Building Products and Sell Them via E-Commerce [Progress Thread]

[NIK4658]

How many have you sold over all time?

In total I think around 20-25.

How big has each production run/order been?

At first was like 1-2, then 3-5, then 10, then 20 and last PCB order was 25.

feel like you are ordering the same amount every time and then running out and then ordering again

Yes, and no. It's not the same amount every time, but very close to it.
The last order was not big because I had to test if the new PCB design (first time ever using a complete mcu integration on a pcb) was correct before pulling the trigger on +100 pieces and then realise that I've done something wrong.
The next order will be for sure ATLEAST 100 pieces if not more, especially because the more I buy the less I will pay for each of them, meaning more margin for each order.
The PCBs are the only thing that are missing now since I've go enough other components stock to be able to build around 80-90 of them.

Maybe it’s time to make a large order so you have stock and can then focus on ads

My guess is though it’s a lack of stock not a lack of ads that’s preventing the business from growing

Your product is good enough

The product is selling

No reason to keep ordering such small production runs

the first iPhone shipped and was terrible, they’ve improved it every year since. Nothing stopping you from doing the same.

Thank you very very much for your perspective. I appreciate it a lot.
My next move will probably be a way bigger batch than the last ones of course.

 

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[MitchC]

In total I think around 20-25.



At first was like 1-2, then 3-5, then 10, then 20 and last PCB order was 25.



Yes, and no. It's not the same amount every time, but very close to it.
The last order was not big because I had to test if the new PCB design (first time ever using a complete mcu integration on a pcb) was correct before pulling the trigger on +100 pieces and then realise that I've done something wrong.
The next order will be for sure ATLEAST 100 pieces if not more, especially because the more I buy the less I will pay for each of them, meaning more margin for each order.
The PCBs are the only thing that are missing now since I've go enough other components stock to be able to build around 80-90 of them.








Thank you very very much for your perspective. I appreciate it a lot.
My next move will probably be a way bigger batch than the last ones of course.

Sounds like you are doing the right thing then

Don’t beat yourself up over not optimising your advertising

That’s not something you need to worry about when you have 15 units to sell

 

[StrikingViper69]

I hate it when people use Apple as an example because most people’s businesses are so far removed from it it just doesn’t apply, but in this case consider Apple, the first iPhone shipped and was terrible, they’ve improved it every year since. Nothing stopping you from doing the same.

Truth. Your product needs to be good, but it doesn't need to be perfect. I've sold nearly 10,000 copies of my book with a typo in the title lol. People still buy, it's a good book.

And I am fixing it for a second edition - in addition to fixing a ton of grammar errors and a few typos etc.

 

[NIK4658]

Sounds like you are doing the right thing then

Thank you!

Don’t beat yourself up over not optimising your advertising

The thing is.. There are a period where I do marketing and get sales and other that I didn’t, traffic goes to almost zero and don’t make sales.
Is this what you also mean for not optimised marketing?

 

[MitchC]

Thank you!



The thing is.. There are a period where I do marketing and get sales and other that I didn’t, traffic goes to almost zero and don’t make sales.
Is this what you also mean for not optimised marketing?

You mentioned a/b testing and iterating on winners as an example

You can’t do that if you only have 15 things to sell

You can’t run ads all the time if you have no stock

 

[Awakened2022]

I've sold nearly 10,000 copies of my book with a typo in the title lol. People still buy, it's a good book.

Congratulations. Any advice for those planning to be authors in 2024 on how you are doing it?

 

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[StrikingViper69]

Congratulations. Any advice for those planning to be authors in 2024 on how you are doing it?

Depends if it's fiction or non-fiction.

If it's fiction, I have no idea.

If it's non-fiction, write something that helps people that you're an expert in. If you're 19 writing about investing and life-coaching, your book is not going to do well and you'll (rightly) look like a clown.

 

[Spenny]

Truth. Your product needs to be good, but it doesn't need to be perfect. I've sold nearly 10,000 copies of my book with a typo in the title lol. People still buy, it's a good book.

+1 to that. I've sold units that had some spelling errors on due to the manufacturer, and I still get five stars.

The designers and creators of a product notice the small problems that need improving, not so much with the customer unless the item is not functional.

