Manchester: the Northern Powerhouse of the online world

Research launched by international money transfer experts World First has revealed that 1 in every 8 online exports from the UK is sold from Greater Manchester. Manchester is brimming with online successes that have grown their business by selling to customers abroad through marketplaces like eBay and Amazon.

Starting your online business can seem like a daunting task but it doesn’t have to be. Mark Bond, Head of E-Commerce Sales at World First, who work with over 10,000 online sellers across the world, offers his top tips to turn your big idea into big profits.

Research

Look at what people are doing in your category now. What mistakes are they making, opportunities are they missing that you can capitalise on? Where are the gaps in the market that you can exploit to give yourself a competitive advantage? In fact, all of these questions are applicable whether you’re just starting or if you’ve been in business for years.

What would the customer do?

When listing your products on a marketplace, be sure to take a step back and think about how it looks from a potential buyer’s point of view. Put yourself in their shoes and ask yourself, “What would I like to see if I was the buyer?”

Look after your public image

It may sound obvious, but high quality, hi-res images of your products are essential. It might be a good idea to invest in a quality camera – or even a quality photographer – to present yourself and your products in the best possible light.

Think global

As competition increases in the online space, it has never been more important for sellers to look at market places abroad to expand their customer base. If you sell in one region such as the UK, look to expand to other English-speaking countries first like the USA and Australia. The language barrier doesn’t become an issue in product descriptions and customer service. If you do that already then it’s time to branch out and look at opportunities in foreign speaking countries where there is highest demand for your product range.

Get the right help and support

From logistics to tax, there is a lot to consider when growing your online business. However, there is also a lot of help and resource available to help with every step of the process. Be sure to find the right partners to help with every aspect from shipping to payments.

On March 28th, World First will be hosting their Online Seller Cellar with some of Manchester’s local entrepreneurs like Swifty Scooters and Wake Drinks who are already selling successfully online.

Register now for your free ticket and learn strategies and tactics to turn your business into a mini-multinational.

Register to attend the Online Seller Cellar hosted by World First