How to start selling online

It all starts somewhere

Many years ago, I opened an online jewelry store. A friend then asked me, “Aren’t you afraid you won’t be able to keep up with the demand?” I was a little scared of the answer, of not being able to meet the numerous orders. It’s impossible, or at least with a few exceptions. In life, nothing falls into our laps from the first steps in a field. This is also the case in a new job, a new career, in the arts, in short, in any new challenge. We must learn, test our product, build our clientele from scratch, make our name, our brand in the industry.

No one is waiting for your products. You must make yourself known through the web and beyond.

How to promote my online store to sell more?

The first step is to identify your target clientele. Who are they, where are they? Who are my products for? How can I make them known to the people I’m targeting? Do you have a plan for your business? As an entrepreneur, it is crucial to identify the means and tools you will use to reach your clientele on the Internet and outside the Internet.

On the Internet:

1- Identify your competitors. What keywords, competitive advantages, and branding do they use? Position yourself against them and try to stand out.

2- Be present and visible on social media and engage in discussions in your field. Be an online expert!

3- Pay particular attention to your online image and especially to how your products are displayed. Product photos are like a store’s shop window!

Outside the web:

1- Get involved in industry-related events: Meet people, attend conferences, exhibit at fairs, in short, make yourself known to your industry and your customers.

2- A media campaign can be great visibility, but there’s no guarantee of getting coverage. Target journalists and send them documentation along with personalized messages. If you send out mass and impersonal messages, the results won’t be guaranteed. Journalists receive a lot of information, and if yours doesn’t have that certain something, it will go completely unnoticed. This is also true in all your communication efforts with your clientele. If your customer doesn’t feel engaged by your product, if it doesn’t address a problem or a need, your response will be limited.

In summary, the answer to the initial question, why you’re not selling, is multifaceted, but mostly related to the actions you forget to take. You are responsible for your business, and most importantly, you know your product best! Your suppliers, whether web-based or otherwise, are tools to promote your product or service. If you don’t understand your clientele and your communication channels to reach your clientele well, your online store won’t serve your product well, both in terms of visibility and performance. Find out what actions you will take to attract your clientele and how you will convert them into consumers on your online store or in-store.