Is it a physical product that needs to be shipped, or is it a digital product that can be sent through the Internet? Are you going to have an inventory (more than one) of each product, or will they be one-of-a-kind (e. g. artwork, vintage items)? Are you going to want to sell a wide variety of products, or do you plan to specialize, like selling just t-shirts or books? Are you creating the product yourself? If so, make sure you’ll be able to keep up with demand. Form a relationship with a reliable supplier. If you don’t plan to make the product yourself, you’ll need a good manufacturer. Research different companies to find the one that works for your business idea. Decide how your product will be shipped. Create a plan to ship the product from your home efficiently, or work out a storage and shipping plan with a warehouse. You could also look into drop-shipping if the product is being manufactured by a third party. You are going to be intimately involved with your product or service. In order to effectively spread the word and market your store, you are going to need to socialize with people from this industry. Make sure the product is something you can get behind for the long haul.
Size up the competition. Don’t just jump into selling a certain product line until you’ve looked at the websites you’ll be competing with. Consider the main online marketplaces you plan to advertise your products; and check out the competition within those portals. Offer something truly original. If you’re selling handmade crafts or works of art, the originality of your work may itself be the draw that sets your product apart. Try to strike a balance between something that is highly original and also has general appeal. Offer expertise. Perhaps the quality that sets your company apart from the rest will be your expertise on the type of product you are selling. Maybe you’re a former baseball pro selling a line of baseball gloves, for example. Make your passion and expert knowledge part of the package. Offer a user-friendly purchasing process. Even if your product is very similar to other things for sale online, you can set your store apart by making the shopping experience fun and easy. Make sure your website is easy to navigate and fun to share. Be responsive and provide great customer service where others don’t.
Who is buying your product? Offer a discount coupon or free gift if they answer a brief survey. Find out where else they shop online. How much are they willing to pay? Experiment with different prices. How is customer satisfaction? This is a good time to test how well you can get your product to the customer. Are you using good packaging? Is the shipping method reliable? Are they happy with their product? Did you describe it well?
Production costs, whether you’re creating your product yourself or contracting with a manufacturer. Shipping costs. Taxes. Employee wages, if applicable. Fees for reserving your domain name and web hosting service.
If the name your heart is set on is already taken, get creative. Spell numbers out, add a small extra word or try hyphenation. The domain registration service will provide suggestions for close alternatives if the name you want is taken.
You’ll need enough space for growth if your business does well. Choose a hosting service that allows for customization if you’re planning on doing your own programming.
Include a way to gather email addresses, so you can send advertisements and special offers. [4] X Research source The customer should have to make no more than two clicks to check out with a product. Choose just a few colors and fonts to use.
All-inclusive services usually take a small cut from each sale you make. The services have benefits, but there are also limitations, since you have to operate within their systems. Get familiar with the different services before choosing one. If you don’t find one that suits the business model you have in mind, reconsider starting a new online store on your own.
If you haven’t used eBay before, this approach may not be for you, since it’s best to start with an existing customer base. Your customers will need to be web-savvy enough to feel comfortable using eBay. Note that eBay tends to attract people searching for bargains and one-of-a-kind items.
Offer incentives for customers to promote your store. You could offer a discount or a free giveaway for those who participate. Be sure to keep the accounts up to date with information on new products and deals.
Some all-inclusive services offer a blog feature as part of your “storefront. " Feature other companies’ products on your blog, and ask them to feature yours in return. This is a common practice among small online vendors. Send samples of your product to prominent bloggers or websites that do product reviews. Do guest posts on other people’s blogs. For example, if you’re selling homemade cookie mix, debut your product on a prominent baking blog.
