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Important Things You Need Know if You Sell on Etsy

Sell on EtsyHere are some little things you might not know about if you sell on Etsy, based on my own experience as well as experiences of my customers.

Your Etsy Ads Can Suddenly Shut Off

If you see that your traffic seems suddenly low, or listings that were selling well due to ads are suddenly not really selling, it could be that your ads have shut off, even though it shows they are still on. This has happened to me, so go into the Etsy AdManager, and toggle the promoted listings on and off again.

New Listings are Automatically Advertised

When you add a new listing, below the shipping information there is a box called “Marketing” and the option for “Yes, advertise this listing” is the default unless you manually select “Maybe Later”.

Etsy Ad Budget

Your maximum Etsy ad budget slowly increases, based on how much you advertise and how much is in your payment account. The maximum ad amount you can reach is $1,000 a day (and some sellers do spend this!).

How to Avoid Having Your Shop Put on Vacation Mode by Etsy

As of January 1st, 2022, all Etsy shops have to list their business number under “Finances/Legal and Tax Information”. However, here is what you need to know. You get two tries to enter the information. If you get anything wrong, such as the correct spelling of your business name as it appears on your tax paperwork, or the number itself, your shop will automatically be put on vacation mode. I know, it happened to me as I simply did not include a space between two words in my company name. I corrected it on the second try and my shop was quickly put back up.

Another Way to Avoid Having Your Shop Put on Vacation Mode by Etsy

If your orders are backed up or not shipping out quickly, especially at Christmas, Etsy will automatically put your shop on vacation mode until you are caught up.

How to Avoid Having Your Shop Shut Down by Etsy

If you have any other shops on Etsy, you have to disclose this in the About page that appears below your reviews. You also have to disclose any manufacturing partners in this section as well.

Prohibited Products

Ivory and amber are just two items that you are not allowed to sell on Etsy. However, if you innocently use these words to describe a color of one of your items, it can also get the listing taken down.

Star Seller Program

A four star review is given the same weight as a one star review for the Star Seller program.

More Etsy Posts
About Me

Do you need your Brand Story written or an SEO-Optimized Blog Post or a Personalized Business Consultation? As a 20+ year marketing professional and small business consultant, all of my services are super affordable.online marketing consultant

I have consulted for thousands of small businesses since 2012, and my advice has been featured in the NY Times, Success Magazine, Yahoo Business, American Express, Big Commerce, Business2Community to name a few – so this is professional advice you can trust!

My Publicity Pitch service has also gotten my clients featured in Real Simple Magazine, Apartment Therapy, House Beautiful, Vanity Fair, Houzz, Martha Stewart, Glamour Magazine, LONNY, DesignMilk, Emmaline Bride,– just to name a few.

I also have a wide variety of business & marketing downloads you can check out at my Shopify store.

 

 

 

© 2021 Gail Oliver. All rights reserved. Sell on Etsy

How to Write Product Descriptions That Sell with Examples

Do you know that when someone reads your product description, you only have a 1% to 8% chance of converting them into a sale? If you are not converting more than 1% of your traffic into sales, then you need to write better descriptions that will really sell your products.

When I write product copy for my customers, my goal is to quickly:

  • Emphasize the main value of the product and what problem or need it solves.
  • Answer who, what, when, where, why, how if needed.
  • Make the reader want to buy it.

Create better product listings that will convert into sales with my Product Listing Audit and Worksheet Download.

Below are two more product descriptions that I wrote for customers, so note how I managed to get the main selling points across in just a few sentences:

Round Pedestal Wood Dining Table Description Example

Product Descriptions ExamplesSeamlessly fitting into any decor style, this mid century modern round table is ideal for the kitchen or dining room.  With a pedestal “tulip” base that allows for more leg room, the tapered and angled legs also make seating much more flexible around the table’s perimeter. 

