You’ve spent a lot of time tweaking your site, getting everything streamlined, polished, and efficient. You’ve designed everything from the ground up, and it’s been a gradual but steady climb to the top, as you developed strategies that seem to keep winning customers over and moving that merchandise at a steady clip. Just like Toptenwholesale.com and its network of sites (manufacturer.com, wholesaleu.com, offpricenetwork.com), you’re all about general merchandise, apparel, accessories, gifts, electronics, handbags, jewelry, toys, and more… but you’re still stuck when it comes to figuring out what kind of people are really looking at your site, and even more perplexed by the thought of developing marketing that caters to a specific group, by using some web-based metrics. After all, how much information could there be out there to help you out with this stuff?

Plenty of information. As someone wisely pointed out to me once upon a time: “Everything you put on the Internet exists somewhere, even if you don’t see it anymore.” Scary stuff indeed.

To put it simply, much of it can used to drive your sales in the right direction, if you know the answers to the five ‘W’ questions, and us them to track your website performance…

• Who is checking out your site right now? Who visits most often, and browses the contents of your online catalogs, but never buys? Don’t you want to know which customers are using your FAQ page, then heading straight into the order form? This kind of information can help you better service the people that are currently working with your site… and tailor the rest of it to suit the ones that seem interested, but not fully compelled to follow through.

• What are visitors looking at, anyway? Do you really know which parts of your site get the most traffic, and which components are getting the most clicks?

• Where does your site show up on the Internet, anyway? You might be surprised to see some blogs and other sites that have linked your site in reference to a story, article, or random post. On top of that, you’ll probably find a few reasons to work out a deal with some sites that you’d love to have a link posted on, which will direct traffic back to your site very easily.

• When do visitors frequent your site? Are there particular times of the day, month, or even year that seem to get the most activity? This goes beyond the simple logic of holiday season peak traffic, but maybe there are some connections to other events on the calendar that tie in very nicely with your site’s offerings. Once you’ve identified these trends, it could be easier to position yourself for some higher visibility during the times that count most.

• Why are consumers even looking at your site, anyway? True, you’ve spent some money and worked out some deals with partners and affiliates to promote your property, but that’s only the tip of the iceberg… consumer buying habits can be tricky to nail down, and chasing down the answer to the ever-elusive why can put you in the lead. It may also expose some flaws in your system, and help you to answer the other logical question: why not?

One major thing to consider is the rise of the vertical search market on the Internet. Companies like our very own Toptenwholesale.com specialize in narrowing the spectrum of search, to give seekers of industry-specific information the tools they need to find more relevant results with fewer clicks. While search giants like Google are doing an amazing job of bringing information to everyone, they almost do it too well, and a simple search for a text query will turn up thousands of results. Who’s got that kind of time? Fewer clicks - in terms of buyers looking for sources - means the difference between somebody choosing you… or your competition! It also means that you’ll get answers to questions that are heavy on the wholesale, and lighter on the other stuff that doesn’t apply to your business. All of this will work towards your goal to Find it. Source it. Profit!

So… who do I get my products from?

It’s a serious question. Assuming you’ve already found a product, or maybe a range of products that seem to be in demand… a viable market that expresses demand for the product… and as long as the product isn’t currently flooding the market (unless you thrive on the thrill of high-pressure competition), you will need to find a source. On top of that, you’ll need to find one that isn’t going to leave you high and dry when you need support later on.

There’s a lot of different kinds of suppliers out there, and you might want to start with these top categories:

• Dealing with distributors could be the way to go for a lot of choices right upfront, or if you want to eliminate the guesswork of having to put complimentary sets of items together by yourself. It could also come in handy if you don’t fancy doing the paperwork and technical stuff that might need to be done to tie the whole order together when dealing directly with a manufacturer. This way of sourcing goods will probably cost you more, but it might save you a lot of time and aggravation in the long run.

• Discount sellers and liquidators can lead to big savings. This means you’ll have to be pretty flexible, too… since you won’t always be assured of being able to fill repeat orders for something that was an awesome steal last week, and has quickly dried up this week.

• Importers are bringing the goods from far away right to your front door. If you are trying to get goods from another country, this is where you’ll need to look. Luckily, there are some rather firm rules regarding the processes involved in import and export… but it’s all going to be smooth ride or a bumpy one, depending on who the importer is. Larger importers are not as flexible as smaller ones, but tend to be a safer bet. Small companies can give you exactly what you were looking for, but might have their hands tied by some sudden political instabilities or policy changes that they have no power over. I’ve seen this happen a number of times with associates of mine here in China, and it’s a reality you should be prepared to face.

• Distributors are great… but maybe drop shippers are better for you. In the case of large or heavy items, it makes a lot of sense to shave off as much of the overall shipping price as possible, both for logistical and price cutting purposes. This can save you from having to coordinate the transport of goods from the source, to you, then to your customers. It will also save the customer some money too, which makes you a lot more attractive as a seller when your competition seems to always have a higher price point for the same merchandise you carry.

