Using a website to sell a single product?
Discussion
Hi all,
FiL has suggested I look into setting up a website for him to sell an audio product he has designed and is having manufactured. Now, he has lots of experience of designing audio products and is successful in doing so but usually sells to larger companies that integrate the product into existing areas.
However, I'm unsure of how this would work for just one product. I've read up on Shopify which looks a good option but don't see many users marketing just one product. I'm keen to get the views of folk on here as I'm an avid reader of the business forum.
Thanks!
FiL has suggested I look into setting up a website for him to sell an audio product he has designed and is having manufactured. Now, he has lots of experience of designing audio products and is successful in doing so but usually sells to larger companies that integrate the product into existing areas.
However, I'm unsure of how this would work for just one product. I've read up on Shopify which looks a good option but don't see many users marketing just one product. I'm keen to get the views of folk on here as I'm an avid reader of the business forum.
Thanks!
That would seem more appropriate wouldn't it. But I think FiL is keen to try and establish more of a brand and requires a 'shop front' for marketing purposes. Thinking out loud for a second; is it viable to have say a static webpage with branding, blurb, phots etc and a simple 'click here to buy on Amazon' sort of thing?? Is there a name for that kind of model?
How is he going to get people to see/find the website? Or would it be easier in this case to call a prospective buyer and say 'I have a product you could find useful; when would it be possible to drop in and show you?'
Simply having a website won't make money roll in, and hits alone don't pay bills.
Simply having a website won't make money roll in, and hits alone don't pay bills.
Don't see why you can't have a website for this product but as above don't have the "if you build it, they will come" mentality. You can use it for directing people from press releases and reviews (if relevant).
If you have a Paypal account, you can accept payment through your website should someone want to buy after visiting said site.
Use the likes of Amazon for selling directly.
If you have a Paypal account, you can accept payment through your website should someone want to buy after visiting said site.
Use the likes of Amazon for selling directly.
Yep, agreed a website is expected as information resource but it's not a panacea. You still need a sound product/market/business plan and a website is only one bit of the mix. Also consider if you are going to have one customer spending £10,000, or 10,000 customers spending £1. In short, how much effort is each sale worth?
It'd be one aspect of marketing to support other forms eg networking, calling people, advertising.Unless you have stumbled accross "the next big craze", think of your website as a shop window in a street no one ever usually visits. It should be used only to display stuff or for information/sales for people who are already looking hard for you or what you sell. Build the brand first (obviously with a website of your own as well) and create customer demand through other sales channels and media. Once you start to establish then you can consider doing your own thing, but until then it will be along hard slog or a very expensive media campaign if you don't partner.
Cheers guys.
As we are talking about small ticket audio (think PURE type products) then I believe the idea is to get some reviews through gadget websites/magazines etc and hopefully build a brand (not easy I know!).
I think FiL is looking to me as a younger chap for ideas on the website front, but my background is really finance, despite having a marketing degree...
He seems very keen on having a website and I'm trying to get my head round the best model. Ground up construction?, off the shelf? (shopify), or as suggested the Amazon way?.... As you quite rightly point out just having a website is not going to generate sales but I think one needs the shop window before you tell people to 'go see', please correct me if I've got this arse about face.
I'm really starting out in a new field with little expertise, sorry. Really appreciate the comments so far.
Edit: I think the message from you guys so far is promotion, promotion, promotion!
I agree.
As we are talking about small ticket audio (think PURE type products) then I believe the idea is to get some reviews through gadget websites/magazines etc and hopefully build a brand (not easy I know!).
I think FiL is looking to me as a younger chap for ideas on the website front, but my background is really finance, despite having a marketing degree...
He seems very keen on having a website and I'm trying to get my head round the best model. Ground up construction?, off the shelf? (shopify), or as suggested the Amazon way?.... As you quite rightly point out just having a website is not going to generate sales but I think one needs the shop window before you tell people to 'go see', please correct me if I've got this arse about face.
I'm really starting out in a new field with little expertise, sorry. Really appreciate the comments so far.
Edit: I think the message from you guys so far is promotion, promotion, promotion!
I agree.Edited by DoubleSix on Wednesday 8th May 11:36
By all means have a website from the beginning. It adds credibility and enables prospective partners/customers to easily see what you are offering. Make it clear what you are selling and what the benefits of having this product are.
If you are trying to sell from here there should be no more that two or three steps to sale - don't pad the site with unnecessary waffle just because you've seen it on other sites. If you plan on expanding the range in the near future make sure it's easy to add new products later without having to rewrite the whole site.
Also consider selling complimentary products as in addition to the increased revenue you may also get traffic looking for an "hdmi cable" for example who spots your product whilst on your site.
Don't be afraid of having an eBay or Amazon presence in addition to direct website sales. Find partners who sell complimentary products who can add this to their range, the key to making this work is by selling as many as are practical for you to manage at a margin which makes you a profit.
