How to Sell Products Online with Sellfy: A Beginner's Guide

In today’s digital age, selling products online has become an essential avenue for entrepreneurs and businesses to reach a global audience. With the rise of e-commerce platforms, individuals can now easily set up their online stores and start selling without the need for extensive technical knowledge. Sellfy has emerged as a popular choice for those looking to sell products online, offering a user-friendly interface and a range of features to support online sellers.

This beginner’s guide will walk readers through the process of using Sellfy to sell products online. It covers everything from setting up a Sellfy store and adding products to configuring payment options and marketing strategies. The guide also delves into analyzing store performance, providing tips to maximize sales, and exploring various ways to sell digital and physical products. By the end, readers will have a comprehensive understanding of how to leverage Sellfy’s platform to start and grow their online selling venture.

What is Sellfy and How Does it Work?

Sellfy is an all-in-one e-commerce platform designed to help creators sell their products online with ease ^[1]. It provides a user-friendly interface for selling digital and physical products, digital subscriptions, and print-on-demand merchandise ^[1]. The platform offers flexibility, allowing users to either build a store directly on Sellfy or integrate the service into an existing website ^[1].

For digital products, Sellfy handles the entire process, from hosting files on secure servers to providing checkout functionality and delivering orders instantly after purchase confirmation ^[1]. When it comes to physical products, while Sellfy provides the checkout functionality, sellers are responsible for shipping and order fulfillment ^[1].

To receive payments, sellers can integrate PayPal or Stripe, giving them the option to use one or both of these payment gateways ^[1]. This flexibility allows sellers to cater to a wide range of customer preferences and geographical locations.

Key Features

Sellfy offers a comprehensive set of features to support online sellers:

Product Variety: Sellers can offer digital products (e-books, videos, audio files), physical items, print-on-demand products, and digital subscriptions ^[2].
Customization: The platform allows users to create a professional-looking website with advanced customization options to match their brand ^[2].
Secure File Hosting: Sellfy provides secure hosting for digital products, ensuring safe storage and delivery ^[2].
Instant Payouts: Sellers receive payments quickly through PayPal or Stripe ^[2].
Marketing Tools: The platform offers advanced marketing features such as email marketing, upselling, and affiliate marketing ^[2].
Analytics: Sellers can track sales and analyze performance through built-in analytics tools ^[2].
Mobile Optimization: Sellfy ensures that stores are optimized for mobile devices, providing a seamless experience across desktop and mobile platforms ^[2].
Multi-language Support: The platform offers automatic translation of store interfaces based on customer location ^[2].
Embed Options: Sellers can embed “buy now” buttons, product cards, or even entire stores on existing websites ^[2].
Security Measures: Sellfy implements security features like PDF stamping and download attempt limits to protect digital products from unauthorized sharing ^[2].

Pricing Plans

Sellfy offers three main pricing plans to cater to different business needs and scales:

Starter Plan: Priced at $19 per month, this plan is ideal for small volumes with an annual sales limit of $10,000 ^[3].
Business Plan: At $59 per month, this plan supports growing businesses with an annual sales limit of $50,000 ^[3].
Premium Plan: Priced at $99 per month, this plan is designed for larger operations with an annual sales limit of $200,000 ^[3].

All plans allow unlimited product listings and don’t charge transaction fees ^[3]. However, it’s important to note that payment processing fees from PayPal or Stripe (typically 2.9% + 30¢ per transaction) are additional ^[4].

Sellfy offers flexibility in subscription options:

Monthly subscriptions are available at slightly higher rates: Starter ($29), Business ($79), and Premium ($159) ^[3].
Annual subscriptions provide significant savings: $58 for Starter, $158 for Business, and $318 for Premium plans ^[3].
A biennial option is also available for long-term cost efficiency ^[3].

Higher-tier plans (Business and Premium) include additional features like email marketing credits, which are essential for promotional campaigns ^[3]. The platform also offers migration services, with email migration available on all plans, while product and store design migration are available on select plans ^[4].

Sellfy’s pricing structure and feature set make it a versatile option for creators and businesses of various sizes looking to establish or expand their online presence.

Setting Up Your Sellfy Store

Creating an Account

Setting up a Sellfy store begins with creating an account. To start, individuals need to enter their first name, a valid email address, and create a password. After initiating the free trial, it’s crucial to verify the email address ^[5]. This verification step is essential for several reasons:

It allows users to upgrade to paid plans.
It ensures receipt of important account information and Sellfy updates.
It enables users to receive sales notifications and messages from customers.

