 |
Discovering What Sells Online - Part 1
Author: Samantha Tang  | Posted: 12-11-2007 | Comments: 0 | Views: 5 | Rating: (51)  (?) 
This is a popular question, asked especially by those who are just starting out in their online business. Unfortunately, there doesn't seem to be a fixed answer to this. Google this phrase and you'll get a list of search results that seem to be answers. Read on, and you'll likely discover that there aren't ANY definite answers. You'll probably get ideas and suggestions on what you CAN sell online, but no one shows you solid proof on the returns you can expect to get.
Of course, if you are considering information products, you'll find loads of them from affiliate networks such as http://Clickbank.com or http://Paydotcom.com. Your point of evaluation would probably be the one-page pitch page, which more often than not, is filled with overzealous copywriting vying for your attention. In fact, each product is positioned to be money-making solutions that are close to being miraculous and instant. Everyone seems to be making a fortune online easily, except you! Also, while http://Clickbank.com provides data such as % gravity, % affiliates to help you select a product, it's still a challenge to pick out a product that truly works.
In the end, you take the plunge and start promoting some these products anyway. It's tough as you change from one product to another, draining some of your exuberance (and capital) away each time. Finally, you wonder if it's ACTUALLY possible to make a living online.
Does that sound close to an experience you've had? Perhaps you have been selling tangible products on http://ebay.com, but to the same effect?
The key to Discovering What Sells Online is to explore it from a different perspective. Here's what you need to do:
Look at the big picture
Selling stuff online very much emulates the real world. You want your store to be at a high traffic area, such as a busy mall, with streams of passers-by. In fact, your store needs to be in a strategic location so that you'll get noticed.
The same concept applies online. Is your product not selling because you fail to draw traffic to your website? Did you set a website in a "location" where no one visits? In the online world, generating traffic is the key to online success. The opportunity to sell something arises only when people actually visit your site. Only then would the quality of your product count.
How then can you generate traffic?
Online traffic is directed from search engines or links from other sites. To get your website linked favorably, you've got to have a website with high quality and relevant content. This means that you'll need to have some knowledge in search optimization strategies, and be able to produce good content on your website.
Is your product in demand?
If no one is interested in your product, or if there is low demand for your product, then there is no point selling it. Again, the same offline principle applies here. For example, if you are selling summer clothing during winter, you would undoubtedly sell fewer quantities than if you were to sell winter clothing. Similarly, if you promote satellite dishes to consumers who already have cable and internet television, you would just be wasting your time.
How would you know if a product is in demand?
With research. I would also say by word-of-mouth, but at times, buzz may be misleading. So, I'd always fall back on research. If you are selling a tangible product, you can always check out eBay's Marketplace research or http://Terapeak.com. Check out the quantities sold of specific products, and their prices. Also, check out sales statistics for the past year. Some products are only "hot" for a season, and don't sell well thereafter. In general, two major categories with high sales volume on eBay are Consumer Electronics and Women's Clothing.
On the other hand, if you are selling an intangible product, such as an eBook, look at sites such as http://CBTrends.com. http://CBTrends.com extracts information from http://Clickbank.com, and displays them in an easier-to-analyze manner. Here you'll find charts, historical and current data as well as statistics that are excellent in giving you a feel of product performance. Look for products with significant sales, aren't TOO popular, new, average gravity, average or high dollar value per sale (important if you are using pay per click advertising) and low or average in percentage referred. The objective here is to find a new product that HAS been sold before, is not really represented by too many affiliates and has a significant dollar value per sale.
In part 2 of Discovering What Sells Online, I'll discuss ideas on:
Producing your own online product
Exploring product reviews
Ways to make your product unique
Rate this Article:
Current: 5 / 5 stars - 1 vote(s).
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/internet-articles/discovering-what-sells-online-part-1-257256.html
About the Author:Samantha Tang is the owner of http://www.what-sells-online.com, a site that helps aspiring internet marketers discover what to sell online. She shares her experiences, ideas and approaches towards online marketing, as well as tips and product reviews on products.
|
Submitting articles has become one of the most popular means of generating quality backlinks and targeted traffic to your website. Join us today - It's Free! |
|
Related Articles
E-mail Marketing is the Right Choice
By: andy tao | 24/10/2007 | Marketing
Technology is really on a boom these days. One of the technologies that is booming on a grand scale is e-commerce. In its broadest sense, e-commerce could be carried out more efficiently if one takes the help of advertising or marketing. So, to give a boost to e-commerce, e-mail marketing is one of the techniques used.
Five Ways To Choose The Right Keywords And Have Your Website Hopping
By: Anton Cheranev | 18/02/2006 | Marketing
Choosing the right keywords can really increase your website traffic by increasing your search engine ranking and by encouraging visitors to stay on your site and return to your site. Choosing the wrong keywords, though, can be disastrous.
