The most popular products to sell online

May 17, 2023

You're thinking of selling your products on the internet. It's an exciting beginning step towards entrepreneurship!

The most successful online and ecommerce businesses spend time on the front end looking into their marketplace and taking into consideration the numerous choices that are involved in selling online.

The objective isn't to simply list a bunch of products and areas that people claim to be the "hottest" products that will be sold online by 2023.

We'll look at some aspects of that, but we're also going provide you with methods to conduct your own research on products so you can consistently stay ahead of developments and competition and create your own lucrative niche.

Even more important, the best products to market on the internet are those that you can sell on the internet successfully. If you can get it to work for your preferred product category, sub-categories, and niches and niches, you will be successful in building an online business.

analytics dashboards on various social media and data platforms

It is important to offer products that are in demand, but in a target market that isn't already oversaturated. You do not want to be competing with huge retailers and you'll need a niche that can be lucrative and is able to grow.

How do you get started?

In order to serve you better To be of service to you, this guide has been created to help you learn how to choose the right items to market online for you and your situation interest, knowledge as well as your creativity and interests.

Is selling products online easy?

Here's a better way to look at the issue:

What expertise in business and product development, marketing, and selling online do you currently possess? Selling online products boils in the form of what you're familiar with about, and what you are able to discover, and the extent to which you implement your expertise and knowledge.

The more you already know, the easier selling items online. No matter what your skills are, selling online requires the right idea, platforms and systems like  marketing and ready audience.

Is that straightforward?

In general, it's easier than starting a brick and mortar business like most typical retail stores because it has lower start-up costs, lower risks in the beginning, fewer overhead costs, and an increased ability to adjust to change, pivot, and adjust as needed.

What's more is that, even if have limited experience, nothing but time is stopping you from learning. The article you read is an excellent place to begin!

If you're eager to take on the challenge of selling online products Don't let a ignorance or lack of experience hinder you. Begin now. Discover all you can about. Be consistent to be successful.

woman working on her laptop in front of a bookshelf

What do I need to do to become an online seller?

If you don't have any product ideas yet, finding one is where you'll start. What are you planning to sell through your own shop? Which industries or products are appealing to you most?

Niches give an opportunity to target an audience that wants something particular, but isn't being served by the big retail stores. The niche product also allows users to find you online and even as a start-up business.

person holding a cat mug in their hand

As an example, will an online shop that is selling coffee mugs appear on page one of a search on the internet for the keyword "coffee cups"? No. It's too broad and wide of a term.

What about a brand website that sells a new product, a funny colored coffee mugs that change color for pet owners? That's very specific and has an audience for that.

Thus, a niche product provides the opportunity to get started as well as allowing you to be competitive with big online shops starting from the very beginning.

Are you thinking of toys for toddlers? Examine your ideas and discover how to explain these toys. Are they toys for children? Puzzle toys? Brain-boosting toys? Playthings for families, individuals or groups of kids? Perishable or disposable toys? Environmentally-friendly toys?

This is only a starting place. The more precisely you can define what is it that sets the toys you sell in your store from a "toy store" the more potential customers will be able to attract.

two children playing with wooden toys at a table

When you are looking at types of products to sell on the internet, be careful not to get focused on broad categories.

Make an inventory of the products or ideas that you are interested in. From there, begin exploring on the web using strategies we'll go over in a bit, and look for an opening in a specific branch of a bigger product line. Narrow it down to a narrower selection of products that are niche. The trick is to find niche products to sell online.

What are the most sold merchandise on the web?

If you search for the most popular products that sold in 2023, or other years, every page you find has a unique selection of goods. That means, there is no way to count the actual top-selling products in a particular category.

Why? Because there are multiple methods to measure the same. Do you prefer selling according to volume, or the quantity of goods sold? Best selling by profits? The best selling based on revenue prior to expenses? Most profitable sales compared to other competitors? Best selling in your category or in your industry?

The choice of what product to sell online doesn't just involve the actual product. It also concerns how you intend to market your product, and who you want to sell to - your intended audience. Let's glance at these.

