If you sell physical products, affiliate products or information products, you’re on the brink of the next big online selling season – back-to-school.
Even though many people are just getting into the swing of summer fun, those who have children attending school or who are attending school themselves are already starting their back to school shopping.
To see how back-to-school sales trend, you’ll need to use one of my top research tools Google Insights. You can see by the chart below that searches for the keywords “back to school” are already trending upward:
Teachers prepping the classroom are looking for ideas for their classroom bulletin boards and starting to buy classroom supplies.
And keep in mind that in many parts of the U.S., school starts in late August. So if you sell any merchandise related to back to school purchases, it’s time to get it listed now!
If you’re an affiliate marketer, your back-to-school affiliate sites should be up and running.
If your blog covers parenting topics, school related topics, fashion, technology, accessories etc. you should be reviewing and promoting back-to-school affiliate products.
The back-to-school shopping season runs from July through the end of October.
July is the pre-season. August and September are in-season. October is post-season. (Post-season back-to-school shopping takes place after the kids have arrived at school, taken a look at what everyone else has/or is wearing and then head back online to round out their “must have’s”.)
That’s 4 months of heavy back-to-school related selling opportunities.
So while you may still be enjoying the summer, your business should be featuring merchandise or affiliate products that are in-demand by back-to-school shoppers.
Here are just a few of the hot products online shoppers will be looking for over the next few months:
- Laptops
- Netbooks
- Laptop cases
- Brightly patterned backpacks
- Rolling backpacks
- Sports bags
- Motorcycle boots
- Ankle bootsGirls school uniforms
- Boy’ school uniforms
- Locker gear (mirrors, shelves, decor)
- Running shoes
- Gym clothes
- Teacher supplies
- Art supplies
- Eco-friendly lunch boxes
- Eco-friendly hot mugs and thermoses
- Cosmetics
- Costume jewelry
- Watches
- Anything with a peace sign on it (clothes, jewelry, accessories)
And some hot brands…
- DV by Dolce Vita
- Dolce Vita
- GUESS
- House of Harlow
- Jessica Simpson
- Michael Antonio
- Miz Mooz
- Modern Vintage
- Nine West
- Rosegold
- Steve Madden
All this back-to-school traffic headed will also impact you if you sell non back-to-school related products as well. Once people are back inside and at the computer shopping for back-to-school supplies, they’ll also catch up on shopping for themselves.
How will you capitalize on the back-to-school shopping season?
Tell me below.
-Lisa
