The SmallBizLady Buzz - Issue 29

How should you sell online? Amazon vs. Your Website

Amazon is the world’s biggest ecommerce platform, but it always gets a cut of every sale. If you build your store on your own website, you must manage everything, from inventory, fulfillment, and driving traffic and sales consistently. So what is the right call?

Pros of Selling on Amazon

Reach

More than 300+ million people shop on Amazon, and there are 100 Million prime members. Since the pandemic started, 50% of all online sales have taken place on the Amazon platform.

Audience

Amazon also offers access to an audience that is searching with intent to buy. Some people do comparison shop and price check on the platform, but shoppers have a need when they go there.  

Convenience

Amazon is convenient and easy to use. It handles all transactions, customer service and maintenance and up-keep of the platform. It even offers advertising and fulfillment services for sellers.

Pros of Selling on Your Own Website

You Own It

On Amazon you are renting an audience, but on your own your website, you must create your own audience, but then it's yours. You design your website, content and user experience the way you want it. You select the shopping cart, payment processing and customer service experience.

Customers

When you sell on your website, you can build a customer list, which makes marketing for repeat business and upselling really easy, especially with the right plugins and email marketing program.

Leverage Customer Data

You can learn a lot from looking at customer data. You can test things you learn from the data, such as how well your landing pages convert customers. It’s important to look at, analyze, and take action on your data.

The choice is yours. You can do both, but I suggest you focus on building one at a time.

If you want even more information on your boosting online sales, see this week’s feature article: 6 strategies to help you increase online sales.

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6 Strategies to Help You Increase Online Sales

Are you a small business owner with an ecommerce business or who offers services through your website? Do you want to know how you can build a profitable sales pipeline and increase online sales?

If the answer to both the questions is yes, you’ve come to the right place. In this article, we’ll share six strategies that you can use to sell more on your website and increase online sales. Continue reading....

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Save money, without thinking about it.

Digit is a micro-savings app that has helped users have already saved over $1 billion. The way Digit helps its users save is by using an algorithm to find the “perfect amount every day” to pull from your checking account and put it into savings. I like this app because it can be used to create a profit account for your small business. The Digit app is meant for people who need help saving money.

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Podcast: Being Brilliantly Resilient with Mary Fran Bontempo

Check out this week’s Podcast: Being Brilliantly Resilient with Mary Fran Bontempo

Mary Fran Bontempo is the Co-Founder of Brilliantly Resilient, a podcast that teaches audiences strategies and tools to thrive in the face of adversity and beyond.

Mary is a TEDx speaker and the author of four books, including The 15-Minute Master, which focuses on her son’s heroin addiction and how to navigate a crisis. She was recognized as a 2017 YWCA Woman Who Makes a Difference. Mary has been featured in numerous publications, including Thrive Global and Huffington Post. She is also a featured columnist for Best Kept Self and Women’s Voices Magazine.

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Don't get paralyzed with stress and worry about how you will keep things going.

In this e-book, How to Recession Proof Your Small Business, Melinda Emerson will teach you tools and tips you how to recession proof your business, get the money you need and plan for life beyond the crisis.

Download your copy of the Free eBook here!

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Subscribe and don't forget to leave a comment below!

Melinda F. Emerson, “SmallBizLady” is America’s #1 Small Business Expert. She is an internationally renowned keynote speaker on small business development, marketing and social selling. Melinda is also the president of the Quintessence Group, an award-winning marketing consulting firm based in Philadelphia, PA, serving Fortune 500 brands who target small business market. LinkedIn named her a Top Voice for 2019 in Small Business and Entrepreneurship. In addition to being a former NY Times columnist, she is frequently quoted by media organizations including The Wall Street Journal, Fortune, MSNBC, CNBC and Fox News. She is the host of #Smallbizchat LIVE and The SmallBizChat Podcast. A prolific writer, Melinda has published more than 5000 articles on her blog www.succeedasyourownboss.com. Her small business advice is widely read reaching more than 3 million entrepreneurs each week online. She is the bestselling author of Become Your Own Boss in 12 Months, 2nd Edition. Her latest book is Fix Your Business, a 90 Day Plan to Get Back Your Life and Reduce Chaos in Your Business.

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