What’s Working for E-Commerce? Six Entrepreneurs Share Their Ninja Secrets for Getting Online Sales

Do you ever wish you could be a fly in the wall in the office of another entrepreneur and pick their brain about what’s actually WORKING in their business? Lucky for us, I asked 6 of my favorite e-commerce entrepreneurs for their best e-commerce selling advice. 

Today you’re going to hear from 6 online product sellers as they share their BEST advice about what’s working NOW to get sales.  

Q: What’s the ONE thing that’s working for you to get more online sales from your e-commerce site?

1. Networking, Facebook and a Discount: Eric Olsson from Olaf Olsson

“As a newbie the most luck I’ve currently had with online sales has been networking with family and friends. Since so many people I knew were asking about my ties I created a family and friends discount code for my Shopify site.

Between talking directly to people and letting people know about the site on Facebook I generated about $3K in online sales.

These initial sales also really helped me get a hand on fulfilling orders with a more forgiving audience. 🙂 I’m still really trying to figure out strategies around PPC, how to monetize social media, how to get influencers to review my products, etc.”

Olaf Olsson is a boutique maker of curated, small batch neckwear and men’s accessories based in Northampton, Massachusetts. They focus is on making the world’s most interesting, limited edition neckwear and accessories that add stories and texture to what you’re wearing.

2. Consistency and Copywriting: Erika Ehrat from Rare Dirndl

“OOOOoooo… It’s a tie between these two.

a) Consistency, consistency, consistency! I had a graphic design teacher in college that probably said this every dang day and I find that his words of wisdom are so relevant to just about everything from emails, social media, to design and customer service. My customers and followers know what to expect from me because I’m consistent. I commit to doing WHAT I CAN (and not over doing it) and doing it well and consistently.

b) Being lighthearted and funny with my web copy and my message. In the beginning the voice of my business (emails, product descriptions, social, etc.) was very proper English and “professional”. However, when I started to relax, get REAL with the customer, and take myself less seriously (I mean I sell dirndls for Pete’s sake!) I started selling more.

I don’t think it was just because more people knew about me (although it helped!) but being more relatable, less stuffy, and easier to like seemed to make people trust me more and thus trust that I wouldn’t send them an inferior product. Also, I always make sure that my photos, my execution, and customer service are always very professional and as high-quality as I can get.”

Rare Dirndl makes and sell dirndls and dirndl accessories that women want to wear whether they have a German event to go to or not. Note from Erika: “If I feel confident in the audience, then I say that my dirndls are “SO BADASS that women want to wear them for yada yada…”

Huge thanks to all the makers / entrepreneurs…

…who shared their advice in this post. Tell me this, which tip stands out to you? I’d love to hear from you in the comments below!

Jane

P.S.  If you’re ready to get serious about selling more from your online store, check out this podcast and check out my class here.