Your table is flawlessly handmade in your choice of solid cherry, walnut, oak or mahogany wood (shown here in walnut).  You never have to worry about spills and stains on the wood as our tables feature a commercial grade worry-free finish that allows easy water cleanup.  This table is 29.5” high and available in 11 sizes from 30” to 60”.  Proudly handmade in the USA.

Questions Answered:

  • Where you would use it
  • What is it made of
  • Unique details
  • Benefits
  • Measurements
Shabby Chic Girl’s Room Teepee Description Example

Product Descriptions ExamplesA Sugar Shacks’ exclusive from our new Raggedy Annie Collection, this pretty vintage-inspired teepee is partially made from upcycled linens with beautiful lace and ruffle detailing for a delightfully feminine look.

Perfect for a shabby chic or neutral theme nursery or girl’s room, the teepee also features a fun blue and white pinstriped ruffle with matching tiebacks. You will have a hard time keeping her out of it! 

These are truly handcrafted original teepee designs with a keen attention to each and every detail, including pre-washing all of the linens in organic detergent so that they are safe for your child. Teepee is 56” high (when open) with a 42” base width and 66” long poles. Handmade in the USA. 

Questions Answered:
  • Where you would use it
  • What is it made of
  • Unique details
  • Benefits
  • Measurements
  • Safety

Do you need someone to write SEO-optimized, marketing savvy product descriptions? Contact me for a no obligation quote at attentiongetting@gmail.com.

More ArticlesNY TIMES SMALL BUSINESS

Best of luck with your writing!

 

 

 

© 2012-2019 Gail Oliver. All rights reserved. Product Descriptions Examples

Valentines Day Marketing Ideas

Need some Valentines Day Marketing Ideas?

Now that Christmas is over, the next big selling opportunity is Valentine’s Day, so get an early jump on those sales.

All the blogs, newspapers and magazines will be running Valentine’s Gift Guides, mostly aimed at the male who is assumed to have no idea what to buy the woman in his life.valentines day marketing ideas

Again, you are targeting the gift buyer so this is not necessary your target market, but the people buying for your target market. It is also, most of the time, the opposite sex. In other words, if you are use to selling to men, you will now be selling to women who are buying for their men.

Valentines Day Marketing Ideas for Men
  • Men buy more impulsively. They don’t shop around, they don’t compare prices. If they have clicked on your item, you are 95% there, all you have to do is close the sale. i.e. “I guarantee she’ll love it. Buy now and get 10% off using the coupon code VD2013.
  • Men buy at the last minute. Most men are not going to think about buying a Valentine’s gift in January. They are thinking about it a few days before. Therefore, you have to be sure to let them know that you can get it to them in time for February 14th, and already gift wrapped if needed.
  • Men love “free” gifts. Men like feeling as if they paid one price but got something “extra” for their girlfriend/wife, even if they don’t realize the price of the “free” gift was worked into the product price. If you have anything extra you can throw in, it will probably help seal the deal.
  • Men like to share and make the lives of other men easier, so encourage them to tell all their male friends about your shop for the women in their lives.

Now, if you normally sell products to men, you have to change your message for women who are thinking about buying your product as a gift for the man in their life.

Valentines Day Marketing Ideas for Women
  • Women think they know what men want, but they really don’t. Therefore, you need testimonials and recommendations from male customers that this is a popular item that all men will love.
  • Women don’t buy quickly. They shop around so let them know this is the best price point, the best features, that they won’t find a better option anywhere else. In fact, encourage conversation as women like to feel the personal connection when buying.
  • Women want to add that sentimental message so make sure you offer personalization to your products if you can.
  • Women do shop early, so start targeting them NOW, before everyone else is.
  • Women also buy Valentine’s gifts for mothers and children, so be sure to let them know if you have products that suit these markets as well, for a one stop shopping experience.

Try your own survey. Ask the men and women in your  life what influences their gift purchases and make sure to incorporate these factors into your Valentine’s Day sales pitch.

Valentines Day is a great opportunity for any online shop, so I thought I would start you off with a few interesting facts.