If the verification email is not received, users can request a new one in their Account Settings by clicking “Resend verification” ^[6]. It’s advisable to verify the email before proceeding with product addition and store design.

During the 14-day free trial period, users have access to all features included in the Business plan ^[6]. This allows them to:

Create a Sellfy-based store
Upload products
Test most of Sellfy’s features

However, it’s important to note that during the trial period, the checkout is available only in test mode, and the custom code module remains inactive ^[6]. Both these features are activated upon upgrading to a paid plan.

Customizing Your Store

Once the account is set up, users can begin customizing their Sellfy store. The Store Customizer is the primary tool for designing the store, allowing users to create a unique look that aligns with their brand and products ^[7].

To access the Store Customizer:

Go to Store settings
Select Customization
Click on Customize store

The main window displays the Home Page of the store with default settings. The sidebar menu on the left facilitates navigation between pages, content addition, and customization of various store elements ^[7].

The Store Customizer is divided into three main sections:

Store settings
Built-in Pages
Custom Pages

These sections are used to edit and build out the Sellfy store ^[7].

In the General settings, users can customize several elements:

Store name & logo (text font, size, and color)
Browser tab icon (favicon)
Shopping cart
Store search
Hide Powered by Sellfy logo (available for Business and Premium plans)
Enable/disable breadcrumbs
Custom code ^[7]

The Store style section allows users to edit:

Store features
Button styles
Typography ^[7]

For those looking to create a unique store, Sellfy offers several creative options:

Creating a Landing Page
Using images for backgrounds (e.g., with a dark overlay)
Embedding videos or GIFs
Making banners for announcements
Setting up modules in a specific order
Embedding third-party chats using the custom code section ^[7]

To create a new custom Page:

Access the Store customizer
Select the blue button “+ Add new Page”
Enter the Page title and URL slug in the Page settings
Add content to the Page by selecting “+ Add module”
Press “Publish” when finished editing ^[7]

It’s worth noting that the Navigation (top) and Footer (bottom) modules are automatically added to each new Page ^[7].

By utilizing these customization options, sellers can create a store that not only reflects their brand identity but also provides an engaging shopping experience for their customers.

Adding Products to Your Sellfy Store

Sellfy offers a versatile platform for sellers to add both digital and physical products to their online stores. This flexibility allows entrepreneurs to cater to a wide range of customer needs and preferences.

Digital Products

Sellfy supports an extensive array of digital products, making it a go-to platform for creators and entrepreneurs in the digital space. Users can sell almost any type of digital file imaginable ^[8]. Some popular categories include:

Ebooks and PDFs
Online events and promotional materials
Tutorials and educational content
Digital art
Online memberships
Photography
Videos and films
Video and photo effects
Music and audiobooks

The platform accommodates large digital files, allowing uploads of up to 10GB per product ^[8]. This generous file size limit enables sellers to offer high-quality, content-rich products without compromise.

To add digital products to a Sellfy store, sellers can follow these steps:

Log in to the Sellfy account
Navigate to the “Products” section
Select “Digital products”
Click on “Add new product”
Fill in the product details, including name, description, and price
Upload the digital files
Save the product

Sellfy offers several useful features for managing digital products:

Multiple file uploads: Sellers can include several files in a single product listing ^[9].
File selection: Users can choose files directly from their file explorer ^[9].
Streaming video: The platform supports uploading streaming video content ^[9].
Automatic delivery: Once a purchase is confirmed, Sellfy automatically delivers the digital products to customers ^[9].

For product updates, sellers can easily re-upload files and notify customers about the changes ^[9]. This feature is particularly useful for creators who regularly update their content or offer evolving digital products.

Physical Products

In addition to digital offerings, Sellfy introduced the ability to sell physical products in August 2019 ^[10]. This expansion allows sellers to diversify their product range and cater to customers who prefer tangible items.

To add physical products to a Sellfy store:

Log in to the Sellfy account
Go to “Products” > “Physical products”
Click “Add new product”
Add product details (name, description, images, price, variants if applicable)
Click “Save” ^[10]

Sellfy provides several features to enhance the management of physical products:

Stock management: Sellers can manually control the stock of each product or variant, with out-of-stock items automatically displayed as such on the store ^[10].
Product variants: The platform allows for extensive product variations, such as sizes, colors, or shapes. Each variant can have its own price point and stock limit ^[10].
Shipping profiles: Sellers can create custom shipping profiles to set rates for different countries, regions, and products ^[10].
Order tracking: Once an item is shipped, sellers can mark it as “Shipped” and add a tracking number, which customers can view on the confirmation page ^[10].

