You’ve set up your domain, built your online store, and claimed your social media pages. Orders should be rolling in, right? If you’re reading this, you may already know the answer — setting up a marketplace is easy. But getting orders and loyal customers is another thing entirely.
If you’re committed to a successful future in the online space, it’s important to get a few critical things right. Identify what problem you’re solving for your ideal customers, and then deliver the solution in the most painless way possible. Next is getting the fulfillment side right, so they come back for more. Fortunately, new tools and platforms make your expansion efforts achievable right now.
1. Lock Down Your Logistics
The pandemic put the term “logistics” in the lay person’s mouth, but not for a good reason. Issues with logistics put everything out of whack, and if you aren’t locked down, say goodbye to sales. Delivering on the promise of your product not only by functionality but by sheer arrival builds trust.
Depending on the type of products you’re selling, some people may depend on your delivery. Tech equipment helps businesses complete their client work. Party supplies are essential for celebrating time-bound events like birthdays, weddings, and retirements. When time is of the essence, you have to know that your logistics are sound.
Consider providers to ensure that your customers get what they need when you promised. These important partners handle your warehousing, inventory, and even fulfillment. You can focus on marketing, product promotions, and sourcing while the logistics experts complete the back end of the transaction. Customers won’t see the difference between you and your logistics provider. They’ll just have a great customer experience top to bottom.
2. Understand What Buyers Want
Overstocking is both an in-person and online marketplace disaster. But if you keep a close eye on sales trends in your market, you can avoid a fire sale. Commit to reviewing sales data as it comes in, comparing it to prior periods. If your shop is newer, check out and articles for insights. Paid services are available, but other insights may be open for public interpretation.
Beyond numbers and figures, get a pulse on trends through current events, social chatter, and projections. For example, at the onset of the pandemic, marketplace owners early to supply home office equipment won big. By paying attention to what was happening in the world, they offered solutions to customer needs. Plus, they were able to lock down domains that were logical for newly-remote workers’ search terms. Aim to be responsive to trends yet flexible in knowing when to shift toward the next one.
Use polls online and post-purchase engagement strategies to determine what your buyers want. Ask open-ended questions and commit to reviewing all of them. Track data and keywords, developing a word cloud to contextualize what you’ve gathered. Sometimes, what you see is a clue and not a clear answer. Be curious about what your customers need and willing to provide a solution.
3. Offer No-Brainer Add-Ons for Increased Sales and Convenience
Today, it’s more common for to offer add-on products before the checkout process is complete. This trend is more than just a digital version of an impulse buy at the checkout line. It’s a truly helpful and advantageous way to upsell a committed buyer. But what matters is how you ask and what you’re asking them to add.
For example, if you’re selling home organization solutions, logical add-ons might be damage-prevention tools like drawer bumpers. If cleaning is your product sweet spot, upgrades to bundled sets, packages of microfiber towels, or product storage make sense. Think about what your customer might forget that’d help round out their purchase, and offer it directly.
Walk through the buying process as if you’re the customer, you’ve received your delivery, and are about to use it. But wait, now you’ve realized that you forgot a critical component! Whatever item comes to mind in your moment of panic, that’s the item you need to offer. Use product suggestions at the bottom of your product detail page within view of the standalone item. Keeping your offer in clear view can influence their buying decision without pressure.
4. Aim to Be the Solution for Your Customers’ Problems
Moments if “it’d be great if somebody had a solution for this” shouldn’t be dismissed. Instead, you should take those mental musings as inspiration for new ways to solve your customers’ woes. If you wish for a solution to a problem, you’re likely not alone. Research these passing or intentional thoughts for potential new products and services.
Beyond your own ideas, scour reviews from your customers and on your competitors’ pages. Check social media comments for inspiration, collecting not only the ideas but the frequency. Soon, you’ll have a list of ideas to consider and test as you expand your online marketplace. Test new ideas before you commit long-term, and you’ll grow your business strategically and for the long haul.
The online marketplace can be intimidating. Competition is increasing; logistics can be complicated, and understanding what customers want can seem like a guessing game. Thinking through the purchasing process and using resources available to you can help you expand your business. Start with these tips, and you should be able to grow within the online marketplace.