Methods for selling products on the internet

For anyone looking to start an online venture There are plenty options for establishing your presence, sourcing and managing inventory, and more. Some aren't specific to any one of them and are all factors you must take into consideration.

Here are a few options you can select from and pair together for the perfect business model for you:

Godin Guitars homepage design

You can sell through your own eCommerce store

If you set up your own store online using an online platform such as  it, you are able to sell your products directly to businesses, consumers wholesalers or even retailers. You can also control the entire operation through your own website.

Amazon merchant homepage

Sell your products through an online marketplace

shelves full of jeans in different shades

Control and sell your own inventory

If you're in possession of space, whether it's rented or within facilities you own - you are able to stockpile products you make yourself in your online store. In this case, you'll have to set up systems to make certain that your products are available as well as ensuring that there's not too many items in stock that you're prone to getting stuck with unsold inventory.

wooden shelves stocked with products

Sell through dropshipping

Every item that is sold will be shipped directly from the manufacturer or wholesaler to the customer.

Certain items work best when combined with this system, whereas others don't.

mugs with fun sayings stacked on a table

This is a variation of dropshipping, in which you produce a product if the customer places an order for it. In this scenario the product is manufactured by yourself, on demand, or directly working with a manufacturing company.

items stacked in a warehouse

Make your own product

If you have the capability to create your own products that you can sell on the internet, then it is possible to create your own products to ensure high-end quality and avoid intermediaries, so that you can keep your prices down as well as make good profits. It is also simpler to do with certain kinds of product types than other.

men's clothing laid out on a table

Make money selling pre-existing goods

There is also the possibility of selling products that are made in other countries, but you can now act as an intermediary by selling what you get from vendors and selling it to your own clients. It is also possible to alter this approach and create your own private label based on pre-existing trending items.

warehouse full of shoeboxes

Wholesale sales

What's more convenient - selling your products on Amazon or creating your own e-commerce store?

Overall, you'll have a better experience selling through your own store online instead of Amazon or any other marketplaces online These are the main reasons:

  • There's no competition from similar products that are that are on the same page next to yours
  • There's less worry about the price of the competition
  • You'll benefit from more freedom You'll have more control Amazon may change its conditions, remove you from their list, or increase their fees with no warning
  • Customers are more loyal and have more chance to establish the brand's reputation
  • The possibilities to grow without limits
  • You'll own all your customer information (not any third-party website) which is a useful asset, the more it becomes

While it may be easier to get started selling on the internet using a website like Amazon due to its pre-existing infrastructure and higher initial traffic but you'll soon realize that the above advantages of having your own online store outweigh the benefits Amazon can offer, especially for long term growth.

Who to sell to

Your product, at least in large part, will determine which audience your products are aimed at. There are a few other considerations. You can choose to sell your products to consumers based on various aspects including:

  • Age, gender and other demographics.
  • Employment
  • Life situation - people with children, retired people, singles
  • Status socio-economic
  • Ethnicity
  • Placement - states, countries provinces, regions cities

It is also possible to offer your products to companies through B2B, which is businesses to business. Wholesale is the perfect place to do this, but any online store may sell their products to different businesses, depending on what they are selling.

The market you want to target will arise from whichever products you decide to sell, and it will change and evolve in time. But when you're just getting started selling online, make the decision on whom your ideal customers would be. Then, build your business from that.

What is the product with the best margin?

The best-performing online products are non-physical products. Information products such as online courses, memberships, online coaching group, and even eBooks require zero inventory, no manufacturing, and no production. After the item has been produced, you can sell identical items to as many people as are willing to purchase it.

Software can also be included in this group, even though the process of development tends be more involved than those mentioned earlier and this increases the production costs and reduces margins for at least the beginning. If your program is successful and widespread, then it offers very good margins.

warehouse stacked high with boxes

What kinds of products can I offer on the internet from my the comfort of my home?

As mentioned earlier, you can begin selling products from home more easily through dropshipping because there is no need to store and manage your inventory.

