Affiliate Marketing: Shopee Shops with Trending Products

Shopee Shops with Trending Products for Affiliate Marketers and Shoppers

If you are an affiliate marketer in the Philippines or Southeast Asia who is looking for an affiliate marketing programs and products to advertise, then continue reading. This article was written to give you an idea about the Top 10 evergreen niches that you can tap in the affiliate marketing world. And yes, these are Shopee shops with trending products.

So, here we go. This list is classified according to Product Category.

Shopee Shops: Food and Beverages 

Staple needs are now being prioritized by those who have kids and senior citizens in their houses and even those who are working and studying at home. The new normal compels most people to give priority and importance of having healthy food and beverages always available. This product category does not need heavy marketing at all because the products are very in demand yet consumable.

 

Shopee Shops: Vitamins and Minerals:

Vitamins and minerals make our bodies strong and these help boost our immune systems fight diseases. Today, there is a big demand on food supplements. People are now becoming more aware about the importance of healthy lifestyle and diet. While some are researching for healthy recipes to cook for their families and love ones including their selves, some people would like to supplement those lacking vitamins in their recipes with food supplements readily available anytime. Do not just promote, be sure to take your vitamins and minerals as well.

     Shopee Shops: Mobile Gadgets, Laptops, Computers

     The shift from commuting to and from offices to working at home have made more people set up their home offices and study areas for their children thereby increasing the demand for gadgets, laptops, computers, printers and the like. Some started blogging and vlogging in order to build their income streams. As an affiliate marketer, we must see to it that the products we promote are of high quality and durable. Aim to help customers find their needs or best suit their needs and solve their needs.

     Shopee Shops: Furniture 

     To complete the set of home offices and study rooms, the demand for furniture like office tables, office chairs, study tables, study chairs, file cabinets, etc. have also increased. Although furniture is hard to market before the pandemic started, the ease of marketing this category is now unfolding. I have seen some who are buying such products through my affiliate links without even marketing them. So I have included this category in this list.

     Shopee Shops: Home Appliances 

     Some people were laid off from their jobs (and if you are one of them, take heart!) while many have chosen to leave the city life and chose to resign from their jobs and moved to their provinces to start small businesses. Many have set up food business lines, food packaging, food delivery and franchises, etc. These have increased the demands for more freezers, refrigerators, cooking utensils, food storages and food packaging and the like. And if you are good in cooking and baking, why not plan to start this kind of business to add up to your income. As the saying goes, “Love what you do, do what you love.”

      Shopee Shops: Garments and Textiles

     Since the rise of online shopping in the Philippines, manufacturing and selling or reselling of “ready-to-wear” products have also increased since people from the corporate world also have shifted using casual wears instead of wearing their coats and ties. Garments and textiles industry is one of the largest categories where ages 0 to100s can be targeted as your market. If you choose this niche, or if you are in this niche, make sure to buy and try the products first or get some samples first before selling them. This way, you can figure out how to best describe them to your own customers if you are selling them online. But if you are selling them with some stocks on hand, you don’t need to.

     Shopee Shops: Farm Products

     Farm products are some of the untapped demand industry yet is now beginning to unfold especially in the Philippines. Today, people in the urban areas are now setting up their urban farms, vertical gardens, container gardens, etc. So, the demand for farm products like seeds, plant cuttings, animal feeds, plant containers, soil enhancers, fertilizers and other planting materials and farm inputs are now becoming popular. For me and my family, this is our favorite product category because it is very easy to identify the market and the market needs or market demand and so it is very easy to grow customers from anywhere in the Philippines.

   Shopee Shops: Digital Products 

     Do you know that online shoppers also look for discount vouchers for future use? Yes, digital products has unlimited potential and will write a separate article on this. 

    Shopee Shops: Pet products

     Nowadays, in order to fight boredom people get busy with pets just like being busy in their gardens. They like to have some pets with them – as their emotional challenger or they simply love taking care of pets. . The pet grooming products, dog foods, cat foods, etc. have increased with a huge percentage as compared few years ago.

