Introduction Createastore is interested in the success of your store, after all, we have a vested interest in your success. Your success ensures our success and we want to see your on-line storefront thrive! In addition to assisting you to establish your on-line storefront, we provide you with some helpful marketing secrets which highlight the unique aspects of participating in this new on-line media. This guide will highlight the secrets known by many successful companies currently marketing on the Internet. The purpose of this guide is to raise issues which are unique to marketing on the Internet and you as a successful or aspiring on-line entrepreneur have most likely considered. The article covers three major topics: What to Sell How to Sell Establishing your Website Deciding What to Sell The first step before you begin selling on the Internet is deciding WHAT you are going to sell. This can be something you are already selling at your physical storefront or it could be something new. The key here is to ask yourself why would a consumer buy from my on-line store? The answers to this question are: It is Difficult to Obtain the Product Elsewhere. There is a Price Savings to purchasing on-line. It is more Convenience to purchase on-line. (1) Difficult to Obtain Product Elsewhere One reason why a consumer would want to buy from your site is quite obvious. The product he/she wants is difficult to buy locally. Don't try to sell products which a consumer can easily purchase at any shopping mall in his/her city at a price equal to or lower than yours. Ask yourself: Why would anyone pay you for something that he/she can obtain immediately at a local store? The key to success here is to find a market niche where you can provide a product which is difficult to obtain. Good examples of these are souvenirs, collectibles such as comics, baseball cards, arts & crafts, memorabilias, etc. In fact, this may be an excellent product for you to sell provided you have an interest in it already. For instance, if you are an avid fan of Marvel comics, you attend conventions, you get signed autographs of your favourite artists, and you never miss an issue of the X-men, then you already have the foundation for an on-line store. With your in-depth knowledge of the field, it is quite easy for you to obtain the necessary inventory from conventions or wholesalers and offer these for sale over the Internet. You will have found your niche in the market. For instance, I have a friend who is very cautious. This friend, let's call him Michael, is not the adventurous nor the risk-taking type; he shops mainly at department stores as he is assured that these establishments have a reputations for quality and service. Yet, Michael discloses his credit card number to an on-line store and spent over $100 in a single transaction conducted over the Internet. Why? Michael found a web-site which sold Einstein sweatshirts with different captions. Apparently, if you've ever tried to search for such an item, you'll find, as my friend did, these aren't readily available. Some brilliant t-shirt company found a niche by identifying a need for products then fulfilling that need by selling them inexpensively on the Internet.

By identifying your specialized interest and assuming others on the Internet share your interest, you will be able to either begin a profitable on-line store or bring your current store on-line.