Dropshipping businesses have a number of advantages, like low startup costs, no cost of shipping or warehouse expenses, less risk, and less staffing needs. It can also be difficult to establish a presence in the marketplace, and you have less control over your product.

It is also possible to visit real dropshipping companies and learn how they work and what they offer.

The two biggest dropshipping suppliers include AliExpr the ss as well as Spocket.

Aspects of the product's sale and profit

What can you do to determine which products you want to begin selling on the internet? Here are a few considerations which influence how an item sells as well as your possible profit margins

Margins

Your margin on each product is the amount it costs to manufacture or secure the product, and the price you are charging for the product. Offering a product at $200 that costs $180 to produce might not be as good a concept for a business as one that sells for $50, but costs only $25 to make.

assorted cookies in a cardboard box

Shelf Life - Perishability

This applies to food Naturally, this applies to food items. However, it is also applicable to building materials, certain skin and beauty items, as well as different items. The longer-lasting products may be more desirable to customers, but it also means you can't offer them the same quantity of products. It's true that there's no "right" or "wrong" way to go here. This is just something to consider as you explore your ideas for products.

Selling perishable products also increase the chance of inventory that isn't sold. If you aren't able to sell items before they go bad, you've lost the entire potential value of the item in its original state.

Dimensions and weight

Larger, heavier products also tend to increase storage and cost of managing inventory.

man and woman packing boxes for shipping

Consumable or non-consumable

It doesn't have to mean food. Anything that is sold out of has good potential in the longer-term sales market because your customers have to come back for more. It's in stark contrast to products that are bought once or just a handful of times during their lifetime.

A wrench can last years before it gets worn out. It's a tough market because it is difficult to fit so much art in their home. However, that doesn't mean they aren't worthwhile niches to think about. It's just something you can incorporate into your thought process as you develop your plan for selling products on the internet.

How do you come up with a product and sell it?

The solution to this question is dependent upon which type of online business model is appealing to you.

A dropshipper doesn't need to maintain inventory, or even create an item. The products you sell are already in existence. You might have to develop your brand and are likely to have to develop your marketing plan and an online store. But you don't have to come up with the actual products.

workers standing in a warehouse

The same is true for wholesaling, too. If you are looking to collaborate with wholesalers, you could turn into a bridge in the chain of businesses that require these products. There could exist a large retailer in a different country which is able to store a large amount of an item.

It is possible to purchase their products in bulk, mark it up, and then be a wholesaler to your town, state province, region, or state.

Again, you wouldn't need to develop a product with this approach.

Print on demand businesses isn't creating the 'canvas' for their products, but they'll be creating the customization that makes business or individuals desire to purchase from them. In this instance, you need to have the ability to create your own style, artwork and technical skills, or the kind of customized service you're offering.

blank white t-shirts for customization

It is important to understand the best ways to connect with suppliers that can supply the "canvases' for your products whether they are shirts, notebooks, pens, mugs, water bottles, or any other items you wish to include in your online store.

If manufacturing your own products, the answer to this is a lot more complex. In the case of food, where can you source the ingredients assuming you have developed recipes? If you're making a different product will be required, you'll need to locate the raw materials as well as make a process for manufacturing.

If your product is software, or a digital information product, you need to code it, write it, and design it.

Before you come up with a novel product - especially one with higher upfront costs - you may want to think about conducting some market research to see if there's demand for your idea. We'll talk about market research.

How do you find out which products are popular in other online stores? Here are four good methods to identify the latest products

Google Trends offers a powerful tool that allows you to access the thoughts of the people who use it. If you already have potential products in mind, It lets you search for terms and determine how much the interest is there for these kinds of goods.

Maybe more interesting, you can draw insights and conclusions from the way consumers' searches vary more broadly. In this case, Google's own analysis of the 2022 trends shows some clear conclusions:

 People are traveling

Travel-related searches are up significantly because people are continuing to add time lost during the epidemic. For example, searches on the "best travel pillow" increased by 155 percent, "airline reviews" 70 percent"airline reviews" 70%, and "best credit cards for travel" 30%. If your product is utilized in conjunction with exploring and travel or if you are able to make it appear so an item that is suitable for travel, then you are able to take advantage of this rise in curiosity.