      Shopee Shops: Educational products and office supplies 

     Do you wonder why the demand for office supplies has increased which is ironic with many offices closing temporarily? The shift from work commute to work at home lifestyle including online classes for students, have made the demand for papers, bond papers, pens, ball pens, coloring booklets, printing materials, etc. increased tremendously and that is one of the reason. Another is, most local stores buy office supplies on wholesale for them to sell these office supplies at retail. 

     BONUS

     Shopee Shops: Electronics

     You can browse anything and you will see electronic products pop up anywhere and anytime in your screen at any time.

The list above is the most trending product categories in evergreen niches. As an affiliate marketer you must identify your advertisers (affiliate marketing program owners) as well as know more of your target audience in order to be successful in the affiliate marketing world. If you will notice, these shops have a high credibility score as well as product ratings. Some are new while others have spring forth ages ago.

“A wise man will make more opportunities than he finds.” -Francis Bacon

“It's choice - not chance - that determines your destiny.” -Jean Nidetch

“Setting a goal is not the main thing. It is deciding how you will go about achieving it and staying with that plan.” -Tom Landry

 

 

 

Affiliate Marketing: Top Ten Shopee Mall Shops (Lazada Shops) to Promote

List of Top Ten Shopee and Lazada Mall Shops to Promote

This is a list of most recommended Shopee Mall Shops to promote. These shops have strong credibility and have gained customers’ trust over the past few months, years and decades.

So if you are an affiliate marketer in the Philippines looking for affiliate products to promote, check out these shops with their links to Shopee and Lazada:

1. The SM Store - The SM Store is owned by Mr Henry Sy, Sr., it started as a shoemart in Carriedo, Manila, Philippines in 1958 and expanded as store chain nationwide, now is one of the most successful businesses in the Philippines. It has expanded from shoe store to almost all lines of businesses – banking, investments, holdings, land development, etc.
   
   
2. Watsons – Watsons is a health care supply chain store in some parts of Asia and Europe. It has almost 8000 stores and 1500 pharmacies in Hong Kong, Indonesia, Macau, mainland China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Ukraine, Russia and Vietnam. Its headquarters is located in Hong Kong.  Watsons is one of the best choice to promote as an affiliate marketer because of its credibility.
   
   
3. Human Nature – Human Nature is a health and beauty product manufacturer.  Human Nature sells their products through membership and dealership packages. Its advocate is to promote Philippine natural products and aims to help the masses by selling their quality products at very affordable prices.  As an affiliate marketer, you have two options, you can promote their products displayed in Shopee or Lazada or become a dealer and have your own online dealer store.  Whichever you prefer, best results come by willingness to succeed – apply your talents and put extra efforts to reach your goals.
   
   
4. Belo Essentials –Belo Essentials is a very well known brand of beauty products. Belo Essentials is owned by Maria Victoria "Vicki" Gonzalez Belo-Kho, a Filipina dermatologist and television personality. She is the founder, CEO, and medical director of Belo Medical Group. Belo Essentials products are some of the most sought brands by Filipino men and women, as well as some foreign nationals who come to visit the Philippines.
   
   
5. Puritan’s Pride Philippines- Puritan’s Pride Philippines is a one of the most recommended brands of health and wellness products. Puritan’s Pride’s headquarter is located in New York, U.S.A. Puritan’s Pride carries lines of vitamins, minerals and food supplements for adults. Their products is very easy to market and promote because the company is trustworthy and has strong credibility not just in the Philippines but around the world.
   
   
6. Oppo – Oppo Philippines is one of the most trusted brands of mobile phones in the country. Their products are of high quality, user-friendly and budget-friendly. Aside from these, their products are trendy and very durable. Most millenials are using this brand because the features fit well in this digital age. If you are an affiliate marketer who is very picky in promoting products, this brand will not fail you.  Oppo Philippines has proven its worth in the country as well as across the globe.
   
   
7. Vivo – Vivo products are user friendly and budget-friendly just like Oppo. Vivo has taken the lead in their X, V, and Y series.  Their products have a very high market demand and most get easily sold out. So if you are the kind of an affiliate marketer who promotes and describes all details in your product promotion, try to shift to a better strategy of promoting the store as a whole than by promoting individual products. OR, try to promote individual products with a countdown timer just not to fail customers who wishes to take more time before purchasing the product(s). Vivo is an excellent brand for on-the-go customers.
   