---

Well done NIK, keep getting those sales. I remember when you had zero coming in, and it's going to get easier once you stack up those reviews and keep improving the products!

 

[NIK4658]

Weekly Progress Post #31​

This week I didn't produce a lot of things, also because I've been occupied by UNI projects

Restarted marketing, but the results were not very good​

At the start of the week I said: I need to show my products to many people to make sales, the fastest way to do it is with paid ads, I have to restart using them.

I activated the creative that drove me some sales last weeks to see what was going to happen.

I also tested a new creative image, but shut down almost immediatelly since it wasn't profitable, zero sales.

During this week, I had three sales, but besides that, I'm not very happy.
I've spent more than €160 on thoose ads, that led me to having only €300 GROSS.
(Plus, the campaign only recorded one sale, so it could also be that I spent 160 eur to get 99.94 back, wow...)

I'm almost breaking even...

I know that the offer is good, I know that the website is clean and good.
Many people bought that item for the same price and said that it was great, so I don't think that the price is an issue.

I don't know why, but I also got 3-4 abandoned checkouts.
I don't charge shipping, It's as simple as the standard Shopify Checkout.
I don't get how people are filling the entire checkout with their data, but not clickling "purchase".

I send them two emails after they leave:
One after 4 hour with a 5% discount code
The second one after 2 hour from the last email with a 10% discount code if they don't have made that purchase.
But nothing. Still never recovered a single checkout / cart.

I think I also have "quite good" traffic from the ads, but the conversion rate is still low..
This is the week in detail:



I still don't understand why Shopify says that I have got fewer session comparing to the clicks I paid with the paid ads..

(The dip you see is when I tested running ads with a Precise Conversion cost, but the ad stopped working so I had to remove that.)

This instead, is the data from the Meta ads of this week:

Campaign #1 (€20/day)

• Spent: €134.11
• Impressions: 27.638
• CPM: €4.85
• Coverage: 18.443
• Frequency: 1.5
• CTR: 3.64%
• Clicks: 618
• CPC: €0,13
• Sales: 1 (€99.94 x 1) (Probably 3 I hope)
• ROAS: 0.75 (?)

If it keeps running like this, I'm not going to keep that running to just burn my money.

Campaign #2 (€20/day) (Image put to test, but stopped)

• Spent: €25.04
• Impressions: 6468
• CPM: €3.87
• Coverage: 4029
• Frequency: 1.61
• CTR: 1.56%
• Clicks: 61
• CPC: €0,25
• Sales: 0

Review Request on private messages​

I know how important reviews are, especially on a "brand new website" with a "new product".
I'm getting a few sales, but not enough reviews, even with email automation requests.
TODAY, I'm going to text every single customer personally, asking for those reviews, also for some images.

I also want to post each review as content on my Instagram pace, to increase social proof for the Brand.

New Product Update​

The new product components are in the way, some of them will be delivered this week, others probably the next one.
Can't wait to build the first working piece.
One of my friend "preordered" one for €279, a price lower than the final price that I hope I can set to anything between €329--€379

 

[NIK4658]

Weekly Progress Post #32​

Stopped ads, they were not generating even a single sale​

I waited three days at €25/day to be sure that it wasn't a temporary issue, and no, it wasn't.
I stopped the Facebook ads that was bringing me around 1-2 sales each day, because for an entire week didn't result in a single sale.

This led to a big drop in views for my ecommerce, that almost reached zero and of course, because of this I got zero sales this week.

Marketing is what is stopping me and I can't figure how to properly do it. This is driving me crazy.

Received multiple positive reviews​

I personally contacted every single customer that bought my items but didn't left a review, not every single one of them replied to my messages, but this is what I got to the ones who did:






This last one also sent me multiple pictures of the product in action!

I am pushing trying to let them post a review on my website by their own.

Worked on the new project​

I am very very close to building a first working product and I can't wait.

This week I received the PCBs and they all work like a charm.
I still have to code the firmware but tested the components and their behaviour with a prototype code.

I also improved a lot the exterior case design. I managed to model everything as one piece instead of two pieces that screws together with a visible line where the top and bottom parts touch. I am super happy for the end result.

At the moment I am going to 3D print this case for this product, but the same design is also perfect to be produced in alluminium using CNC, I also have a manufacturer that is always ready to build this type of pieces

I only need some last components to be able to build the first real product, they should be delivered one of this days.

