How To Sell Your Physical Products Online

Introduction.

If you have a product you’ve created or something you’re passionate about selling, there’s a good chance you’ve thought about taking it online. Selling physical products online has become a huge opportunity, and for good reason.

You’re not limited to local customers anymore—you can reach people all over the world! It might seem overwhelming at first, but once you understand the basics, it’s much easier than it sounds. The best part? You don’t need to be a tech expert or have a huge budget to get started.

This guide will break down the steps and strategies you need to follow to successfully sell your products online.

I’ll go through how to set up your online store, market your products, and how to handle things like shipping and customer service.

Plus, I’ll answer some common questions at the end to make sure everything is covered.

How Do I Sell My Physical Products Online?

1. Choose the Right Platform for Your Online Store

The first step in selling online is deciding where you want to sell your products. There are a lot of platforms to choose from, and each one has its pros and cons.

Shopify is one of the most popular options. It’s easy to set up, and you don’t need any coding knowledge. Shopify also takes care of most of the heavy lifting, like payments and inventory tracking.
Etsy is another great option if you’re selling handmade, vintage, or unique items. It has a built-in audience, which means you won’t have to do as much work in terms of driving traffic to your store.
eBay is ideal for auction-style sales or if you’re selling second-hand items. You can reach a global audience, but eBay’s fees can be a bit higher compared to other platforms.
Amazon is another option, especially if you’re looking for a huge customer base. However, competition is fierce, and the fees can add up quickly, but it’s still worth considering.

If you’re just starting out, I’d recommend Shopify or Etsy, as these are beginner-friendly and offer a lot of features that will help you as your business grows.

2. Create Your Online Store and List Your Products

Once you’ve chosen your platform, it’s time to set up your store. Most platforms, like Shopify and Etsy, offer easy-to-follow instructions to help you create your website. You’ll need to upload product photos, write descriptions, and set your prices.

A good product photo is crucial. People can’t physically touch or see the product, so you want to make sure they get a clear idea of what they’re buying. Take well-lit, high-quality photos from multiple angles.

You don’t need a fancy camera—smartphones today have great cameras, and with a little editing, you can make your photos look professional.

Your product descriptions are just as important. Don’t just say “cool t-shirt.” Instead, give people a reason to buy by describing what makes it unique. What materials are used? What makes it special? The more details you can provide, the more likely people are to trust you and make a purchase.

3. Set Up Payment Methods

You also need to set up a way for people to pay for their purchases. Most platforms like Shopify or Etsy offer integrated payment options, so you don’t have to worry about setting up third-party payment processors like PayPal or Stripe.

You’ll need to decide on how you want to accept payments (credit cards, debit cards, etc.) and make sure your website is secure.

Online shoppers want to know their personal information is protected. That’s why you should enable an SSL certificate for your website, which encrypts sensitive information. If you’re using Shopify, this comes included with your store.

4. Handle Shipping and Fulfillment

Once you start getting orders, you’ll need to ship your products to your customers. Shipping can be a bit tricky, especially if you’re selling heavy or large items, but don’t worry, it’s manageable.

First, figure out what your shipping costs will be. Do you want to offer free shipping? Or do you want to charge for it based on weight and location? Platforms like Shopify have built-in tools to help calculate shipping costs, so you don’t have to guess.

You’ll also need to decide how you’re going to fulfill orders. You can either ship products yourself (self-fulfillment) or use a fulfillment service that handles everything from packing to shipping.

If you’re just starting out, self-fulfillment might be easier, but as your business grows, you might want to consider outsourcing fulfillment to keep things efficient. Services like ShipBob or ShipStation can help you streamline the process.

5. Promote Your Products

Now that you’ve got your online store up and running, you need to drive traffic to it. If people don’t know about your store, they won’t buy your products. There are many ways to promote your store and get the word out.

Social Media: Create accounts on platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest to showcase your products. Share engaging content like product photos, behind-the-scenes looks, and customer reviews to get people interested. Social media ads, particularly on Instagram and Facebook, can help you target specific audiences based on demographics and interests.
Email Marketing: Building an email list is one of the most effective ways to stay connected with your customers. You can send out newsletters, special offers, and product updates to keep people coming back. Services like MailChimp or Klaviyo make email marketing easy for beginners.
Search Engine Optimization (SEO): To get organic traffic (traffic that doesn’t come from ads), you’ll need to optimize your website for search engines like Google. This involves using keywords related to your products, creating helpful content, and ensuring your website loads quickly.
Influencer Marketing: If you can collaborate with influencers, it can be a great way to get your products in front of a larger audience. Look for influencers in your niche who align with your brand values and have an engaged following.

6. Focus on Customer Service

Customer service is one of the most important aspects of running an online store. People want to feel valued and heard when they have questions or issues. Be sure to respond to customer inquiries as quickly as possible, whether it’s via email, social media, or chat.

Offering easy returns and exchanges can help build trust with your customers, especially if they’re buying something for the first time. Keep them updated on their order status and let them know if there’s a delay. A happy customer is a repeat customer.

7. Monitor Your Progress and Optimize

Once you’ve started selling, it’s important to track your progress and optimize your store. Use analytics tools provided by your platform to monitor things like sales, traffic, and customer behavior. This will help you understand what’s working and where you can improve.

If certain products are selling better than others, focus on marketing those more. If you’re getting a lot of traffic but not many sales, consider improving your product pages, offering discounts, or trying a different marketing strategy.

FAQS

How much does it cost to start selling online?

The cost depends on the platform you choose. Shopify, for example, has plans starting around $29/month.

Etsy has listing fees of $0.20 per item, and Amazon and eBay also have fees. On top of that, you may want to budget for shipping costs, inventory, and marketing.

How do I know which platform is right for me?

It depends on the type of products you’re selling. Shopify is great if you want full control over your online store.

Etsy is ideal for handmade, vintage, or unique items, while Amazon or eBay might be better for larger volumes and a broad audience.

How long does it take to make a sale?

It can take anywhere from a few days to a few months, depending on your marketing efforts, product demand, and competition. The more effort you put into promoting your store, the quicker you’ll see results.