How to sell online. Find out some basic ideas in this article
Selling products online is not too difficult. You need to have some basic things, such as having good visibility, being a reliable business or good logistics. But once you’ve got that, and if you keep doing a good job, customers will buy on a regular basis.
However, if what you want is to sell services, things may not be so easy. As an intangible product, users tend to be more reluctant when contracting a service.
That’s how we are. We often value more those things that we can touch, smell or put before our eyes than services, it doesn’t matter if this service involves more effort and talent or means a greater benefit or utility than any material product.
Lucky for us, during the last few years, users are also getting used to online contracting all kinds of jobs, which makes this hard task easier. In this article we are going to see some ideas on how to sell online. Let’s go!
First things first: make a plan
It is a basic step to start any professional or business activity.
Before getting into the world of online services, you must know the basic ideas to run the business. To achieve this, you can prepare a business plan. Business plans are different depending on the job. At a very basic level, they define aspects such as the business model, the financial viability of the business model or the business image offered.
If you want to sell services on Internet, you should be able to answer all these questions:
What can I offer?
You are the only one who can answer this question. And we don’t want you to say things like “I am a lawyer” or “I am a software developer”, but ask yourself what specific services you can offer within your profession, which ones do you think will be most in demand? Which ones do you think will be the most profitable for you? This way, it will also be very interesting to take a look at your competitors. What can you offer which is different from the rest? If you find the answer to this question, you may be starting an interesting path.
Who might be interested in what I do?
It’s about defining your potential customers. This is an important aspect because, depending on who you are targeting, you will determine aspects as important as your market segment or your brand image. If you can offer something innovative and also find an audience for that, you will then be in a position of advantage over your competitors.
How can I offer my services?
Multiple things might be the answer to this question and you will have to give more than one answer.
You can assess, for example, what platform you will use to offer your services. Will you do it through a website? In a social network? Through a mobile app?
But wait, there’s more. Will you carry out the services in person or from the distance? How are you going to make money from those services? Are you going to create, for example, digital products? Are you going to invoice the services with the hours employed or with a fixed price? The possibilities offered by the Internet multiply, and the answer to this question becomes more complex. However, don’t get overwhelmed yet. Just think that you can choose between many different options, and that is a good thing.
Create a web page
Although it will not always be necessary, in most cases it will be very useful for you to have a web page that works as an “operational centre” for your online service sales.
A well designed and structured website is like a great business card when you offer online services. First, because it gives a greater sense of professionalism. Second, it is a great platform to give a sample of your work. Third, it’s a great way to gain visibility so that your customers know about your business. Fourth, it will be an excellent way for them to contact you through different ways (email, telephone, skype, etc).
Create your image and gain visibility
When selling products, brand image and prestige is fundamental, it is even more important when it comes to selling services. Mainly because of its “intangibility”, the sale of services requires the total confidence of the user towards the company.
Therefore, creating a strong personal or company brand will be an advantage. To achieve this, of course the first thing you should do is to offer excellent services. No business card is better than a great job, and that should be the starting point. A good job will build your professional name and bring new customers through the famous “word of mouth”.
But don’t think too much about it. If you do a good job and you want new clients to contact you, you have to make it known. To achieve this, there are multiple ways; from paid advertising, to creating a blog with quality content to have visitors and potential customers, through participation in social networks and networking.
Whatever the option or options, do not forget that the image is important. Bear that in mind!
These are some basic ideas on how to sell online. Did you already know how to sell online? With a well-defined strategy, a good platform for information, a great image, and visibility and, of course, quality work, you will be much closer to achieving it.
And yourself, what do you think? Do you have some good ideas on how to sell online? Why don’t you share them with the readers of this blog? You can do that easily, using the comment section down below.
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