 

[NIK4658]

Weekly Progress Post #33​

Interesting updates for this week.

Unexpectedly, I've got one organic sale!​

One evening of this week I checked my phone and.. what?! An organic sale!
I was not surprised because I made a sale...
I was surprised because I had little traffic trough the entire week I had around 150 sessions in total!
Shipped the order immediately, can't wait to hear the customer feedback!

I still have the paid ads stopped, that's why I have so little traffic and almost no sales.

Keep receiving 5-Star reviews​

It's working! Texting customers for reviews works!
I managed to receive great reviews on my website from the past customers only by texting them a polite message via text.

I'm very happy about what they said, look at this one for example:



I will be using the same review content and also the images they posted as an Instagram posts in my Instagram Page to build trust, traffic and authority!

Started posting on Instagram Page​

I officially started to post on the Instagram Page of the Business.
It was basically unused before this week, with just two posts and 100 followers.

I prepared many many posts, about my previous work, updates and customer reviews.
I'm trying to use it also as a portfolio, I'm trying to post the old image first to also organise the images based on the date of those.

I've prepared around 20 posts so far and posting like 1 or 2 each day.
Let's see how this thing will go.

Completed the project, built the first unit.. It's incredible​

I officially completed the first unit of the new project I was working on the last weeks and..

It's truly beautiful, I can't believe how nice it is.
Personally, it really feel like a super high quality product, a premium one.
I can't explain how proud and excited I am with this first piece.

I showed the first unit to many friends and people and EVERYONE said that it's beautiful.
I received some messages asking to "preorder" one unit for them.

I also showed it to some "lucky" forum members

I think I can price it in the €300-€400 price point, the cost of each one, without my labor cost (that is not so much per unit) is around €150.

 

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[RightyTighty]

Nik, what you’re doing is truly inspirational. An incredible amount of effort and persistence are required to take a physical product “idea” through market research, prototyping, refinement, DFM, sourcing, assembly, marketing, and sales. Organic growth is slow, but you are on your way to developing a solid customer base. Your latest product is incredible; when you start selling it you can expect the “big boys“ in your arena to take notice of the upstart that is gaining market share.

 

[NIK4658]

Nik, what you’re doing is truly inspirational. An incredible amount of effort and persistence are required to take a physical product “idea” through market research, prototyping, refinement, DFM, sourcing, assembly, marketing, and sales.

Thank you very much for this words, I'm honored to read all this. Thank you.
I'm just trying to do my best, consistently, without stopping.
I'm improving myself over and over again, week after week...
A year ago I wouldn't have believed I would get to this point.

Organic growth is slow, but you are on your way to developing a solid customer base.

Truly slow.
The focus now is simply giving my 110% to every single customer, to be able to stand up from the mass and be able to create "true fans" of my business. Trying to help as much as possible as many people as possible.

Your latest product is incredible; when you start selling it you can expect the “big boys“ in your arena to take notice of the upstart that is gaining market share.

Thank you again, I'm proud of it.
Big boys are so big that I know they are already working on it. That's the issue.
I know some of them personally. Many of them are much faster and much bigger than me, with plenty of money to spend to be able to create a product like that very very fast.

This does scare me a bit but will not stop me.

 

[NIK4658]

Weekly Progress Post #34​

Content Creation​

I leveraged the images and videos that I created weeks ago and also the customer images to upload various posts on my Instagram page, in order to create a sort of portfolio to build autohority and to show to people that I've already got multiple happy customers.
I also added screenshots of the genuine feedback of the customers near their product images.

I also posted the reel that the Influencer recorded to me some months ago.
On instagram it went ok, around 2k views and 100 Likes. (I have around 100 Followers right now)
I Uploaded it on TikTok, the same videos got the huge amount of 0 views

At this stage, the traffic is still very low and I didn't get any sale this week.

Worked on the new Product​

Even If this week I didn't work a lot on my tasks, atleast I was able to work on the Software/firmware side for the new product I completed.
I had some compatibility issues that took me a couple days more, just to found out that was only my PC issue and not the product itself, phew.

I improved the internal design model and now it's almost complete.

I also received more components stock and I was able to build a couple more of this products.
I have pre-sold a couple more of this units to some of my friends, this will give me money, feedbacks and reviews to be able to launch the product in the store in the best way.

