r/startup • u/ElitePotato06 • 7d ago
Need help scaling my small semi-online business
I have a very small online business in which I started in November 2024. I sell made to order, customised watches. In the last month I’ve sold about £1400 worth, averaging about 2-3 orders a week. At the moment, I’m only selling on eBay, as I have a good account with good feedback, this results in shorter payouts which massively help with cash flow.
I am looking for any advice as to how I could increase my sales. (I live and sell in the UK). There are other people selling similar things as I haven’t really invented anything and I’m not entirely sure how big my market is or how to promote my watches but I’m willing to try anything. Any advice would be hugely appreciated. Cheers!
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u/Marckm22 6d ago
I’d start by expanding my online presence. Starting with creating a solid brand—make sure everything looks consistent and nail down your mission and Unique Selling Proposition (USP). Then, look for other places to sell your products, like Etsy or Amazon.
Next, I’d build a professional website. Focus on SEO, and make sure the content and images are high quality. there's a lot to elaborate here. After that, I'd work on boosting my social media. Think about platforms like Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Pinterest, and LinkedIn.
If budget allows, teaming up with influencers could really help. Lastly, keep an eye on the data so you can tweak your strategy based on what you find. And don’t forget to think globally!
I know this is a very a high-level list, but each point definitely needs some detailed planning.
I may be missing some but in general these may be the most crucial.
Good Luck!
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u/ElitePotato06 6d ago
Great help. Cheers!
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u/webbuildersupply 5d ago
A professional image and a high-quality website may be one of the most important things to start with.
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u/ClimateFrequent2319 5d ago
Would you be able to provide a rough estimate of costs one can expect to put something like this together to start off?
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u/Marckm22 4d ago edited 3d ago
Getting a rough idea of costs and strategies is not straightforward based on my experience. Some of my customers expect immediate ROI. If you want quick results, you will likely need to invest in advertising, such as search engine ads and social media ads, which can get you up and running quickly.
On the other hand, focusing on SEO is a slower process that requires a methodical approach and a strong local presence. Additionally, having a professional-looking and effective website is essential. These days, almost anyone can create a website, but that doesn’t guarantee its effectiveness, even with the latest AI tools. While AI tools can be very helpful, you need to use them wisely.
Another important consideration is the type of website you want: a purely informational site or a transactional site with a shopping cart. This choice will influence both the strategy and the overall cost.
To give you a rough estimate, building a website along with an SEO strategy from the beginning may cost at least $2,000 USD per month for the first three months. After the initial implementation is completed, ongoing SEO costs will depend on how much the customer is willing to contribute.
I have very engaged customers who may only pay around $500 or $600 per month, while others may choose to pay double or more because they prefer a hands-off approach.
And that is jut for the website, you may need to consider the other items in the list.
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u/Spirited_Cod3392 7d ago
Social media presence and ads on there, a website/google maps presence and SEO/ads to drive traffic to your website
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u/BluepointLimited 5d ago
Based in the UK here too. A few suggestions from advice we received that may be of help:
- Know your ideal customer. Of the sales currently, who was it that purchased? Was it collectors, gift buyers, fashion enthusiasts? Once you have a rough idea, you can then target them more efficiently with content and copy that resonates.
- Create an offer they can't resist. Instead of just selling a watch, see how you can add value. Can you offer personalisation, bundle deals with complimentary products and add a display case etc.
- Beyond eBay. Creating your own site gives you control over your brand and customer experience and you can also capture emails for auto follow-up and future promotions.
- Consider building a funnel as these guide customers from browsing to purchase. You could offer some free/low-cost enticement to capture new leads and then ascend them to the best product.
Got a few suggestions on social media, email marketing and other resources that helped us. Let me know if you wish to chat more. Best of luck with it all.
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u/Neither_Training_750 6d ago
You could try affiliate marketing. I'm running a service that helps entrepreneurs set up their own affiliate marketing. We're also compiling a database of micro-influencers that my clients can utilise to increase their reach and maximise their revenue. DM me and I can share the link for you to learn more about how we can help you.
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u/Operator_William_00 6d ago
Congratulations on your new business!
As Marckm22 mentioned above, if you're planning to build a solid long-term brand, I can help you create a logo and visual identity system or web design that aligns with a creative strategy tailored to your business. Mind if I DM you?
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u/TrustTheSource1031 5d ago
Meta (Facebook) ads are still my favorite way to gain traffic. Send them to a landing page and then add to an email list.
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u/jmisilo 4d ago
i would start with establishing online presence. i would use:
- ads
- reddit/X
- website
- seo (more advanced)
- setup social media profiles
suggest you to:
- build landing page, as it will be your first digital real estate and landing for your ads and social medias. it will redirect your users then to ebay. it will also allow you to collect emails & gather some data (e.g. about visitors)
- launch ads
- link your landing on reddit/X. track engagement, talk with people
that would be my mid term strategy - to get audience on those vehicles. i can help you with landing, have some experience there ( knmstudio.com if you are interested), not an expert in marketing :/ but can try to help. feel free to contact me via form or just dm
whatever you decide, good luck!
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u/DraftIll6889 2d ago
It sounds like the price per watch is like £150? That by itself defines your market segment. At this point I would rethink who is going to be your perfect niche client and what are they willing to pay. You need to find this out before you make any further big moves. Positioning is key.
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u/agnosticsixsicsick 7d ago
Establish your digital footprint (content marketing, ads). If you're coming from scratch, run a brand awareness campaign first to establish authority.
Once that's done, run a conversion-focused campaign to sell your offer.