People are becoming increasingly interested in natural remedies for common ailments as the natural, healthy lifestyle gains popularity.

The essential oils industry is booming, and people are earning money by selling essential oils from their homes. Is it possible to learn how to sell essential oils as a business to participate in the massive growth of natural health and wellness? The simplest and most effective method is to establish an online business.

Why Selling Essential Oils Online is a Perfect Home-based Business?

We’re all aware that these oils are extracted from plants in order to preserve their flavors, scents, and overall beneficial properties. It not only benefits your skin and hair but also helps with your healthcare routine. The popularity of essential oils has grown in recent years, and people are looking for ways to buy these products. Suppose you’re one of those people who want a more convenient way to purchase them online. In that case, you should consider selling essential oils online.

8 Reasons to Sell Essential Oils Online: The Top Advantages of E-Commerce

1. Quick Start-Up

2. Lower Support Costs

3. Efficiency and Accuracy

4. Insights Into Customer Data

5. Sell Online Day and Night

6. Broadened Essential Oils Customer Network

7. Increase Brand Recognition

8. Customer-friendly Marketing & Sales Strategies

The cost of actually establishing an e-commerce website is less than that of establishing an offline business. Your company’s entire sales system is automated online. As a result, you will save money on staff, wages, and other business expenses. The money you save can then be used to expand your eCommerce website and product line. Ecommerce websites will also allow you to expand your aromatherapy or beauty product line offering faster than is ordinarily possible in a traditional business setting.

Unlike other selling goods and services, online selling requires you to consider the entire world as your audience. Because the whole world is your market, the chances of your store, its products, or services being seen are incredibly high. With the endless growth opportunities in the online selling market, an increasing number of essential oil stores opt to sell their goods and services online, unlike any other selling model.

Lastly, the satisfaction of being able to reach faraway customers is a great advantage. Sellers no longer have to worry about how they can get their products and services in front of people locally or abroad. With online sales, you are only limited by your imagination for all possibilities that could happen with it. The most important thing when doing business on the web is having patience because perfection takes time and hard work.

How to Sell Essential Oils Online in 8 Steps

Aromatherapy is a growing industry, and you may feel like you want to get in on the action. However, it could be difficult for you to figure out how to start selling essential oils online. Don’t worry! This blog post will show you 8 steps to help make your dream of becoming a successful aromatherapy goods seller come true!

1. Determine Your Target Audience

One of the first considerations when starting an online store is who you will sell to. This is critical when deciding on products to sell, website design, marketing strategies, and shipping requirements.

It’s not always easy to figure out who your target audience is. But a good place to start is by asking yourself these questions:

• What are the needs of my customer? What problems do they want to be solved? How can I give them this solution in a way that’s both useful and enjoyable for them?

• How much money will my customers be willing to spend on me, what product or service am I selling, and how many times per year will they purchase from me (e.g., seasonal)?

• Who else competes with me, and where does our company fit into their value chain/purchase journey?

• What are my competitors’ weaknesses, and how can I use this information to avoid similar pitfalls?

It would be best to consider where customers who might purchase from me are located before setting up shop online or deciding upon any other business strategy.

The global essential oils market size is estimated to be valued at USD 10.3 billion in 2021. It is expected to reach a value of USD 16.0 billion by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 9.3% in value during the forecast period. Factors such as a growth in awareness toward preventive healthcare, improvements in the standard of living, rise in double-income households, and an increase in demand for aromatherapy are factors driving the growth of the market.

Source: Essential Oils Market Size, Share, Trends and Forecast to 2026

The pandemic would positively impact the overall growth of the essential oils market, as the release of lockdown in various regions has increased the consumption of high-quality food & beverages, cosmetics & toiletries, home care, aromatherapy, health care, feed products, which in turn, boosts the market globally. The lockdown has also increased the demand for essential oil, which is expected to increase production to meet consumers’ needs.

2. Name Your Brand and Get the right domain name

Name Your Brand and Get the Right Domain NameFirst and foremost, ensure that your company name stands out and is not already in use. You can look into your direct competitors and your local business registration service. Create a list of words associated with your product, industry, values, or what distinguishes your brand. You can get more ideas by using the Shopify business name generator.

Get a domain for your website once you’ve decided on a business name.It is critical to select the correct domain name. Suppose your company name does not already contain keywords related to the products you sell. In that case, you should incorporate your most important keyword into your domain name for SEO purposes.

Your domain name should also be simple to pronounce. A domain name should be your company’s identity on the internet. It must be memorable and easy to spell. Customers won’t confuse potential customers with a complicated web address that doesn’t belong to them or can’t remember.

3. Buying or Importing Your Products

Where do you sourcing your products? Will you extract or dilute essential oils by yourself? Are you a dropshipping seller who sells across the country? Whatever type of seller you choose, you’ll need to find a way to get your essential oils.

Because there is so much competition in the e-commerce world, you want to find the best products at the lowest possible price. Examine pricing and quality, but also any customer reviews of potential vendors.