   
8. Zeus ph  - Zeus ph offers the latest curations from Nike, Vans, New Balance, Puma and today's top sports brands sourced from their official Philippine partners of well known brands. ZeusPH caters high quality products and customers service with utmost level. Zeus ph is a booming avenue of various trusted brands known across the globe.
   
   
9. Unilever Home Care – Unilever Home Care is a company that carries different well known brands worldwide. The business give high value to their advocacies to raise standards of living, protect and regenerate nature, to promote positive nutrition, wellness and health, etc. Unilever Home Care brands are very easy to promote and advertise because the reputation of their brand partners have been proven ages ago until today. So, if you want to aim for a long-term customers keep promoting their products. Why? Their products are mostly consumables. When loyalty and trust of customers to the brands they carry have been established, it is very easy to earn commissions repeatedly.
   
   
10. Quaker Philippines – Buy and taste then advertise -it is included in my TOP TEN!

The Need to Plan Your Advertising Strategy

Affiliate marketers who would like to build their online presence, credibility and authority do not act in haste – they plan their strategies.  If you heard this: “A/B Testing”, that is commonly used in order to save time and costs, it is what I am emphasizing with much details. A/B tests are best recommended when you use paid advertising. It is good to analyze statistics or data in order for you to optimize your profits and minimize your costs to the lowest level possible. 

You may be asking why I have listed these top ten shopee mall shops for marketing and then in the last part of this article jumps to A/B testing? The reason is this: choosing products to promote is very easy, choosing the right audience is easy, choosing potential customers from your audience is never easy – so you have to test which ads will work best. I remember what my former professor said (or asked), “What is the difference between Chinese businessmen and Filipino businessmen?” There was silence in our class since more than half of our class are Filipino-Chinese, some are full-blooded Filipinos while more than one-fourth are full-blooded Chinese but are Filipino citizens! Then, the silence was broken when one of my classmates raise his hand and answered, "It depends, Miss." 

Now, whether you belong to the class or not, you must be in the right place to see the best perspective.

"In business, you don't get what you deserve, you get what you negotiate." - Chester L. Karrass

Affiliate Marketing: Promote Shopee and Lazada Products

Affiliate Marketing in the Philippines

Affiliate Marketing is one of the easiest and most convenient ways to start earning online. There is a vast affiliate marketing programs available internationally which are accessible in the internet today. These affiliate programs offer different categories from physical products, digital products as well as services. But in this article we will focus on Shopee and Lazada affiliate programs since most beginners in the affiliate marketing world need few guide on how to start in this journey.

The situation in the Philippines amidst Pandemic is not a joke as unemployment rates increase especially in the National Capital Region. Some people who were not given chances to retain their jobs moved to their provinces to start or re-start new lifestyle – in a sense a “new normal”. And if you are one of them, don’t get discouraged but take heart! This may be your chance to become a successful Affiliate Marketer!

Five Easy to Follow Steps on How to Promote Shopee and Lazada Products

Affiliate Marketing Step #1: Registration as a Publisher at Involve Asia – To register at Involve Asia, you need to at least have a “Property” where you can display the Advertisers’ products. The property can be a Facebook page, Facebook group, Pinterest Page, Instagram Business or Personal account, Youtube Channel, Twitter, Website, etc. Fill up the Registration Form with your details, submit and wait for the approval of your account as a Publisher.

Affiliate Marketing Step #2: Approved Account – Once your account is approved, you need to apply to different Advertisers in the Involve Asia platform. When your application is submitted, accepted and approved by the Advertiser, you can then promote any of the products of that Advertiser.

Affiliate Marketing Step #3 Choose a way to promote a product(s). You can promote different products through shoplinks, deeplinks, banners, vouchers, datafeed, etc. One of the most easiest and effective way to promote affiliate products of Shopee and affiliate products of Lazada is through deeplinks. My husband and I often use this method to promote affiliate products because in our experience, this marketing method works for us.

