Selling homemade soaps online can be a lucrative business if done right. To succeed, you need to tap into the right sales channels, market effectively, and provide quality products that appeal to your target audience. Here are 13 ways to sell homemade soaps online:
1. Create Your Own eCommerce Store On Ordefy
If you’re looking to sell homemade soaps on Ordefy, you’re in the right place. Ordefy’s eCommerce platform can help you easily set up an online store, manage sales, and reach customers. Below is a step-by-step guide to help you start selling your handmade soaps on Ordefy:
(A) Sign Up and Create Your Ordefy Account
- Visit Ordefy’s Website: Go to Ordefy’s homepage and sign up for an account.
- Create Your Seller Profile: Fill in your store’s details, such as your store name, logo, and contact information. This is where customers will get to know your soap business, so ensure the branding reflects your brand’s identity.
(B) Set Up Your Online Store
- Choose a Template: Ordefy provides customizable themes and templates for your store. Choose one that fits your soap brand’s aesthetic (rustic, natural, luxury, etc.).
- Custom Branding: Use high-quality images of your soaps for the store’s homepage and product listings. Ensure your branding is consistent across all platforms.
- Create a Store Description: Write a compelling story about your handmade soaps. Highlight what makes your soaps unique (e.g., organic, vegan, luxurious) and share your mission.
(C) Add Your Products
- Create Product Listings: For each soap variety (e.g., lavender, oatmeal, activated charcoal), create a product listing with:
- Title: Make it clear and concise, e.g., “Organic Lavender Soap Bar” or “Detox Charcoal Soap.”
- Images: Upload high-quality product photos that show off your soaps from multiple angles. Close-up shots are great for highlighting texture and ingredients.
- Description: Describe your soap’s benefits, ingredients, and uses. If it’s handmade, emphasize the care and natural ingredients.
- Price: Set a fair price based on your cost of production and market research.
- Variants: If you offer multiple sizes or scents, list them as product options. For example, offer your soap in single bars, 3-packs, or gift sets.
(D) Set Your Payment Methods
- Configure Payment Options: Ordefy allows you to integrate various payment methods, such as:
- Credit/debit cards
- PayPal
- Mobile payments (e.g., Apple Pay, Google Pay)
- Any local or international payment gateways that Ordefy supports.
- Make sure you enable enough payment methods to cater to your target audience, whether local or international.
(E) Set Up Shipping
- Shipping Methods: Ordefy offers built-in tools to help you configure your shipping methods:
- Local Delivery: If you’re targeting a local customer base, offer flat-rate or free delivery for local orders.
- International Shipping: If you plan to ship abroad, set up international shipping rates. Offer clear information about delivery times and costs.
- Tracking: Enable order tracking so customers can follow their orders and have peace of mind about delivery.
(F) Optimize for SEO
- SEO-Friendly Titles & Descriptions: Optimize each product listing with keywords relevant to your soaps (e.g., “handmade soap for sensitive skin,” “organic lavender soap”). This will help improve your search engine ranking and make it easier for customers to find you.
- Meta Tags: Make sure your store’s meta title and description are also optimized for search engines. Think about the terms your target audience is searching for and include them in your metadata.
(G) Promote Your Store
- Social Media Integration: Connect your Ordefy store to your social media accounts, like Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, etc. Share visually appealing photos, videos, and stories to engage with your audience and drive traffic to your store.
- Discounts and Offers: Use promotions like “Buy 1, Get 1 Free,” “Free Shipping on Orders Over $30,” or “10% off for New Customers” to attract initial buyers and incentivize purchases.
- Email Marketing: Build an email list and send out newsletters to keep your customers informed about new products, promotions, and soap-making tips.
(H) Manage Customer Support
- Customer Communication: Set up an easy way for customers to reach out to you. Ordefy may offer a built-in chat feature or email support system.
- Order Tracking and Notifications: Keep customers informed about their orders via email or SMS notifications. Notify them when their soap is shipped and when it’s delivered.
- Refunds and Returns: Have a clear policy in place for returns and refunds. This builds trust and ensures a positive customer experience.
(I) Build a Loyal Customer Base
- Customer Reviews: Encourage satisfied customers to leave positive reviews. High ratings and testimonials can significantly improve your credibility and sales.
- Loyalty Programs: Reward repeat buyers with discounts, free shipping, or special offers to keep them coming back for more.
- Referral Program: Set up a referral program that incentivizes your current customers to refer friends and family in exchange for discounts or free products.
(J) Track Your Performance
- Analytics Tools: Ordefy offers built-in analytics to help you track sales, customer behavior, and marketing effectiveness. Use this data to optimize your store and improve your sales strategy.
- A/B Testing: Experiment with different pricing, product descriptions, and marketing techniques to see what resonates best with your audience.
(K) Scale Your Business
- New Product Launches: Once you have your core soap products established, consider expanding your product line to include:
- Soap Gift Sets: For holidays, birthdays, or special occasions.
- Other Skincare Products: Body scrubs, lotions, bath bombs, etc.
- Seasonal and Themed Soaps: Introduce special edition soaps for holidays, such as pumpkin spice for fall, peppermint for winter, or floral scents for spring.
Benefits of Selling on Ordefy:
- User-Friendly Interface: Ordefy offers an intuitive platform that makes it easy to set up your store and manage your products, even if you’re new to selling online.
- Customizable Design: You can personalize your store to align with your soap brand, ensuring a unique shopping experience.
