1. Will I be offering a product or service that people
can't buy elsewhere?
You will certainly gain an advantage by
selling a product or service which people can't buy from anywhere else.
Unfortunately the Internet is attracting more & more businesses going
online which increases the competition unless you are in a very niche market.
but don't panic - if other people are selling the same, it is a sign that it is
profitable. the key to success is to find a USP (unique selling point) that
will draw potential customers to you. For example you could offer a weekly or
monthly prize draw or raffle.
2. Are there advantages of buying my product/service via
the internet rather than traditional ways?
There are various products where the
internet would be the best or only avenus for sales i.e downloadable
products. But there are advantages in selling other products online too. You
could, for instance, be saving your customers time and hassle in leaving
home, driving then trying to find a parking space. Confidentiality is
another USP especially if you decide to sell anything that might otherwise
embarrass customers buying from a shop.
3. Can I offer related products/services to the same
customer?
There are always costs in promotong your
business, which you can recoup by selling to a customer. If you sell a
second product and a third and so forth, you would then start to make
profit. A good example is maybe golfing where the customer has bought a new
club or clubs. You could then go on to offer them more accessories, books,
dvds etc.
4. Can I sell products/services which are purchased
regularly?
There are certain things which people
might buy just once or twice, but if you can sell items that people will
regularly use or need, you will have a continuous income. If you look at the
golfing example for instance, people who play will always need something.
Another good example is fishing. So long as you have back end products to
offer, you will have customers coming back.
If however you do decide to sell "one-off
" products, you must be prepared to put a large price tag on it.