Affiliate Marketing Step #4 Be sure to target the right customers or group of people – correct audience matters! Why? Niche focus is compared to a Dart Board while Dart Pins are compared to your products. You must give or offer right products to the right audience. In other words, throw the pins to the board with precise move force and timing. Likewise, offer products which match the exact tastes, age groups, interests, etc. of your prospective customers.

Affiliate Marketing Step #5 Choose at least two or more properties or platforms to introduce, promote or advertise those affiliate products. We use usually use Pinterest and Facebook when marketing affiliate products.

Why are products from Shopee and Lazada easy to promote in the Philippines?

Most Affiliate Marketers choose to promote affiliate products from Shopee and Lazada because of the following reasons:

• Shopee App and Lazada App – Both applications are user-friendly for both buyers and sellers. The apps can easily be installed with only few clicks.
• Mode of Payments – The Cash-On-Delivery (COD) offer of Shopee and Lazada attracts buyers who are skeptical of payment first policy.  With COD, buyers can check out products without hassle.
• Mode of Shipment – Local suppliers or sellers have the option to choose what couriers to enable in at the seller center back office. Enabling two (2) or more courier providers is an advantage.
• Shopee and Lazada – are the two most popular buy and sell app for all ages in the Philippines.

5.  Trusted Brands and Sellers – There is no need for heavy advertising because most brands and sellers in both platforms are properly screened and verified. The advantage of this is that affiliate marketers that promote these affiliate products and or affiliate programs do not need to heavily boost their promotions or advertising efforts thereby making affiliate marketing an enjoyable business.

Five Tips in Affiliate Marketing – Promote Shopee Products

Affiliate Marketing Tip #1: Choose a trusted brand.  When promoting affiliate products, be sure to read the comments of the buyers and from their comments generate your catchy introduction or promotional text.  For example, you have read a comment saying the product is good, the size is perfect, the color of the items delivered is exactly the same color of the item ordered, etc. Here, you can make advertisement posts like: “This is one of the best sellers. See comments of satisfied customers, etc.”

Affiliate Marketing Tip #2: Be mindful of seasonal products.  For example, one or two months before an event or holiday, you should have planned what affiliate products to promote – Christmas Season products – ham, Christmas tree, gift ideas and e-gift cards, etc.

Affiliate Marketing Tip #3: Use a catchy image or picture when you promote affiliate products to social media platforms. Choose or create images that catch the attention of the audience.

Affiliate Marketing Tip #4. Use texts or put a short text and readable information in the product image – price, sale, unit or brand, etc.  My husband and I have proven that this affiliate marketing method is very effective.

Affiliate Marketing Tip #5.Put a call-to-action in your posts. “Shop now” Buy now” “Learn more”, “Click here”, are just some of the most popular CTAs that work well.

Affiliate Marketing as a Passive Income Stream

Once Affiliate Marketing Strategies are properly planned and set in place, the online business will thrive and will provide a long-term passive income stream. To conclude, affiliate marketing is one of the best and easiest ways to build an online business.  More so, there is no need to buy or manufacture products to sell and promote, no warehouse costs, no shipping costs, no inventory to maintain. Affiliate marketers just need to put advertising strategies, a little investment to promote if you plan to promote via paid advertisements, and of course, the ability to observe market behavior, trends, and courage to implement planned those affiliate marketing strategies you have in mind.

Something for you to think about:

Beginner (Affiliate Marketer 1) – develops new strategies on his own.

Beginner (Affiliate Marketer 2) – implements what is tried and proven strategies

Beginner (Affiliate Marketer 3) – combines new and tried affiliate marketing strategies

Beginner (Affiliate Marketer 4) – confused.

Expert: I think I have experienced 1-4!!! The difference is that I can easily shift and swift when it is needed!

"The first rule of focus is this: where ever you are be there". Unknown Author

"Concentrate all your thoughts upon the work at hand. The sun's rays do not burn until brought to a focus". - Alexander Graham Bell

Marketing and the Power of Persistence

What is Marketing?

