Selling Products Online

The internet has opened a new world of opportunities for selling products online, particularly for anyone wishing to start an internet home business.

People who never had a business before can easily, quickly and for a lot less money, sell products online today. The opportunities, tools and potential for earning has never been greater.

For example, information and information products have always been, and still are, in very are in high demand on the internet.  Why?  Because the internet is where people come for information and it has opened up a world of opportunity. People can share their expertise, write books and get them to the masses easier and quicker than ever before. 

...to give you a little history

A report I read in 2007 stated that online sales were expected to rise 18% that year which means they would reach over $170 Billion.  In 2006 they had risen 29% which was a wolluping $146 billion.

The online top sales have been in apparel.  Online clothing sales were expected to hit $22 billion in 2007. Travel, computers, home furnishings, autos and auto parts round up the top 4 online retail sales categories.

Even today, with as dismal as the economy is, internet sales have hardly dropped, in fact some of my colleagues have seen sales improve, while others have seen a drop of only about 10%, I myself have experienced a 10% increase.

So how can you cash in on some of the online sales opportunities? 

To start, take a look at what you might be interested in selling.  Do you have a product? If not think about how you can create a product or find a product that you would like to sell.  Once you have an idea, take a look at how you can get started selling your products.  

Here's some online market research information that will get you started thinking and brainstorming. 

What can you sell online?  Here are a few examples:

Information Products - Electronic products that sell information do very well online.  For example, you could write an ebook on a topic that the public craves information on and you've got yourself a nice tidy sum coming in each month. 

The beauty of information products is that you write it once and collect the profits forever.

Put your hobby to work for you  - Do you have a hobby you are passionate about? If you do, then you've probably learned a lot about it over the years and have experience that others would love to pick your brain on.  Find out about money making hobbies and how they can earn money for you. 

Sell on Ebay - Ebay draws millions of visitors and is a huge marketplace for opportunity.  It's not hard to get started but here are some great tips for selling on ebay that could get you started today making money for tomorrow. 

Don't have your own products?  Not a problem, there are plenty of products you can acquire wholesale and sell on ebay for retail.  Simply find a wholesale dropshipper, preferably one that is ebay certified, and you're good to go.

Still stumped on how to find a niche product?  Here's a free niche finder guide that will help.

Getting Started Selling Your Products or Services

If you're considering getting started selling online, here's a run down of how to get started and a list of tools you'll need.

1. You'll need a website. Either create a website yourself or contact a website developer.
2.  Register for a domain name
3.  Find reliable web hosting
4.  Set up a merchant account for accepting credit cards online.
5.  Find an email autoresponder to respond to emails and orders automatically
6.  Obtain a business license
7.  Obtain a seller's permit
8.  A business phone, fax and mailbox

Preparation and setup can be extensive, however there are a few products that will make the job easier such as Ken Envoy's Site Build It.  Yahoo even puts out a great eCommerce solution called Yahoo Store that is definitely worth a second look. 

If you do choose Yahoo Store, this is a great supplement to help you make the most of your site and acquire as many sales as possible. How To Create a profitable e-commerce store.
 
Build a website
If you're going to sell on the internet or simply rely on the internet to promote your business, you're going to need to create and build a website.

Register Your Domain Name
Create a domain name that is the name of your business or as closely related to the name of your business and register it to you.

Find Reliable web hosting
Choosing a web host that is reliable will ensure your site is up and running at all times and will accommodate the amount of visitors and interaction that you expect.

Set up a merchant account
In order to accept credit card payments online, you will need to choose a merchant account.

Find an autoresponder
You will want to respond to emails and online orders automatically and quickly.  A reliable email autoresponder will help you look professional, answer common questions and ensure your customers receive proper feedback.  It also helps you collect email addresses from those that visit your site so that you can keep in touch with potential customers.

Obtain a business license
n General, it  is unlawful for any person or business, to carry on any business, trade, profession, calling, occupation or gainful activity without a business license registration tax certificate and / or a home occupation permit.

Obtain a Seller's Permit
All Businesses that are Retailers or Wholesalers of taxable goods or services are required to obtain a Seller's Permit, resale, reseller's, wholesale License. This is not necessary if you are in affiliate sales, but it's generally a good idea to obtain one anyway, just in case you end up selling your own products down the line.

Set up a business phone, fax, mailbox
Setting up a business phone, fax or mailbox is not required but it speaks volumes as to whether you are a legitimate, trustworthy business.  A business without a phone contact is often frowned upon by customers and merchants. It's a good business practice to allow people a way to contact you because it helps you establish credibility and trust.