How to market products?

ALittleWolf

idlewild365 said:

Oh and if you want to try and market the product online, it's worth seeing what people are searching for online.

Thanks. I have used a keyword checker in the past, but I can't remember which one. I was looking just the other day for a decent one lol.

As I said in my OP, I am limited as to how many keywords I can use on the site my product is listed on, but it is useful if I find a place to advertise or for possibly finding a niche.

ALittleWolf

I feel like I should try and clear some things up as there has been confusion and, apparently, a negative vibe.

This is an anonymous forum and I am not trying to sell my products here. In order to get help it is important to be realistic. 

I want to add that I have zero control over many aspects.

I create a file, write a (short) description and write a few key words. I send this to the site. Within reason, I set the price, but the site take a certain amount to cover their costs. If, for example, their cost is £5 I have to price my item above £5. It is the cheapest for that specific, unique product, but for that product type it is not.

The site control the following:
Site and listing layout
Product details
Terms and conditions of sale
Product materials
Manufacturing process
Manufacturing costs
Shipping costs 
Shipping packaging 
Shipping
Customer service
Anything else I have missed in regards to selling.

This site is my only option to sell and have my product made. The quality is very good.

Companies who sell with them, but don't require their manufacturing of products may be using higher quality materials and may have a better manufacturing process. Therefore their product quality could be better. The rest is subjective.

The part I do is to the highest quality possible and I set the price as low as I can. Whether people like what I have done with my part is very subjective. I like what I have done and many others will too, but some may dislike it or prefer another option.

That is why I cannot claim mine is the best quality or cheapest. I am not being negative,  I just do not control that aspect at all.

theoretica

All fair enough - but what you need to do is find a way of helping people who will 'like what you have done with your part' find your product.  Who are they?  What will appeal to them?  What is different about yours?

To use the CD analogy that you mentioned earlier, the reason anyone buys a CD is because they like the music on it and your CDs have different music from anyone else's.  But it will be in a genre.  People don't advertise CDs as 'here's some music, some people will like it, maybe, I hope'.  People publicise CDs to the special interest groups that match most closely the genre/instrument and talk about what is special about the particular music - political lyrics, or probably the first time you'll hear jazz played on the bagpipes or... 

What you describe sounds a bit like one of those T shirt printing sites, people upload designs and get a bit of money when a customer orders one printed but the printing and shirts themselves are out of their hands.  So perhaps look for people publicising their Tshirt designs for ideas - it's all about the design, they are usually in themes so different brandings for dark humour and cute animals not trying to share publicity between things that appeal to very different audiences.

ALittleWolf

It is very similar to the t-shirt design in that sense, but that is not my product. However, we'll use that to keep things simple.

How would you market them? Let's say they're cute t-shirts and children will like them, but they obviously won't be the ones buying. 

You can't blog about "cute" and no one wants to see loads of photos of just a t-shirt, that is boring. Others have a theme or something relevant that they blog/ vlog about, are already known for something else, have friends or family sharing, can afford advertising or to buy their own products to up the rating and get it seen higher in searches. I do not.

Marcon

What are you selling? This constant prevarication for no reason (nobody here is going to seize on it as a great idea, given what you've already said, so you needn't fear an increase in competition) is utterly frustrating when people are genuinely trying to help.

theoretica

Of course people can blog about cute.  There's cute all over the internet.  Or have a facebook/IG feed that is pictures of different cute Tshirts/product and a few words about them and occasional give aways to people who follow the page.  Sure it probably won't be the greatest publicity ever, but you need to start somewhere.

ALittleWolf

theoretica said:

Of course people can blog about cute.  There's cute all over the internet.  Or have a facebook/IG feed that is pictures of different cute Tshirts/product and a few words about them and occasional give aways to people who follow the page.  Sure it probably won't be the greatest publicity ever, but you need to start somewhere.

I wouldn't know what to keep blogging about based on cute, even less so to relate it to my items.

I do post on social media, but it doesn’t get much reach. I cannot afford to do giveaways, but a lot are following to boost their page and would have no interest in a giveaway.

ALittleWolf

Marcon said:

What are you selling? This constant prevarication for no reason (nobody here is going to seize on it as a great idea, given what you've already said, so you needn't fear an increase in competition) is utterly frustrating when people are genuinely trying to help.

As I said, t-shirts are pretty close and work fine for giving advice on.

Worrying about competition would be ridiculous. Thousands do the same, some with great success. I've already stated how many market products so if you can do all that with a good product you have a great chance of success. My problem is that I cannot do that. My main reason for that not stating is to remain anonymous.

Middlestitch

ALittleWolf said:

Marcon said:

What are you selling? This constant prevarication for no reason (nobody here is going to seize on it as a great idea, given what you've already said, so you needn't fear an increase in competition) is utterly frustrating when people are genuinely trying to help.

As I said, t-shirts are pretty close and work fine for giving advice on.

Worrying about competition would be ridiculous. Thousands do the same, some with great success. I've already stated how many market products so if you can do all that with a good product you have a great chance of success. My problem is that I cannot do that. My main reason for that not stating is to remain anonymous.

You're not making any sense. Saying what you are selling won't impact on your anonymity. Why should people bother to try and come up with bright ideas when you are being evasive for no good reason.

ALittleWolf

Middlestitch said:

ALittleWolf said:

Marcon said:

What are you selling? This constant prevarication for no reason (nobody here is going to seize on it as a great idea, given what you've already said, so you needn't fear an increase in competition) is utterly frustrating when people are genuinely trying to help.

As I said, t-shirts are pretty close and work fine for giving advice on.

Worrying about competition would be ridiculous. Thousands do the same, some with great success. I've already stated how many market products so if you can do all that with a good product you have a great chance of success. My problem is that I cannot do that. My main reason for that not stating is to remain anonymous.

You're not making any sense. Saying what you are selling won't impact on your anonymity. Why should people bother to try and come up with bright ideas when you are being evasive for no good reason.

It will if I give specific details, my name is attached to my product. It is very easy to find it out with just a few little details. 

Pretend it's a t-shirt. Not difficult and the advice based on that will help.