Thanks to this pre-orders, I think I will be ordering new CNC pieces to be able to have stock for the future organic sales once the product will be published.




Next week I will be on a holiday with my gf, so I probably won't produce any results.
I'll use this days to free my mind as much as possible, no orders will be shipped of course until I came back home

 

[NIK4658]

Weekly Progress Post #35​

No updates this week.

I spent this week on vacation with my girlfriend, trying to free my mind as much as possible, without thinking about anything related to my private life, university, business and everything else.

Unfortunately some things are not going the way I want them to.
It doesn't matter, if I stay on the right path, there will come a time when I can say I made it.

Until then, I have to remember to enjoy life every second, because these moments will pass and will not come back. I want to enjoy youth, nature and everything that surrounds me.

No need to rush, life is good.

 

[NIK4658]

Weekly Progress Post #36​

Got back to work.

​

Foam Packaging arrived​

After TWO months, I finally received the foam pieces to use them as packaging for my main product:

Researched for custom foam cutting for custom packaging​

In addition to building the actual products, the activity that wastes my most time is packaging.

I've been trying to find a solution to this problem and have come across a manufacturer who can produce custom cut foam that I can then put in my packages.

I ordered 100 of them and I wasn't expecting that it would take SO LONG to ship, but atleast now I got them.

A couple of them got damaged since they shrink (probably caused by heat exposure), but most of them are good and perfect for my purpose.
I also got the confirmation that my design is perfect and I will use them for the incoming orders, saving me a buch of time.

Worked hard on the last product​

I worked on some mandatory document that needs to be done before the product release:

• Started and completed Instruction Manuals PDF on both English and Italian
• Default Profiles to be uploaded in the Software
• A4 Technical dimension PDF to see how big the product is before / after purchase

I managed to improve a bit the product with new, better minimal components (same purpose, better material), since I was still using some of the old one as tests.

Created all the product images with high quality renders of the product, in every possible direction, to use them as main images but also for Social media posts.

Added the product to Shopify and completed a Base for its Shopify Page (it's still draft)

Designed and tested an universal bracket that is required install the product easily.

Built again more products of this, now got around 5-6 ready to go.

Influencer sponsorship​

One Instagram Influencer with 185K followers and an average of 25K views per reel, contacted me asking for a promotion. ( He was one of the 5 that I messaged weeks ago, but didn't close the deal that time)

He proposed to post a story and a reel that sponsored my product in exchange of that product for free. (Cost: €30, Retail price €99)

I don't like very much the fact that I will basically only have 24 hour exposure with the story, but maybe since he will tag my page on the reel, that could provide me traffic also after that time.

I was a bit in doubt, but after all I said yes, because I still need to drive traffic on my website, this could bring in some awareness and sales, other than produce some content to use in the future.
I will ship the product this week and see what will happen.

The general situation didn't change​

I still have low traffic, almost zero and I didn't get any sale at all in the last weeks.
The fact that situation is persistend and that I feel it's almost "normal" to me should make me angry, since I know my potential but no, it doens't. This is weird, I can't stay like this waiting for nothing.

 

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[MitchC]

Weekly Progress Post #36​

Got back to work.

​

Foam Packaging arrived​

After TWO months, I finally received the foam pieces to use them as packaging for my main product:



I ordered 100 of them and I wasn't expecting that it would take SO LONG to ship, but atleast now I got them.

A couple of them got damaged since they shrink (probably caused by heat exposure), but most of them are good and perfect for my purpose.
I also got the confirmation that my design is perfect and I will use them for the incoming orders, saving me a buch of time.

Worked hard on the last product​

I worked on some mandatory document that needs to be done before the product release:

• Started and completed Instruction Manuals PDF on both English and Italian
• Default Profiles to be uploaded in the Software
• A4 Technical dimension PDF to see how big the product is before / after purchase

I managed to improve a bit the product with new, better minimal components (same purpose, better material), since I was still using some of the old one as tests.

Created all the product images with high quality renders of the product, in every possible direction, to use them as main images but also for Social media posts.

Added the product to Shopify and completed a Base for its Shopify Page (it's still draft)

Designed and tested an universal bracket that is required install the product easily.

Built again more products of this, now got around 5-6 ready to go.

