If you are interested in selling products online, one of the challenges you might face is finding the right and profitable products to promote. You are also looking for the products that are trending at the moment to help you increase your chances of making money.

Coming up with product ideas is admittedly a little tricky, and the importance of selling a product people want can leave even the most motivated people stuck in analysis paralysis.

It often feels like everything you could possibly sell is already being sold—not to mention the reality that there will be plenty of competition in the most popular product categories.

Fortunately, there are still golden opportunities out there, proof of this being new products successfully launch all the time. To help you get started, we’ve put together some practical ways to find products to sell in your online store.

• How to Find Top-Performing Products to Promote
• What Products are Trending at the Moment?
• How can you Promote a Product Effectively?

How to Find Top-Performing Products to Promote

Let’s take a look at each of these strategies to find products in more detail.

1. Solve customer problems

Solving a customer pain point will always be an effective way to develop a product people want. Tylenol wouldn’t be in business if literal headaches didn’t hurt. Abstract customer pain points, meanwhile, are usually about addressing poor or frustrating experiences with the current selection of available products.

Read Also: How to Discover and Shop for Innovative Products

Active Hound is an example of a brand that solved a pain point in the market. After talking to other dog owners at their local park, the founders, Lucy and Zak, noticed pet owners were continually frustrated that the pricey dog toys they were buying lacked the durability needed to withstand the wear and tear of a playful pet.

Hearing about this frustration inspired them to create a line of ultra-durable dog toys. Now, they’ve expanded their offering to selling toys, treats, and a variety of other dog products.

It’s worth paying close attention whenever you notice common frustrations with an existing line of products. Being keenly aware of the pain points and small annoyances you come across in everyday life could be just what you need to come up with your next profitable product idea.

2. Appeal to enthusiastic hobbyists

When consumers are passionate about a particular trade or hobby, they’re usually more inclined to invest money to get the exact product they want.

This willingness-to-pay can be an important qualifier when evaluating the potential opportunity of any product, or line of products. (For example, golfers are well-known for investing hundreds or even thousands of dollars to lower their score by a few strokes.)

Additional benefits can include higher levels of engagement and loyalty with your brand, as enthusiastic customers are generally more involved in the industry and get more value out of the products they purchase. Let’s look at a few examples.

Hand Band Pro

Hand Band Pro sell to CrossFit enthusiasts who want a way to keep their exercises intense without ending up with ripped or calloused hands.

Impact Mouthguards

Impact Mouthguards sell dentist-level quality mouthguards that come in wild designs that capture the competitive spirit of their customers.

Solé Bicycles

Solé Bicycles design products for bicyclists who view their rides as a “mobile canvas” to represent their personality and style.

3. Go with your personal passion

While there are inherent risks in choosing a niche based on your own interests, it certainly doesn’t have to be a recipe for disaster. Using your know-how to create and position a unique product can be extremely profitable.

Founder/market fit matters, because building a business is a lot of hard work, and you’ll be better equipped to stay motivated and overcome the hurdles if you are deeply invested in what you are selling.

Eric Bandholz started Beardbrand as a blog discussing business and sales strategy. Slowly, his passion for beards crept into the blog. Over time, he turned his passion for the bearded lifestyle into a separate and successful ecommerce business selling beard-grooming products.

Moorea Seal is another example of someone who turned their passion into a successful online business. In 2010 Moorea, a full-time artist living in Seattle, became self-employed through various creative pursuits: blogging, running her own jewelry business, freelance illustration, and graphic design.

In late 2012, she retired early from design to spend more time on her passions and narrow her focus. In 2013, Moorea opened a store on Shopify.

The Moorea Seal shop is a curated selection of beautiful accessories that highlight handmade products from artists in the United States. Each of the designers has been selected by Moorea herself, and 7% of all proceeds benefit nonprofits that are close to her heart.

Moorea Seal has achieved notable success and has been featured in several blogs and publications including The Huffington Post, Design Sponge, and Babble.

4. Consider your professional experience

Has working in a particular industry helped you learn the ins and outs? Maybe you have a skill or a particular set of experiences that makes you more knowledgeable than the average person on a particular topic.

Turning your expertise into your own online business is a smart way to enter the market with a leg up that isn’t easy for others to duplicate or copy.

Retro Supply is an online shop that sells digital assets for graphic designers and illustrators inspired by history.

Founder Dustin Lee, a designer by trade, pivoted from a running a freelance web design shop to generating more passive revenue through Retro Supply’s selection of digital products.

5. Capitalize on trends early

Recognizing a trend early enough can be a significant win for a new business. It allows you to carve out a place in the market and establish yourself as a leader before others have a chance to.