It’s important to note that while Sellfy provides the platform for selling physical products, sellers are responsible for the actual shipping and fulfillment of orders ^[10]. This requires careful consideration of shipping capabilities and legal restrictions when setting up shipping options.

Sellfy also offers creative ways to combine digital and physical products:

Bundling a physical product with a digital file (e.g., a printed book with a PDF version)
Offering limited-edition merchandise with digital products
Providing digital instructions with physical products
Using upselling to offer physical products at a lower price when a digital product is added to the cart (or vice versa) ^[11]

By leveraging these features and options, sellers can create a diverse and appealing product catalog that caters to various customer preferences and maximizes sales potential on the Sellfy platform.

Configuring Payment Options

Sellfy offers two primary payment processors for sellers to accept payments from customers: PayPal and Stripe. These options provide flexibility and convenience for both sellers and buyers, allowing for a smooth transaction process.

PayPal

PayPal is a widely recognized payment platform that allows customers to pay using their PayPal account, major credit cards, or local European payment options ^[12]. To use PayPal with Sellfy, sellers need to have a verified PayPal account, which can be either a Business or Personal account ^[12].

To connect PayPal to a Sellfy store:

Log into the Sellfy account
Navigate to “Store Settings” > “Payment Settings”
Enter the PayPal email address
Click “Connect” ^[6]

PayPal offers several benefits for sellers:

Instant money transfer after each purchase
Wide acceptance globally
Local payment methods for European customers

It’s important to note that PayPal checkout options are limited for Turkish Lira (TRY) and Indian Rupiah (INR) ^[12]. For these currencies, customers can use:

PayPal account
Local Payment Methods for Europe
Debit or Credit card

PayPal also offers a “Pay Later” option, allowing customers to pay in four interest-free installments. Sellers receive the full payment immediately, while buyers have the flexibility to pay over time ^[12].

Regarding fees, PayPal charges:

2.9% + $0.30 per transaction in the US
3.4% + $0.30 on average worldwide per transaction ^[6]

Stripe

Stripe is another popular payment processor that enables sellers to accept payments via major credit cards, Apple Pay, and Google Pay ^[12]. To use Stripe with Sellfy, sellers need to create a Stripe account first.

To connect Stripe to a Sellfy store:

Log into the Sellfy account
Go to “Store Settings” > “Payment Settings”
Click on the Stripe “Connect” button ^[6]

Stripe offers several advantages:

Easy collection of credit or debit card payments
Support for Apple Pay and Google Pay
Instant money transfer to the seller’s account after each purchase

It’s worth noting that Apple Pay is available for mobile devices with iOS 9 and above, and on the web in Safari starting with iOS 10 or macOS Sierra ^[12].

For sellers located in India, Stripe allows selling products in INR to customers within India or in USD to customers outside India. However, it’s not possible to sell in both INR and USD simultaneously ^[12].

Regarding fees, Stripe charges:

2.9% + $0.30 per transaction ^[6]

When setting up payment options, sellers should consider the following:

Choose one or both payment processors based on their target market and customer preferences.
Ensure their PayPal account is verified if using PayPal.
Be aware of the fees associated with each payment processor.
Consider the currency restrictions, especially for sellers in India or dealing with TRY or INR.

By offering multiple payment options, sellers can cater to a wider range of customers and potentially increase their sales. Both PayPal and Stripe integrate seamlessly with Sellfy, providing a secure and efficient payment process for online transactions.

Marketing Your Sellfy Store

Email Marketing

Email marketing remains a powerful tool for e-commerce businesses, with statistics showing that it generates an average of $42 for every $1 spent ^[13]. Sellfy’s built-in email marketing tool, available on Starter, Business, and Premium plans, allows sellers to send custom emails with links, coupon codes, product announcements, and updates to their selected audience ^[13].

Sellers can target specific product buyers or send emails to all buyers and subscribers ^[14]. The platform offers four customizable email templates:

Product Launch
Product Discount
Product Update
Custom Message ^[14]

When crafting email campaigns, sellers should consider the following strategies:

Product Launch: Before the actual launch, send a ‘product teaser’ email to create anticipation. Follow a structure that introduces the problem the product solves, explains how it solves it, and lists its benefits ^[13].
Product Discounts and Special Offers: When offering discounts, avoid spammy subject lines and get straight to the offer. Add urgency by limiting the offer’s duration or the number of coupon redemptions ^[13].
Customer Testimonials: After launching a product, share customer reviews to increase credibility ^[13].

Sellfy provides statistics for each email campaign, including delivery rate, open rate, click rate, click-through rate, and click-to-open rate (CTOR). A CTOR above 20% is generally considered good within the email marketing industry ^[14].