Valentines Day Spending Statistics

According to the National Retail Federation, last year Americans spent $18.9 billion on Valentines Day. The average person spent $142.31 with $96.63 of that on a gift for their spouse/Valentine. The leftover $45.68 was spent on other family members, friends, coworkers, pets, children’s classmates or teachers.

On average, men spend $190.53 (with $128.90 of that on his actual Valentine) and women spend $96.58, of which $62.47 was on a gift for their Valentine.

The biggest sellers will be cards, followed by flowers (mostly male buyers), candy, going out, jewelry, clothing and gift cards.

Another interesting stat to note is that the interest in the holiday drops off after the age of 44. Therefore, you might want to spend your time focusing on men, ages 18 to 44, with items in the $100 to $130 range.

Popular Valentines Gift Searches

Let’s start a chat on SEO by going over to Amazon to see how people are searching for Valentines gifts. I noticed a slight difference between men and women.

Men are Searching:
  • Valentines Gifts for Her Bundle
  • Valentines Gifts for Her Basket
  • Valentines Gifts for Her Sexy
  • Valentines Gifts for Her Necklace
  • Valentines Gifts for Her Chocolate
  • Valentines Gifts for Her Clothes
  • Valentines Gifts for Her Jewelry
Women are Searching:
  • Valentines Gift for Him Sexy
  • Valentines Gift for Him Basket
  • Valentines Gift for Him Funny
  • Valentines Gift for Him Star Wars
  • Valentines Gift for Him Bracelets
  • Valentines Gift for Him Beer
  • Valentines Gift for Him Football

You can see that sexy always makes the list, as does basket. Women appear to be a little more vague about the actual type of product, while men zero in on it.

Descriptive Searches for Valentines Gifts

When trying to optimize your product listings for “Valentines gifts“, are you making sure that you are not just relying on the typical search phrases that have SO much competition?  The truth is, gift buyers actually search may different ways. For example, buyers search using certain adjectives, such as:

  • Cute Valentines Gifts
  • Unique Valentines Gifts
  • Romantic Valentines Gifts
  • Cool Valentines Gifts
  • Creative Valentines Gifts
  • Personalized Valentines Gifts
  • Sexy Valentines Gift
  • Fun Valentines Gifts
  • Funny Valentines Gifts
  • Nerdy Valentines Gift
  • Naughty Valentines Gift
  • Wood Valentines Gift
  • Edible Valentines Gifts
  • Long Distance Valentines Gift
  • Matching Valentines Gift

Just to note, the MOST popular adjective for Valentines day gifts for him and for her on Google was “cute.

Who People are Buying Valentines Gifts For

Buyers also search by leading OR ending with who it is for, such as:

  • Mens Valentines Gifts
  • Kids Valentines Gifts
  • Women’s Valentines Gifts
  • Boyfriend Valentines Gifts
  • Girlfriend Valentines Gifts
  • Wife Valentines Gifts
  • Valentines Gifts for husband
  • Valentines Gifts for daughter
  • Valentines Gifts for son
  • Valentines Gifts for class
  • Valentines Gifts for teacher
  • Valentines Gifts for friends

There are also a lot of searches for “new” such as “Valentines gift for new boyfriend”, new girlfriend, new relationship, new mom, new dad…

Customers also search with a specific product in mind, such as:

  • Valentines Gift Candle
  • Valentines Gift Jewelry
  • Valentines Gift Art
  • Valentines Gift Earrings
  • Valentines Gift Lingerie
  • Valentines Gift Painting

And some buyers will mix a few of these search phrases together (remember, some people enter search phrases verbally on their phones):

  • Romantic Valentines Day Gifts for Him 

As I said, the order of the search phrase is usually interchangeable, as people will search, “Jewelry Valentine’s Gifts” and “Valentine’s Gifts Jewelry“.

There are also twice as many searches for “Valentine’s gifts for him” as there are “Valentine’s gifts for her“, meaning more women are shopping online for their Valentine than guys are.

