Many people want to be their own bosses, but they’re not sure how to go about it. They have a feeling that there’s something more to life, but they don’t know what to do to generate income to make their dreams possible.
One option is to set up a business that sells makeup online. This concept provides a relatively easy path into business and lets you develop a brand at the same time.
But how do you do it? You’ll find the answer in this guide. We explore which platforms to choose, how to stand out from the competition, and how to build trust with your audience so you can start selling.
Let’s take a look.
The first step is to choose your approach to business. You want to adopt a model that’s right for you.
Fortunately, you have quite a few choices, and each of them comes with various benefits that might suit your lifestyle.
One option is to sell your makeup on social media. Numerous companies have had success with this approach because of the intimate relationships they have formed with their audiences.
Social media selling is more fun than you might expect. It gives you a chance to build a community around your products and create a compelling narrative that draws others in.
For example, you could launch a makeup brand that contributes some of its profits to people in need. You could then use this additional funding to market your business as a social enterprise, which is popular among most younger people who buy makeup.
You could also tell a story about your ethical practices or sustainable policies. Perhaps your products eschew toxic ingredients or only use natural pigments, similar to the leading (but extremely expensive) manufacturers.
Another option is to set up your shop on an online marketplace. These require less groundwork to get going, but there tends to be more competition, making it harder to stand out.
Etsy is a good site for anyone offering craft makeup products, like foundations and lipstick. You can list items here and the site will take care of the technical aspects, like taking payments or automating email reminders.
Amazon is another option. It has plenty of resources to help you get started but deliberately makes it more challenging to stand out.
Finally, you might consider opening a personal online store. This gives you maximum control over your brand and selling channels, making you less dependent on anyone else. However, they are the hardest to succeed in. You may have to invest substantially in marketing and SEO to get your concept off the ground.
If you choose this option, ensure you have some angel or venture capital money behind you, plus a team of professionals who can spearhead your marketing efforts. Getting it right can be challenging and you’ll want to give yourself the best start from the outset.
Once you choose your online makeup platform, the next step is to think deeply about how you’ll stand out from the competition. You have to differentiate yourself, otherwise customers will go to the more established brands.
The first thing to do is to explore and identify your niche. Focusing on this aspect of your business will set you apart from other players in the space.
Your niche could be any of the following:
When looking for a niche, consider whether it will make your customer base loyal. You want a niche that will encourage them to buy from you and keep coming back. The focus should be on developing brand loyalty.
Next, you’ll want to focus more on your content – the written material you’ll use to attract customers and encourage them to spend. The better you can make this, the more likely they will be to buy.
Many makeup brands focus on images, which is important, but they forget the writing side of things. Some even use AI, which is a big no-no for product descriptions.
Make your descriptions on the longer side, perhaps 300 words, and give a personal story and account for every item in your collection. This approach will help to draw in customers and encourage them to spend more.
You also want to use vivid and engaging language that ties in with your overall narrative. Giving customers written explanations for why they should buy from you is a powerful tool to encourage people to get off the sidelines and finally spend.
Finally, you need to build trust with your audience. But how do you do that?
The main approach you should take is offering superior customer service. Customers who are happy with delivery times and item condition are more likely to order from you in the future.
Don’t try to do everything yourself if you are new to the industry. Instead, find a cosmetics fulfillment partner who can take care of the legwork for you.
Also, make sure you’re available over the phone or via email to the people who need you. Always being there for customers is an excellent way to build trust and reputation more broadly.
If you can, automate elements of your customer service. Provider customers with updates about their orders and keep them in the loop, telling them about the next steps they need to take.
You can also use chatbots, but ensure you have humans backing them up.
Finally, ensure you market on social media, even if you don’t use it as your primary platform. Talking about your products online can be an excellent way to build deeper relationships with people and win them over.
So, there you have it: how to sell more makeup online.
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