As I find myself midway through my e-commerce experiment, with 500 pickleball paddles in production, I am faced with the daunting task of figuring out how to effectively sell my product. To gain some insight, I sought the advice of an expert in the field who recommended a hybrid Shopify-Amazon model and emphasized the importance of utilizing ads in my marketing strategy.
The journey of developing a product to sell online has been both challenging and time-consuming. However, the end result is a paddle that my team and I are proud of – the Peak Pro. With 500 paddles on their way from a factory in Asia to my studio apartment in Los Angeles, the next phase of actually selling the product is now underway.
In my quest for guidance on how to navigate the world of e-commerce, I reached out to Tyler Walter, co-founder of 330 Trading, a product-sourcing company that I am collaborating with for the manufacturing of my paddles. Based in Taiwan, Walter works closely with US e-commerce businesses, providing valuable advice on various aspects of the industry.
One of the key pieces of advice that stood out from my conversation with Walter was the recommendation to adopt a hybrid Shopify-Amazon model for selling my product. While Shopify offers better margins due to lower associated costs, Amazon provides a guaranteed flow of traffic, especially in the initial stages of establishing the brand. By leveraging tools like Helium 10, I can estimate the daily traffic on Amazon and tailor my marketing strategies accordingly.
Walter emphasized the importance of understanding my target customers and tailoring my approach to reach them effectively. Amazon is ideal for attracting customers who are new to pickleball and may come across my product while searching for a high-quality paddle online. On the other hand, Shopify may cater to a different customer segment – those who are more engaged in the pickleball community and value the brand image and technical aspects of the product.
In addition to setting up a hybrid model, Walter highlighted the significance of search engine optimization (SEO), reviews, and ads in standing out on Amazon. SEO plays a crucial role in driving traffic to the product listing page, and using relevant keywords is essential for visibility. Encouraging customers to leave reviews and investing in paid ads are also vital for boosting sales and improving product rankings.
While the prospect of investing in ads may seem daunting at first, Walter reassured me that starting with a small budget and testing the waters is a prudent approach. Hiring a professional to manage the ads and opting for a fee structure based on a percentage of sales can help optimize the advertising strategy while keeping costs in check.
As I navigate the complexities of selling my pickleball paddles online, I am grateful for the valuable insights and guidance provided by experts like Tyler Walter. By implementing a hybrid Shopify-Amazon model, focusing on SEO, reviews, and ads, I am confident in my ability to reach my target customers and drive sales for Peak Pickleball. The e-commerce experiment continues, and I am excited to see where this journey takes me.
