LifeStyle

Don’t let the “New year New me” talk deceive you…next year will be no different from this year if you don’t start laying the foundation…and guess what, the best time to start is now. Yes right now!

At the end of this post, I’ll give you a Complete video course on INSTAGRAM SALES SECRET. Yeah. I’m nice like that.

If you have a great homemade product or a growing collection of vintage clothes you would like to sell online, but don’t know where to start.

Here is a great news; while setting up your store is pretty easy, there’s something even simpler – selling your stuff on Instagram.

The Instagram app started out as a popular platform for posting mouth-watering food snaps or wanderlust-provoking travel shots, it’s matured into a multi-faceted online ecosystem with its own informal marketplace.

Here at Idea Honcho, we spent some time exploring popular #instasellers from around the globe and – based on our findings, we’ve came up with a quick guide for selling stuff on Instagram.

• Why sell stuff on Instagram?
• So, how does it work?
• What to sell?
• Who should sell on Instagram?
• How much can you make?
• Top tips for getting the most out of your Instashop

WHY SELL STUFF ON INSTAGRAM?

It may seem odd to try and ply your trade on Instagram instead of trying to fight spots so many online platforms, dedicated to selling – such as Etsy and eBay
Well, firstly, I must say; it needn’t be a choice between any of these platforms – you can use all of them in different ways and even for different platforms.

However, there are some clear advantages for you to enjoy selling on Instagram.

• NO TRANSACTION/PROCESSING FEES

On any official shopping platform, a token is charged as commision by the platform for sales made. With eBay, you currently pay 10% of your final transaction value (this is capped at £250 per item, however) and also a small fee of £0.35 per item once you exceed 10 listings. Etsy, on the other hand, you pay a small listing fee of $0.20 USD per item, a 3.5% transaction fee, and a 4% + £0.20 payment processing fee.

But when you sell on instagram, you bypass all of these fees, as you’re dealing with your customer directly via DMs.

• IT’S EASY TO USE FOR BOTH YOU AND YOUR CUSTOMERS

If your customer is on Instagram already, they are probably as familiar with the platform as you are and more likely to complete a transaction because of this. Unlike shopping sites that can be quite difficult sometimes to navigate and even intimidating to those who aren’t 100% comfortable with the idea of making purchases online.

• YOU GET TO BUILD A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH CUSTOMERS

Instagram allows you to build a personal customer relationship because it is also a social platform, and as such gives you the privilege to create that relationship by, liking their posts, commenting on it, and maybe even contacting them personally when you have something you think they might like to buy.

You could also get testimonials from your customer by encouraging them to share photos of themselves wearing/using the item/s they bought from you and then feature their posts in your own feed as a sign of gratitude as well.

This sort of personal interaction almost feels like the good old village market days, creating community, encouraging customers to return for more purchases later on.

• SO, HOW DOES IT WORK?

Launching a shop on instagram is as simple as just setting up your own Instagram account. However, i would like you to just have these two things in mind.

• Name & handle – Ensure to come up with a catchy username for your shop that says something about your product and try securing a @-handle that is as close as possible to this.
• Bio – Use this opportunity to be detailed about how your purchasing process works.  E.g. “Quirky mix of vintage, second-hand and pre-loved items for sale. Birmingham-based. Free delivery/pick-up in Birmingham. £4.40 delivery throughout UK. £8.60 for international shipping. Comment SOLD to buy.”

WHAT TO SELL?

Always have it in mind that – people are scrolling through their feed in search of inspiration or while taking a time out and not necessarily looking to spend money. They also would love to be a part of purchasing when they feel it’s a giveaway.

However, if they spot something quirky, limited edition and affordable, they may just feel inspired to part with a couple of pounds.

Here we’ve made a list of products that work well and divided it into those that would be easy to send via post/shipping and those that are better suited to hand-delivery.

EASILY-SHIPPED:

These items are all relatively easy to package and would be safe to send off via the postal system/courier, which obviously broadens your client base quite dramatically – perhaps even beyond the borders of the UK. A good idea is to add a disclaimer in your Instagram bio that shipping costs are for the customer’s account and will be added to the sales price of the item.