Influencer sponsorship​

One Instagram Influencer with 185K followers and an average of 25K views per reel, contacted me asking for a promotion. ( He was one of the 5 that I messaged weeks ago, but didn't close the deal that time)

He proposed to post a story and a reel that sponsored my product in exchange of that product for free. (Cost: €30, Retail price €99)

I don't like very much the fact that I will basically only have 24 hour exposure with the story, but maybe since he will tag my page on the reel, that could provide me traffic also after that time.

I was a bit in doubt, but after all I said yes, because I still need to drive traffic on my website, this could bring in some awareness and sales, other than produce some content to use in the future.
I will ship the product this week and see what will happen.

The general situation didn't change​

I still have low traffic, almost zero and I didn't get any sale at all in the last weeks.
The fact that situation is persistend and that I feel it's almost "normal" to me should make me angry, since I know my potential but no, it doens't. This is weird, I can't stay like this waiting for nothing.

Get an agreement from him that you can use his content as an ad

You might be pushing your luck but also pitch him on the idea of whitelisting his post

Which basically means you run ads to that post on his page

If his contents good I'd continue working with him after that, forget the followers and views etc, just get good content from him and run it as ads

I wish I had creators in my niche reaching out to me for posts in exchange for free cheap products, make the most of all of these opportunities, if nothing else it keeps your competitors from taking those opportunities

 

[NIK4658]

Get an agreement from him that you can use his content as an ad

Will do it immediately, thank you.

If his contents good I'd continue working with him after that, forget the followers and views etc, just get good content from him and run it as ads

His content is not one of the best I think, but it's quite good.
I forgot to mention that we agreed that for the next 2 months he will keep posting like usual with my product installed, that means I could leverage a lot of material for future content.

make the most of all of these opportunities, if nothing else it keeps your competitors from taking those opportunities

You're right, I didn't think about that.
I was in doubt, but now I am very happy about it.

 

[NIK4658]

Weekly Progress Post #37​

Last Product is officially published​

I worked hard on completing the last tasks in order to publish the product on the website, since I have completed the project and also already built the first pieces:

Recorded many Product videos for each skew value of the product and created a dedicated section in the Shopify product page with a dedicated copy.
Completed the entire Shopify Product page.
Set the product as pre-order for the next two weeks, with a discount from €379 to €329 and a urgency timer.

Then I officially published the product to the public.
I also sent an email marketing for the product, the email list is less than 50 people and of course didin't bring any sale.

Sold the first preorders (Not Organically)​

I was able to sell the first pre-orders of the last product to a couple of my friends, the same ones that supports me and helps with the first feedback of the product.
Thanks to this I was able to get back some cash that I can also use for future adverstising or for get more stock in in the future.

Influencer Marketing Sponsorship didn't went well​

I sent the product to the Influencer and as I'm speaking right now, a video with around 20k views didn't bring me any sale, just a bunch of new followers to my Instagram page (still low).
This is probably because as I expected, the Influencer is not great at doing video and what he produced was absolutely not at the level of the first Influencer I've done the first collaboration, at all.
The issue was not my product, but the entire setup he used to sponsor it and so the entire "meaning" of my product was shadowed. This made the users to reply with bad comments saying that the setup was "stupid".

A couple people messaged my page and said that my product are incredible.

One of them also said that he's willing to purchase my last product, but I won't call a win until he will click the "Buy" button.
I agreed with the Influencer that I can use his video as paid ads, I will see if he can post some high quality content for that purpose..

Paralisys by Analisys for Marketing​

I will say openly.
I don't know what to do.
I'm in this crysis right now that is slowly burning me internally since it's literally MONTHS that I'm in the same situation where I build and work on product and I can't change the status of my business at all.
The issues is that I'm in the "infamous" Paralisys by Analisys with anything related to Marketing and I can't understand what to do. I don't want to do only basic marketing, I want to build a brand, but this "scares" me since I'm even more confused on the actions to take.

I WANT TO SHOW MY PRODUCTS IN FRONT OF EVERYONE SINCE I KNOW THAT THEY PROVIDE VALUE, I WANT TO PROVIDE VALUE TO AS MUCH PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE. I BELIEVE ON MY CREATIONS.
I'm not scared of what some people are going to say. I'm scared to be at the same situation in the next months without any improvements.