 Many feel the effects of economic uncertainty

In contrast the consumers are also increasing the number of searches related to savings and managing stress. The future of the economy is still uncertain and many are making plans accordingly. "Cheap alternative to" saw an increase of 30% over the past year as did "how to save money" was an increase of 50. Similar increases were seen for search results related to stress management, while the symptoms of burnout saw an increase of 85%.

If you're starting your very first online store or planning to expand your current presence in the future, make sure to read Google's analysis of the future of retail. It describes how customers are searching for products across various channels and shedding brands that are loyal to them for more personalized shopping.

To access Google Trends, after you arrive at the main site, begin by clicking on the Explore tab. Enter a keyword from a group or any other search phrase related to the idea of your product.

Google Trends dashboard

As an example, if you enter the word "yogurt" into Google Trends, it shows the interest for yogurt according to where you are. You can filter the area from states down to large metro areas to cities, and find those areas with the most interest in yogurt. This kind of data could prove useful if you want to target particular areas at the beginning. Go where demand is greatest.

related queries from Google Trends
Common words

Then, it'll show related queries that have significant search volumes. When it comes to yogurt Google Trends listed things like 'greek yogurt' and 'frozen yogurt'. This tells you the most searched for terms that are related to the food category.

rising related queries from Google Trends

There is also the option to choose  the 'rising' volume of search, to see what terms get the most interest in recent times. For yogurt, the top searches that were rising included "coconut-based cult yogurt, "yogurt bark" as well as a few other terms.

So these terms reflect what you might consider an innovative approach to the industry of yogurt. It's unlikely to discover them in the grocery store. So the 'rising' terms provide you with items that are beginning to be noticed.

It could be a good idea to think of products to sell on the internet, so that you can take advantage of the trend when the product gets more well-known. These could also pose a risk but, should the fashion isn't able to last long enough.

related topics from Google Trends

The next step is that The next step is that Google Trends will display similar issues. This means that these terms aren't yogurt-related, however, they are connected to it in a way or another, like "protein-related nutritional element.'

Here, you're looking at possibilities for ideas to expand your product lines, or new markets to reach that might be interested in the products of your eCommerce company.

The Greek yogurt surge of the past decade is likely due in part with the growing demand of alternative protein sources which are rich in nutrients. This appeals to a specific type of customer. What else might interest them besides just yogurt?

2. Make use of Amazon

It is possible to use Amazon without selling through Amazon. The majority of their data is right there for all to view, and you can utilize it to study trends and popular products as well as different categories.

This is how you find the right products to sell using Amazon sale data:

movers and shakers category on Amazon

Movers and shakers

Start by visiting the Movers and Shakers section. It lists the products that have produced the largest increase in sales in a particular time period. It's similar to  rising queries of Google Trends, except now it's looking at actual items and not just search terms.

The list of movers and shakers for just one day isn't probably that useful, since these lists will change constantly. But if you checked in with this every day for several months, by focusing only on a few products that you are interested in then you'll be able to spot trends and patterns.

Do any products or brands regularly appear? How do things like seasons and holidays affect which products show up here? What about news events?

Amazon movers and shakers

Subcategories

The next thing to try, on the same page you can click on the main category of products for example 'baby. Then, a new set of headers will be displayed, with subcategories for "babies," like strollers, nursery, clothing toys, and clothing. If you click on those category, you will see the categories broken down further.

It is possible for a narrowing down of specific descriptions of products and categories, much like we were discussing earlier when we discussed color-changing coffee cups to cat owners.

What can you do?

See what's selling. Learn about their packaging as well as brands. Learn about the product's marketing and description. Review reviews and find out the things that buyers love about the product, as well as where they are falling short.

If you are able to identify the ways the products you are selling do not serve customers - missed opportunities - you could make products available on the internet that can meet these unmet needs.

