I need feedback about one idea, please

[theworldleader]

Hello everyone!
First I would like to thank all of you people, who have helped and guidance me, whenever I had questions.
This topic that I started today, has the same purpose. I really hope that there are going to be as nice people as before, who would like to help with their ideas.

I live in a small country (8 million people tops), but despite that we?ve got big market. My idea is to open an online shop (for now) for sports equipments and outfits, I mean ? T-shirts, shorts, sweatpants, socks, sneakers, etc. for football for example, as well as many other sports.

My question to you is ? what can I do to be unique and to be different from other online shops for sports equipments? In which type of sites should I advertise my shop, what type of ads should they be like? What to emphasize on? Any ideas and methods for appealing more customers, etc.?

I am sure that there are many people here who understand marketing and have their experience with online shops and this type of marketing. I really hope that you guys are reading this and willing to write down a couple of sentences with your suggestions and ideas.

Thank you in advance.

 

[theworldleader]

anyone?

 

[Autumn]

Basically if you want to compete with bricks and mortar you have to differentiate based on:

1) Low price (we keep our overheads down and pass the savings directly on to you blah blah)
2) Range - all the unique stuff that people in smaller countries can't find in their high street stores.
3) Ease of use (fast / cheap / free delivery, all the best goods in one convenient place, awesome photos of each item) & iron clad money back guarantee.

This is one example of a local hard goods site that does everything right. They sell higher end streetwear style bags and accessories to the Australian market, I've bought from them a few times before:
http://rushfaster.com.au/

Note their slogan: "Bags you won't find on everyone else."

I would use Google display network (targeted to only your country) as well as private media buys on high traffic youth- and sports- oriented sites in your country - contact site owners directly if they don't belong to an ad network like Adsense.

 

[AJWeaver]

Good stock, good site, good advertising is the basics of it. It's just a matter of getting about it. I agree with the person above me, and the main problem you'll have it finding good supplies of things people want. Quality all around is your best bet.

 

[RaZoR84]

You should also come up with an name that's easy to remember and also tells people what you're store is all about.

Like if we would take Sony, that name don't say anything about what they do. So they do some massive adverts to get people to connect their name with electronics.

If you want to target only peorple from you're own country, then you go with a name that you are sure sticks with them.

Otherwise you need to figure out a name that eveyone can understand and also sticks. And that's kinda tricky, but not impossible.

Good luck to you.

 

[AJWeaver]

You should also come up with an name that's easy to remember and also tells people what you're store is all about.

Like if we would take Sony, that name don't say anything about what they do. So they do some massive adverts to get people to connect their name with electronics.

If you want to target only peorple from you're own country, then you go with a name that you are sure sticks with them.

Otherwise you need to figure out a name that eveyone can understand and also sticks. And that's kinda tricky, but not impossible.

Good luck to you.

Agreed. And make sure to get a registered domain and email addresses that match it. There's nothing weaker looking than seeing a hotmail or yahoo email on a contact us shop page. Then advertise it like crazy. Email lists can be searched and bought on google. Easy 100k people to connect to with a email advert and link.

 

[cmyer]

You say that you want to start Online and eventually go brick & mortar. Good idea. That being the case, I would focus primarily on the online piece. It is actually much easier to go from Online to Brick & Mortar rather than the other way around.

For online, though, it's all about keywords. I know that sounds strange and backward, but until you can describe your store in terms of the keywords that people will use to find you, you are going to be playing catch-up. Go to your closest (and most successful) competitors sites and see what keywords they are using. Google "competitor keywords" and you will find free tools that can strip these keywords out.

Once you have the keywords, then you can start deciding how to lay out the website. People will use keywords to find you, and until they find you, they can't buy from you.

Good luck!