• Social media is extremely high in time cost and can literally wipe my life away without giving me anything back, but of course even one single post can explode, go viral and change my entire life, but this feels like gambling.
  • Especially because even if I know how to make video editing, I have to study how to be a creator that can leverage trends, engage people and be an actual Social Media Manager for the brand
• Since I'm a lot a technical guy, I could work on the SEO of my ecommerce bringing in some content that can provide value to people and bring me "constant views". Even here I have to work on my SEO skills since it's almost a new world to me. The big issue is that still I could have to wait MONTHS before seeing if something is actually working or not.
  • I can also use this skill for other people that can pay me A LOT as a service.
• Paid ADS are incredible and mastering this skill could literally change my life, since this means that for every venture I will work from now in the future, I could leverage this skill and eventually market everything.
  • A lot of people in here simply said that I should focus on this since it's one of the best things for ecommerce.
  • It's extremelly scalable.
  • Needs budget, a big budget to let it work properly. I have some cash around that could do the initial trick before scaling, as I done previously, but if something bad happen like the last one (Ad keeps bidding for DAYS without a single sale) I will be back at the same spot.
  • Ads are almost instant, but as soon as I stop them, traffic will decrease immediately.
  • I can also use this skill for other people that can pay me A LOT as a service.
• Influencer marketing is strange and still feels like I'm gambling over anything. Of course helps with brand recognition but I want to create a brand and bring sales, I don't know if this is the correct way.
  • It's not even much scalable at all.

I don't want to feel that I'm making excuses, I don't want avoid action.
Maybe I simply needs more knowledge about the topic, maybe reading some good general books or marketing books could help me with the situation.

 

[MitchC]

Weekly Progress Post #37​

Last Product is officially published​

I worked hard on completing the last tasks in order to publish the product on the website, since I have completed the project and also already built the first pieces:

Recorded many Product videos for each skew value of the product and created a dedicated section in the Shopify product page with a dedicated copy.
Completed the entire Shopify Product page.
Set the product as pre-order for the next two weeks, with a discount from €379 to €329 and a urgency timer.

Then I officially published the product to the public.
I also sent an email marketing for the product, the email list is less than 50 people and of course didin't bring any sale.

Sold the first preorders (Not Organically)​

I was able to sell the first pre-orders of the last product to a couple of my friends, the same ones that supports me and helps with the first feedback of the product.
Thanks to this I was able to get back some cash that I can also use for future adverstising or for get more stock in in the future.

Influencer Marketing Sponsorship didn't went well​

I sent the product to the Influencer and as I'm speaking right now, a video with around 20k views didn't bring me any sale, just a bunch of new followers to my Instagram page (still low).
This is probably because as I expected, the Influencer is not great at doing video and what he produced was absolutely not at the level of the first Influencer I've done the first collaboration, at all.
The issue was not my product, but the entire setup he used to sponsor it and so the entire "meaning" of my product was shadowed. This made the users to reply with bad comments saying that the setup was "stupid".

A couple people messaged my page and said that my product are incredible.

One of them also said that he's willing to purchase my last product, but I won't call a win until he will click the "Buy" button.
I agreed with the Influencer that I can use his video as paid ads, I will see if he can post some high quality content for that purpose..

Paralisys by Analisys for Marketing​

I will say openly.
I don't know what to do.
I'm in this crysis right now that is slowly burning me internally since it's literally MONTHS that I'm in the same situation where I build and work on product and I can't change the status of my business at all.
The issues is that I'm in the "infamous" Paralisys by Analisys with anything related to Marketing and I can't understand what to do. I don't want to do only basic marketing, I want to build a brand, but this "scares" me since I'm even more confused on the actions to take.

I WANT TO SHOW MY PRODUCTS IN FRONT OF EVERYONE SINCE I KNOW THAT THEY PROVIDE VALUE, I WANT TO PROVIDE VALUE TO AS MUCH PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE. I BELIEVE ON MY CREATIONS.
I'm not scared of what some people are going to say. I'm scared to be at the same situation in the next months without any improvements.