Social Media Integration

Social media offers an excellent opportunity for creators to engage with audiences, promote their products, and drive sales ^[15]. Before diving into promotion, it’s crucial to understand the target audience, their interests, needs, and preferred social media platforms ^[15].

To effectively market on social media:

Develop a brand persona that reflects business values, tone, and style ^[15].
Create high-quality, engaging content that adds value to the audience’s lives ^[15].
Invest in good photography and basic photo and video editing skills to create eye-catching visuals ^[15].
Actively engage with the audience by replying to comments, joining conversations, and asking for feedback ^[15].
Leverage the latest trends on platforms like TikTok and Instagram ^[15].
Use social media storytelling to create an emotional connection with the audience ^[15].
Host interactive product polls, quizzes, or Q&A sessions ^[15].
Conduct live sessions to demonstrate product features in real-time ^[15].
Partner with micro-influencers to boost brand credibility ^[15].
Host giveaways or contests to create excitement and engagement ^[15].

For B2B marketing, utilize LinkedIn’s features such as company pages and LinkedIn groups ^[15]. YouTube can be an effective platform for producing high-quality tutorials or product demos ^[15].

To measure the effectiveness of social media marketing efforts, Sellfy integrates with Facebook Pixel. This analytics tool tracks events such as page views, content views, add to cart actions, checkout initiations, and purchases ^[16]. To use Facebook Pixel with Sellfy:

Create a Pixel in Facebook Ads Manager
Integrate it with the Sellfy account
Verify domain ownership with Facebook ^[16]

By leveraging these email marketing and social media integration strategies, sellers can effectively promote their Sellfy stores and increase their reach and sales potential.

Analyzing Your Store Performance

To grow sales and make better business decisions, creators must understand their current performance. Analytics data provides invaluable insights that can guide decisions to increase revenue and make a business more successful ^[17]. Sellfy offers built-in analytics tools that help sellers understand their store activity and customer behavior.

Sales Analytics

Sellfy’s analytics dashboard provides several key metrics to help sellers evaluate their store’s performance:

Visits: Sellfy tracks store visits as unique visits, combining product page and store page visits. Each visitor registers as a single visit, influenced by the traffic source and date visited ^[17].
Purchases: This metric displays the number of placed orders in a specific period. If a customer buys multiple products in a single transaction, it counts as one purchase ^[17].
Conversions: This percentage shows how many store visits resulted in actual purchases ^[17].
Revenue: This metric displays the total revenue generated during a certain period, including tax and transaction fees ^[17].

To make the most of these analytics, sellers should monitor the data closely during different activities and after implementing changes in product presentation ^[17]. By tracking these metrics, sellers can identify trends, assess the effectiveness of marketing strategies, and make data-driven decisions to improve their store’s performance.

Traffic Sources

Understanding where store visitors come from is crucial for targeting marketing efforts effectively. Sellfy’s analytics provide insights into traffic sources based on different referral channels:

Direct: This category includes traffic where the exact source cannot be specified, such as users typing the store URL directly or accessing it from bookmarks ^[17].
Social: Traffic from social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.
Search: Visitors who find the store through search engines.
Others: Any other sources not falling into the above categories.

Sellfy also offers a Countries section, showing where store visitors are purchasing from. This information is valuable for targeting efforts to specific regions ^[17].

To evaluate the effectiveness of advertising channels and marketing strategies, sellers can monitor conversion rates and traffic sources over time ^[17]. Sellfy allows the use of UTM parameters for more precise tracking. For example, using a custom UTM source like “MyFacebookAd” will replace the default “facebook.com” source in the analytics, allowing for more detailed campaign tracking ^[17].

For more advanced analytics, sellers can integrate Google Analytics with their Sellfy store. Google Analytics offers enhanced ecommerce features that provide deeper insights into visitor behavior and sales data ^[18]. To set this up:

Log into Google Analytics
Navigate to Admin > View > Ecommerce Settings
Enable both Ecommerce and Enhanced Ecommerce Settings ^[18]

Once enabled, Google Analytics collects data on various ecommerce actions, including:

Product impressions
Product detail views
Add to cart actions
Checkout initiations
Purchases ^[18]

This data can be accessed under Conversions → Ecommerce in Google Analytics ^[18].

By leveraging both Sellfy’s built-in analytics and Google Analytics, sellers can gain a comprehensive understanding of their store’s performance, customer behavior, and areas for improvement. This data-driven approach enables creators to make informed decisions, optimize their marketing strategies, and ultimately drive more sales and revenue.

