How To Plan Your First Sale

I remember the first time I wanted to start my own online business. I did not have any mentor or solid plan and failed miserably. I tried selling products for a popular company that is still in business today. It was my first introduction into drop shipping. It was not long before I was learning the pros and cons that came along with online sales. I was under the impression that all you had to do was build it and they would come. Little did I know I was in for a big surprise. I was about to learn a vital lesson of selling products on the internet.

YOU HAVE TO PLAN BEFORE YOU BUILD!!!
I had no idea about marketing and how important it was. I did not know that you have to pay taxes and shipping charges. I had no idea how much I should charge and that suggested retail prices companies use are not always the best prices to charge. I did not have any kind of blueprint to follow or system to use. The most important lesson I got out of that experience was, if you do anything without proper planning you are taking a huge risk. You are risking valuable time and money on something you have not properly thought out. My lesson I was learning was a prime example of this. But it also has made me smarter as a result of my efforts. I now know that, if you want to be successful in online sales or affiliate marketing you need to plan. Think about what you want to sell first and who your targeted market is. One question you have to ask yourself is would you buy what you are selling? Put yourself in the shoes of your customers and think like a customer. When you search online for products and information what peeks your interest?

Why are you buying from website (A) instead of website (B)?? These kinds of questions will make you better at finding a solid method to market your products(s), services or keep readers interested in your informational niche. I also think it is a good idea to be educated in what ever you are selling.

The more you know about what you are selling the better you will be at marketing it. There are so many people trying to sell everything including the Kitchen Sink these days. The trick is to be the best source for what people are looking for. This is key to being successful in any market. I remember having a sales person try to sell me a TV a few months back. This man was a sharp dresser well spoken and was very professional. He knew everything about televisions that anyone could think of asking and more. This guy was like some sort of TV Guru or something. But there was one huge problem that cost him his sale. I was shopping for an MP3 player not a TV. Bottom line is know your customer and product before you jump in for the sale. If you take those steps first you will be much more successful accomplishing your goals.