Selling online doesn’t always have to be a hassle, with so many platforms and a lot of options to choose from, it is possible for you to feel overwhelmed. Do you pay for someone to create a website for you, or is it social media, or even placed advertisements? In this article, we will tell you just what you can do to start selling online in a few easy steps
Use Facebook
With Facebook, you don’t need a website to start selling online. Everyone loves Facebook. With over 2.8 billion monthly active users, you can gain access to millions of online users that may be interested in your business. You can even set up a Facebook shop where your customers can directly select and pay for your products without you needing a website. You can create it for free, you just need a business page to get started. For a step-by-step guide on how to set up your own Facebook shop, you can check the business tools and resources section on Facebook.
After setting it up, you need to figure out how to sell products on Facebook without a website. You must add details to your Facebook Store just like you would set up a website. You’ll need to create a collection of quality products and give them matching descriptions that give information about the type of product. Collections are items grouped by category in your Facebook shop. For example, “Clothes,” “Shoes,” “Accessories.” This makes it easier to find products when they visit your online store. Facebook Messenger will serve very well as a customer service platform to support your existing store. With Facebook, you can also create relevant content that supports your business and also engage your followers
Regular posts target your current followers only, while boosted posts and Facebook Ads allow you to reach out to a larger potential audience and attract more customers. With Facebook ads, you can target specific audiences and promote brand awareness.
Sell on Instagram
Just like Facebook, Instagram has grown from just a social sharing app to an eCommerce force to reckon with as more and more businesses are making use of the platform to reach more audiences like never before. 90% of Instagram users follow at least one business on the platform, so it makes sense to connect with potential shoppers via Instagram, especially if your products fall into popular Instagram niches. Examples include fashion, beauty, and skincare, lifestyle, food, and artwork. By owning a business profile, you will have access to better tools for account management and built-in analytics to know how your content is performing.
You need a loyal fanbase to engage your business on Instagram so it is important to grow loyalty among your fans. Stories are great for getting to know your audience (stickers with polls and questions), building anticipation for new products, and sharing behind-the-scenes clips of your store in action. Create longer videos for IGTV to explain how to use your complex product. Or, shoot short reels to show off your fashion brand. You can use paid promotions to show your posts and stories to a wider audience on Instagram, just like you can boost posts on Facebook. Instagram also allows you to run various ad campaigns, be it a photo, video, stories, or ads on the Explore page
Sell on a Marketplace
Marketplaces generate thousands of visitors a month themselves, so you don’t have to put as much effort into marketing as when you sell on your website. People that visit a marketplace are already in buying mode. With your product in front of their faces, you already stand the chance of making a sale. Popular market places like Jumia, Konga, and Jiji are known to attract a high number of visitors monthly and this can greatly influence your quality product. To start selling on a marketplace, you need to create a seller’s account on the platform of your choice. Keep in mind that marketplaces charge you a percentage of sales made from their platform. Bearing in mind that there are a lot of marketplaces to choose from, it is important to think of your target audience and whether or not they visit these platforms. This will help to influence your decision for good.
By using relevant keywords, you are ensuring that your product pops up when searched. Don’t hesitate to write a long description showing the use of your product. Support with relevant high-quality photos, show your product from different angles, and demonstrate it in use. Use reviews you get to how to present your product better and communicate with your users.
Be sure to get the best of all platforms by ensuring best practices that can help boost your chance of making a sale. Don’t forget to connect with your customers by making them feel special. Those are the ones who will come back to make another purchase or even better, refer your product to a friend or colleague.
