E-commerce and online shopping have become major industries since the early days of the internet. In fact, about 79% of consumers in the U.S. said they shopped online in 2017, and the number has been growing since then. Online shopping is not just for small items either, furniture and home furnishings now represent 12.9% of all retail e-commerce sales in the United States.
Offering items for sale online can be a great way to make money, but there are a few tricks you should know about in order to get the most out of the digital market. Before you start listing your stuff for sale, check out these top tips you can use for your online listings.
1. Remember Your Competition
People shopping online nowadays don’t necessarily have to look to Ebay or Amazon; companies big and small now offer online retail options. The number of potential online fashion customers alone is projected to grow to more than 1.2 billion by 2020.
Check out what online retailers similar to yourself are doing and be aware of ongoing trends. This will help you stay a step ahead of your competition and keep up with customer expectations for your online store.
2. Make It Mobile-Friendly
Whether your store is based on an app, another website, or on your own site, it has to be mobile and tablet friendly if you want to make the most sales as possible.
About 72% of consumers say they want mobile-friendly websites, largely due to the portability and convenience that shopping on mobile devices offers. Keep your platform responsive to keep consumers on your site, whether they’re on their phone, tablet, or computer.
3. Create A Sense Of Urgency
One of the hardest parts about online retail is creating a sense of urgency. Why should consumers buy your product now when they can get it whenever they feel like logging on? Offering limited time promotions and other short-term incentives can push consumers to make their purchases sooner rather than later, which can encourage impulse buys even online.
4. Don’t Forget About Feedback
Customer feedback is essential in any store or business, but especially in online sales. When shopping online, customers are likely to do their research and trust other customer reviews that might be visible on your platform. Encourage customer feedback whenever possible, and focus on providing a positive customer experience that people will tell their friends about.
5. Keep Them Coming Back
While a fair amount of your purchases on your online platform will be one-time shoppers, the ultimate goal is to keep consumers coming back and buying more from you. Don’t ignore your returning shoppers in an effort to draw in new customers; both will get you business, and your repeat customers will be a reliable source of sales and income over time.
Whether you’re selling old items on Ebay to clear out your closet, creating personalized crafts and items to sell on Etsy, or setting up your own e-commerce website for your existing business, selling online can be a quick path to profits. Make the most of these tips when selling your items on the digital market to earn more for your items.