Before the emergence of the Internet and E-commerce industry, if you wanted to sell brand new or used items, you were limited to some local places, such as garage sales, bazaars, flea markets, or consignment. Nowadays, with a wide variety of websites and apps, you can make extra dollars selling anything, without having to leave your house. But do you know which online selling platform suits your business best? Building an E-commerce website is not a difficult task, but if you start with an inappropriate platform, it can harm your business sooner or later.
In this article, we will compile a list of 12 best platforms to sell your products online. So, there’s no need to worry. Just follow us right now!
What is an online selling platform?
An online selling platform can be known as E-commerce sites that allow individuals and companies to create profiles and publish their products online. Some of the most common online marketplaces include:
- Amazon
- Alibaba
- eBay
- Etsy
- Google Express
- Walmart
Besides, there are many niche marketplaces such as Ruby Lane, Bonanza, and Newegg, fashion-focused marketplaces like Fullbeauty and Zalando, bargain-biased sites like Tanga or Tophatter, and so many more.
In reality, there are more than 100 online marketplaces available for you to reach potential customers all around the world. But remember that you need to decide which channels are the best for your brand.
3 benefits of selling on online platforms
Most of us have heard of major online selling platforms, but do you know they offer the following benefits to sellers?
- Get started easily. Getting launched as a seller on online selling platforms is quite easy and straightforward. When already approved as a third-party seller on marketplaces, you just need to upload your product listing and begin selling.
- Take advantage of established programs. Most of the largest online marketplaces use programs to assist you in navigating the flow of marketing, trading, and fulfillment. For example, sellers on eBay, Amazon, and Google can access eBay Promotions Manager, Amazon Advertising, and Google Shopping Actions. These digital marketing programs play an integral role in getting your products in front of all the target customers at the appropriate times.
- Utilize a large customer base. A lot of online E-commerce websites have a massive built-in base of customers, who surf these websites on a regular basis. You might be surprised to know that there are about 500 million active visitors per month between Amazon, eBay, and Walmart alone.
Top 12 Best Platforms to sell your products online
Set up your own online store
Building your online store comes with its own set of challenges, but it can be extremely profitable and fulfilling if done well. The biggest challenge is that you have to market yourself and drum up your own traffic to your site. However, your profits are yours – there are no transaction or selling fees.
1. Shopify
When it comes to building your own store to sell your stuff, Shopify appears as one of the easiest to use and most trustworthy names. Up to now, Shopify has powered more than 2 million active users, spread between those 1 million-plus businesses.
Since the page builder provides a drag and drop interface, you can create your own store within a few minutes without any specialized coding knowledge. The Shopify fee starts at $29 per month, which includes your own website, blog, abandoned shopping cart recovery, SSL certificates, social media sales channels, and many other tools. There is no initial set-up or hidden fee unless you choose to use a different gateway in addition to what Shopify provides.
- Basic Shopify: $29/ month
- Shopify: $79/ month
- Advanced Shopify: $299/ month
2. Magento
Launched in 2007, and then replaced by Magento 2.0 in 2015, Magento is one of the most well-known open-source E-commerce platforms in the world. The platform is best known for its high customization, flexibility, and scalability.
Some top brands, including Samsung, Ford, Nike, Nestle, Christian Louboutin, and many more, all opt for Magento. This powerful platform allows users to build online stores that they can fully control and adjust.
Magento’s price:
- Magento Open Source free to download and use. However, you need to pay for everything else associated with the site, such as hosting, themes, add-ons, etc.
- Magento Commerce: the enterprise-level solution. Prices are often quoted by a sales rep, and are reported to run anywhere, ranging from $15,000 to $50,000 per year.
Learn more:
Sell on marketplaces
3. Amazon
Amazon is undoubtedly a reliable and go-to website that attracts more than 20.6 million people each month. Selling on Amazon automatically creates a sense of trust and comfort for your customers. Besides, such a huge number of visitors means that your items are more likely to be seen.
Anyone that sells almost anything will be able to manage a business on Amazon. You just have to be sure that your price range is competitive enough to be a contender without sacrificing a lot of your profit margins. If you’re a small business owner, it might be a little bit more challenging, as others are selling in large quantities, making pricing very competitive.
Amazon’s price:
- Individual: $0.99/ item sold plus additional selling fees. This plan will be appropriate for you if you sell less than 40 items per month.
- Professional. $39.99/ month plus additional selling fees. This will become your best option if you sell more than 40 items a month.
