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→ October 14, 2010
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I will Buy whatever Mr. XYZ Sells!

Can you think of One Person according to you, who will fit the “Mr. XYZ” in this title?  I am sure you have at least One Name, that fits! Something that all Big Sellers have is a group of Loyal Supporters and Promoters, who will Buy and Promote whatever they Sell.

Let’s look at 3 Main attributes of these Big Sellers that make this a reality!

Trust

Buyers trust these Big Sellers.  They trust their Big Promises.  They trust their Concepts.  They trust their Products.  They trust their Words.

How do they build this “Trust”?

One thing for sure – it doesn’t happen overnight or in a weekend.  The Trust is built around them essentially because:

  • They are “doers”. People never trust anyone who just talks and never does anything
  • They are “consistent”. People trust anyone who delivers awesome and useful content, time after time
  • They are “open”. Big Sellers are open in their selling strategy.  They tell you exactly what you get out the products and what you will not
  • They are “ethical”. People never trust a Seller, who is unethical and looking for “all means” to sell their product

Quality

The second main reason to have repeat Customers, is Quality!

Quality is measured by the usefulness and reliability of the Product, every time it is used.

These Big Sellers take big care of maintaining high levels of Quality within every product they Sell.  They make it a mandate to deliver nothing Short of High Quality!

It is key to produce and sell Quality Products, for Customers to come back to you and buy anything that you Sell.

Support

Whatever high the quality may be, the Customers need support.  The support needs may be various:

  • Bugs
  • Usage Problems
  • Training
  • Customization
  • Enhancements
  • Upgrades and so on…

The Big Sellers always have a sound support framework, around every product they Sell.  Usually, there are 2 Models of Support Framework, commonly used:

  • Forum based Support – Build a Forum of Users, Developers and Owners.  Provide support via Forum Posts
  • Dedicated Support – Maintain a Support team who can address the Support needs on individual basis

Often, a hybrid approach (a combination of Forum based + Dedicated) is also used, in case of High Volume Products.

Big Sellers understand the significance of Support and build a suitable Framework for it.

To Summarize…

To be a Big Seller and have your Buyers buy everything You Sell:

  • Build Trust with your Products
  • Maintain High Levels of Quality
  • Create a Solid Support Framework around all your Products

Leave your comments and let me know what you think about this… I am glad to hear them!

Filed Under: Sell Stuff
→ September 27, 2010
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What should You know before Selling a Product?

Many of us are excited, when a Product Idea tops our mind.  But an Idea in itself, is just not enough to go ahead and Create the Product. There are many other aspects, that are essential for a Succesful Product!

Here are some essentials to know and be clear about, before getting on with the Product Development.

The Market

Ask yourself the question – is there a Market for the Product or am I going to create one? If there is a well defined market, then things are easier.  But it gets really tough when you have to create a market.

Without a market, the risks of your product not becoming successful is multi-fold.  So make sure to:

  • Find out if there is a market
  • If not, clearly identify the ways you will create one
  • If there is an existing market, how your Product will add value to its users

The Competition

Once the Market Analysis is done, find about your Competition.  This will essentially help you to:

  • Benchmark your services or benefits with the Competition
  • Differentiate your Product from others
  • Pricing and Marketing competitively
  • Opportunities for Collaboration

If the Competition is very less or non-existent, go back to Market Analysis if you still think it is a Viable Product

The Returns

Understand the returns you expect from the Product.  You should have at least a tentative idea on:

  • What will be the returns? (Money, New Customers for existing Services, Reputation etc.)
  • When will the returns start flowing?
  • When will you break-even?

Though you may not have clear answers for everything, it is good to think about them early on!

The Support

Almost every product must be supported, once the customers start using them.  Decide if your Product need to be supported and how will the Support Work.  Typically, you should know, if you need to:

  • Hire a Support Team
  • Buy a Support Product
  • Setup a Support Platform
  • Support Period and Costs etc.

Never start working on a Product, before giving a thought on all these aspects.

What else do you think that a Seller must know before selling a Product?  Let us know and we are more than happy to listen!

Photo Credit: courtneyBolton

Filed Under: Sell Stuff, Start Selling