One Site Does Not Fit All

Do you want to sell products online? 

There are a lot of resources out there to sell products and services online. The hardest part is finding the right platform for you, your business and your products. I have tried multiple selling sites and social media platforms to get my brand seen online and purchased! Before you get started, consider a few of these factors and selling options:

1. Do You Want to Design Your Own Website?

This can mean designing it from a template or paying someone to do the tech work while you give creative input. Some websites are simple templates that are very user friendly and others are a "build your own" model. The more freedom for creativity, the more room for technical errors. If you do not have any background in website design, I would highly suggest using a website with a simple and easy to use (and edit) template. If you are an expert, you may want to use a service that allows you to completely design it how you want.

2. Are You Selling a Service or Product?

If you are selling services or need to make appointments through your website you may want to consider a website built by Wix or Squarespace. If you are looking to sell product, Shopify or Etsy would be a better fit. If you are starting a real business and not a blog, there will be fees. But you want to pay for applications that will benefit YOUR business the best!

3. What Kind of Product do you want to Sell?

Are you selling a handmade item? Your own Brand? Multiple Brands? Do you want to Sell Locally or Worldwide? Are you interested in community events? 

Handmade/Crafty Items are perfect for Etsy and if you have a smaller budget and number of products. 

Selling well-known brands as a distributor you may want to consider Amazon or Shopify.

If it is your OWN brand, you definitely want your website to be 100% original and reflect the culture of your brand. I would highly recommend Shopify or Big Commerce. 

4. How Will You Market or Sell on Social Media?

Facebook and Instagram are the big ones in direct selling and provide links to Ecommerce websites such as Shopify, Big Commerce, Squarespace or Wix. But are your customers also active on other social media channels? Do they enjoy reading Blogs, collecting ideas and inspiration on Pinterest, watching Youtube videos or checking out photos on Tumblr? What about Google? There is so much more than just building a website to selling products online. It can be helpful to consider other search engines when you are building your brand and website.

5. You Can't Do It All at Once!

I do get overwhelmed at times because there is a lot of moving parts when you want to sell online effectively. I have tried a few of these websites and selling platforms and it has taken some time to see what works best for my brand. Some things have worked really well, while others have not been the right fit for my products. Online Marketing is a lot of work and can get costly. You want to make sure what you are investing your time and money into are giving you results. I typically only invest money into "pay per click" services on social media or search engines because then I can see how my advertising is driving traffic and HOW that traffic is being translated into sales or potential customers.

My advice is to start small, if you are not sure which option is best for you. Try a 14-day trial of any of these websites. See if the style of the website works for you and gives you the applications you need to be successful like email marketing, mobile apps etc. Ask or Research what other brands like yours use for selling and marketing online. Consider your budget and what will work for you at this time. You want to invest your money wisely and paying a high price for a website builder you have never had experience can be a big risk, especially if you sign up for a 1-Year commitment. 

Once you have chosen a website builder or selling platform, TEST IT! Test it yourself or ask a friend or family member to make a purchase. Make sure that the buying experience is simple, fast and both desktop and mobile friendly. If it is too confusing, slow to load or takes too many steps, you will lose a lot of potential customers. Fix these issues from the beginning so you can start your business with a strong foundation without technical errors blocking your opportunity growth!

I hope you enjoyed today's topic. I know from experience, that getting started is really the toughest part of launching a business. I had to ask for help, contact "Website Support" and had a lot of frustrating days. I do NOT come from a web design or IT background, but I've managed to learn a lot about websites and Ecommerce in the past 3 years. It is an ongoing learning experience as  technology is always changing but there are so many resources out there for us to take advantage of to help us succeed :) 

Let's Stay connected on Social media, Follow me on Instagram @iddybiddyentrepreneur

Kelsey