Marketing is any activity or set of activities such as communicating, advertising, delivering messages in print media, television, person-to-person, audio clip, etc. to a group of people or society at large with an aim to influence their buying objectives and decisions.

Popular Types of Marketing

I. Digital Marketing or Internet Marketing
1. Content Marketing
2. Affiliate Marketing
3. Social Media Marketing
4. Email Marketing
5.Mixed Media Marketing

II. Traditional Marketing or Non-Internet Marketing
1. Direct Sales Marketing
2. Word-of-Mouth Marketing
3. Print Media and Audio Clips Marketing

You may be asking yourself which of the above is the most effective type of marketing to use in order to promote your product and get a higher percentage of sales. Well, the answer simply depends on how you would like to get results and how do you perceive your goals – short-term or long-term goals.

1.     Fast and easy but costly (short-term) – you can use mixed media marketing like pay-per-click (PPC) advertising.  If you have a very good and enticing images and videos for your products, most likely, people will click on your ads and you pay per click accordingly.  In this kind or marketing, most advertisers choose to target a very limited audience or narrowed target markets in order not to spend too much on the clicks of uninterested audience.  With these kinds or types of marketing strategies, think of growing a Mushroom. You can grow a bunch of Mushrooms overnight and profit from them immediately. If not harvested correctly and on time, mushrooms die off naturally. 

2.     Slow and steady yet free or can be of low cost (long-term) – you can use content marketing, email marketing, social media marketing and other traditional types of marketing  Authority websites have chosen these kinds of marketing strategies.  By their website contents they have already built their credibility. When we say website content, we mostly refer to articles, images, videos and product links within their websites. Authority websites need not much of active marketing as their credibility themselves market for them and the search engines like to show their contents especially if their “meta” framework and keywords choice are well-engineered.  With these kinds or types of marketing strategies, think of growing a Bamboo. Growing a bamboo will take months. You’ll notice that you already have Bamboo Clusters in a few more months from that single bamboo planted into a fertile soil suitable for growing the plants. You can have the benefit of growing bamboos for a long time. I tell you bamboo clusters are very hard to eliminate!  

Those are metaphors and from these examples, you can familiarize yourself with what kind of marketing strategy to use by trying and testing. Choose the best marketing strategy or combination of marketing strategies to apply in order to make your online business or traditional business thrive in this fast-changing digital era.

The Most Popular Types of Marketing and How to Apply them Effectively

I. Digital Marketing or Internet Marketing

1. Content Marketing

This popular quote, “Content is king and engagement is queen” is very trueWhy did I agree with the quote?  The answer is because I have proven that contents that meet the needs of target audience will somehow get more engagements, too. Content Marketing really works.

2. Affiliate Marketing

We already know what Marketing is, and now let us find out what is an “Affiliate”.

What is an Affiliate?

According to Oxford Dictionary, an affiliate is a person or organization officially attach to a larger body.

Affiliate Marketing is any activity or set of activities such as communicating, advertising, delivering messages in print media, television, person-to-person, audio clip, etc. to a group of people or society at large with an aim to influence their buying objectives and decisions by an affiliate as approved by a larger body or organization he is affiliated with, following and engaging with the terms and conditions agreed upon by both parties.

Marketing products and services as an affiliate is the most popular and is one of the best ways to make money online as an influencer, blogger, marketer, publisher, vlogger, etc. because the products and services to promote are ALL READY to be served or delivered to the customers or buyers.  The affiliate needs only to promote the services or products to target market or target audience. The affiliate earns a percentage or commission from every sale made. 

My husband and I are affiliates of some good and reputable companies. Here are our favorite seven:

1. Involve Asia

2. Fiverr

3. Creative Fabrica

4. Shopee

5. Shopee Mall

6. Lazada

7. iHerb

3. Social Media Marketing

Let us see how the Oxford Dictionary defines, “Social” and “Media”

Social –an informal social gathering, especially one organized by the members of a particular club or group

Media – is defined as the main means of communication regarded collectively.

Social Media Platforms such as Facebook, Linkedin, Pinterest, Quora, Instagram, Tumbler, Twitter are great avenues to find a group of people or community with the same interests or advocacies

Social Media Marketing is a favorite marketing strategy of most influencers who have large numbers of followers.

