they search for a term. Have an H1 or coded header on each page of your website.
Press Releases
Many people still watch the news, so sending a press release to a well-known news source can help others get to know your business. If you have a new product to sell, write up a short press release talking about it. What makes it unique? How does it benefit the community? Do you have a story about someone loving the product? Provide contact information at the bottom of the release, so if any reporters have questions, they can reach out.
You could also advertise on news websites to get people interested in your product. Having a short advertisement about your product show up on TV or on a news article can help new customers garner interest in your business.
Affiliate Marketing
Affiliate marketing is great because it’s another form of word-of-mouth marketing. Many people are unsure about trying out a new product or service. However, if someone they know or admire online likes the product, they’ll consider trying it out for themselves. Make a list of popular influencers or people who make a living off of social media. Then determine if their followers are the same people who would be interested in your business.
Once you’ve found a couple of influencers who would be a good fit for trying out and recommending your product, reach out to them and see if they’d be interested. Whenever someone clicks on the affiliate link attached to the influencer’s bio, they’ll be taken to the product or service in question. Once the customer makes a purchase, you’ll pay the influencer a small percentage of the total income. That income cut is a small price to pay to gain genuine interest in what you have to offer.
Online marketing can be a lot of work, especially if you don’t know who you’re trying to sell to. However, once you experiment with what platforms and marketing strategies work best for your business, your customer base will begin to grow. If it doesn’t, consider reevaluating what strategies you’re implementing or adjusting what it is that you sell.
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