And thanks to the nature of digital marketing, your paid spend will probably be lower and opportunities to build long-term SEO traffic may be more abundant.

The key is to not confuse a “fad” with a genuine “trend.” A fad is something that has surged into the limelight based purely on novelty or a gimmick; while fads can present great marketing opportunities, remember that if you build your business on a fad the demand will eventually fizzle out.

A trend, meanwhile, is something that fulfills an existing need in a new way, which is why their demand holds for much longer than a fad.

Knox Labs were early to market with their cardboard VR headsets. Founder Taron Lizagub tested the initial idea with a scrappy splash page, and to his surprise, he was able to quickly pre-sell around 500 headsets—the business later went on to make nearly $3 million in sales in 2015.

Here are a few ways to keep an eye on what’s trending so you can act quickly on potential opportunities:

• Social listening: This can be as basic as looking at the trending hashtags on Twitter or topics on Facebook, or as advanced as using social listening tools to identify and monitor trends over time.
• Google Trends: Look at the popularity of topics over time, and see what’s hitting a spike in interest.
• Trend Hunter: The “world’s largest, most popular trend community” uses data, artificial intelligence, and real humans to identify consumer insights and new opportunities.
• Reddit: “The front page of the internet” showcases forums about pretty much every topic under the sun. Visit the popular page to see what people are buzzing about.

6. Read customer reviews on existing products

Whether you already sell products online or not, there is a wealth of insight you can glean from customer reviews.

If you already have an established online store with a bit of traction, you can see what customers are saying about your existing products.

Are there are any trends or interesting bits of feedback you can use as inspiration to develop your next product? Pay special attention to shortcomings and complaints being shared.

If you don’t currently have a store, have a look at customer reviews for other brands and products in the industry you want to explore. What “wishlist” feedback is being shared about potential improvements to already successful products? What add-ons or additional products do customers consistently bring up?

If you’re not sure of the industry or product category to explore, consider a specific demographic and focus on brands and products that those individuals gravitate toward.

7. Find product opportunities in keywords

It’s no secret that organic traffic from search engines is an important marketing channel. Searching for keyword opportunities means strategically looking for a product based on the search queries people are using, the number of searches per month, and overall competition for those searches.

This approach can be fairly technical and requires an intermediate understanding of keyword research, as well as search engine optimization.

The advantage is that pairing product demand to existing keywords can be an effective way to capture consistent organic traffic from Google, but it comes with its own set of risks, namely that if you rely on search engine traffic you’ll be overly exposed to changes in Google’s algorithm.

When Andrew Youderian first got into ecommerce, he knew from the beginning that the viability of the business was more important to him than being passionate about the product he sold.

So he opted for a technical approach in picking a niche he felt would have the highest chance of success, basing his selection on careful keyword research. Andrew found an opportunity to rank for searches in the fishing equipment industry as well as for CB Radios.

Remember that Google isn’t the only place where people start their search, and as such isn’t the only place to mine for keywords. Online marketplaces also have their own search functions, which means lots of keyword data as well.

Here are a few tools you can use to uncover popular search terms, which may help you find the next product to sell:

• Keywords Everywhere
• Keyword Tool
• KeywordInspector
• Helium 10
• Sonar
• EtsyRank
• Alibaba Hot Keywords and Industries Keywords

8. Test before you launch

As we’ve shared before, real product validation only happens when money changes hands, so you can’t be sure you’re onto something until people swipe their credit cards.

However, securing some level of interest and investment from potential customers before you ship is undeniably valuable.

Even great products can flop when they launch to no one. If you already have an idea, but you’re not quite ready to invest heavily in it, minimize your upfront investment and test the market by building a landing page to promote your potential product—with a way for interested customers to leave their email—and run a few paid ads to drive traffic to it.

Of course, there are a variety of factors that will determine the success of your campaign. But any level of initial traction says something. You may, at the very least, want to consider investing further in your idea.

9. Browse what’s trending on online marketplaces

If you prefer to sell products on your own online store, you can still gather inspiration by checking out what’s popular and trending on other marketplaces.

Browse sites like Amazon, Etsy, and eBay, and browse lists like ‘What’s hot,’ ‘Most wished for,’ and other categories that showcase current customer demand. Here are a few links to get you started:

• Amazon Best Sellers
• Amazon Most Wished For
• Amazon Movers & Shakers
• Etsy Most wanted
• Etsy Best selling items
• Etsy Most popular item
• Trending on eBay
• Popular on Kickstarter

On individual Amazon product pages, you can see the “Best Sellers Rank” to find out how popular an item is in its category.

To dig a little deeper, consider using a tool like Jungle Scout, which helps you identify top-selling products and popular sellers by letting you filter by category, price, sales, and other attributes.