Tips for Maximizing Sales on Sellfy

Offering Discounts

Sellfy provides a powerful tool for creating discounts, running sales, and issuing coupon codes. Research shows that nearly 90% of online shoppers use coupons, making this feature an essential part of maximizing sales ^[13]. Sellers can offer two types of discounts: coupon codes and sales ^[19].

To create a coupon code, sellers can navigate to Marketing > Coupons & Discounts in the left sidebar of their Sellfy account, click “Add new discount” > “Coupon,” and follow the setup steps ^[19]. Coupon codes are excellent for rewarding existing customers, running marketing campaigns, and boosting sales during holidays ^[19].

For creating a sale, sellers can follow a similar process but select “Sale” instead of “Coupon” ^[19]. Sales can be applied to a single product, multiple products, or all products in the store ^[19]. Sellers can offer discounts by a specific amount (e.g., $15 OFF) or by a percentage (e.g., 20% OFF) ^[19].

To add a sense of urgency and encourage purchases, sellers can set up a countdown timer for their sales ^[19]. This tactic has helped some online sellers increase their sales by as much as 332% ^[13]. It’s important to set an expiration date for the sale before enabling the countdown timer ^[19].

Upselling Techniques

Upselling is a powerful sales technique that can significantly increase average transaction value and generate more revenue ^[20]. Sellfy offers various upselling features that sellers can leverage to maximize their sales.

Offer complementary products: When a customer is purchasing an item, offer them a discount on related products. For example, if a customer is buying a t-shirt, offer them a discounted hat or other accessories ^[21].
Create bundle offers: Bundle multiple products together at a discounted price. This technique can increase the average order value and provide customers with a better deal ^[20].
Implement “Buy One, Get One” (BOGO) offers: This strategy is similar to having a 50% off sale but allows sellers to control which item is paid for and which is free ^[21].
Use contextual prompts: Implement tooltips or prompts that suggest upgrades or additional purchases based on the customer’s current selection ^[20].
Offer limited-time trials of premium products: Allow customers to experience the value of higher-priced items for a limited time, increasing the likelihood of an upgrade ^[20].
Leverage social proof: Use customer reviews, case studies, or testimonials to convince users to purchase upgraded or additional products ^[20].
Make upselling easy: Ensure that adding upsold products to the cart is a simple and frictionless process for customers ^[20].
Segment and target customers: Identify power users or customers nearing their current plan’s limits and offer them tailored upgrades ^[20].
Highlight the benefits: Constantly remind users of the advantages they’ll gain by upgrading or purchasing additional products ^[20].
Offer one-time discounts: Create a sense of urgency by providing limited-time discounts on upsells ^[20].

By implementing these discount and upselling strategies, sellers can maximize their sales on Sellfy and provide more value to their customers. Remember to analyze the performance of different techniques using Sellfy’s built-in analytics tools and adjust strategies accordingly for optimal results.

Conclusion

Sellfy has proven to be a versatile platform to sell products online, offering a range of features to support creators and entrepreneurs. From its user-friendly interface to its robust marketing tools, Sellfy provides a comprehensive solution to establish and grow an online business. The platform’s ability to handle both digital and physical products, coupled with its customization options, gives sellers the flexibility to create a unique store that aligns with their brand identity.

To make the most of Sellfy, sellers should focus on leveraging its analytics tools to gain insights into their store’s performance and customer behavior. By using this data to inform their marketing strategies and product offerings, sellers can boost their sales and provide more value to their customers. With its seamless payment integrations and various marketing features, Sellfy empowers creators to turn their passion into a thriving online business, reaching a global audience with ease.

FAQs

How do I begin selling products on Sellfy?
To initiate selling on Sellfy, follow these steps: Create an account and confirm your email address, add your products, personalize your store, set up payment methods, select a subscription plan, and utilize Sellfy’s marketing tools to promote your products.

Which online platform is most suitable for beginners looking to sell products?
eBay is an excellent choice for beginners wishing to sell online. It is a well-known platform suitable for various items such as electronics, clothing, and collectibles. eBay simplifies the process of listing items, making it accessible for newcomers.

What are the ways to generate income using Sellfy?
You can earn money on Sellfy by selling your digital products, offering print-on-demand merchandise, and selling your own physical products.

Is Sellfy a reliable platform for selling products?
Yes, Sellfy is a highly effective platform particularly for creators and influencers looking to monetize their work. It supports over 30,000 solopreneurs and small businesses, specializing in digital downloads, subscriptions, and print-on-demand merchandise.

References

How to Sell Products Online with Sellfy: A Beginner’s Guide

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