4. Email Marketing

Email marketing is probably the best strategy to build a long-term business. The funneling system makes it possible to let previous customers buy future products offers again and again.

5. Mixed Media Marketing

Mixed media marketing strategy is most effective when the product or services being promoted is evergreen and the products’ or services’ availability is relevant at all times. For example, if you are selling only one item like a custom-made jewelry you previously bought, mixed media marketing may not be the best solution for you to sell it. Imagine, marketing it on email, youtube, pay-per-click at the same time and then after a few minutes the item has been sold. It will hurt you credibility if you mark something “for sale” now and then after few minutes you mark it “sold” already. The next time you post something like this again, your potential buyers may doubt if the item you are offering is still available or not, the height of their interest will drop if this happens often. Mixed media marketing is the use of two or more different marketing strategies at the same time.

II.  Traditional Marketing or Non-Internet Marketing

1. Direct Sales Marketing

Direct Sales Marketing is usually used by Companies whose products are promoted by the members of their business organization themselves. Examples: Amway, Avon, etc. Although direct sales marketing it categorized as traditional business, many companies have shifted to marketing their products using Internet Marketing, too.

2. Word-of-Mouth Marketing

Word-of Mouth Marketing is equivalent to Viral Marketing in the digital world.  This Marketing strategy is proven effective since the ages.  Have you noticed those free samples of cookies, pizzas, coffee, soaps, perfumes, noodles, etc. inside malls and department stores? They are promoting the products by letting potential customers, taste, feel, smell or own a product for free.  The potential customers will buy or not according to the result of his or her experience, talk about this experience about the product with his neighbors, friends and relatives. This word of mouth marketing strategy goes viral – positively or negatively according to the result of the experience(s) of those who have tried the products.

3.Print Media and Audio Clips Marketing

Print media and audio clips marketing are those we often see in the newspapers, billboards, printed magazines and radios.

The Power of Perseverance

Now that we already know about marketing and the different marketing strategies, it is time to connect to something humane- let us give value to human ingenuity.

Many online businesses are now being run by Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems which make some businesses operate with efficiency and precision and this is one of the many advantages and benefits of living in this digital era.

But do not undermine your talents. Always remind yourself that you are clever and you can achieve your goals with perseverance.

What is perseverance and what can it do to your online business or traditional business?

Perseverance according to the Oxford English Dictionary is persistence in doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success.

What is perseverance and what can it do to your online business or traditional business? Perseverance can make your business thrive and succeed. More so, it can polish and develop your inner core more than you could imagine!

Much is being said, It is time to act.

 Perseverance, in my opinion is knowledge in action, improving that knowledge and action, and repeating it again and again until target goals are met.

“The inner thought coming from the heart represents the real motives and desires. These are the cause of action.” - Raymond Holliwell

Research and the Six Things You Already Know

 Online Business : Apply Research and The Six Things You Already Know

For sure the word “Research” is not new to you and probably this is what you and me are always doing most of the time. If we are going to look its meaning, it suggests some careful thinking and in depth studies like examination, investigation or experimentation aimed at the discovery of certain information or facts.

Well, you may be asking how is research related to making money online or you may be telling yourself, is research really important for me to earn online or can I apply it to the affiliate programs I’ve joined? The answer is absolutely, yes.  And, we have already learned the other five important questions related to it, from grade school or so. These are the “4 Ws and H”.  Read on and I hope you will be able to apply what these simple reminders will effectively boost your strategies for you to earn online or make money online by applying them to the affiliate programs you have joined or you may just want to start your very own business with your own brand.

Online Business Tip No. 1: HOW does research boost credibility and authority?

Have you noticed that most of the products that already gained their credibility have something in common? Okey, let us try these. I am going to give the phrases here and try to answer as fast as you can. Do not worry because the answers are given at the bottom of this post.  Ready? Let us begin.