10. Research products with higher profit margins

Products with little overhead provide a low-risk way to get started because it’s easier to attain higher profit margins compared to products that are more expensive to produce.

When pricing your products, you need to account for the total resources that you’ve put in to sell the product or your cost of goods sold (COGS).

You have to factor in not only how much it costs to create the product, but also how much it costs to promote, hold, and even ship. Look for low-cost items that can generate a high return on investment (ROI).

Remember, lightweight items will be cheaper to ship. And just because a product is inexpensive to purchase wholesale, that doesn’t necessarily mean you can turn it over for the highest ROI.

11. Start your search with related products

Do you have an existing interest in a particular industry or product category? Check out related items or products that customers frequently purchase together in that niche. Amazon is a useful resource for this, as there are several locations where the site displays product affinity.

12. Always be on the lookout

One of the most straightforward strategies you can implement today is to keep an open eye and an open mind.

New ideas can pop up at the most unexpected moments, and it’s important not to dismiss any chance thoughts you may have. Keep a list in your smartphone or with a pen and paper to refer back to later when it’s time to conduct market research for your product idea.

What Products are Trending at the Moment?

If you’re confused about what to sell online, then the most common strategy of finding trending products is this: You go to AliExpress flash deals page and search for products that are trending and you import products to your store and start promoting. This strategy is a hit and miss.

We’re not saying that it won’t work, because it does work sometimes, but you have to put in a lot of effort and time. That’s why it is better to understand the type of products that have the potential to sell.

When everyone sells a trending dropshipping item it becomes a regular item and loses its charm. That’s why we are listing the trending products at the moment so that you can find the top-selling items online.

1. Portable Blender

A portable blender is great for fitness enthusiasts and the trend to stay fit is rising in 2020. Many people have made it their resolution to stay fit and what is the best way to do that? Through a healthy diet. The juice lets them do that it is available from multiple companies.

So, while selling this item make sure that it is original because people won’t love the replica.

2. Spider Nail Gel

Girls simply love to polish their nails and a new trend of nail polish is spider nail gel.

The gel is a mixture of glitter and paint. The bottle comes with both mixed together and will spread a fine line of sparkling paint on the nails if applied.

The Spider nail gel is available for $2 on AliExpress so you can sell for $6 to $8 easily. Make sure that you keep at least 50 to 100 percent margin while selling these on your ecommerce store.

3. Wireless Phone Chargers

Wireless phone chargers are the next big thing in smartphone accessories. Why? People are fed up with regular charging devices. They all come with a wire.

It’s a better idea to start selling wireless phone chargers on your ecommerce store. You can directly import wireless chargers from manufacturers, or dropship the product to your estore.

4. Face Shield

People love to look cool and what is the best way to make them so then face shields or masks? The good part is that their search is showing a positive trend this means that people love these face shields. And when people love something, it is in demand.

So, start selling these bandanas cum face shields on your ecommerce store for higher ROI. You can easily sell them online as they were one of the top trending product 2019 as well.

5. Phone Lenses

Phone lenses help capture better photographs. They are available in multiple settings. Search for those that have better quality and more order volume while selling on your store.

Phone lenses have been in the market for the last few years and have remained a top selling product on most dropshipping stores. It is good to see they still haven’t lost their charm.

Phone lenses have gained a reputation in mobile phone market. They are known to double the magnification of captured snaps and allow photographers to take mesmerizing photos with just the click of a button.

6. Inflatable Pet Collars

Pet collars are a new trend in the market. Both cats and dogs can use these inflatable pet collars during sleep or traveling.

However, the main purpose of the inflatable pet collars is to protect your pets from injuries to face, or help them recover after an injury. If you have a pet store, then selling pet collars is surely a great idea.

7. Eyeshadow Stamp

The eyeshadow stamp helps make eye shadows within seconds. Simply put the paste or eyeshadow on the stamp and then press it on the eyelid. It is a perfect product to sell to make-up artists.

The eyeshadow stamp will work more or less on all types of eye sizes. And, more than one people can also use a single eyeshadow stamp as well.

8. Strapless Backless Bra

With an adhesive strapless backless bra, women can now enjoy sleeveless dresses at anytime of the day. These strapless bras are easy to wear and highly comfortable.

They will stick to the breasts through silicon suckers to avoid a wardrobe malfunction. If you are in the fashion industry, selling strapless backless bras and their multiple variations is surely a highly profitable bet.

Demand for the strapless bras grew last year. They witnessed a seasonal decline starting this summer, but now again the products are on the rise thanks to the holiday season, which stands at the next turn.