• Social media is extremely high in time cost and can literally wipe my life away without giving me anything back, but of course even one single post can explode, go viral and change my entire life, but this feels like gambling.
  • Especially because even if I know how to make video editing, I have to study how to be a creator that can leverage trends, engage people and be an actual Social Media Manager for the brand
• Since I'm a lot a technical guy, I could work on the SEO of my ecommerce bringing in some content that can provide value to people and bring me "constant views". Even here I have to work on my SEO skills since it's almost a new world to me. The big issue is that still I could have to wait MONTHS before seeing if something is actually working or not.
  • I can also use this skill for other people that can pay me A LOT as a service.
• Paid ADS are incredible and mastering this skill could literally change my life, since this means that for every venture I will work from now in the future, I could leverage this skill and eventually market everything.
  • A lot of people in here simply said that I should focus on this since it's one of the best things for ecommerce.
  • It's extremelly scalable.
  • Needs budget, a big budget to let it work properly. I have some cash around that could do the initial trick before scaling, as I done previously, but if something bad happen like the last one (Ad keeps bidding for DAYS without a single sale) I will be back at the same spot.
  • Ads are almost instant, but as soon as I stop them, traffic will decrease immediately.
  • I can also use this skill for other people that can pay me A LOT as a service.
• Influencer marketing is strange and still feels like I'm gambling over anything. Of course helps with brand recognition but I want to create a brand and bring sales, I don't know if this is the correct way.
  • It's not even much scalable at all.

I don't want to feel that I'm making excuses, I don't want avoid action.
Maybe I simply needs more knowledge about the topic, maybe reading some good general books or marketing books could help me with the situation.

Break down the process of launching ads into steps and get started

First step
Pick the most likely to sell product with ads
Get the page ready
Write down a list of benefits/features people would be interested in to buy
Write down a bunch of hook ideas
Now you should be able to create some scripts
Now you can create videos with these scripts
Now you can launch the ads and start selling

Or if you want a faster method to launch create a bunch of static images in canva and use the videos you already have

I think the best thing anyone can do in this situation, even if they are far less along on their journey than you, is just set some ads up and start spending

Once they start spending it’s like it unlocks this instant motivation in you to fix them and fix the store and make everything great because they are spending money and showing them to people as you sit there doing nothing

 

[NIK4658]

First step
Pick the most likely to sell product with ads
Get the page ready
Write down a list of benefits/features people would be interested in to buy
Write down a bunch of hook ideas
Now you should be able to create some scripts
Now you can create videos with these scripts
Now you can launch the ads and start selling

I have the "perfect" product for this purpose, it's page is more than ready.
I will try to structure a way for paid ads so I can produce as much as value as possible and communicate that to the right people immediately.
Thanks for the suggestion, I will try to implement this method and see what happens. I will let you know.

Or if you want a faster method to launch create a bunch of static images in canva and use the videos you already have

During the months I produced many images and videos of my products while working on them.
I will see If I should manage and use the current ones or produce new ones with the ads in mind.
I never tried static images for ads, it just feels that a good image will perform worse than a good video.. (is this a limiting belief?)

I think the best thing anyone can do in this situation, even if they are far less along on their journey than you, is just set some ads up and start spending

Once they start spending it’s like it unlocks this instant motivation in you to fix them and fix the store and make everything great because they are spending money and showing them to people as you sit there doing nothing

You're right, the days I was running my ads I was constantly checking their performance and the user response to my ads and offer. Constantly.

I was motivated to not waste my earned money and to improve everything I could.

I was kinda motivated to keep them running, until I got that week where I literally dumped 1 week of budget into the bin without any single purchase, and I didn't change literally nothing. That's why I stopped everything.
Most of my sales went from paid ads, that's why I'm still convinced that those are a very valid option.

 

Dislike ads? Become a Fastlane member: Subscribe today and surround yourself with winners and millionaire mentors, not those broke friends who only want to drink beer and play video games. :-)

[MitchC]

I have the "perfect" product for this purpose, it's page is more than ready.
I will try to structure a way for paid ads so I can produce as much as value as possible and communicate that to the right people immediately.
Thanks for the suggestion, I will try to implement this method and see what happens. I will let you know.



During the months I produced many images and videos of my products while working on them.
I will see If I should manage and use the current ones or produce new ones with the ads in mind.
I never tried static images for ads, it just feels that a good image will perform worse than a good video.. (is this a limiting belief?)



You're right, the days I was running my ads I was constantly checking their performance and the user response to my ads and offer. Constantly.