If you are trying to sell from here there should be no more that two or three steps to sale - don't pad the site with unnecessary waffle just because you've seen it on other sites. If you plan on expanding the range in the near future make sure it's easy to add new products later without having to rewrite the whole site.
Also consider selling complimentary products as in addition to the increased revenue you may also get traffic looking for an "hdmi cable" for example who spots your product whilst on your site.
Don't be afraid of having an eBay or Amazon presence in addition to direct website sales. Find partners who sell complimentary products who can add this to their range, the key to making this work is by selling as many as are practical for you to manage at a margin which makes you a profit.
I am involved with a site for which the sole purpose is the online sale of a single product.
You don't need to go down the route of the full blown shopping engine - you can create Buy Now buttons via the likes of PayPal which, for smaller ticket items, can work OK.
My site is largely text based, with keyword optiminsed (but relevant and human readable!) content. Not much in the way of inbound links but #1 on Google for the main search term.
Didn't seem to tax the techie doing it that way, and means we're keeping fees low.
You don't need to go down the route of the full blown shopping engine - you can create Buy Now buttons via the likes of PayPal which, for smaller ticket items, can work OK.
My site is largely text based, with keyword optiminsed (but relevant and human readable!) content. Not much in the way of inbound links but #1 on Google for the main search term.
Didn't seem to tax the techie doing it that way, and means we're keeping fees low.
AC123 said:
What did you do in the end?
I want a website for a single product to provide information and then have am order page. It's pretty niche so don't want to go through the main channels of amazon, ebay etc.
Ta
Its what I do and does pretty well... 3 products in total, though I am moving to amazon too.I want a website for a single product to provide information and then have am order page. It's pretty niche so don't want to go through the main channels of amazon, ebay etc.
Ta
We sell direct and on Amazon. Think of it as having two shopfronts instead of one, with different costs of sale.
We charge more on Amazon to make up for higher fees.
For your own site, use ecwid.com for ecommerce as I think it is free for a small number of products and is very simple to implement. PM me if you want help.
www.shopify.co.uk
+ FREE add ons:
http://www.shopify.com/blog/12206421-the-top-20-mo...
+ FREE add ons:
http://www.shopify.com/blog/12206421-the-top-20-mo...
Edited by BGARK on Saturday 13th December 18:57
If he's adamant that he wants a website to help build a brand then I would absolutely recommend Shopify. If I was in his position of marketing my own product I would be sure that I have an Ebay store and an Amazon selling account initially so that I can expose by product to the widest audience possible.
I would also send a business card or loyalty card of some kind which references by brand with all Amazon / Ebay orders.
I would also send a business card or loyalty card of some kind which references by brand with all Amazon / Ebay orders.
897sma said:
By all means have a website from the beginning. It adds credibility and enables prospective partners/customers to easily see what you are offering. Make it clear what you are selling and what the benefits of having this product are.
If you are trying to sell from here there should be no more that two or three steps to sale - don't pad the site with unnecessary waffle just because you've seen it on other sites. If you plan on expanding the range in the near future make sure it's easy to add new products later without having to rewrite the whole site.
Also consider selling complimentary products as in addition to the increased revenue you may also get traffic looking for an "hdmi cable" for example who spots your product whilst on your site.
Don't be afraid of having an eBay or Amazon presence in addition to direct website sales. Find partners who sell complimentary products who can add this to their range, the key to making this work is by selling as many as are practical for you to manage at a margin which makes you a profit.
This! If you are trying to sell from here there should be no more that two or three steps to sale - don't pad the site with unnecessary waffle just because you've seen it on other sites. If you plan on expanding the range in the near future make sure it's easy to add new products later without having to rewrite the whole site.
Also consider selling complimentary products as in addition to the increased revenue you may also get traffic looking for an "hdmi cable" for example who spots your product whilst on your site.
Don't be afraid of having an eBay or Amazon presence in addition to direct website sales. Find partners who sell complimentary products who can add this to their range, the key to making this work is by selling as many as are practical for you to manage at a margin which makes you a profit.
This is exactly what I've been looking into today. In the past I've set up demo stores with Wordpresss+Woocommerce, Bigcommerce and Shopify but this time it looks like Bigcartel might be the preferred platform, once they get back to me about unlimited bandwidth.
There are some dedicated single product themes for Shopify but the monthly basic rate is $30 as opposed to $10 for a basic package. As far as I'm concerned, my product will have to prove itself before I go for anything other than a basic store.
There is a free BigCartel option if you can get by with just one product shot, but I can't.
http://bigcartel.com/
https://www.bigcommerce.co.uk/
ps BigCartel just responded, they also feature unlimited bandwidth.
There are some dedicated single product themes for Shopify but the monthly basic rate is $30 as opposed to $10 for a basic package. As far as I'm concerned, my product will have to prove itself before I go for anything other than a basic store.
There is a free BigCartel option if you can get by with just one product shot, but I can't.
http://bigcartel.com/
https://www.bigcommerce.co.uk/
ps BigCartel just responded, they also feature unlimited bandwidth.
Edited by ReaderScars on Monday 15th December 19:34
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