9. Child Wrist Leash

Many women lose their children while shopping in the malls. The child wrist leash will help avoid such an unfortunate scenario. If you are a parent, all you need to do is to wrap a strap around child’s wrist and know whenever (s)he tries to do any unperceived move.

The child wrist leash is a highly sought after product in the US market where most women go to malls for shopping. Sell it on your ecommerce store by targeting the following interest groups.

According to Google trends, the wrist leashes are gradually becoming more popular among young parents. So, they will have a high selling potential during the holiday season.

10. Home Security IP Camera

Security cameras have always been in high demand. But recently as they come connected with internet, it is possible to see the footage on smartphones. The IP cameras are available for a low price on most Chinese estores. Hence, ecommerce store owners can keep a healthy margin while selling them online.

While home security has always remained an important topic, especially among residents of high-burglary areas, their demand is now on the rise almost everywhere. See how you can tap that market and help residents make their homes more secure.

How can you Promote a Product Effectively?

When it comes to promoting a new product or service for your business, it can seem like there are endless options. It can be difficult to figure out where to get started and which methods of promotion will give you the best results.

The truth is, there are many low-cost ways to promote your business, and what works may depend on your industry, offerings, and audience. Take a look at these methods below and see which ones make the most sense for your business

1. Offer loyal customers an exclusive preview

Your loyal customers are a key part of how to promote your product, because they are most likely to not only buy it, but also promote it to their networks. This can take the form of a private, in-person or virtual pre-launch party: an online tour, preview, or demo.

Or, it could  even be a special invitation to test it out and give feedback. These exclusive offerings to loyal customers reinforce how much you value them and also help to retain their loyalty.

2. Use a special introductory offer 

Rather than just announcing your new product or service, you can make it available as a part of a special introductory deal. This deal can take many forms, including:

• Discounted pricing.
• Reduced-rate bundle or package.
• Joint promotion with a complementary business.
• Voucher or coupon with purchase.
• Buy one get one free deal.
• Double the points if you have a loyalty program.
• Free gift for every referral.

Whatever your promotion, be sure to emphasize that it won’t last forever. Customers whose purchase power is limited, either by time or inventory, will feel a more pressing sense of urgency to buy.

3. Run Facebook ads

With 1 billion daily active users, Facebook advertising is a window to a large base of people who will be interested in your new product or service. Facebook ads are particularly useful because the personalized data voluntarily provided through users’ profiles makes for unbelievably specific audience targeting.

You can factor in gender, age, location, interests, marital status, profession, and more—ensuring you’ll get the most bang for your buck. There are also several options for ad type, budget, and duration of campaign, so you can accommodate your goals within your means.

4. Post on social media

If you’re using any of the tactics mentioned above to promote your new product or service, make sure to spread word of your deals and offerings via your social media accounts (as many of the companies did in the examples above).

This is an easy way to reach your audience, and your followers can easily share your post to their own profiles. Another benefit is that customers/prospects can ask questions about the product in the comments section.

Their questions and your answers can serve as an organic FAQ. The post can link to a landing page or blog post with more information.

If you have a niche audience or loyal following, you may also want to use a custom hashtag in your promotion post. This will not only expand the reach of your campaigns, but may also inspire customers to share posts and pictures to their accounts, using the custom hashtag.

Read Also: How to Successfully Promote Products With Clickbank Without Having a Website

And you know what that means: User-generated content that can then be used to get even more people try out your new service or product! 

4. Run a social media contest

Social media contests are a fun, easy way of connecting with customers and bringing in more fans/followers and prospects for your business. Facebook contests garner an average of 34% new customers per campaign, which is a great way to combat the platform’s low organic reach.

As far as positioning is concerned, the winner(s) of your Facebook or Instagram giveaway should gain the opportunity to be the first to get their hands on your new offering, and get it for free or at a discounted rate.

Be sure to announce the content across all of your marketing channels, and not just the social platform you’re using to run the main campaign. This includes your other social media channels, your website, email newsletters, and even paid ads.

In addition to generating more excitement and buyers for your new offering, the increased engagement with your social media account will likely drive more traffic to your website, put your business in front of new customers, and create a fun means of connecting with your audience.

Conclusion

Choosing the right product or product category can be instrumental to your success. The products you choose will shape your entire business, from marketing to shipping, to pricing, to further product development.

One final reminder we like to share is don’t be afraid to look at smaller product categories and niches. Even though a niche is a smaller subset of a broader category with fewer overall customers, it often makes up for this shortcoming by way of fewer competitors and a more targeted audience.

Competition is good because it validates existing demand for a product, but the right amount of competition is even better because you’ll have the opportunity to fill a unique need and cost-effectively reach your customers.

Hopefully, these ideas will get the gears turning and help lead you to a product people want to buy and that you’re equally excited to sell