Tech manufacturing has become highly competitive and there a plethora of companies starting and springing up that will flood the online space with products and components.

For businesses that are in this sector (and yet not ready or simply willing to spend above the odds to build and maintain an online shop or database of components) then the way to go is to look for a trade specific online outlet. You must however be wary, as a linkage such as this will affect your brand, in that your products may be held by and sold by a third party. Be sure of the nature of the relationship and ensure that you have conducted a cost benefit analysis of the venture.

You need to ensure that they have and offer the following:-

Professionalism

With the increase in competitiveness, you do not want your brand adversely affected by shoddy marketing and sales. The sector specific sales and marketing platform you choose must support and strengthen your brand. Make sure you know who else is listed, and check their customer reviews and online reputation.

Ongoing marketing

You do not want your tech products sitting on the shelf gathering dust, the host or sector listing needs to market your products and your full inventory. What is the reach of the site you have chosen and is there proof of this?

SEO supported backlinks

You do need to be prepared for the close competition that a sector listing would provide and perhaps like many out there ensure that you can link back to your own professional website. This keeps your branding in the clients’ mind, while the sector listing allows you to sell right next to the bigger players in your field. With these SEO supported backlinks from your products or datasheets you will also be able to maintain some control over your online presence – adding or removing products from the sector listing based on demand and product development.

Software as a Service

The best online part search-platforms provide some industry specific software. This can be for analytics of those who were searching for your parts and when, as well as up to date whole of the market pricing of similar components, allowing you access to some inside information that could be useful for your own pricing strategy. The ability to make comparisons between similar or even the same part from a cost and specification point of view is important, and possible if you have access to datasheets with this information or even the product spec listed on the site.

For example, one of the best electronic components website is Octopart offering exactly what we have detailed above for the small electronic components industry. It is a prime example of an industry specific search engine that is set up for both manufacturers and buyers.

Online shopping is on the increase as more people stay home, and tech design and manufacturing is also on the rise. Now is the time to get your product out there. Using the tips provided you should be able to avoid many costly mistakes in the listing and marketing process.