How To Sell Online: Complete Guide

Knowing how to sell online is essential for anyone who has a business today. Keeping a physical store is still important, but you can't just depend on it to grow.

When working with online sales, you expand your brand's reach and the chances of profit, as you can reach more people.

In addition, compared to the costs of maintaining a physical unit, having an online store can be much cheaper and bring even more advantages.

Competition is high – and you already know that –, but it is possible to succeed in the field if you know what to do and use the right tools to your advantage.

The important thing here is not just launching into dozens of sales channels with the same strategy and expecting fantastic results.

A true online sales professional knows that it’s necessary to choose the environments that make the most sense for your business, according to your niche and target audience.

Check out the advantages and step-by-step instructions on how to sell online, and see how to take your brand to the next level.

What Are Online Sales?

Online sales are the type of commerce carried out over the internet. That is, without any physical contact between merchant and customer.

In this case, the customer has great autonomy and freedom to navigate through the sales channel, search for specific items, analyze the products, add them to the cart and complete the purchase. All without depending on any seller.

In view of this, selling on the internet is a formidable opportunity to start and develop your business from anywhere and without large investments. 

What Are The Advantages of Selling Online?

Being inserted in an environment where there are potential buyers at all times is a full plate for your sales. 

However, to be a successful entrepreneur in the digital universe, it takes planning and dedication.

The first thing you need to understand is the scale and importance of digital commerce. So, check out the advantages of selling online below.

1) Market Consolidation

Saying that selling on the internet is a trend is like bringing sand to the beach. This modality has been gaining strength for a few years and became even more popular with the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020.

According to the Digital 2021 report by DataReportal, a company that produces reports on data from the digital universe, 59.5% of the world’s population is connected to the internet. 

In 2021 alone, 76.8% of people purchased products over the internet. And among those aged 16 to 64, 81.5% searched online for a product before purchasing. 

Really, selling online has become more than just a trend.

2) Greater Reach of Potential Customers

Unlike a physical establishment, the internet has no borders. So, just imagine having your business inserted in this environment and seeing people from all corners of the country, or even the world, buying your goods. 

With a good sales strategy, you can conquer and retain a wide audience. 

Promoting your business as well as selling over the internet are essential maneuvers for any merchant who wants to expand his area of ​​activity and attract new potential customers.

3) Lower Costs

With a virtual store, you don't have to worry about renting the physical space, property tax, water and electricity bills, parking availability, and strategic address.

You only need to invest in: 

• acquisition of goods or raw materials; 
• product delivery logistics; 
• maintenance of the website and/or profiles on social media;  
• campaigns and marketing actions to promote your brand on the internet.

4) Flexibility

Forget that business hours thing. Selling over the internet allows you to keep your store open and take online orders 24 hours a day.

You work at the times and pace you prefer, without having to be tied to a desk all day.

Also because there are systems, such as Kyte, that allow you to manage your business from anywhere, whether using a computer, tablet, or smartphone.

How To Sell Online And What Is Needed?

Although it seems simple and has several facilities, selling products on the internet requires some care for the business to work and result in profit.

If you don't know where to start, check out some important tips below that will help you be more assertive and become an expert in the art of selling on the internet.

Make a Plan

For those who want to learn how to sell online, it is necessary, first of all, to plan.

Keep in mind the goals you want to achieve in the short, medium, and long term. This is essential to handle your money in a healthy way.

Also, define exactly the types of products you want to sell.

This decision is not easy. There are countless possibilities for merchandise that you can sell. 

To make your choice easier:

• look for something you really enjoy working with or are interested in; 
• do detailed research on that product;
• understand its presence in the market;
• learn ways to reinvent it, ensuring long-term relevance. 

If you work with product resale, list possible suppliers. If you work with in-house manufacturing, pay attention to the need for physical space for production and stock storage.

Know Your Audience

With the product to be sold defined, it is easier to understand which audience would be most interested in buying it.

Try to imagine the customer profile most likely to consume the goods or services you intend to sell.

To do this, keep the following aspects in mind:

• age;
• genre;
• interests;
• purchasing power;
• localization;
• consumption habits.

The popularity of products varies greatly according to each group. So, taking into account the topics above, it is possible to focus on specific strategies to attract consumers who are more likely to complete the purchase.

By the way, don't forget to determine the delivery radius. Will you only sell to people in your neighborhood or do you plan to expand to other cities or states?

Only with the answers to these questions is it possible to structure the logistics process of your online store.

Choose Payment Methods

Will you work only with credit cards or will you also accept digital wallets and payment links? 

All these online payment methods have their advantages and disadvantages. Calmly research each one and evaluate the best option for your business.

Determine How Deliveries Will Be Made

Delivery logistics are a key aspect and should be carefully thought through before starting online sales. 

There are two basic delivery models that can help: in-house logistics and partially outsourced logistics.  

In-House Logistics

‍In this case, your company needs to have its own structure for delivery, as it will be responsible for stocking the product, packing it, calculating the delivery fee, and delivering it. You need to think about the number of employees you will need and the type of transport you will be using. 

Partially Outsourced Logistics

In this case, you hire a company to take care of part of the delivery process. It is important to research the companies that offer this service and compare the prices they charge.

Think About Inventory Management

In order to be successful with e-commerce, it is necessary to be sure that you will have a number of products available for immediate delivery. 

If you work with your own manufacturing, you need to keep in mind the exact time it takes to produce the goods and inform the ideal delivery time.

But whether working with resale or manufacturing, thinking about how you are going to control your stock is a very important step for selling products on the internet to succeed.

