The world of retail is so different from what is used to be. Today, many shoppers are online – if you don’t tap into the online market, you could be missing out on a huge number of customers.
If you are in the middle of a search for tips for selling online, here are four of many that will help you in getting started:
1. If you are selling handmade items, consider setting up an Etsy shop, even if you also have your own website
When you’re first starting out, sales are hard to come by. Buyers tend to trust Etsy sellers more than brands they randomly come across online. Etsy sales will likely lead to Etsy reviews, which you can then quote on your regular website so that visitors gain more trust in you.
2. Use Pinterest to direct people back to your site
For retail sellers with high quality images of their products, Pinterest is the most important social media platform you can be on. It’s probably the only social network whose members have an intent to buy.
Tech-wise, it’s great for marketing because it highlights the photo and also lets you include a searchable, hashtag-friendly description. Plus, every image can link back to a specific URL, like your shop. Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram can still be part of your social media efforts, but put a high priority on Pinterest marketing.
3. Use an ecommerce site builder instead of trying to turn a regular website into an online shop
E-commerce sites have specific tools to help you sell, from easy checkout options to custom integrations with social media. For example, Shopify has a lot of social media tools built-in, including sharing options for Facebook and Pinterest. Plus, they regularly e-mail shop owners advice about making the most of their online store.
Hosted platforms like Shopify can help you start a shop quickly without the extensive resources required in setting up a self-hosted online shop.
4. Make sure that your online shop is mobile-friendly
Consumers use their smartphones for browsing, bookmarking, and buying – if they can’t easily view your website on their phone, they’ll find someone else’s company to buy from. With that said, your online store’s layout need to be responsive, adaptable to any screen sizes.
Better yet, have a tech savvy friend design a mobile app for your store. The app can offer everything from creating an account and buying products to contacting you for customer service help.
Takeaway
Overwhelmed with the many tactics of selling online? Don’t know how to use social media for marketing? Hire a pro – you can spend your time creating fabulous products while someone else takes the reigns of promoting your shop.