Allow enough time to authenticate and verify the integrity of online suppliers. If possible, look for feedback and reviews. Gather the details and place a small sample order to test and validate the product.

Examine the samples and perform some quality checks. Allow a few people to test the product for you. Once your bulk order has been confirmed, arrange for freight and pay for both.

Here are some simple tips for importing essential oils:

– Look for wholesale suppliers that ship to your country

– Ensure you have a good credit rating and establish a solid relationship with the supplier. It will help them trust you more.

– Establish clear contracts, lead times, and payment terms before ordering large batches of essential oils.

– Request samples first so you can test their quality. If it’s too expensive or not worth your time, go elsewhere!

– If you have any issues with your order, take it up directly with the supplier.

4. Design and Build Your Online Store

Today, you can create a beautiful, effective online store without writing a single line of code using e-commerce solutions such as Shopify, Amazon, Etsy, or Woocommerce. The trick is to find an e-commerce solution that includes all of the tools necessary to build an online store, add products, configure a checkout, and perform other essential tasks.

You can begin by selecting a theme or by adding products and categories. Additionally, you’ll want to add a few additional pages to your website for business information.

Your customers should understand what they need to do next at every stage of the purchasing process. Ascertain that the CTAs’ text is intuitive and indicates where it will direct the customer upon clicking.

Commence at the beginning. On your website’s homepage, include a large and prominent Buy Now button that directs visitors to the catalog. Include a noticeable Buy Now or Add to Cart button on each product page.

5. Connect a Payment Provider

Choose a reliable payment provider is an important consideration when starting your online store. How you will be paid is a critical step in ensuring that your company can accept payments online smoothly and securely.

First, decide which payment methods you will accept. It’s a good idea to provide your customers with a variety of payment options so they can choose the one they prefer and use the most.

Depending on your location, you may be able to select one or more payment methods, such as:

• Credit and debit card
• Digital wallets (like Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal)
• Bank transfers
• Payment in person
• Pay later solutions

PayPal is a well-known payment processor, and digital wallet solutions such as Apple Pay, Google Pay, Amazon Pay, Visa Checkout, and Masterpass offer a convenient alternative. These services allow you to save payment information for use on multiple websites.

Remember that whichever one you select will be the provider you will use to process all credit card payments. To begin accepting payments through your e-commerce website, you must first be verified by your provider.

The verification process may involve submitting your contact details and uploading copies of ID, bank statements, or utility bills. Once you’re verified for the provider’s services, they will provide you with an API key that can be added to your website’s payment page to accept online payments securely.

6. Set Up Your Shipping Settings

Shipping is a critical component of the customer experience. It can make or break a purchase decision for some shoppers. A reliable shipping system needs to be in place if you want to have any hope of competing with online retailers who offer free shipping and low prices. That’s why it’s vital to understand e-commerce shipping – so that you can make the right decisions about your own business! 

Consider the following questions before selecting a shipping carrier company:

• Are you going to offer free shipping?

• What about expedited shipping?

• Or how about the renowned same-day shipping?

Bear in mind that your business must implement this strategy, which means offering free shipping will cover the cost.

While free shipping is extremely popular with online retailers, you will need to absorb the cost, so it is recommended to begin with real-time shipping rates provided by your shipping carrier. Real-time rates are calculated automatically as the customer completes their order, ensuring that you do not overcharge or undercharge the customer.

It’s important to offer different shipping rates, depending on the size and weight of your products. You also need to provide customer service during the entire process from purchase through delivery, including tracking numbers and dispatch notifications sent automatically via the order management system.

Order Management Software

ShipStation

Shipstation simplifies the fulfillment process for sellers, making it easier for them to get their products to customers. ShipStation is an excellent solution for online retailers, offering everything from branded tracking pages to return management. 

Ecomdash

Ecomdash is a company specializing in e-commerce management, changing the way online sellers manage their businesses. Our simple order management software allows you to track products from when they are listed to the time they are shipped to your customer.

Third-Party Logistics

Deliverr

Deliverr is a fulfillment center that leases warehouses across the United States and provides online sellers with a storage and delivery solution. This 3PL, like FBA (Fulfillment by Amazon), promises faster shipping at a lower cost.

Popular Carrier Options

FedEx

FedEx, one of the world’s most prestigious shipping companies, provides expert fulfillment management solutions to online sellers. Despite its size, FedEx provides efficient shipping services to small and medium-sized businesses.

USPS

The United States Postal Service (USPS) is a global leader in mailing and shipping, serving millions of online sellers. They collaborate with Endicia and Stamps.com to provide merchants with online printable postage.

Your delivery method is in place, and now it’s time to deliver a complicated truth to you. You’ll get your money back. It’s almost unavoidable. A well-defined return policy not only informs customers about how you handle potential product returns but can also increase customer loyalty. It is always preferable to be safe than sorry.

You should also offer an international shipping service to your customers. Shipping internationally can be more complicated and expensive, so it is recommended that the cost-conscious retailer research overseas carriers fully before offering this option.

