In 2021, it was estimated that almost a third of the world’s population made at least one purchase on the Internet. As a business owner, expanding your web presence makes sense, with that number only growing. But what’s the best way to start if you don’t want to spend the time and money it takes to launch an online store? Is it possible to sell online without an e-commerce site? This is the question we will try to answer in this article.
Sell Products Online Without A Website
Why does someone stop before your store and consider buying your products? Most likely because he needs it. But, you also caught his eye by choosing a good location and installing a friendly storefront.
Then your sales strategy falls into place ( online, a sales funnel ), and you convert the consumer into a customer. Your store’s sales funnel can include:
- A carefully planned layout
- Eye-catching displays
- Must-have seasonal products
- Product value
Without forgetting, of course, your professionalism and your charisma as a seller.
Selling your products online without a website works the same way. You align your products with the attention of your target audience by using marketing platforms and sales strategies that ensure you are in the right place, for example:
- Join marketplaces like Amazon, eBay, and Etsy
- Use Facebook and Instagram
- Become a wholesaler
- And hire affiliate marketers
As many points as we will detail in this article.
Market Places
Here is a brief overview of the platforms you can use to sell products without a website. It may be better for you to sell several of them.
Amazon
Amazon is a gigantic company, which is both a plus and a minus for anyone using it. Its vast reach means that your products will have a huge potential audience. However, you will also face intense competition.
If you plan to sell products on Amazon, you’ll likely need to identify a niche. This may mean going as far as developing a unique, patented product.
This is because if you sell products purchased through a wholesaler, you risk competition from larger companies that can afford to sell products at a loss to drive their competitors out of the market. However, many people make a significant income from Amazon, so if you’ve spotted a gap in the market, don’t hesitate.
Also Read: How To Collect Reviews On Amazon?
eBay
eBay is often considered a second-hand resale site, but it’s much more. You can also sell brand-new items on eBay; you don’t have to use the auction method if you don’t want to.
Warning: like Amazon, eBay has a large audience, which means there are a lot of customers but also a lot of competitors.
Etsy
If you intend to sell handmade items, you should consider using Etsy. This is the reference site for this type of product. Etsy has a large following, but since it’s focused on unique items, you may find it easier to stand out.
That said, it can be difficult for your products to be still featured if they’re in trendy categories.
Social Networks
Social networks have traditionally been used as an advertising platform to generate product interest among their users. However, this model is changing, with several platforms offering the option of selling products online without a website. These include Facebook and Instagram.
Like Amazon, Facebook offers a marketplace where anyone can put their products up for sale. However, Facebook also provides Facebook Shops, which allow you to create a free online store linked to your business profile.
Facebook Shops allow you to:
- Add an unlimited number of products
- Organize products into collections and categories
- Communicate with your customers directly on the page
- See statistics on sales, visits, etc.
- Showcase your products on Facebook Marketplace
Facebook owns Instagram, so you’ll need to have a Facebook Page and Shop linked to your Instagram business profile before you can create an Instagram Shop.
After linking the two, you can access and create a custom storefront with Instagram shopping. You will also be able to share your products through posts and stories, both organic and promoted. Users can then find your products using the Search and Explore feature.
Of course, with some strategic thinking, you can also quickly sell on other social networks, like Twitter. You can use advertisements and promotional tweets to drive traffic to a landing page featuring your product.
Sell Products Online As Wholesaler
An alternative to selling products online by retailers themselves is to sell to other retailers who already have an online store, essentially becoming a wholesaler. This method is not universal, but for those who manufacture their products, it is another distribution channel that can increase revenue.
To launch a wholesale channel, retailers need to ensure that the margin of their products is enough to sell them at wholesale prices. Typically, retailers want a 50% margin. So, if a product costs €1 and the wholesale price is €2, the retail price should be around €4.
Once the price is determined, it’s essential to research the online stores most likely to want to stock these products and see how the retail price stacks up with the other items they sell. A $100 chair wouldn’t fit on a retailer’s site with an average price of $30.
After compiling a list of suitable retailers, the next step is to contact each one. This can be done over email, face-to-face, or by mailing samples to them. If online retailers agree to stock products, agreements may need to be established covering pricing, supply, delivery, and returns.
Managing retail and a wholesale channel can be lucrative and boost revenue, brand awareness, and credibility.
Affiliate Marketing
Affiliate marketers promote the products of other companies in exchange for a commission for each sale made. This popular strategy boosts online sales and increases your income without a website. This strategy can be very beneficial for both parties.
Hiring an affiliate marketer is simple: choose the products you want to sell and can afford to pay a commission. Next, look for affiliate marketers with an established presence in your niche. Here’s how:
First, always be clear about the terms of your affiliate program (how much you’re willing to pay and how you’ll pay) and sign a contract upfront. There are several ways to find affiliates:
- Work with an Affiliate Recruitment Agency – These agencies live and breathe finding and recruiting affiliates for brands.
- Join affiliate networks and directories like ShareASale or ClickBank.
- Work with Influencers – Influencers are people who have a large number of followers due to their expertise or popularity in a specific niche. They can be found on platforms like Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, etc.
- Niche Blogs – Using a blog relevant to your niche is a great way to promote products directly to interested consumers.
For payment, the best strategy is the pay-per-sale option, which means that a commission is paid for each product sold. When it comes to commission, the better the affiliate, the higher the commission, and the more you are willing to pay, the better the affiliate you will attract. Commissions vary according to the sector of activity, between 1% and 70% on average! Do your research before choosing a commission rate.
So, Do You Need A Website To Sell Online?
No, not necessarily… Companies that want to create an online sales channel as quickly as possible or that cannot afford their website have several options. Membership in a powerful sales platform, the use of social networks, or the use of affiliation are all excellent ways to get started in the world of e-commerce. Even those with a website can use these strategies to reach potential customers and sell more products.
Also Read: Find New Customers Online With Webinars
