6 Trends for Online Sellers in 2013

Speaking with online sellers on a regular basis helps us gather data that provids us the ability to analyze trends, similarities, and differences and then use this information to make some decent assumptions about what works and what doesn't. Our goal is to be able to then share this with you to help you make better decisions on what you are planning to do in the new year; whether that means adding to; eliminating from, complimenting, or continuing what you are doing today. Some things continue to stay the same year after year while others change. Let us know what you think and what you agree with in the comment section below.

Offering Free Shipping - It's getting more and more prevalent everywhere you look. Do you do it? Can you do it? How do I start? These are all questions we have pondered and ones we will continue to ponder this year, but free shipping is more of an expectation today than it has ever been.

Having their own storefront - This has been an ongoing trend over the last several years, but more and more sellers are moving forward and creating those domains for themselves. "If I am going to marketing and utilize social media, I want to see what it does for me on my own website." Well, we totally agree with you. There are a lot of great opportunities for sellers to create their own websites today and for a fraction of what it used to cost. What if Addoway offered this opportunity? Would it be worth it for you to try? Just asking by the way. No plans are in place for that. :) 

More social media - Social media is still tops in generating the awareness to your store especially with the change in Google & Bing Shopping, but it is becoming more important where sellers are actually creating groups to interact with their consumers. No longer are we talking with just other sellers, but we are creating groups and chats around what we sell and talking with those who are interested in that brand. This is something Addoway toyed with for some time with our Facebook groups. There are pro and cons to this method, but when you get it right and spend the "right amount of money" it works. This type of social media is paying to play. The free method is still valid today and will continue to be so moving forward (Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest). 

Blogging To Be More Transparent - If you are not blogging on Addoway, then you are blogging off Addoway and generating traffic from there. Successful sellers are spending the time writing. It doesn't have to be every day or week, but at least monthly to keep readers informed and to keep relevance. Shoppers love that personal touch and feel and love to know who they are buying from on any specific marketplace. Blogging offers you that ability to get personal with your buyers. 

Selling Internationally - More and more sellers are opening up their stores to ship to international locations. This has been a trend for about 2 years now, but not as much as it will be here in 2013. Sellers see the opportunity outside of North America and they are capitalizing on it. What the market is dictating here is not the same overseas. Your products might not be selling here, but they are just picking up in China for example. Now, it's going to be difficult to get everything set up for this type of business, but you can search Google for webinars on selling overseas/internationally and spend time learning. It doesn't have to be something you do this year, but it could be the year you educate, research and then practice. 

Getting Niche Focused - This has been something we have talked about internally at Addoway for some time. Instead of being so broad focus, we should get narrower and focus on specific categories moving forward. Well we haven't decided on anything like this, but this could be something you think about more and more. Do I sell books and clothing or just clothing? Do I specialize in Home and Garden or do I get more granular and just spend time on Home Decor. The reason for this is that in time you will be remembered for that specific niche and in turn get the return buyers and return marketing, but more importantly be able to manage that specific type of business rather than being everything, which is quite hard to do.

Which ones of these have you been focused on or have been thinking about for some time now? Obviously you don't want to fix what isn't broken, but look at your business and how you run it and think long and hard about what can help you get to that next level. If you are keeping things pretty simple and don't have the time we definitely understand. There is absolutely nothing wrong with this at all, but for some sellers who have the time and want to try new ideas let us know what you think will work or even has worked for you. Thank you.