You can define whether you will receive orders and, when a specific quantity is reached, make the request to the supplier, or even keep a stock of the product and replenish it as needed.

Analyze The Competition

Sooner or later you will need to think about pricing your store's products. And you won't know where to start if you don't research the competition.

For an accurate analysis, separate what information you want to find. With that in mind, create a questionnaire containing the main points you want to analyze.

For example, if your goal is to know what differentiators customers see in your competitor, your questions might be:

1. What is the price offered? 
2. What are the sales channels? 
3. What makes the products different? 
4. How is the company's service?
5. What do customers say about the competitor?

To obtain this data, you can conduct research on the internet and social networks, ask consumers or observe the company's activities. 

With this information, you avoid charging a value that is much above or much below what is practiced in the market.

Have a Point of Sale

The fact is that, in order to manage all the tasks of your business, you need a tool capable of processing and storing all the necessary information.

Point of sale (POS) is an online or physical platform that helps with this and more. 

It helps you organize your sales, control your stock and closely monitor your store's finances.

In fact, not all POSs are this complete – they are usually just a sales environment. But the Kyte sales and management system is all that and more.

With it, you manage your business faster and more efficiently using Kyte Web and even offer a unique application of your brand for your customers to download and place orders directly to your store.

Work On Your Brand

Organize all the details to present your brand to consumers and promote it in the best way. 

1) Think of a Standout Name 

From the niche you chose to work in, look for some name references. Get inspired by those that are striking and easy to memorize. 

Then, just choose the one that best fits your business and check if it is available for domain and trademark registration.

2) Create an Online Catalog

The online catalog is a modern and practical way to present your products to consumers. Be creative and always think about the customer experience when browsing. You can integrate it with your website, marketplaces, or social networks. 

It is worth remembering that Kyte is a sales and management system from which you have an online catalog that works as a website for your store.

3) Promote Your Products

Promoting your products to sell online is the easy part.

Use and abuse social media: make Instagram stories, join sales groups, publish polls to get to know your audience better, and interact whenever possible. 

Make a presence in the networks and show the customer the true value of your brand.

Dedicate Yourself to Customers

Once you've organized everything and started work, do your best to have happy customers. 

To do this, carry out satisfaction surveys, understand what people want most and see how to improve your performance.

Also, remember to maintain clear and pleasant communication with consumers. Thus, you learn how to retain customers and turn them into spokespersons for your store. 

What Channels To Use To Sell Online

The internet offers many ways to start a business. Each platform attracts a different audience and has a specific proposal. 

Therefore, it is important to research a lot and analyze the advantages of each one.

Here are some types of platforms for those looking to learn how to sell online or for those who want to improve their existing business.

Own Website

If you are looking for a space to sell online where consumers can browse, view all your merchandise, and place orders, creating a custom website for your online store is an interesting option.

Marketplaces

Selling on the internet via marketplaces is considered excellent as they usually receive a large flow of visitors. Therefore, your product is more likely to be seen.

Some examples of very popular marketplaces are AliExpress and Shopee. However, they do charge specific fees, so be careful not to invest in something that is beyond your budget.

Facebook and Instagram have their own marketplaces, making it easier and cheaper to advertise.

Social Media

In addition to the great potential to impact many people at once, selling online via social media can be a great mechanism to leverage your business. 

By advertising on Facebook and Instagram, for example, you attract the attention of potential customers by presenting them with your entire virtual storefront, and you have the chance to increase the number of orders. 

The coolest thing is to integrate your online store with Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp. Yes, all this is possible. 

What To Sell Online?

Analyzing the best-selling products on the internet is an excellent strategy for anyone who wants to start an online business or diversify the store they already have, working with items from other segments.

The best-selling products on the internet in general are:

• notebooks, smartphones, and smartwatches;
• clothes and shoes;
• perfumes and cosmetics;
• decoration items;
• food and drinks;
• books.

Choosing a niche is very important in the face of so much competition in online commerce. 

Therefore, it is necessary to know the categories of the best-selling products on the internet to decide which one you will bet on in your business.

Check out more details about the most commercialized categories and the items that are most successful in the virtual world so you can determine what to sell on the internet.

Clothes

To sell clothes, you need to take into account which branch you are going to invest in, such as men's, women's, children's fashion, accessories, or shoes.

Whichever you choose, invest in quality photos to present the pieces and work on the descriptions of each one. Citing information such as size, textures, and type of material helps in the purchase decision.

Electronics

Smartphones, notebooks, smartwatches, video games, and electronics in general cannot be left out of virtual commerce. After all, it is a branch that survives through them. 

They are an investment path with high sales potential. However, it is very important to keep an eye on the price of the products and check if you are able to operate in this segment.

Cosmetics

Another category that has always been on the rise is that of perfumery and beauty items, that is, creams, perfumes, makeup, and all items that are part of the skincare universe.

Several brands bet on this trend of treatment products. If that's what you want, find the best suppliers on the market and plan ahead.

Pet Items

Many people consider pets to be part of the family. And this is one of the reasons for the increase in sales of pet products, such as clothes, food, accessories, and toys.

If you still have doubts about the segment, know that the United States alone dominates 50% of the sector.

Conclusion

Knowing how to sell online, just like in any other environment, is challenging. 

However, acquiring more and more knowledge and taking risks in some strategies is essential for you to achieve your goals.

Read a lot, watch videos, follow other entrepreneurs on social media and talk to them. After all, exchanging experiences is always enriching for any business.