Creating an online venture sounds interesting in the beginning. But questions start to pop up. What will you sell? Where will you sell? And how will you make your first sale?
It is normal for newbies to have these kinds of thoughts. However, there is no need to get everything sorted at once. So, if you want to know how to become an online seller, the simplest way is to divide the whole process into little steps.
Step 1: Select a Product Which You Understand
Selecting a product that you know of and would want to understand is essential. The first product selection will not necessarily be very innovative but must have a purpose and a realistic potential of selling.
Some of the product areas within Indian online shopping could include:
- Fashion & Fashion accessories
- Home & Kitchen products
- Beauty products
- Mobile phone & electronic accessories
- Office Stationeries & other
- Fitness & lifestyle products
Before making any decision, check the competitors and the potential sales price of the product. Consider the cost of the product, packaging, delivery, and marketplace costs. Just because a product sells well does not mean much if all costs are considered.
Selecting a few products will be easy to start off with.
Step 2: Select the Right Selling Location
After selecting your products, find out where you would like to sell them. Various online marketplaces could assist beginners in reaching their customers without developing an entire e-commerce website from scratch.
Select various selling locations by considering:
- Selling fees and commissions
- Reach of customers
- Logistics and delivery services
- Settlement periods
- Return policy
- Sellers’ assistance
In case of Indian sellers, select appropriate marketplaces according to the type of customers you wish to target, as some of the products could suit shoppers in large cities while others in smaller cities and towns. And, big platforms like Flipkart Seller Hub help you to target over 50 crore potential customers.
Step 3: Finish Your Seller Registration
After that, you have to open your seller’s account and provide the necessary information. It may differ according to the marketplace and your business type.
Some of the common information includes:
- PAN Details
- Bank Account Details
- Mobile Number and Email Id
- Location of Business or Pickup Location
- GST Registration Information
Your GST registration depends on various factors like the nature of your business, nature of products, turnover, and selling platform.
Make sure you have all the documents ready before applying for verification. It will help you avoid any difficulty during the verification process.
Step 4: Create Your Product Listings
This is where your customers will make the choice to purchase. Take some time on your fundamentals.
Use proper titles for your products along with relevant descriptions and specifications as well as high-quality images. Provide information such as size, colour, materials used, dimensions, and contents of packaging.
Do not make any claims which you may not be able to support. Customers need to know what they can expect from their purchase.
Sellers can use online platforms like the Flipkart Seller Hub to manage their catalogue information and product listings. Make sure you have provided all necessary details.
Step 5: Prepare for Your First Order
However, your job does not stop at receiving your first order as you need to complete it effectively and on time.
Make sure you have all the packing materials handy even before your orders start pouring in. Pack the products securely and according to the shipping instructions.
Big platforms like Flipkart Seller Hub helps the seller in managing all the orders as well as keeps the sellers informed about the sales that are going on. Make sure you update your inventory to avoid receiving any orders for unavailable products.
Step 6: Creating a Business Which Has the Scope for Growth
The first sale is just the starting point. As soon as orders start pouring in, you need to look into customer feedback.
Find out patterns in:
- Customer queries
- Product reviews
- Reasons for returns
- Demand for certain products
- Products which gain more attention
Make use of this data to improve your listings and your product portfolio. There are several features on platforms like Flipkart Seller Hub that might be of use to sellers to run their online business.
If your products have delivery options throughout the country, you have the chance of catering to the customers across the country. Extending delivery options up to 19,000+ pincodes is helpful for the seller community.
Take the First Step Towards Your First Sale
The procedure of transforming into an online retailer does not necessarily imply that you should do everything right straight away. The procedure includes selecting a reasonable product, understanding the buyers, handling all the paperwork, and dealing with each and every order.
Start small, learn through each transaction and move on. Provide correct information about the product, monitor your expenditures, and attend to the customer service aspect. With hard work and patience, your first online transaction will become the foundation for your future career as an online retailer in India.