“Personalized gifts for him” has 10 times the number of searches as “personalized gifts for her“, showing that personalization is NOT a big concern to the male shopper.

More Valentines Day Marketing Ideas
  • Change your shop banner and social media banners to advertise Valentines gift ideas.
  • Add a Valentines Gift category to your shop, and if you can specify, “Valentines Gifts for Him”, Valentines Gifts for Her”, “Valentines Gifts for Kids”, etc., even better.
  • Let people know the final order date in order to receive items in time for Valentine’s Day (which is a Sunday).
  • Offer cards and gift wrap either as a value-add or for an extra fee.
  • No later than January 20th, email customers Valentines Day Specials with categories such as “Gifts Under $50” “Gifts Under $25”, etc.
More Holiday Marketing Ideas
Be Sure to Also Check Out

© 2013-2020 Gail Oliver. All rights reserved. Valentines Day Marketing Ideas

Remember, Everyone is Potentially a Customer

everyone is potentially a customerOne of the biggest mistakes I see small businesses make is forgetting the fact that everyone is potentially a customer. 

The other day I received a very nasty email from someone who didn’t agree with something I wrote on my blog. I am all for constructive criticism but the person was just insulting, rude, and hateful. They also left their shop url so I went over to their website. They had some nice items, but I thought, I will never buy from you. I was potentially a customer. I bet they didn’t stop to think about that. Therefore, I want to remind you – always remember that everyone is potentially a customer.

Treat Everyone Like A Customer

Would you say nasty, hateful things to a customer? Obviously not. So good business practice is to treat everyone who corresponds with you – whether they are another seller, a supplier, someone trying to sell you their services – as if they are a potential customer. Otherwise, it will come back to bite you in the you-know-what.

Avoid Leaving Negative Comments

Same thing if you are leaving comments in a forum or on a business that are mean spirited or overly critical. Again, you are representing your business and everyone reading your comments is a potential customer and you have just given a very negative impression of yourself. If you think I am going to run over to your shop and start buying from you, guess again.

Always Show Respect

In my own business, I have always made a point of treating everyone who approaches me with respect, even if I know this is someone who will never require my services. That is how you build a solid business reputation and create good word of mouth. So when people contact me merely to try and sell me something, I get that. I am trying to sell stuff too. I answer respectfully because down the road they may know someone who requires marketing services and they will remember me in a good way.

Don’t Respond Negatively to Negative Feedback

Same situation when someone responds to a comment I made on a forum or blog in a negative or derogatory way, I don’t get in the mud with them. I am still representing my business and my reputation, so I rise above it.

FINAL WORD: You are always marketing your business, so watch your communications, especially your public communications with people. Once a potential customer has a negative impression of you and/or your business, all the marketing in the world is not going to help you.

More Sales Articles

Discover my marketing products and services in my Shopify store.

© 2012 Gail Oliver. All rights reserved.

Why Quirky Products Always Sell

There are reasons why quirky products always sell.

Do you need some fresh inspiration when it come to creating new products? Do you also find that sometimes the right product is just quirky enough that it requires little marketing – that it will sell based solely on its own quirkiness?

I was at an online shop called Genuine Fred. They sell some unique items and are definitely the place to go when you need a gift for that hard-to-buy-for person. I went to a section on their site called “Top Sellers” because I was curious to see what people are buying these days. Here is what I found that may inspire your own unique product ideas.

Why Quirky Products Always Sell

Quirky Product #1

Their current top seller is actually a product I think is quirky but also practical, which doesn’t always happen. It is a Scratch off World Map Wall Poster. Every time you visit a country, you scratch it off the map the same way you do a scratch off lottery ticket. So now everywhere you’ve been is highlighted in red. Great gift for the world traveller, and anything that is a gift idea and quirky is always a big seller.

 

Quirky Product #2

Why Quirky Products Always Sell

Their next top seller is Hot Chocolate on a Stick. Since everything seems to be on a stick these days, I guess it makes sense. For $16 you get four cubes of Belgian Chocolate that you dunk into steaming milk. Not necessarily something I would buy for myself, but it could be one of those gifts you give a co-worker in a Christmas exchange. Definitely conversational.B

Why Do Quirky Products Sell?

