16 creators who have been successful weigh in on making your first sale online
Are you just starting your first business online? Find out how you can make your first purchase from successful entrepreneurs who have had to go through this and now share their secrets.
We've put their tips into six simple, digestible advice, so whether you're trying to market your first item or an experienced creator seeking some inspiration This is what folks who've been there and done that were able to share.
#1: Get to know your customers
"Sales become easier if you know exactly who you're selling to.
When I launched my ebook, The Swap I was tempted to serve the cleaning needs of each person with a closet, but the language was broad fuzzy, unclear and aimed at no one.
When that customer became specific -- someone who conceptually loved KonMari but couldn't practically get on board -- I was able to surpass my secret, it'll-probably-never-happen goal.
The lesson? Know. Your. Customer."
- Kendra Adachi, The Lazy Genius Collective
To make your first sale it is essential to understand the needs of your customers.
To find out the needs of your target audience You must get to know them..
Seventy-six percent of clients expect companies to understand their expectations and needs, but more than half think that the companies don't are keeping their best interests in the back of their minds.
With so many businesses missing their mark, showing your customers that you care about them makes your business stand out from other businesses.
Customer research is the place where it can help.
The process of conducting customer research is to gather as much information as possible regarding the market you are targeting, to create the perfect customer experience to make customers feel valued and appreciated.
One of our favorite methods for customer research is review mining. Make use of a search engine, or Amazon to discover other products geared toward the people you want to target, and then review them. These product reviews offer qualitative insights into your customers' requirements and wants.
Imagine that you are selling an online course in songwriting to beginners. You could do a search for "songwriting for beginner" on Amazon, then read the reviews of books such as "The Art of Songwriting :
From these reviews they reveal that aspiring songwriters value practical, actionable advice for music writing, with an emphasis on lyrics as well as music. These insights can be used to create and market your program to ensure you're meeting the requirements of your intended audience.
If you're interested in learning from your audience directly Surveys are a great customer research tool. Here's why:
Your audience will see that you care about their feedback.
They offer first-hand information that no other form of research will provide.
Surveys help you measure the need of customers for your product.
companies that focus on gathering feedback from customers see greater customer retention rates .
Gathering feedback directly from potential customers can help you avoid the primary reason for why entrepreneurs fail their products and services don't bring anything new or innovative to the market.
It's simple to think that we are aware of what the audience is looking for. It was the case for John D Saunders when he launched his first course. As a newbie entrepreneur and course designer, he assumed that his clients wanted.
Do not be shy about asking your customers what they want. Tiffany Williams, the founder of Rich Girl Collective , learned what customers and products they desired to hear from them simply by asking questions directly to them -- and listening to them.
"I simply ask my students what they want, what they'd like to know, and if it matches what I've completed, and that I have been successful with, then I teach it to them," she elaborates.
A final point before we get to our next suggestion Get to know your customers should not end after the first purchase.
In other words, show your clients that you appreciate their loyalty long after the first cent with you. This can make a huge contribution to your profit:
52% customers will go out of their way to shop at the brands they trust.
Customers who have been customers for a long time tend to be 9 times greater likely purchase over a new customer.
It may cost more than seven times greater to attract a new customer than retain the one you already have.
If you treat them well Your first clients will become some of your most loyal advocates, and, most importantly, they will be willing to tell others why.
Word-of-mouth (WOM) isn't the only thing you require to make your first sale. You need to polish up the rest of your toolbox also.
#2: Make the most of your marketing
"Having a large social followers? Sure, that's cool.
Having a lot of YouTube subscribers? Great.
But the platform I focus upon when it comes to marketing is the email channel. Through email funnels and emails, I think there's huge value because that is just one more step towards saying that they're very interested in the products that I can provide or offer."
-- Sef Chang, House of Royalties
Small-business owners has to be responsible for 4.2 positions in their business, and when just beginning out, "marketer" is definitely one of them.
In the world of Google AdWords to Search engine optimization (SEO) The options are endless. From Google AdWords to SEO, there's many different options for you to market your company. However, for Sef (and nearly every creator we talk to -- email marketing is among the most effective ways to reach your customers and increase sales.
And the stats agree -email marketing can generate the potential to earn 42 dollars for every dollar that is spent .
(That return on investment can be more if you employ an all-in-one tool such as .