• Go straight to the source… the manufacturers. This is the best route to take when you are hitting high quantity numbers per order. It also leaves you in a position where you are dealing with fewer parties, and this could simplify things considerably. On the other hand, many manufacturers are great at producing the goods you desire… but awful at customer service, after-sales service, and even simple stuff like accounting or invoicing. This could be a problem if you aren’t willing to take ownership of the situation, and handle as much as you can for yourself.

What are you waiting for? Get online and start looking for these sources! Of course I would recommend that you take a little time to browse the numerous categories of Toptenwholesale.com and Manufacturer.com to see some great examples of global manufacturers and distributors who have made the cut, and investigate the ones who have become part of our search results pages. One of the biggest advantages to using a wholesale-specific search engine like this one is the simple fact that your search results are all going to be relevant to the business of manufacturers, wholesale, and retail… instead of returning hits that are coming from popular celebrity gossip headlines and YouTube feeds. You want information that has been put together using the leading wholesale directories and search engines connecting thousands of buyers and sellers daily. These B2B directories and platforms were designed to connect buyers  directly with domestic and international wholesalers and manufactures. There are over 100 different product categories to search from including: general merchandise, apparel, accessories, gifts, electronics, handbags, jewelry, toys, and more. Toptenwholesale.com and its network of sites (manufacturer.com, wholesaleu.com, offpricenetwork.com) help buyers to connect directly with the wholesaler or manufacturer of choice, because the Internet is frustrating enough with 80% of content being spam-related… so do yourself a favor and use the tools that will streamline your search! Of course, there is a lot of traditional media you can subscribe to a well, and trade magazines and newsletters are readily available if you like to have something more tangible to read. Making the voyage out to major shows like the huge Canton Fair in Guangzhou, China could offer you a tremendous advantage too.

Be wary, though… there’s a lot of fake stuff in circulation, and after living in China for the past three years, I’m never surprised anymore when I see something new that turns up, no matter how ridiculous it may seem. Doing your research is paramount to protecting yourself, and there are many ways to find out if a business is legit or not. Visit the website, and take a few minutes to move around within it. If it doesn’t seem to be a worthwhile investment of your time, walk away. This extends beyond simply sniffing out the scammers; it’s also a good indicator of which companies have their acts together… or which ones will be a challenge in terms of simple communication, or basic ideologies behind doing business with them. Make sure you do your homework once you find a possible partner. Taking the time to read through policies regarding returns, damages, backorders, and other essential parts of the company’s customer service plan will save you some headaches later. If you notice that the company has a contact number or PO box… instead of a physical location that you can visit… this is a huge indicator of something shady. Of course, nothing substitutes for calling the supplier directly and asking a few questions. If in doubt, you can also take a shot at checking the business out through the Better Business Bureau, Hoover’s Online, or any other background investigation agency.

Finally, besides getting everything squared away in terms of setting up your company and getting a business license and tax ID number… you need to establish payment terms with your new source. Sometimes they are easy to work with, and sometimes you will feel like you need to get certified as a CPA to understand the paperwork. In either case, remember that many of these suppliers will allow you to apply for credit, or set up payment terms that work for you. If you need to know more, try contacting us at Toptenwholesale.com for the answers! Find it. Source it. Profit!

Take a look at the solutions on offer to the wholesaler and retailer as sales are slumping in some areas, and booming in others! Make the changes to your selling strategy before it becomes a problem… and capitalize upon the proactive approach to delivering the news about your products and services to customers, before you need to tell them as a last-minute reminder… or worse, a pleading call to shop with you…

Ready? Okay, I’m going to give it to you straight, in the form of a power-packed TopTen List of Advertising Methods that Make the Most Sense for Buyers and Sellers this season:

• Are you utilizing pay-per click (PPC) advertising with your site? Why not? Toptenwholesale.com is affordable and easy, and with a minimum budget of $200 or more, PPC can be implemented with only $0.40 cost per click. Be sure to contact us for the details, and get your PPC engine revved up!

• Have you said everything that you could possibly say on your company’s site? Are you feeling Twittered out? Facebook is not giving you the leads you want? Let TopTen Wholesale tell everyone about you, more effectively! A directory listing  on Wholesaleu.com or Offpricenetwork.com can be achieved for only $299 for 6 months of listings with 100 keywords available, to maximize your advertising budget… and to help you reach a targeted audience base this season!

• TopTenWholesale.com offers many other online banner ad and email solutions reaching thousands of buyers & sellers daily. Prices vary to fit all kinds of wholesaler needs, so contact us for more information on this option.