The point I am trying to make is sometimes a product is so unique and unusual that people will buy it solely for that reason. It may not have a long product life cycle, especially when the novelty wears off, but it could make you a lot of money in a very short time. So are these ideas ingenious or just silly or both? Whatever they are, the lesson to be learned here is that quirky always sells and always get publicity. For example, I’m writing about it!

Be sure to visit my Shopify store to see my Products and Services for sale.

Be sure to also read New Ideas for Product Photography.

© 2012 Gail Oliver. All rights reserved. Why Quirky Products Always Sell

Can One Word Get People to Buy?

Can One Word Get People to Buy?

A few posts ago I spoke about creating a headline that gets attention. So, I was saw the ad below and thought it was a very effective one word headline. Basically, taking a problem and offering a solution, but in just one word.

The before side says, “Chaos“, which many of us experience in our hectic lives. The other side offers, “Order“, which we are all looking for. It is very effective for communicating the purpose and value of the product and the need it is solving. If you can solve people’s problems, they will buy.

Can One Word Get People to Buy?

Can you do the same with your products?

One word campaigns are effective because people are busy and one word is not a lot to read and get the point across.

Let’s say you sell jewelry for example. Maybe you have a photo of a woman shot from the neck down and she is wearing a plain dress. Beside you have another photo of the same woman, same dress, but this time she also is wearing an ornate necklace. So the one side says, “Plain” and the other side says, “Wow“. Would that convince someone of the value of your product?

What if you are selling baby onesies with a cute saying on them. You could have a photo of a baby on the left wearing a plain white onesie. On the right you could have another photo of same baby wearing a onesie with “Precious Cargo” written on it. The left side has a headline of “Practical” and the right has a headline of “Practical and Fun!”. Will this convince the buyer that you are getting more for your money with this onesie?

Think of value words for your products, i.e. problems they solve, and try using those in headlines to see if they quickly get across to your visitors why they should buy your product. Maybe “Ordinary” vs “Unique” or  “Messy” vs “Organized” or “Good” vs “Better“.

You don’t even have to make a comparison. You could just offer two or three words that gets the value across, such as “Make a Statement“, “Get Noticed“, “Add Some Wow“, “Spoil Her Now”.  It gets the visitor thinking. 

More Sales Articles

Discover my marketing products and services in my Shopify store.

too many sales© 2013 Gail Oliver. All rights reserved. Can One Word Get People to Buy

Marketing Plan, Ideas, Strategy for Food Products Business

If you need a marketing plan, ideas, strategy for food products business, look no further! My 12-Month Marketing Plan for Food Products will help you indie brand get the exposure it needs to drive more traffic and customers to your business. Here is a sample for January.