“Just do it”,
“I’m Loving It”
“Finger Lickin’ Good”
“Eat Fresh”
“Have a Break, Have a ______”
“Maybe She’s Born With It, Maybe It’s _______”
“Because You’re Worth It”
“A Diamond is Forever”
“It Keeps Going, and Going, and Going…”
“Ideas for Life”
“Don’t be Evil”
“Think Different”

These brands have built their credibility by making their slogans or mottos real. You may even be imagining their trademarks now, right? Well, in business, credibility is always attached to any or a combination of these – brand or brand name, company name, logo, slogans and seal.

Now, how about authority? Authority, as defined by Wikipedia, was derived from a Latin word, auctoritas, defined as, “a concept used to indicate the foundational right to exercise power…” Depending on usage, authority can be used in many categories like, domain authority, question authority, positional authority, brand authority and the like. For this post, we will just focus on brand authority and domain authority.  To explain further, I will list products commonly used or consumed by almost everyone, every day. Just give or mention the brand names.

Your favorite shampoo
The toothpaste your family always use
Battery charger
Your car
Your favorite jeans
The wristwatch you are wearing now
Beer you last tasted
Pizza you want to order
Burger and drinks you want to buy later
The laptop you are using now
Your favorite deodorant

To easily understand brand authority, just think about voting. The most numbers of brand name mentions or votes in our example have higher authority. In the definition, “… a concept used to indicate the foundational right to exercise power…”  The brands you have just mentioned or those logos you have in your mind by answering those listed above have authority because they have gained “power” through trust and credibility.  Just like domain authority or website authority, the higher it ranks, gets clicks, visits and impressions, the higher its authority is.

How then, does research boost credibility and authority? The answer is, first, through research, one is able to know exactly, what are the preferences of the potential clients and customers, as to their usage, durability, pricing, etc.  Second, by research, one can improve or develop products that are congruent to the lifestyles of the existing users and potential customers. Another is, research is the key to answer the needs of users.

For example, my county, the Philippines, is always stricken by typhoons. In the house, we store foods before the rainy seasons and we buy easy-open can foods and instant noodles in cups. Not all brands have easy-open cans and not all noodles are in cups. Since the company who introduced easy-open can products, is already an authority, the brand he used for that, easily gained trust and credibility, too.

So, boost your credibility, research and let your brand be known with authority.

Online Business Tip No. 2: WHAT can research do to your product offers?

If you are looking for a new cellphone and you are thorn between two choices with all other features being equal, which one would you prefer?

CHOICE A:  A new brand that gives product warranty up to 5 years with heavy marketing promotion (TV Ads, Billboards, News Ads, Broadcast Ads, etc.)  plus 20% discount
CHOICE B:  An already established brand with only one year warranty and currently do not have any marketing promo or discount.

So, what can research do to your product offers?

In the example above, both choices are good while there are factors to consider: new brand vs. established brand; discounted price vs. regular price; warranty period.  If you offer a product whether physical or digital product, research on what factors and features you would like to raise to get the attention of potential buyers to let them buy the product whether you are offering a new brand or an already established brand. `

Online Business Tip No. 3: WHEN does research mandatory to business?           

It is mandatory to do a research when your business is in line with providing services and products which directly affect the health or lives of customers.

A recent example is a case in my country.  A number of students in the public schools were given free anti-dengue vaccination where most lives were put at risk due to some factors not properly considered where, if thorough research should have been done, such loss of lives have been avoided.

It is mandatory to do a research when the products or services are governed by law.  Who wants to be sued just by collecting e-mails? The GDPR policy is an example. Do we really need research? Yes.  Even wordpress.org has developed a new plugin to help website owners comply with the policy.

It is mandatory to do a research when you want to leave a legacy to the next generation. Of course, if one would like to leave a legacy, he will make every effort and apply his skills and time to make it real.  The drawing or blueprint becomes standing structure or building. The idea and imagination comes to life.  The knowledge becomes an e-book or books, courses and training. The concepts become websites, live in the internet, and so on…

Online Business Tip No. 4: WHERE to conduct research?