In order to reap the benefits of email marketing, you need to create an email list.
In this instance, Sef offers subscribers the opportunity to download a list of companies that are inventor friendly and will accept new product ideas. Sef's target audience is inventors who want to know about the licensing process for their product So this list can be an excellent resource.
"I got my first sale from people who follow my blog and downloaded my animation tools. Therefore, my suggestion is give free help and guidance to the group which you're part of, prior to when you start offering something to sell."
- Sander van Dijk, Regulus
Consider the lead magnet as a complimentary trial of your digital product or content for your course. Let your customers get a sense about who you are as well as what they can learn from you.
Other strategies and tools that you could add to your toolbox are:
If you've got a marketing budget to spend in influencer partnership and paid social media ads can broaden your audience.
Making yourself visible on your audience's favorite social media sites helps you to build a following as well as showcase your expertise.
That last piece is how Min Liu drives online course sales.
The most important thing I was able to do was start my own YouTube channel called The Art of Verbal War, in order to build an following. I created short video clips on my subject matter (verbal skills) and linked my videos to my site in order to collect subscriber email addresses.
Today, I am able to build a substantial email list to start my courses whenever I'd like, but mostly just to share information and give value (which is more crucial than merely selling to your followers). To this day, YouTube is my primary marketing channel to promote my courses."
- Min Liu, The Art of Verbal War
Overall the strategy you choose for your marketing will reflect what is most effective for your business, yourself, and your customers. It's possible that you don't get it right on the first go-around -- but this isn't necessarily a bad thing, and exactly what our next article will discuss.
3. Be open to experimenting
"Experiment! It's hard to know how to market online, and each group of possible clients is different. You'll have to play around to find out what's effective (and what isn't).
I've noticed that posting on my blog, then seeing blog posts being repeated and shared by others and then having an opt-in widget in my blog is a great method to get started.
I've bought advertisements through Facebook, Quora, and Reddit, but with very little results. I've also started my YouTube channel and have begun posting content there with some decent results, as well.
In everything you do, consider, measure and tweak your techniques to improve them. There isn't a single magic bullet here!"
- Reuven Lerner, Reuven Lerner's Python Courses
There's no need to be able to do all things perfectly when you first announce a new product- - or even ever.
However, trying out new ideas and being willing to make mistakes and then learn from them is a vital part of the journey to becoming an entrepreneur.
Within the Startup Curve , invented by Y Combinator founder Paul Graham Failure is a normal phase that occurs just before your company starts heading upward toward expansion and scaling.
"I consider that all we have to look at is the mistakes and failures of the past in addition to the information can be utilized to inform whatever it is that we're currently doing."
For letting go aspects of your perfectionist mindset, attempt to accept the concept that psychologist Carol Dweck calls a "growth mindset". A growing attitude can help you accept the challenges, conquer them, and gain from challenges by focusing on the continuous process of learning instead of aiming for perfection.
Also, allow yourself to explore new avenues in the course of growing your businessbut make sure you be accountable for yourself along the journey.
#4: Make yourself accountable
"To to be accountable, I told friends I'd launch my project in 30 days. They also sent me daily emails with D-15, D-14 within it.
Peer pressure worked great for me!"
-- Alexis Santin
Another way of holding yourself accountable is to pre-sell the digital items you have created, according to marketing expert and creator Val Geisler recommends.
"Sell it before it's built!
If you are able to think of the outline, sketch the contents, and draw a rough sketch of the course's future, you can likely pre-sell the program to your own inner circle prior to creating it.
It's incredible motivation to actually create the course, and you have a little money in the bank to support your efforts in creation."
- Val Geisler, Your Signature Experience
John's tweet shows how he utilizes the pre-sales method:
John asks his audience to fill out an online form and then make a payment of $7 if interested about enrolling in his upcoming course. The people who make the investment get a 50% to 60% discount on the price on the day of launch and John charges the remaining fee.
"I started to explore this notion that we were creating our own prisons for business that we were setting up a structure in our lives, where the most likely outcome is inefficiency and fatigue since we'ren't taking care of ourselves."