January Marketing Plan for Food Products

PUBLICITY
  • Submit an email pitch to Bonapetit be included in an update to their article, “10 Great Online Food Specialty Stores”.
  • Check and submit daily to HARO requests. HARO stands for Help a Reporter Out and it is a free service you sign up for to receive media requests three times a day.
SOCIAL MEDIA
  • Post a favorite idea for Sunday supper every Sunday for #NationalSundaySupperMonth (make sure the recipe uses your food products).
  • Post a favorite low calorie recipe every Monday for #MondayMotivation.
  • Post a favorite soup recipe every Tuesday for #NationalSoupMonth #TastyTuesday.
  • Post a photo of a tower of bagels on January 15th for #NationalBagelDay #foodporn, #foodie, #yummy.
  • Post a favorite cheese creation on January 20th for #NationalCheeseLoversDay #foodporn, #foodie, #yummy.
  • Comment daily on the Instagram and Facebook posts of a major food blog, such as Half Baked Harvest, so that their followers take notice of your shop name and they then might click over to your page.
  • Respond daily to every comment on your social media posts.
  • Direct Message (DM) your new followers a coupon for your shop, as a thank you for the follow.
EMAIL MARKETING IDEAS
  • Create a free email signature (use WiseStamp.com) and include a linkable shop banner, links to your social media and your latest blog post.
  • Email your customers your winter theme food products as well as any early bird Valentine’s day offers or Superbowl party food ideas.
  • Change up your email opt-in incentive to include a free printable monthly calendar for the new year clearly labeled with your shop name and url with a recipe for each month that uses one of your products (to serve as a frequent reminder of your shop).
SALES MARKETING IDEAS
  • Ask a few local diners, coffee shops or food trucks if they will sell your products wholesale, as a second source of revenue for themselves.
  • Start planning for selling opportunities at spring markets, food fairs, festivals and craft shows.
  • Consider selling your products at Trader Joes.
  • Consider selling your products wholesale at Faire.
CONTENT MARKETING IDEAS
  • Write a short article on “Great Food Gifts to Send to a Friend” with a byline that mentions your shop and products, and submit it to Buzzfeed.
  • If you haven’t already, create a blog to drive traffic to your shop. You can then circulate your blog posts on social media as well as on blog sharing sites like Bloglovin’ and Blogarama even if your posts are something as simple as curated content, such as “Cooking Roundup: Our Favorite Recipes of the Week”. It also gives you a reason to email your customers weekly.
PROMOTIONAL IDEASMarketing Plan, Ideas, Strategy for Food Products
  • Comment daily on the latest blog posts of popular food blogs as a great way to get seen by their readers. Most blogs allow you to leave a comment that includes your shop name and a link to your website (which also helps your site’s Google SEO ranking).
  • Add a recipe (for free) to the blog, Food52, and make sure that the ingredient list includes one of your products.

I hope you enjoyed January’s plan. Get all 12 months by downloading my 12-Month Marketing Plan for Food Products.

More on my blog.

 

 

 

©2023 Gail Oliver. All rights reserved. Marketing Plan Ideas Strategy for Food Products Business

 

How to Create Attention Grabbing Headline Examples

Are you looking for Attention Grabbing Headlines Examples?

I was looking through Craigslist the other day and a headline really stood out to me. It wasn’t because it was in all caps or using asterisks (although sometimes that does help). It stood out because of what it said. It was for a wedding photographer and the headline read:

“Do You Want to Love Your Wedding Photos?”

Pretty grabby headline, mostly because the photographer is addressing a need it knows its customers have. Brides (and grooms) want to LOVE their wedding photos. By doing a headline like this, it makes it obvious to me that this photographer gets “it”. They have already convinced me that me loving my photos is their top priority. Very effective.

More Attention Grabbing Headlines Examples

Looking through Craigslist further, I saw another grabby headline. It said:

“New Apartment? Hip Artwork for Sale” 

Again, the poster is reaching out to a potential target market, the new apartment dweller who is probably young and hip and doesn’t have much money. But the point is someone reading this, who does answer “yes” to the question “New Apartment?”, will be drawn to it.

Sometimes a headline can just make you curious enough to click over, even if it is not what you need or are looking for. Again, on Craigslist I saw the following headline:

“Fun, Funky & Fabulous Birdhouses” 

Now I’m not in the market for a birdhouse, but I was curious how you could make one fun, funky and fabulous so I did click over to the listing. Now, it could be improved further. Maybe if they were to add:

“Gift Ideas for the Nature Lover: Fun, Funky & Fabulous Birdhouses” 

By adding the “Gift Idea” part you have created a need. So while I may not need one, I am at least now thinking is there someone else I could buy this for. You could ask it in the form of a question, which is also effective:

“Need a Gift for a Nature Lover? Check Out These Fun, Funky & Fabulous Birdhouses” 

Basically, the best and most effective headlines are when you directly try to answer a customer’s need.

Get More Success Tips

 

 

 

© 2012-2022 Gail Oliver. All rights reserved. Attention Grabbing Headlines Examples

Why People Buy: Is Price the Reason You’re Not Selling?