7. Decide Your Business Structure

If you are thinking about starting an e-commerce business, then the first thing you need to determine is how your business will be structured. 

There are four common business structures: 

• Sole Proprietorship, 
• Partnership, 
• Corporation, 
• Limited Liability Company (LLC)

These four types of organizations each come with their own set of advantages and disadvantages. 

Sole Proprietorship:

This means that you and your company are legally and financially linked. This is most likely what you want if you’re starting with your essential oils online store. It is the simplest type of business to start and makes it easier to register your company.

Partnership:

If you’re launching a business with a partner, you’ll need to sign a partnership agreement. This document keeps track of each partner’s roles, responsibilities, investments, and rights.

Corporation:

A corporation is a well-established business that has shareholders and employees. There are various types of corporations that can be formed.

Limited Liability Company (LLC):

This option allows you to keep your personal and business assets separate, making it easier to start a business. LLCs are easy to set up and provide a variety of business tax benefits.

The second factor you must decide is which type of e-commerce model to implement for your online store.

Here are the 6 most popular e-commerce business models fit for selling essential oils online:

Dropshipping: Instead of handling the products directly, you transfer customer orders to a third-party supplier (e.g., wholesaler, manufacturer, etc.), who manages fulfillment and shipping.

Resell: It is also known as retail arbitrage, purchasing products from retail stores and reselling them online.

White Label / Private Label: You buy products from manufacturers and customize them with your brand elements.

Wholesale: you sell a specific product in large quantities to retailers or individuals.

Artisan: You make products by hand from raw materials and sell them online.

Subscription: Customers pay for your products monthly.

Whatever business model you choose, it is critical to legitimize your e-commerce store. A business license not only helps you save money on taxes but also shows the government and your customers that you are serious about your business. This process varies depending on where you live, so we recommend contacting your local city licensing office or revenue department.

8. Create a Marketing Strategy

You’re now prepared to make your first sale. We will introduce marketing methods like social media marketing, SEO, email marketing, content marketing, and Google Ads. We’ll give a few tips that could help grow your business for each of these types of marketing.

Social Media Marketing

When you start your own company, Social media marketing is a key factor for success. Our tips to help you get started:

• Create a business page on social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram. Include website link, location, contact details in your profile description.
• Post about promotions, sales, new items by linking to your store or integrating with Facebook Shop so customers can shop directly from the post.
• Link posts from other sites that carry your products back to your site – that’ll let them see what else is available and entice them into making purchases there too! 
• Stay active on social media to interact with potential and current customers. No one wants to hear from a company that posts once every six months!

Email Marketing

Email blasts can be a cost-effective way to market. For example, you could email subscribers holiday promotions, business updates, and featured items. You’ll want to schedule these emails so they don’t come out all at one time. Also, make sure the subject line is catchy! This will entice people to open it. Make sure that there is an unsubscribe option on every email sent out as well.

SEO

There are a few ways to promote your online store, including using SEO. You can optimize for keywords related to your products or services and use industry-specific keyword phrases in the page content on your site. Utilize headings, tags, links, images, videos, and rich descriptions with text highlights to draw customers’ attention – these will help show up better in search engine results pages (SERPs).

Content Marketing

Content Marketing helps increase online traffic by providing helpful advice and promoting products or services through affiliate links. It increases revenue for businesses because they can drive more visitors to their site with targeted marketing campaigns instead of relying only on paid advertising like expensive pay-per-click ads! Using this strategy also makes it easier for customers who research a product before purchasing it to know what exactly they’re buying when they visit an e-commerce shop.Therefore building up a library of content for your e-commerce business can be one of the best investments that you ever make!

Tips for Content Marketing:

• Create a blogging schedule so that posts are created regularly enough without being repetitive.
• Write at least 500 words per post because Google likes pages longer than 300 words more than shorter ones.
• Make sure your content is high quality and relevant.
• Use keywords in the post title, headings, subheadings, and body of text to ensure that Google will rank you higher on search results pages.

Facebook Ads

Facebook is one of the most powerful marketing tools on earth. The average time spent on Facebook per day is about 40 minutes. With more than two billion daily active users, there’s an excellent chance that your customers will be present here as well. Facebook Ads makes it easy for you to market products directly to potential buyers without having to worry about expensive advertising campaigns elsewhere (like TV ads).

Facebook Ads gives you options to narrow down the audience, like targeting people who live in a certain area or are interested in specific topics. You can also target users by their age and gender. Facebook’s advertising tool makes it easy for you to precisely target the audience who would be interested in what you have to offer, based on their interests and demographics. You can also set up ads to only show up when someone has visited certain pages or searches for an item you are selling.

Google Ads

Benefits of Google Ads:

• Pay for only the clicks you receive, not a flat monthly fee.
• Find customers who are already interested in your business via their search terms and location data.

Set up pay-per-click ads on Google that target specific locations, demographics, keywords, and queries. It will let your site be seen by customers who are already searching for a store like yours. Remember to set up conversion tracking first.