5 reasons to start selling online

There are many steps to be successful selling products online; However, you must know that some points are basic to start. Discover the main ones in this article.

In a quick search on the Internet it is possible to find numerous virtual stores with the most varied products, segments and styles on the market.

With so many options to compete against, it is imperative to develop a strategic vision for your business, create a smart plan and, of course, think of ways to stand out from the competition.

As you have already realized, the list of actions to start selling on the Internet is long. However, there are some initial steps that will make a difference in the performance of your store, from before its launch and especially after, when you start selling.

1. Know your market niche

In a highly competitive segment, having a well-defined market niche is the first tip on how to sell more in virtual stores. Instead of choosing to create a store with a wide range of products, you can specialize in one area and invest in making your store a reference.

For example, instead of an e-commerce, consider a specialized store for gamers. In this case, products that are not easy to find or that have a more specific objective could be offered, as well as a greater variety of colors, models and sizes. This type of strategy designed for a specific audience is a great differential for a virtual store.

Greater segmentation in this case represents an advantage, since you can compete with large stores, not because of the price, but because of the exclusivity of your products.

Whether your store is self-produced or a reseller, when defining your market niche, look for good suppliers, taking into account everything from raw materials to the platform that hosts your products. It is necessary to ensure that all stages of the sales process are in perfect harmony and with the expected level of quality.

If you're still undecided about what to sell, one suggestion is to research what other websites offer consumers. For example, take a look at the market niches sold on Amazon or Mercado Libre and let yourself be inspired by the possibilities of the sales categories and subcategories.

After identifying 2 or 3 potential segments, investigate them further until you have enough material to define which one you will work with.

2. Define where you are going to sell

One of the first steps to opening a virtual store is deciding where it will be hosted. You can have your own website, in this case an e-commerce, or use a Marketplace, such as the mxgatonegro.com store to distribute your products.

On your website, you are responsible for all the steps involved in the purchase, from creating the design to payment options and the entire delivery process. On the other hand, when deciding on a Marketplace, the platform will offer standardized solutions for delivery, a greater variety of payment methods and all support in the purchase and post-sale.

In addition, you will be able to count on the flow of clients that the platform already has, without having to build an audience from scratch, as would happen with a website with its own domain. In this case, by having a virtual store, you will be able to reduce costs in areas such as design and logistics.

Both options will require an investment, so evaluate the main costs of having a virtual store and consider what will be best for the phase of your business.

3. Invest time in financial planning

Financial management to sell online is as important as that of a physical establishment. To start, you have to set the budget, the brand objectives and make a cost map.
Make sure that this planning includes investments in the maintenance of your business, such as: storage, packaging and shipping of products.

To keep a daily financial control, the recommendation is to use a spreadsheet in Excel or the platform of your choice, but be sure to update it. You can have a short, medium or long-term objective plan, depending on the needs of your brand.

Keep in mind that planning is not inflexible; On the contrary, it can and should adapt as your e-commerce grows, as well as your knowledge of the market.

Based on customer feedback, for example, it is possible to better analyze the products to sell in your virtual store, identify new items that need to be available, that is, direct investments more precisely.

4. Special attention in the description of the products

A tactic that is part of the strategies to highlight a virtual store and that impacts the visibility of your brand is a good product description.

In the online purchasing decision process, the consumer wants to have access to as much information as possible about the item they want. This includes images that allow the product to be analyzed from different angles, with true-to-life color and a detailed description, especially in terms of size. A high-quality image that even allows the customer to enlarge the product, offering all its details.

For example, in a piece of clothing it will be important to show the fabric data and exact measurements, and not just S, M or L, since they vary depending on the store's preparation.

Consistency in description is an additional recommendation. To include a title, it is a very effective practice, for example, to first indicate the name of the product and then the name of the brand.

A complete description will make your product easier to find; This applies both to searches on Google, as well as within the Marketplace. In addition, the risks of inconveniences with the customer decrease, since, with more information, the possibilities of returning merchandise are lower.

Spend time and attention at this stage, paying attention to the details of each element and revising when necessary. You can rely on customer feedback to update the description or make something clearer; You just have to detect if there is a common theme among several users in the comments.

5. Invest in content marketing to make your brand stand out

Content marketing is a great strategy to successfully get clients. The reason is that when it comes to online sales, the content you offer about your products makes the difference in whether the customer makes a purchase.

Since the consumer cannot physically touch the product and analyze the details, they have to trust the information transmitted to them.

But how to do it correctly? Inspiration for content creation should come directly from consumers. Try to understand their most frequently asked questions, study the purchasing behavior of your audience and do tests to find out which is the best format (text, image, video, etc.).

Another highly recommended option is to have a blog, your own communication channel with your clients. By investing in creating a blog, it is possible to gain more credibility and visibility, as this action will help your site appear more easily in Google's organic search results.

You can also use your brand's social networks as a showcase, showing the uses of the product, in what situations it can be used, combinations and other related tips. In addition to being an extra space for promotion, you will also interact more with your consumers. The more you understand your audience, the more successful your virtual store will be!

Bonus: guarantees a good sale and after sale

Having a successful virtual store goes beyond a website with many visits, since what really counts for your business is the number of conversions into sales.

When creating your action plan, with the management and outreach tactics we mentioned above, you should also consider whether your company will be able to meet the demand for orders.

Efficient inventory control will be essential for the success of your e-commerce, both for the materials that will make up your own manufacturing, and for resale products. One of the biggest frustrations of shopping online is placing an order and, after being approved, the customer discovers that they are not going to receive it because it does not yet exist.

Another point that will determine whether the consumer will buy from you again and recommend you to other people is the issue of delivery. Always promise a deadline that you can meet and that fits your logistical capacity, even if this means a longer delay.

Direct contact with the customer in all these stages can be a great differential for your store. Inform the detailed status of each stage, send messages to the consumer warning in case of problems or delays, even after receipt, ensure that the product meets the customer's expectations and does not need any type of assistance.

In short: the sale only ends when the product is already in the hands of the consumer and in perfect working order, and it is your responsibility to ensure the functioning of this process.

Have a successful virtual store

Despite being online, the investment of time and effort for a virtual business to work is as great as that of a physical store, in addition to having many particularities. For these reasons, it is very important to understand how this type of business works, and following these initial recommendations is a great start to your strategy.

At mxgatonegro.com you will find, in addition to content that will help you use our Marketplace, tips to improve the performance of your brand.