I was motivated to not waste my earned money and to improve everything I could.

I was kinda motivated to keep them running, until I got that week where I literally dumped 1 week of budget into the bin without any single purchase, and I didn't change literally nothing. That's why I stopped everything.
Most of my sales went from paid ads, that's why I'm still convinced that those are a very valid option.

Can you turn the old ads back on?

Statics work, a good mix of both is good

Statics generally get a lower CPM

 

[StrikingViper69]

Can you turn the old ads back on?

Statics work, a good mix of both is good

Statics generally get a lower CPM

I turned on some old ads last week and they’re doing way better than they did the first time round.

 

[MitchC]

I turned on some old ads last week and they’re doing way better than they did the first time round.

Yeah I’ve found the same, an ad gets burnt and 6 months later I turn it back on and it runs perfectly again because everyone’s forgotten about it

One of the benefits of evergreen products not trends

 

[NIK4658]

Can you turn the old ads back on?

I turned on some old ads last week and they’re doing way better than they did the first time round.

In theory I can, the last ads has some flaws, I admit, but has bring in some sales before burning itself, I can try and see what happens.
Hoping I will be in the same situation of @StrikingViper69 , otherwise I will test new ones with proper hooks and scripts.

Statics work, a good mix of both is good

Statics generally get a lower CPM

Okay, didn’t know that. I could test them, I will try to manage the budget accordingly.

For the Static Ad design, are you guys creating the designs from scratch or using already made templates from Canva or something?

 

[StrikingViper69]

In theory I can, the last ads has some flaws, I admit, but has bring in some sales before burning itself, I can try and see what happens.
Hoping I will be in the same situation of @StrikingViper69 , otherwise I will test new ones with proper hooks and scripts.



Okay, didn’t know that. I could test them, I will try to manage the budget accordingly.

For the Static Ad design, are you guys creating the designs from scratch or using already made templates from Canva or something?

I use a photograph I took on my phone and write some text in the main text and headline fields.

 

Dislike ads? Become a Fastlane member: Subscribe today and surround yourself with winners and millionaire mentors, not those broke friends who only want to drink beer and play video games. :-)

[MitchC]

In theory I can, the last ads has some flaws, I admit, but has bring in some sales before burning itself, I can try and see what happens.
Hoping I will be in the same situation of @StrikingViper69 , otherwise I will test new ones with proper hooks and scripts.



Okay, didn’t know that. I could test them, I will try to manage the budget accordingly.

For the Static Ad design, are you guys creating the designs from scratch or using already made templates from Canva or something?

I design ugly stuff in canva because I’m not a designer, seems to do better than polished stuff because it doesn’t look like an ad and gets engagement because it’s ugly

I think the key is the same as videos, catch the eye, stop the scroll, convey the message you want

I imagine some high quality photos of your product would be enough to catch the right people’s attention

Some of it being used

And maybe some close up pictures of the details

The good thing with statics is they are so easy and quick to make you can test a lot of them

 

[juresesko]

If you find a way to inform what the product will do with an image it could be a good idea to try FB ADS with them.

My best performing creative is an image and was always focused on UGC videos before that.

 

[NIK4658]

I design ugly stuff in canva because I’m not a designer, seems to do better than polished stuff because it doesn’t look like an ad and gets engagement because it’s ugly

I think the key is the same as videos, catch the eye, stop the scroll, convey the message you want

YES! This is what I need to put in my little head
I’m always a perfectionist and spend hours and hours trying to create the best creative ever instead of doing THIS.

I imagine some high quality photos of your product would be enough to catch the right people’s attention

Some of it being used

And maybe some close up pictures of the details

My product is very very “visual”, so I have to try my best to properly show the product with a single image instead of a video

The good thing with statics is they are so easy and quick to make you can test a lot of them

Since on average it took me 2-3 working days in order to produce one single video, This could be very interesting



What is the daily budget I should use to properly test the ads when aiming to sell a physical product at €100? (Around $110)

 

[NIK4658]

If you find a way to inform what the product will do with an image it could be a good idea to try FB ADS with them.

When speaking about paid ads I’m always referring to Facebook Ads.

I tried with Google ads first but my products have not specific keywords/search term related and are very visual, Google ads seems not the right platform for this purpose