• Vintage clothing
• Hand-made jewelry
• Vinyl records
• Second-hand books
• Homemade beauty products
• Artworks and illustrations

HAND-DELIVERY:

hand-delivery or pick-up from wherever you’re selling from are preferable option in the case of more fragile items. This might mean that your client base is limited to your city/town/municipal area, but if you find a few loyal customers who spread the word, this shouldn’t be too much of a problem.

• Potted plants
• Baked goods
• Vintage décor
• Handmade pottery

WHO SHOULD SELL ON INSTAGRAM?

• MAKERS

It doesn’t matter if you make jewellery, soft toys, clothing or baked goods, this is a great way to get your brand out there, selling to friends and family initially and then expanding your reach as they help spread the word.

This is also true for the green-fingered individuals out there who are great at propagating plants – if you pop them into attractive pots (even ones you paint/make yourself), you could get a whole virtual nursery going in no time!

• MINIMALISTS

Anyone who’s trying to declutter their home may want to turn to Instagram to sell some of their more stylish items. It’s a great way to get rid of unwanted stuff, but make a bit of money in the process.

• CURATORS

Lastly, If you a collector, and you love collecting a specific thing or item type.  (e.g. vintage clothing, vinyl records, second-hand books), but don’t necessarily want to keep every single item that finds its way into your lair, Instagram offers a good offset option. This is very true for those that have an eye for really beautiful, well-preserved or unique items.

HOW MUCH CAN YOU MAKE?

How much money you make totally depends on what you are selling, whether you made it yourself, what you spent on buying it initially and how unusual it is.

However, you wouldn’t expect making all your earnings by just selling on instagram alone. But it is a great option for anyone looking to make a bit of pocket money through the pursuit of a passion.

TOP TIPS FOR GETTING THE MOST OUT OF YOUR INSTASHOP

You should know that selling stuffs on instagram isn’t just as simple as posting a few photos and having people falling over their feet to purchase said items. It sure takes some effort to get a popular shop running. Not to worry much about that here are some few simple steps you could use to help you rise above the rest:

• POST REALLY BEAUTIFUL SHOTS

Instagram is mainly a visual platform, so you should concentrate on getting beautiful clear and beautiful image. The more beautiful your photos are the more attention they get. So, it’s  of utmost importance to set up shots that show off your product clearly, but are also really appealing. Ensure to Post only the very best shots you have.

• FOLLOW LIKE-MINDED PEOPLE

When you set up your account and posted a few good pictures, it is necessary you start building a community. So ensure to first follow friends and family who know you and support your new business. The next step is to follow people who are doing similar business with you, also you can delve into their their ‘Followers’ lists to follow a few of their fans, in the same hope that they may be interested in what you are selling too. You will be surprised at the way words spread fast and the speed these steps will contribute in making you become a standard feature in relevant people’s feeds.

• CONSIDER DOING A LITTLE SHOOT EVERY NOW AND THEN

It doesn’t matter what you are selling on Instagram, whether it is vintage clothing or potted plants, having a styled shoot every now and then could provide you with loads of beautiful photographs to use over a period of time. If you don’t want to spend money on this, just rope in your most talented and photogenic friends to help out.

• SET UP SURPRISE FLASH SALES AT ODD HOURS

Just in case you find some of your stuffs not selling as well as expected. It is very considerate for you to a price slash. However, you would have to be very clever about this. Don’t just mark the item down, put them up for sale for a limited time as well, Pick periods when people would be most liable to buying stuff online.  These include 11am – 2pm (lunch hours), 5pm – 7pm (commuting hours) and 10pm – 2am (post-dinner, pre-bed, stretching over into the time when only the tipsy socialites and impulsive insomniacs will be browsing online).

• USE RECOGNISABLE HASHTAGS

One of the best ways for new followers to find you on Instagram is to use appropriate hashtags to describe your image. Now instagram also allows you to follow Hashtags.

While this depends entirely on what you’re selling, a few generic good ones include:

#instaseller

#instashopuk

#instaselleruk

#instashopping

#instashop

#onlinestore

#instadeal

Researching about hashtags used by individuals, shops and businesses similar to your is  very essential.

• DO TROUBLE WITH YOUR PACKAGING

It’s the final touch in the business and delivery process and such any diplomacy implied here could win you a customer for life. An express example is; Instead of just sending off/delivering your parcel in a generic manner, make it up in a pretty package of sorts and even add a hand-written note to thank the buyer for their purchase. This kind of personal touch makes all the difference in the way people approach your brand.