There are lots of avenues where to conduct research. It could be one or a combination of these:
Printed materials - books, magazines, flyers, brochures, catalogues, newspapers and the like
Online resources – websites, blogs, forums, membership sites, advertisements
Audio and Video Files – recorded files, webinars, podcasts
Others – any reliable avenue of knowledge, facts, information
Online Business Tip No. 5: WHY is there a need for research?

The ultimate answer to this question is – PURPOSE. 

As promised, here are the brands which answer the guessing game in the first part of this article.

Nike
Mc Donalds
KFC
Subway
Kitkat
Maybelline
L’Oreal
De Beers
Energizer
Panasonic
Google
Apple

The brands listed above have purposes and their names speak them so. Now, you want to earn money online or offline? And, you want to build your brand, as well?  May I just joggle the slogans up there and leave these borrowed phrases for you to think about.  “Just do it” You have “Ideas for Life”. You can make money online because you are one of kind, you “Think Different”.  Let your ideas come to life “Because You’re Worth It”.  Research and find the purpose of your business. Make a legacy which is likened to a gem just like a diamond because, “A Diamond is Forever”.

Online Business Tip No. 6: Start a business  or continue what you have started.

Think… Think. Think!  Then, act and think again.

Here is something for you to think about:

“Once you make a decision, the universe conspires to make it happen.”- Ralph Waldo Emerson

E-commerce: Start a Dropshipping Business

 What is E-commerce?

What is E-commerce?

E-commerce or electronic commerce is one of the most lucrative businesses in this era. Buying and selling online is becoming popular in almost every part of the world. Most buyers prefer online shopping for convenience while most sellers prefer selling online because there is a bigger audience or larger number of potential customers. I am writing this article both on the point of view of buyers and sellers.  Why? The answer is because in business, yes, any business, there is the “purchasing or buying” side which is as much as important as the “selling” side.  Both newbie and experienced sellers will always look for products they would want create, re-create, re-purpose or manufacture. But most will look for products which are ready for resale.

BUYING AND SELLING

If you are planning to start an e-commerce business, always consider your buying and selling techniques when doing business.  This will lessen the costs, time and effort to be applied in each purchase cycle while gaining higher income in every sale. Let us consider two (2) scenarios: First, a merchandiser or buyer who is looking for ready-made curtains for him to resell will spend lesser costs, effort and time if he buys in bulk. He will get the items mass produced.  Second, a merchandiser who is looking for customized curtains as preferred by his clients.  Both of the merchandisers are looking for curtains, they are both buyers and sellers at the same time, BUT they have different TARGET markets. The first one is targeting a general public as customers while the second one is targeting a group of customers with preferred brands or customized designs which is a definite group of customers. Both the merchandisers in the two scenarios offer something of value to their target markets who have different kinds of the demand or requirement. Another thing, the first merchandiser could not resell the curtains as high as the price of the second merchandiser but he definitely has not spent costs and time as much as the other one did.

In my opinion, decision-making is a critical point in the success of all projects including putting up a business. Do not hesitate to start a business if you want to make a living with your passion.  E-commerce is already in the waves of successes. Get in and make a lucrative income, as well just like others are making. 

By the way, there are lists of buying and selling platforms where you can start selling.  Most are free to join which will allow you to use the quality features of their platforms in order for you to sell your products. In the Philippines, the country where my family and I live, online business and affiliate marketing is now very popular and is one of the booming industries where even small business owners can join.

List of Buying and Selling Platforms

1. Ebay
2. Listia
3. Shopee
4. Lazada
5. Amazon
6. Jumia
7. Newegg
8. Cdiscout
9. Carousell
10. Wallmart
11. Aliexpress
12. Alibaba
13. Tophatter
14. Wish
15. Shopify
16. Own Website

Some of the listed platforms offer free as well as paid services.  You may try the free one first then upgrade if you want to scale up.  Dropshipping in E-commerce is a big solution to most hassles like inventory-taking and warehousing.  With dropshipping, you can buy the products you like to sell or resell and ship them directly to your customers. You do not have to worry about product preparation and shipment for every order. If you really are decided and serious about starting a business – dropshipping or e-commerce is a great option.

Here are some quotes for you:

" Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out." - Robert Collier " The man who moves a mountain begins by carrying away small stones. - Confucius