• Just so you don’t think we’re tooting our own horns, here’s a  few customer testimonials to help send our message home:

“The results I have received from TopTenWholesale are phenomenal! I have advertised with TopTenWholesale since 2005 and have received a high return on my investment. We highly recommend using TopTenWholesale, Wholesale U, OffPrice Network, Wholezilla, and any other JPC INC properties”

- Alain Sambouli, Via Trading

“I personally would like to thank TopTenWholesale for the significant growth we have received since 2005. We have been advertising with TopTenWholesale for the past 4 years and have seen a tremendous increase in our online orders and traffic. We continue to expand our presence with TopTenWholesale services because of the quality leads we receive.”

- Marc Joseph. CEO, Dollar Days INC

• Stay on top of the news! Some popular and powerful methods for culling useful information can be found through sites like MarketingSherpa and ForresterResearch, to name a couple. It’s a lot of information, but boosting your business is worth the effort!

• While I’m on the subject of light reading… here’s something to sink your teeth into: Vertical Search Reports. With condensed, no-frills, and heavy-hitting statistical content at your fingertips, these white papers will give you a real knife-edge when you’re cutting through the nonsense of a highly imperfect world. Take the time to read copies of SearchChannel and Slack Barshinger’s reports, or maybe subscribe to CONVERA’s e-consultancy report. These are amongst some of the papers out there that make up the real deal, and they are often available in international or country/region-specific versions as well.

• Have you tried collecting your own email database list, and sending out promotional offers to your customers via email? Sure, it’s a lot of work, and takes a lot of time… and it will surely end up in the spam bin if the customer doesn’t perceive it as being valuable right away…

  Hmmm, maybe you don’t have the time or energy to do a fully-featured, informative, and value-added newsletter on a regular basis? It sounds to me like you had better select another option, like doing a series of targeted Toptenwholesale.com email blasts, since we’re already doing them… and our current customers are quite happy with the results.

• You should create in-house specials and holiday promotions (such as: free shipping, or a 15% e-coupon for $500 or more spent on an order), then advertise them with banner ads on your company’s site. Of course, promoting these special offers to a targeted demographic audience through some nice banner ads on Toptenwholesale.com can’t hurt either!

• After you’ve designed and implemented a general-purpose banner ad on one of our sites (like Wholesaleu.com, Offpricenetwork.com, or Manufacturer.com), why not focus upon one particular market or demographic, to offer a response to a more specific challenge, or to provide a custom solution to a specific type of buyer? Sending an email out to your entire customer base with a special promotional offer for tracking purposes is fine, but giving extra attention where it really counts is the secret of success.

• Last but not least, placing a directory listing on Wholesaleu.com or Offpricenetwork.com for only $299 for 6 months (which breaks down to about $49 per month for 6 months of targeted advertising!) instead of placing your ads within a traditional printed medium could be a real deal-maker. Have you ever tried to track results from magazine advertising? On the flip side, it’s pretty easy to do with online content. Besides, there is always a great chance that your advertising budget will be wasted on print, because it simply might not reach the desired demographic group in the first place… and you’ll never know about it, until you realize that those magazine ads didn’t turn anything up after all.

Go ahead, give us a call or send an email. For more information, contact a Marketing Specialist at sales@toptenwholesale.com to get the information you need, and the service you expect! Good luck, and happy wholesaling!

Calgary, Canada — Sept. 11, 2009

Since being released in July of this year, the new Shopster Merchant Network is experiencing exponential growth, in terms of increasing numbers of online wholesale and retail sellers joining its ranks. In the first two months since its inception, the new Shopster Merchant Network has attracted over 8,000 registered users, and current estimates predict that it will host over 20,000 merchants by the end of the year!

The Shopster Merchant Network is only a part of the entire Shopster platform (which is free to join) and  it enables entrepreneurs to make money online. Shopster members sell products from other merchants or list their own products to be sold by Network merchants. It’s worth noting that Shopster is the first e-Commerce solution to come with a built-in sales force for its customers’ products, along with instant inventory for businesses to sell.

“We are thrilled that our Merchant Network is growing so quickly. It shows that online retailers were in real need of a solution like ours. By combining the tools to host your online business with being able to easily connect and manage your merchant relationships, our customers are able to focus on making sales, and that’s the most critical piece for any business.” Sarath Samarasekera, Shopster.com CEO and co-founder says. “The Merchant Network allows merchants to collectively build their businesses bigger, faster. When surveyed, 86% of our customers said that they would refer friends and colleagues to join the Shopster Network, which is very exciting.”

Retailers and suppliers are encouraged to sign up for an account with Shopster.com at no charge!

*About Shopster.com: Social Networking for Products*

Founded in 2004, Shopster.com is an official eBay Solutions Partner that offers a suite of e-Commerce solutions for small to medium-sized businesses. Thousands of online merchants from around the world rely on Shopster, as it simplifies the complexities of online retail by allowing merchants to manage their store, transactions, and supply chain relationships within one easy-to-use interface. Joining the Network is free, so merchants can focus on growth and relationships… not on unnecessary overhead costs.