BSR Best Seller Ratings BSR - BSR

Amazon utilizes a measurement known as the BSR to help both buyers and sellers get an idea of how these products sell.

It gives you a sense of how many items you could be able to sell - on Amazon at a minimum. But, of course, it is important to be cautious with information like this, because it's dependent upon a variety of variables like pricing and class. These sales won't just "happen," because you selected the product category.

You do however get pretty good handle on the need for these goods from their BSRs.

The main categories of products that are consistently in the highest popularity on Amazon include kitchen and home as well as health and personal care, outdoors and sports as well as beauty.

3. Tap into TikTok

TikTok has grown to be so valuable to consumers that users are willing to share their discoveries with the extremely-popular trending hashtag #TikTokMadeMeBuyIt which now boasts more than 50 billion users. This is a great source of fresh ideas, as well as a good place to start your research process.

TikTok also has some amazing resources for merchants. It is possible to look up the most popular items and search results on location, product categories, and more. You can also use the search feature to locate more precise results.

TikTok is also offering a brand new insight portal which provides information on the behavior of generation, location, industry, and more.

This syncs your store inventory to TikTok to automatically help you design ads that do not require an experienced designer or video team. A sophisticated tracking pixel will assist you in maximizing your profit on ad spend and quickly locate a target audience to snap up your new product.

4. Follow the data and let it guide your decisions.

Beyond sources like other sources like Google Trends and Amazon Start with basic search engine queries and let your research guide you.

Look for sales statistics related to your product categories that you are interested in. It is important to check the sources and dates to make sure that what you're reading is relevant and correct, however you can find statistics all over the place to help you discover popular products. If you are able to pinpoint the right information, you'll find good stuff.

For example, searching for "kitchen sales data" could yield many results, however it won't be very useful because this term can be so sweeping. Are you able to see why having a more defined specific, lucrative niche is important? This topic is mentioned over and over.

woman working on a laptop

You can instead look for more narrow terms for example "food storage containers statistics for sales". You can substitute "data" for 'statistics. The more narrow term will be more useful for people who are looking to sell these sorts of goods.

So a good strategy is to begin by utilizing Amazon to find more specific products, and then look online for sales stats using those words. See where it leads you.

There are also industry sites and associations in the field you are interested in or serve your target audience. These organizations often fund research and reports that can be used for guiding your exploration of products.

What is the process for conducting market study?

Statistic and trends are but one part of market research. There's a lot more to learn about.

What kind of topics can you investigate? Here are a few recommendations:

  • Demand - Use Google Trends and BSRs on Amazon to gain a better understanding of this
  • Market size - sales stats and queries provide a good idea for this.
  • Economic indicators - what income demographics will your products will appeal to?
  • Location Google Trends again can help with this if you plan to target specific areas to sell your products
  • The market is saturated - do you think there's already enough competition? Is there room for another choice?
  • Pricing: What price are consumers willing to pay for items related your concept?

Qualtrics recommends conducting research in any of the following research areas:

  • Customer - past or present customers behavior
  • Company - your product, marketing campaign, service, pricing, etc.
  • Competition - the effects of your product on other products on the market
  • The entire industry - where it's going and the direction it's been

What do you need to know about topics such as those? You can perform two types of market research: primary and secondary.

team meeting around a table

Perform secondary and primary market study

Primary research is anything that you do yourself, such as interviews survey, surveys, product tests as well as focus groups and various other techniques of gathering data.

Secondary research refers to any existing data that you discover and then use. So, searching online for sales statistics would be secondary research. It is also a good idea to look up government sites such as the Small Business Association, which has all sorts of data.

As you probably noted immediately that secondary research is simpler, however primary research is much more thorough because it will specifically address your product idea and the goals you want to achieve.

Hotjar posted Hotjar has posted a great example of primry research, including an example from a company who did research on one their existing products.

