Have you ever wondered if you can make N500k or more online as an e-commerce merchant in Nigeria? Let me tell you this for free: It’s 100% possible!
A few years ago, I was just another young Nigerian trying to figure out how to escape the “broke” life. My 9-5 salary was barely enough, and I kept seeing people post about making millions online – but I didn’t know where to start.
Long story short, I took a risk, started my first e-commerce business, and after a few months of trial and error, I finally hit my first ₦500K in sales. It wasn’t easy, but it was worth it.
If you’re thinking of starting an online business, here are the biggest lessons I learnt – so you can avoid my mistakes and make money faster!
CHOOSE THE RIGHT PRODUCTS, NOT JUST ANY TRENDING ITEMS
When I started, I made the mistake of selling almost everything. Whenever I saw a product trending on Instagram, I would rush to buy stock, and I learnt the hard way.
Not every trending product will sell for you. Focus on products with consistent demand (not just hype).
Do market research before investing your money. Check Jumia, Konga, or Instagram to see what’s already selling well. Products in the fashion, beauty, gadgets, and fitness categories always sell.
Once I figured this out, I stopped chasing trends and started selling useful products with long-term demand—and that’s when the real money started rolling in!
MARKETING IS KEY (EVEN MORE THAN THE PRODUCT ITSELF)
I learnt this the hard way. You can have the best product in the world, but if nobody knows about it, you won’t make a kobo.
Marketing is the lifeline of any online business. Don’t just post and pray—learn how to sell!
Here’s what changed my game:
- Instagram & Facebook Ads – I invested in learning how to run simple, targeted ads that actually bring sales.
- Influencer Marketing – I paid a small Instagram influencer to review my product, and that post brought in over 50 orders in one weekend!
- WhatsApp Marketing – I started using WhatsApp status to promote my business, and my contacts became my customers.
CUSTOMER TRUST = MORE SALES
At first, I struggled with low sales because many Nigerians don’t trust online sellers (and for good reason – too many scams!).
People buy from sellers they trust. If you want more sales, work on building credibility!
To build trust, I did four things:
- Used a business account on Instagram & WhatsApp.
- Got my business registered with the CAC and subsequently obtained a corporate bank account for customers to pay into. This made my business look more legit.
- Posted customer reviews & testimonials – Once I got my first happy customer, I posted their feedback. More people started trusting me.
- Offered Payment on Delivery (POD) for Lagos customers – This removed their fear of being scammed.
CUSTOMER SERVICE CAN MAKE OR BREAK YOU.
In my early days, I made the mistake of ignoring messages when I was busy, forgetting I am not the only one selling the same products online. Big mistake! Customers hate slow responses.
Here’s how I fixed it:
I set up auto-replies on WhatsApp & Instagram to acknowledge messages instantly.
I started replying faster (within 5 minutes if possible).
I treated every customer with respect – even the annoying ones!
The result? More referrals, repeat customers, and higher sales.
Never underestimate good customer service!
PROFIT FIRST – DON’T JUST FOCUS ON SALES FIGURES.
After hitting my first ₦500K in sales, I made another mistake – I didn’t track my profits. I was spending anyhow because I thought I was making big money.
But after calculating everything (ads, delivery costs, stock, etc.), I realized my actual profit was much lower than I expected.
Lesson? Sales numbers mean nothing if you’re not making a good profit!
Here’s what I started doing:
- Tracking my expenses & profit margins
- Reinvesting in the business instead of flexing too early
- Negotiating better deals with suppliers to reduce costs
That’s when I truly started seeing real money in my account.
You Can Do It Too!
Looking back, my journey to making my first ₦500K online wasn’t smooth, but it was worth it.
Most importantly, just start! The earlier you start, the faster you’ll figure things out.
Would you love to start an online business but don’t know where to begin?
Drop your questions in the comments, and I’ll be happy to help!
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