There is a popular say that annoys me when ever i hear people say “being an entrepreneur is difficult and the toughest to start but the easiest to thrive in.”

It’s not like that you know.  I have gone through hundreds of contents about the lives of successful entrepreneurs and here is what I found:

Becoming successful is easy. All you need is discipline and a strict daily routine.

My simple advice is: Don’t just study what made them successful, but study what they do on a daily basis.

Lets go straight to the tricks and strategies i collected and adapted in my own life from several prosperous people in the world.

Do What You Love

In the school of success some questions need to be answered and one of it is; Why do you want to be successful? Steve Jobs thought it’s for personal fulfillment. Basically, he believed in finding work that drives our passion provides us with excitement and fulfillment.

Before you become an entrepreneur, decide if it’ll give you what you truly want in life. Mark Cuban, whose net worth is US$3.8 billion, says that people must know what they love and what they’re good at to be successful.

You draw more strength by doing what you love.

Be Authentic

We need to stay true to ourselves, vision, organization/business.

Come to think of it, nobody wants to be customers or clients to organizations that are entangled in bribery, fraud, false promises and bad delivery.

Ensure that the product, services, and culture you demonstrate to others are as authentic as possible, in order for you to keep a good reputation as an entrepreneur.

Alexi Panos, philanthropist, television presenter, producer, author, actress, and model believes when we expose our true selves to others, they can relate to us more effectively. By sharing your own story, you attract stakeholders towards yourself.

Set the Right Goals

You need to be discreet and direct as possible about this.

Not all goal are achievable or its better to say that not all goals are achievable within the speculated time you want.

It’s good to set great and big goals or targets but it is also important to be as realistic as possible, when you set a very big or ambiguous goal and you don’t achieve it at the end, you get discouraged and maybe frustrated.

Don’t expect immediate satisfaction. Everything takes time to come to be successful. Relax and know that what you visualized will become a reality.

Henry Ford said, “when you don’t believe in yourself, you are believing in excuses”.

Pick the right goals and follow it with all possibility.

It is common for people to lose hope and become frustrated when things don’t go their way. Don’t do that. Believe in your ambitions. Trust life that it will make it happen.

Help Others

This is a great way to promote your brand image. When you help others, others will help you. Also, this will ensure you build meaningful, long-lasting relationships.

Co-founder of LinkedIn, Reid Hoffman notes that you can improve yourself by associating with people who you want to become. Even the people you partner with and employ for your organizations should reflect the best standards.

Promote other organizations and collaborate with them instead of competing, and you will create a harmonious exchange of giving and take.

When you create products or services that help people, they want to be your customers for life. Moreover, when you deliver more than their expectations, they pledge loyalty to you.

Take Care of Your Health

As an entrepreneur i know multitasking is inevitable, as you would have to hold on to many positions in other to cut cost.

How ever this should be done with a good discretion, you should learn to give yourself time to rest, carry out check ups regularly and probably go on some vacations.

You health is your wealth as an entrepreneur, when you feel sick it directly reflects on your business, so you need to take those rest and maintain your health and body.

Ensure to eat healthy as well. Wake up early in the morning. Go for a jog or workout. Exercising your muscles and bones lets your body stay active all day long.

Time and Stress Management

What you choose to do within 24 hours is crucial. Be proactive. Don’t ever wait for tomorrow. What needs to be done needs to be done now.

Be creative when it comes to fear and stress management. Practice yoga and meditation. Find natural remedies for anxiety such as herbal tea, relaxing wine, and relaxing herbs.

I say this everywhere and I will say it here too. Switch to an organic diet. Your life will change drastically.

Be flexible. Adapt to situations as they come. Don’t be a slave to your past beliefs. If you have an opportunity, analyze it. If it’s favorable, take it.

Learn from Criticisms

One of the most important lessons is taken from customer feedbacks. You have to tweak your delivery according to your customer’s needs. Unsatisfied customers are the end of an organization.

Don’t be offended by criticisms. Use it as an opportunity to improve yourself. Co-founder of Huffington Post, Arianna Huffington recalls that a critic once wrote to her that ‘The Huffington Post was an unsurvivable failure’.

Failures are not the bricks that we carry on our shoulders, but the steps that we stand on to climb upwards. Sophia Amoruso, a self-made millionaire says that those who rejected her once approved of her later on. So failures are never the end.