Getting the product to the consumer requires placement and promotion, aside from your website and using search engine optimisation to promote your website in the search engines there are various ways that you can get the product in front of the consumer.
Google Product Search
Many shoppers, when looking for a product will search online, Google provides a Product Search service which automatically produces the relevant products to your search. Shoppers can quickly and easily find your products when you submit them in Product Search, delivering you more traffic and helping you increase sales. Inclusion in the Google Product Search is completely free; there are no charges for uploading your items or charges for the traffic you receive. Ranking in search results is based solely on the quality and relevance of your product listings.
Social Networks
Fed up of hearing about social networks? Yes, we thought so but they do work! If you are selling online, or in fact selling offline too, and want to market your product for free then social networks are a good place to start. Bebo, Facebook and the like are a good place to start in terms of brand recognition and building a customer base.
With the internet having a large fashion community there are several social networking sites tailored to clothing, fashion and style. Websites such as Stylehive, Polyvore and Zoo Qoo are all websites focused on design and fashion. Each of the websites are successful in marketing a product in a different way, Stylehive is a product bookmarking website, Polyvore allows you to create outfits or mood boards with the products from registered businesses and Zoo Qoo is a website where creatives can share their passion for their respective field. Essentially these social networks, well any social networks, has the potential to generate a viral buzz about your product.
Retailers on Polyvore featuring dress from New Look, shoes from Dorothy Perkins, cutlery and plate from Debenhams, Crest toothpaste from Walgreens, chair from CasaSugar.com, lampshade from missprint.co.uk and crisps from snackaisle.com.
Price Comparison Websites
Consumers often use the internet to find the best bargain and to ease their search they will use Price Comparison websites. Register your company onto the likes of PriceRunner and Kelkoo to make sure that your product is being considered along with the rest of them.
Ebay Shops
Setting up an Ebay shop is another way to get your products out there, not only can you benefit from all the traffic on the Ebay website but you can have access to many marketing tools.
Blogs and Forums
Whether you read blogs or not thousands of consumers do, and they look to bloggers and forums to receive honest and impartial advice. There are literally millions of blogs and forums and no matter how absurd your product may be guarantee there will be someone somewhere talking about something similar. If you find such a blog, email the blogger telling them about your product and if you are feeling flush you could even go to the extent of sending some samples or a tester. At the very least keeping up to date with what the industry bloggers and forums are saying, and get involved- give advice, refer to your product and do not be scared to give away any ‘insider secrets’- bloggers and those interacting with the blog respect honesty.