Five good questions you can ask when you get a chance to talk with people in the course of your investigation:

  1. What are you, and who are you doing?
  2. What do you do to spend your time?
  3. Do you ever purchase this type of product or services?
  4. What problem were you looking to address or what goal was you aiming to reach with this purchase?
  5. Let me take you back to the time you initially decided you were required to find a solution or accomplish this goal.

The questioning method can reveal the thought process and reasons behind purchasing decisions.

Moz homepage

Research competitor search traffic

Another strategy for market research could be with SEO tools such as Ahrefs, Moz, or Buzzsumo.

Want to see which websites are drawing visitors from search terms as well as the keywords that are related to your products concepts and/or categories?

The services can show you. It will show you the actual information of clicks, impressions, and impressions to a variety of search terms, and PPC marketing data that your competitors may be using.

To be clear on these terms, an impression happens when a result from a search appears in response to a query. And a click is when the user is able to click on the search result. Therefore, impressions always rank more than clicks. Similar principles apply also to PPC (pay per click) advertising.

This sort of information is beneficial for a variety of reasons, not all connected to research on market. For example, you'll know what your competition is doing and what you're up against to attract organic or paid traffic.

However, you'll also gain valuable information about what your prospective customers are clicking. The search terms you'll find are receiving the most reaction. That indicates demand.

And to be clear, these are paid services. If you're only starting out and don't want to overspend, you can pay for one month, complete all the initial research and then back out.

shelves in a store with packaged food items

Many of the top products sold on Amazon

Okay, so do you need a couple of examples of items that can be sold online?

Keep in mind that any listing attempting to present the best merchandise to market online is just a brief overview. The real value lies from what you've done - learning what makes a good product to sell, how to spot trends, compare products, different ways to market online, and more.

There are a variety of online selling trends that tend to last over time. If you're able to recall, Amazon reports consistently strong numbers for the following categories of products:

  • Home and kitchen
  • Health and personal care
  • Outdoors and Sports
  • Beauty

Here are a few specific examples:

workout clothes stacked on a table

Shapewear

It is becoming more popular. Unlike many short-lived clothing fads that are sabotaged by fashion, shapeswear has a more practical reason. It's created to be comfortable and fashionable, while making people feel confident in how they look in their clothing.

The material used for modern formwear is light and simple to transport. Below are a few choices that fall in this class:

  • Control is slipping
  • Leggings
  • Bodysuits

For some, this is sporting wear and is worn during workouts or exercising outdoors. Its versatility and practical use makes it an essential item for modern-day clothing.

granola bars on a white background

Wellness and health

Most consumers will spend a little extra on organic foods and locally-sourced or farmed-raised items.

Certain shoppers may also search for food for those with special diets. They may prefer low-fat and nutrient-rich, vegetarian, or Keto choices.

Here are some of the examples for health and fitness products:

  • Dietary supplements
  • Multivitamins
  • Protein shakes
  • Energy bars
kitten playing with pink toys

Pet accessories

About 70 percent of U.S. households are pet pets. The pet market online is an ongoing, stable product category because people require regular replacement of toys and other accessories along with food.

  • Pet beds
  • Brushes for dogs
  • LED dog collars
  • Toys that bite
kitchen with stove and backsplash

Kitchen and Home

The shelf life may be longer, but people want to find innovative ways for cooking, organizing, and keep things organized in their kitchen.

You can always count on the steady flow of potential buyers as young people get out of the homes of their parents, get married, start families, buy houses for their first and second homes and begin their own lives.

From childhood into retirement, appliances, kitchen items, accessories, kitchen utensils as well as storage solutions are always in high demand.

Some examples of kitchen and kitchen appliances include:

  • Non-slip kitchen mats
  • Silverware sets
  • Drawer organizers as well as cabinet organizers
  • Drying racks
  • Dustpans, brooms, and dustbins

Do you want to sell online using your own ecommerce company?

It comes with all the equipment you require to create an online store where it can be able to sell items and even start your own company.

It seamlessly integrates with WordPress and provides a whole range of plugins and extensions to help with online selling, marketing payments, coupon codes and deals, accounting, SEO and many other features to run your store.