Top Five Tools You Need to Sell Products Online

[Michelle Waters]

Top Five Tools You Need to Sell Products Online

So…you’ve got a great product that you are passionate about and you’ve heard how easy it is to make money online. Now what?

First of all, sit right down and realize that it is NOT easy to make money online. It is possible, with long hours and lots of hard work, but only the get-rich-quick schemers will tell you that the process is “easy.” Just erase the “easy” or “overnight” adjectives from your mind.

Now that you’re thinking realistically, let’s discuss the top five items you need to be successful online.

1. Domain Name – A domain is simply your website address. When searching for a domain, think of a name that describes your company and/or product and that is easy to remember. You will need to do research to be sure that you are not infringing on any copyrights and that there isn’t already a similar product or company with a similar domain. That would cause confusion for both sellers and you may get a cease and desist letter from the seller who was established online first.

2. Website – If you are selling your own product online, the only way to show it to people is by having a website. Consider your website your online storefront and remember that the customer’s first impression can either make or break a sale. Hiring a professional designer will give your site the clean, professional, polished look that customers are looking for. While a do-it-yourself site will save you money upfront, you could end up losing money in the long run if customers think your site looks unprofessional or sloppy.

3. Web Hosting – The web host provides the bandwidth which powers your website which allows people to see your product. There are numerous companies who offer web hosting but you need to ask a lot of questions before signing on. Be sure you find a company that offers technical support (even on the weekends), is willing to answer your questions, and does not have a lot of down time. If their servers are down constantly, you are losing business because no one will see your website.

4. Shopping Cart – Now that you have the customer on your site and willing to spend money, you need to have a reliable, easy-to-use, and safe shopping cart to complete the sale. People are very leery of giving their credit card numbers if your shopping cart is not secure so choose your cart carefully by asking lots of questions. Although PayPal buttons are easy to use, they do not exude a professional image, so it’s best to find a professional and safe shopping cart.

5. Autoresponder – This tool provides a way to have a mailing list of people interested in your product to which you can send regular reminders or updates. Not every customer who happens upon your website will make a purchase at that time. In these cases, you do not want to leave it up to chance if they will bookmark your page or remember to come back when they have saved up the money for your product. Regular mailings will keep your name and product fresh in their minds and may yield future sales.

Even before you invest money in any of these tools, you need to do thorough market research to be sure there is a need for your product. While you may absolutely love your product and think it’s wonderful, investigate if your niche customers think the same way.

Some business coaches believe you should do this research even before you choose which product to sell. If you are not interested in the needs of your market or your product does not answer a specific need, then you will have a hard time selling to your niche.

Michelle Waters helps work at home moms and small business owners sell physical products online. She is host of Product Seller's Talk Radio, and offers services through her site at MichelleWatersOnline.com.