When it comes to selling products online, there are many options available. From Amazon to eBay, Etsy to Walmart, and Jet to independent websites, the choices can be overwhelming. To help you decide which marketplace is best for your business, let's take a look at the benefits of each one.
One of the most important benefits of selling on Amazon is access to the market giant's 200 million Prime members. If you want to harness the power of another channel with a large global market share, eBay is an excellent option. According to Shopify, organizations that sell on websites, marketplaces, social media and mobile devices generate 190% more revenue and brand awareness than merchants who only sell through a single channel. Many consumers don't start with Google or retail websites when they want to buy products, but rather with marketplaces.
One of the most common concerns of shoppers who shop on independent websites and unknown brands is the lack of confidence when completing the purchase and entering payment details. Etsy is a global marketplace where shoppers can find special, creative and unusual items. The marketplace is designed to sell handmade items created by the person selling the product. It is suitable for craftsmen, artists, collectors, as well as antique and vintage stores.
Etsy describes itself as a platform that connects sellers with buyers looking for something alternative and allows sellers to do what they like best. One of the best practices for sellers who list on the Etsy marketplace is to take beautiful photos of products. The products that work best on Etsy are very visual and, therefore, aesthetics matter. Its best-selling products are generally items that can be mass-produced and sold in bulk to replenish the inventory of companies.
When it comes to features, the two most enjoyed by sellers are Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) and the built-in affiliate program. With FBA, Amazon packs and ships all the products you sell. You don't have to worry about stocking your inventory or hiring additional staff to manage compliance. FBA also means that Amazon handles product returns for you. Finally, to help you simplify your advertising, the Amazon marketplace helps you by offering it as an integrated feature. Depending on your advertising goals and the audience you want to reach, you have the option to choose to share sponsored product ads, sponsored brand ads, and custom store pages to redirect traffic to an Amazon page and show more of your products.
Like Amazon, the Walmart marketplace is ideal for medium and large sellers who want to increase their exposure. There is an application process to become a seller in the marketplace, but once you're approved, you'll have access to more than 110 million shoppers who shop online every month. To be approved, you must have fast compliance practices, a wide range of high quality products and competitive prices. Walmart does not accept sellers who only use FBA, but they do serve direct shippers. Please note that you can only sell as a dropshipping seller or as a seller, not both.
Since Walmart has been around for so long, shoppers know the brand very well. As a Marketplace seller, you can take advantage of this recognition, as your ads are similar to those of Walmart. For product categories that receive a lot of traffic, you can use your pricing information, custom shipping, and return policy to highlight and increase your sales. Other benefits of using the Walmart marketplace include access to its customer care and security features.
In addition, the marketplace integrates with multiple service providers, so you can automate the sales experience you want. For example, you can integrate with Deliverr to allow two-day shipping of your products. Since eBay first launched in 1995, it has evolved from a site that only sold used products to becoming one of the largest e-commerce retailers in the world. This marketplace is suitable for sellers who sell new and used items and are open to auctioning their products for a higher price.
The great thing about eBay is that even if you're just starting out and don't have a website yet, the eBay Seller Center is designed to help you run your business as smoothly as possible. For example, you can create promotions on eBay and print shipping labels on your own.
Etsy caters to shoppers looking for unique products, making this online marketplace ideal for small and medium-sized sellers who specialize in handmade or vintage products. Unlike other marketplaces, Etsy sellers sell products regardless of the Etsy brand. It means that shoppers know that they are buying your products instead of products that appear to be sold on the market. This preserves your brand identity, especially if you don't have a separate website.
If you're just starting out in e-commerce and want to raise awareness about your products and brand, Etsy gives you the flexibility to cultivate and nurture a loyal customer base as you grow. With 33 million shoppers looking for products such as vintage clothing, jewelry and collectibles, you're sure to find an ideal customer segment to target within your niche.
If you're an on-the-go seller, maybe selling in traditional pop-up stores or weekend markets, you can use the Selling on Etsy app to manage your store from anywhere. If you're new to online advertising, Etsy helps you with that too. You can set up ads with tools like Promoted Ads and Google Shopping to get as much exposure as possible for your products.
You can even create special offers and email them to your subscribers.
What is also different about Jet is that it values lower prices than fast delivery. In addition, shoppers find your products based on factors such as their location, your location, and the location of the product warehouse. Therefore buying is inexpensive and convenient.
When it comes down to it there are many options available when it comes time for selling online but each one has its own unique benefits depending on what type of business model or product line you have.
Amazon offers access to millions of Prime members while eBay offers auctioning capabilities which could lead to higher profits if done correctly.
Etsy caters towards unique handmade items while Walmart offers access to over 110 million shoppers each month.
Jet values lower prices over fast delivery while independent websites offer more control over branding but lack trust from customers.
No matter which option you choose there are benefits associated with each one so make sure that when deciding which marketplace is best for selling your products that you consider all aspects before making a decision.
