There’s really no secret. Successful online sellers in listing sites just understand a few key principles and apply them. If you’re looking for ways to improve your online sales strategy, MarketMeri’s compiled some of the most useful tips that you can apply for your own online store
Marketing
A lot of people think that just because they already exist in the online world, that their online presence automatically exists too. This isn’t true. Just like any physical store, you have to learn to make your presence known. If anything, the internet is much more competitive than brick and mortar stores because you don’t necessarily have to get permits to be able to sell. Some sellers are actually minors who don’t know anything about sales except for one thing. Good marketing.
They may not necessarily have formal education in terms of this aspect, but marketing comes naturally to them. This is one thing most sellers should learn from them. The best form of online marketing is forming a community through social media and harnessing it to drive traffic to your online store. Creating a social circle and promoting your products outside your online store will help immensely in your quest to bring people into your store.
Discounts
Just because you’re online doesn’t mean you’ll be unable to offer discounts. It may seem intimidating to set some guidelines for it, but it’s not entirely impossible. Even with online listing sites, you can still offer promos and discounts either for first time buyers or for loyal customers. This not only entices visitors to close the deal, it also shows them that you’re thankful for the business they are providing you. It also encourages them to check out what products you have on sale even after their initial purchase. It’s a good way to get regular paying customers.
Blogs
One of the most important things to consider when you’re just starting out is creating a blog. But if you can’t afford to make one, you can also look for bloggers who can publish your content. Most of the time, generating quality articles becomes an issue for them and they would be glad to publish pieces you’ve worked on. Blog partnerships are also ideal for online sales.
The advantage of producing blog content is that consumers usually like seeing activity from sellers. It gives them confidence that other buyers are satisfied with the transactions they’ve had with you. It also gives them the ability to hear what other people have to say about your product or service. So, use this for your benefit and watch the sales come in.
Follow-up
Sellers take this part for granted. If you want regular income, get yourself some regular clients. One way to do that is to create a mailing list. If they’re comfortable with it, get the e-mail addresses of your former customers and send them a list of new items you’re selling. Success rates for converting this e-mail to a sale are high because the customer already knows who you are and how you work. They can even forward your e-mail to their friends who might be interested in your products. This actually allows you to hit two birds with one stone. You get your former customers to come back and you get new ones too.
Customer Care
Major social sites like Facebook have recognized the importance of response time for pages and how it affects social interaction. Taking too long to respond shows the buyers that they’re not as important as you make them out to be. So, whenever someone asks about a product, you should either have an auto-reply system in place or respond as soon as you can. If you were unable to, apologize and let them know that you’re doing everything to assist them.
If they’re complaining about a product, make sure to always use an empathy statement to calm them down first. Let them know that you can only imagine what they’re going through and you’ll be looking further into the issue first and you’ll let them know once you’ve gathered enough information. Always make sure your customers are well cared for.
Character
In a competitive market, maybe one of the only few things that will set you apart is your integrity. Business has its fair share of gains and losses. If a customer is not satisfied with what you’ve sold, replace it or offer them a better deal. Your character says a lot about you and what you are selling. The greatest brand of a salesman is trust. So, be careful not to break the trust your customers have given you. With a huge number of customers, money comes and goes. That’s just the way it is. But if you lose your customers because of your bad business etiquette, you might lose them for good. If there are no customers, then there’s no money to be made no matter how hard you sell.
These are just a few things that help people sell their stuff online. If you can apply some of them, you’ll be able to see your sales skyrocket. But it’s also essential to be reminded that the effects of applying these tips may not be immediate, but it will always do you good for the long haul.
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