 

why people buyWhen people come to your site and don’t buy, what is the first thing you assume is wrong? I bet you think it’s your price. Maybe. The truth is you have to think about what makes people buy, and price is not always a factor.

Reasons People Do Not Buy

  1. They don’t need your product.
  2. They don’t need your product right now.
  3. They don’t see the value in your product.
  4. They are unsure that you will deliver what you are promising.
  5. Your price was too high compared to similar competitive offerings.

So if you really feel price is your problem, then here is a way to test it.

Don’t lower your price permanently but instead offer a one-day only special with a coupon code for 50% (or pick a percentage in which you will still earn a profit – don’t take a loss).  Make sure customers know it is TODAY ONLY. If even at 50% off they are still not buying, then you know it’s not your price.

Do you know that too low a price can hurt you as well? If someone really loves or wants an item, and you have created that must-have feeling in the customer, price usually isn’t an object (unless it is obvious that you are completely overcharging). Sometimes too low a price makes the customer feel the product is cheap and of poor quality. So trying to undercut everyone will not always work in your favor either.

Do you know what makes people walk away from an online sale more than price? Shipping charges. Especially if you live in one country and you are buying from another. There have been cases where the shipping ends up equaling the price of the product. So sometimes it is better to offer FREE SHIPPING and buffer the cost into your product price. When a customer commits to your price and then gets to the checkout and sees it has doubled due to shipping, this is not the same exchange anymore and they WILL change their mind.

FINAL WORD: So, offer a fair price based on what it costs you to make your product and allowing for a profit, compare it to your competitors’ prices, test it with your market, and then make sure your customers understand the value that comes with this price. Related: Two Easy Pricing Strategies to Try.

IF YOU ARE NOT MAKING SALES, I can help! My 12-Month Marketing Plans will give you all the tactics you need to successfully promote your small business.

© 2012 Gail Oliver. All rights reserved. Why People Buy. 

High Traffic But No Sales?

High Traffic But No Sales? Does this sound like your business?

Do you ever see marketing promises that say, “We’ll get you tons of traffic”. Well, that’s very nice but traffic is not a guarantee of sales.

For example, say you sell jock straps. If one day 500,000 women visited your site, how many jock straps do you think you would sell as opposed to if 500 men visited your site? Exactly, if they have no need for your product, they’re not going to buy it.

Another offer you’ll see is, “I will post you to my 200,000 Instagram followers”. Well who are these followers? Are they just other companies who wanted a follow back, so the person reading your post is their Web marketing person (who is not reading posts, just sending them). How many of their followers are actually still active on Instagram. Don’t be lured in by high numbers. Again, if their followers are not who you are selling to, it is not going to make a difference.

What You Want is Traffic That Is Your Target Market

For example, let’s say you sell wedding products and someone says they will get you in front of 200,000 brides, this is reliable traffic…maybe. How long have these “brides” been on their blog, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, etc.? A woman plans her wedding in 12 to 18 months so if she first joined their blog two years ago, she is married now and not interested in wedding products. She just hasn’t taken the time to unfollow. So, it could be only 60% of these 200,000 brides are still potential customers. Which is still good, but remember numbers can be overestimated.

Same thing if you are selling maternity clothes, for example. Women are only pregnant 9 months, so if they’ve had the baby, they may still be on that person’s email list but have no need to buy your products.

So you need to find where your potential customers are really hanging out online, at this moment in time, and that is where you will find the traffic that will buy what you are selling.

How Do You Find Where Your Target Market Is?
  • Simple, ask them. If you are selling to 13-year old girls, you must know a few – family, neighbors, friends’ kids. Ask them where they go online and that is where you’ll find your traffic that will lead to sales.
  • You can also poll your current customer base via a social media post. One day simply ask followers, “What are the blogs you read the most?” or “What social media site are you on the most?” 
More Sales Articles

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too many sales

© 2019 Gail Oliver. All rights reserved. High Traffic But No Sales

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