All About Shopping Carts
By: Michael Copper | 26/06/2007 | ECommerce
A shopping cart is something that you will most certainly need if you plan to make money online with more than just one product or service. If you have a website that sells more than one product or service, you will need a shopping cart.
Consumers are not Responding to Internet Marketing and Ecommerce Advertising
By: Julie Ross | 12/02/2008 | Internet
Internet marketers continue to apply advertising systems that have been in place for decades, to e commerce advertising and Internet marketing, regardless of what they know is right for today or what will provide the end result of e commerce. If you own an e business, work in e commerce, or online advertising and Internet marketing, you can not afford to ignore this article.
Traffic Building Using Co-registration
By: Joel Christopher | 07/08/2007 | Online Business
Co-registration is a way of buying subscribers into your newsletter. Basically, it begins when you develop a small ad, you get it placed on a newsletter directory and people go to these directories to find specific newsletters that cover material that they want to subscribe to and read about.
Don't Be Dense - Writing Keyword Rich Text To Effectively Promote Your Website
By: Anton Cheranev | 18/02/2006 | Marketing
When you are looking for a way to effectively promote your website, you will find both expensive and inexpensive options. One of the most popular inexpensive options today is to use keyword rich text.
E-inbusiness Expands Senior Team With New Head of Projects
By: JDALeeds | 17/07/2008 | ECommerce
Leading multi-channel full service eCommerce & eMarketing agency e-inbusiness has expanded its senior team with the appointment of Tuan Ngo as Head of Projects.
Tuan, who joins e-inbusiness from Fujitsu Services, has been appointed to oversee all eibCommerce technology projects and delivery with an immediate focus on creating a best-of-breed Project Delivery Strategy.
Increase Your Online Revenue by Narrowing Your Target Market
By: Stephanie Diamond | 26/02/2006 | SEM
Does the idea of narrowing your target market scare you? If you're like thousands of other online business marketers, the answer is yes. But you'd be wrong.
Latest Internet Articles
What is a Blog? Tips to Start Your Successful Blog
By: Jane Robinson | 21/08/2008
What is a blog?
Originally known as a weblog, its a frequently updated, personal website featuring diary-type commentary and links. Blogs range from the personal diary type to the full blown marketing tool, maximised for profit. They can be unfocused,ranging over a series of topics or focused on one particular field.
They...
SEO Strategies: Social Marketing
By: Matthew Bredel | 21/08/2008
When you do search engine optimization work for your website, are you taking social marketing into account? It's important to use social media tools when doing off page SEO. When you do this, you're increasing your backlinks and potential for traffic to your site.
A big part of internet marketing and...
How do I Sell Advertising on my Blog or Forum - Tips and Advice For Generating Revenue
By: Andrew Long | 21/08/2008
If you are making revenues (or trying to) from monetizing your forum or blog through advertising, the question you may have is how should you do it? That is, should you use advertising networks, Google AdSense, or sell directly and keep all the profits for yourself?
The answer to this will...
Selling Video, Podcasts and Other Multimedia Advertising Space on Your Website
By: Andrew Long | 21/08/2008
Internet marketing and advertising is getting more dynamic, and the tried and true offline model of multimedia marketing is making deep inroads into the Internet - the information superhighway is now even more high tech and interactive.
Articles and other text methods are great for advertising your products and services on...
Promo Dashboard Review - List Building That Converts
By: Titus Hoskins | 21/08/2008
Product Review of Marlon Sanders' "Promo Dashboard", a handy product which helps any webmaster do their online promotion/list buildng using a simple "point & click" system. But is it worth your time or money? Read to find out...
How do I Charge for the Advertising Space on my Web Site
By: Andrew Long | 21/08/2008
If you're selling advertising on the Internet, you need to decide how to charge for it so that you can make your business as profitable as possible for the industry you are in. So, should you set a flat fee per month based on the advertising inventory you provide, or...
How to Track and Monitor Your Web Visitors by Using Statistics Packages
By: Andrew Long | 21/08/2008
If you're an Internet marketer, you'll want to track your activity and gather it into statistics on a monthly basis at least. You cannot adjust your marketing plan or strategy if you don't know what's working, what's not working, and what the devilish details are--statistics tracking can certainly help you...
What Type of Advertising Space Formats Should I Sell on my Website
By: Andrew Long | 21/08/2008
There is considerable debate over which types of Internet advertising are the most effective, and how ads should be situated on a webpage to maximize revenues. To a large extent, you will need to tailor your website to the mindset of your target audience to consistently keep your advertising revenues...
|
|
Internet 