"Even even if you're not aware of it, you likely have many limiting belief systems that have caused you to self-sabotage and stay in your familiar zone. Make a commitment to yourself(and your self-belief) and things changes. "
Entrepreneurs who are successful like Becky and Minessa can offer their insights and impart because they've been in your shoes. Their experience makes them an a great resource for brand young creators to draw inspiration from. This is, not incidentally, what our next tip is about.
#5 5: Take lessons from one another
"Whatever it is that you wish to accomplish -- whether blogging, creating items, or creating a list -- start by emulating the people who do the job effectively. All you have to do has been done by many individuals before, and you can see how they did it on their websites.
This may seem easy, but you need to follow the success of. It seems that a lot of us waste a lot of our time trying to reinvent the wheel, thinking we need to do everything in a unique, epic manner.
The best part about the internet is that abundant instances of all the things you require to know at your fingertips."
-- David Cain, Camp Calm
What ever you're doing or trying achieve, do,"learn from the very best" is an excellent starting point. That's what makes platforms like MasterClass -- an online collection of classes taught by"the most brilliant minds in the world," that range from Neil DeGrasse Tyson to Margaret Atwood-- so popular.
In the beginning of setting up and managing a enterprise, there's an abundance of advice and resources out on the market. But the best information comes from people with years that have experience -- the ones who've been there done that, and know that you can do it also.
There are numerous groups that allow new creatives and entrepreneurs to connect with each other, from no-cost Facebook groups to mastermind-only groups.
Brit Kolo, the co-founder of Marketing Personalities , told us that joining mastermind groups is one of the best investments she's made in her company.
"Business expansion is only the first of many amazing effects ... I've also gotten better as a person, a leader, and as a CEO. Other business owners from my mastermind group are now long-term friends and I don't say it lightly."
A study on remote working by Buffer confirms that the top two challenges that people who work from home face are communication and collaboration as well as loneliness -- two obstacles which joining a reputable online community could help over.
MegaMaker is a community specifically for designers and developers that " want more than an ordinary 9-5 ". It connects people with the same goals so that they can form partnerships, share advice, and learn from each other -- just like David Cain recommends.
But, in order to make the best value from these membership communities, you need to be fully present at the table, and also be honest about your personal experiences and challenges. To make your first (and second, and 100th) sale, you need to be the same for your customers, too.
#6: Be who you are.
"Be yourself. You can tell if you are a fake.
Find your passion and distinct voice inside the context of. There is no one who can articulate what needs to be said like you do."
- Katie Orr, Bible Study Hub Shop
They don't need you to be perfect.
They seek authenticity and quality. Eighty percent of customers say authenticity is the most important factor when deciding what companies they trust and like.
A lot of the value you bring to society is derived from your own perspective and experiences.
There are few who know this better than Minessa Konecky.
"Stop trying to pretend that you are who your customers would like you to be.
We want authenticity and when we buy from a boutique business owner We're not just purchasing a product, we're buying a point of view.
If people don't know the person you're talking to or your values, no amount of photoshopped photographs and beautifully designed posts are going to change their minds. You're free to be yourself with all the flaws. People will love you for it."
- Minessa Konecky, Director to Success
By bringing her full self to her work, Minessa has created a profitable business that assists others.
Now that's a win-win.
At the end of the day, your personal perspective and experience is what helps in connecting with your customers and not just an attractive website or well-crafted text.
Show up just as you -- that's enough.
Start with your first sale, and then grow your business
If you're brand new to the world of online business or are just starting to launch a brand new service, the process from a product idea to the first sale is packed with ups and downs.
In the spirit of real-world advice of 16 successful creators, here are six tips to guide you down the bumpy path:
Learn as much as you possibly can regarding your clients. Do some research on your customers and speak directly with them and, most likely, they'll gladly give you feedback.
Discover the marketing channels that work for you and then follow these channels. Marketing via email is an excellent place to start as lead magnets are an effective way to grow your list.
Accept experimentation, iteration and even failure. It's okay not to get it just right the first time -- in fact, that's part of the learning process.
Be accountable to yourself, both at home and outwardly. The process of selling your products ahead of time ensures you are on the right path to achieving your goals, and stymieing self-sabotaging habits will set you up for success.
Get inspired by the top professionals and your peers in your field. Find communities that not only teach you something new but provide support as well.
Be yourself. Your customers want to get to know you, too Your experiences add an added value and perspective to your work.
Now go out there and make that sale. We're here to support you.