- Integrated Marketing Tools: Take advantage of built-in SEO tools, email marketing features, and social media integrations to boost your sales and visibility.
- Security: Ordefy provides secure payment gateways and SSL encryption, ensuring your customers’ data is protected.
- Customer Support: Ordefy likely offers customer support services that can help you with technical issues or questions about using the platform.
Selling your homemade soaps on Ordefy is a great way to build a strong online presence. The platform provides all the tools you need to showcase your products, manage payments, handle shipping, and market your soaps effectively. By following these steps, you can create a professional, appealing online store and grow your handmade soap business in no time.
Good luck with your soap-selling journey!
2. Sell on Etsy
- Why Etsy? Etsy is a go-to marketplace for handmade and unique products. If you’re just starting out, this is an excellent platform to reach people looking for artisanal soaps.
- Set Up Your Shop: Create an attractive shop with a compelling banner, product photography, and clear product listings. Highlight your brand story and the benefits of your soaps.
- Marketing: Use Etsy’s internal search engine optimization tools and pay attention to product tags to ensure your soaps get discovered.
3. Use Social Media Marketplaces
- Instagram and Facebook offer shopping features where you can set up a store within your profile.
- Instagram Shop: If you have a visually appealing brand, Instagram is perfect. Showcase your soap-making process, finished products, and happy customers using posts, stories, and reels.
- Facebook Marketplace: A great option to sell locally. Facebook allows you to target your local community, especially if you have the ability to ship quickly.
4. Leverage Amazon Handmade
- Amazon Handmade is a curated marketplace dedicated to artisans selling handmade goods. It’s a great way to tap into Amazon’s massive customer base.
- Application: To sell on Amazon Handmade, you need to apply and get approved as a seller. Once approved, you can create product listings for your soaps with the ability to offer prime shipping.
5. Sell on Local Online Marketplaces
- Craigslist and Nextdoor: These are local platforms that allow you to reach nearby customers. You can promote your soaps to local communities and offer direct deliveries or pick-up options.
- Facebook Groups: Join local buy and sell groups in your area. Post about your homemade soaps, including special offers, seasonal promotions, and discounts.
6. Use Subscription Boxes
- Offer soap subscription boxes where customers receive a new bar of soap every month or season. You can customize these boxes by offering different scents, ingredients, or themes.
- Subscription services create recurring revenue and increase customer loyalty, as subscribers will often commit to receiving your soaps over time.
7. Sell on Wholesale Platforms
- Platforms like Faire, Handshake, and Abound are designed for businesses to sell products wholesale to stores and boutiques. If you want to scale your business, this is a great option.
- You can also reach retailers who want to stock your soap products in their shops, both online and offline.
8. Use Your Blog for Marketing and Sales
- Start a blog on your website or platform like Medium where you can talk about soap-making, skin care tips, or how-to articles (e.g., “How to Choose the Right Soap for Sensitive Skin”).
- Add links to your online store or specific soap products within your blog posts, so readers can easily purchase items they are interested in.
9. Collaborate with Influencers
- Partner with beauty influencers, skincare bloggers, or eco-friendly advocates who can promote your soaps on their social media platforms, YouTube, or blogs.
- Offering free samples in exchange for reviews or featuring your soaps in an influencer’s gift guide is a great way to gain exposure to a wider audience.
10. Create an Affiliate Program
- Set up an affiliate program where others can earn a commission for promoting and selling your soaps. This could involve bloggers, influencers, or even loyal customers who refer others to your store.
- Use platforms like ReferralCandy, ShareASale, or Post Affiliate Pro to set up and manage your program.
11. Sell via Google Shopping
- Google Shopping allows you to list your soap products in search results, increasing your visibility. You’ll need to upload your product feed through Google Merchant Center and connect it to your Google Ads account.
- This method can help you capture customers searching for specific products like “organic soap” or “vegan soap bars.”
12. Leverage Pinterest for Traffic
- Pinterest is a highly visual platform that works well for promoting products like handmade soaps. Pin images of your soaps, along with blog posts, DIYs, or tutorials on skin care, and link them back to your online store.
- Pinterest Ads: Consider running Pinterest ads to target people searching for skincare or organic products.
13. Offer Customization and Personalized Soaps
- Allow customers to personalize their soaps by selecting scents, colors, and even adding custom labels (e.g., for weddings, baby showers, or corporate gifts). This will help differentiate your product from mass-produced soaps.
- Use your website or social media channels to promote your customizable soaps for special occasions.
Key Marketing and Sales Tips for Selling Soaps Online:
- High-Quality Photos: Invest in professional, high-quality images of your soaps. Clear, well-lit photos showing your products in a lifestyle setting (e.g., soaps next to fresh flowers or a cozy bath scene) can make a huge difference.
- Offer Free Samples or Gift Wrapping: For first-time buyers, you can offer a small free sample soap with their first order, or offer free gift wrapping for holiday seasons to entice new customers.
- Seasonal Promotions: Capitalize on holidays like Christmas, Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, or summer with themed soaps or special offers.
- Create a Loyalty Program: Reward repeat customers with discounts or points that can be used toward future purchases.
- Customer Testimonials: Use social proof to your advantage. Showcase reviews and testimonials from happy customers to build trust and credibility.
By using a combination of these methods, you can build a strong online presence, attract customers, and create a sustainable business selling your homemade soaps. The key is to remain consistent, stay creative with your offerings, and continually engage with your audience!