Read more:
4. Bonanza
This Seattle-based company is a relatively new face in the E-commerce world; however, it’s doing incredibly well. With more than 50,000 sellers and 35 million different items, Bonanza is a large and thriving community of online shops. In 2016, it was recognized as one of the “Best Entrepreneurial Companies in America” by Entrepreneur.com.
Bonanza is suitable for any merchants who have something to sell online. Besides, the fees for selling on this platform (called Final Offer Value) are relatively reasonable when compared to the competition. They actually provide a really helpful guide for calculating the fees, so that’s definitely worth checking out.
In addition, they offer 3 different membership pricing options as follows:
- Gold (for beginning sellers): $25/ month
- Platinum (for most sellers): $55/ month
- Titan (for high-volume sellers): $167/ month
5. Chairish
As the name suggests, Chairish is specially designed for selling home furnishings and art. All you need to do is snap a photo of your furniture, create a listing with a title and description, and eventually set your price.
When you list your products on Chairish, curators will review them to make sure that they meet their requirements. Then, they touch your provided photos and make the items available on sale. Chairish also takes charge of the shipping logistics, so there is no need to worry about shipping bulk pieces of furniture. You can also select your own shipping method if it suits you.
Chairish’s price plans: Chairish has 3 selling options for you to choose from. For each of their selling price and commission rate, you can read their detailed guide here.
- Consignor (less than 10 active listings)
- Professional (10 or more active listings)
- Elite
6. Craigslist
Launched in 1995 by Craig Newmark, Craigslist was originally developed to provide local information around the San Francisco Bay area. It is now a go-to online selling website for many individuals and businesses.
This online selling platform requires no fee for listing or selling, and it is best suited to merchants who are selling locally and prefer to operate their transactions personally. It can be an excellent option for selling items that are too bulky or expensive to ship, such as furniture.
Some users like Craigslist because they can meet the people they’re selling to, so there is a small social element. Besides, you can get cash-in-hand, and you don’t have to pay shipping or network fees. However, if you are paranoid about getting scammed or don’t want to be personally involved with the transaction, Craigslist might not be for you.
7. eBay
With nearly 25 million sellers and 170 million active buyers, eBay is one of the largest and most diverse all around the world. Established in 1995, this online marketplace is perhaps well-known as an auction site, but its “Buy it now” option lets you sell items right away at fixed prices.
There is almost nothing that you can not sell on eBay, from books and electronics to furniture, jewelry, and essential oils. Just like Amazon, eBay’s massive size means there is always a risk of getting lost in the crowd.
eBay’s seller fees:
- Insertion fees (listing fees). You get 50 free per month, and beyond that, the cost for listing in most categories is $0.35.
- Final value fees. They’re a percentage of an item’s total sale price. For most sellers, it’s 10% or lower.
These fees vary and are calculated according to what your product is, what kinds of categories it is listed in, how many, as well as shipping. For more information, you can read their guide right here.
8. Etsy
Unlike the broad-based appeal of eBay and Amazon, Etsy is a unique site for creative sellers who want to list handmade goods, art, collectibles, and antiques. This online selling platform is accessed by nearly 40 million active shoppers globally and enables individual sellers to compete against each other rather than battling out with big brands.
If you’re an online seller who either produces your own unique products or source items that suit this market, this platform is exactly what you’re looking for. Besides, it provides you with outstanding features specifically designed for creative masters, such as an easy-to-use interface, built-in analytics, sales tools, and access to potential customers.
Etsy’s selling fee: Etsy charges a $0.20 listing fee for each product. The product stays in your shop for four months or until you sell it, whichever comes first. When you sell a product, there is a 5% transaction fee and 3% plus $0.25 processing fee.
9. Facebook Marketplace
Facebook Marketplace is a section within Facebook where users can explore, purchase, sell, and trade items with other people in their area. People can access Facebook Marketplace via the Facebook app or on the Facebook website.
Facebook Marketplace online selling platform allows users, 18 years old and plus to:
- Look for items to purchase
- Find for-sale products by category and/or location
- Create product listings
- View previous and current transactions and messages under a “Your Items” section
- Contact sellers/ buyers via Facebook Messenger and arrange to close the deal.
Created in 2016, Facebook marketplace has brought hundreds of million people from 70 different countries worldwide together to buy and sell. The interesting point about Facebook Marketplace is that the company has been supporting E-commerce giants a lot. Facebook has partnered with major online selling platforms, such as Shopify, to promote online merchant presence on this platform.
Facebook Marketplace’s selling fee: There are no listing fees, but there are specific guidelines and requirements that you must follow as a seller on Marketplace.
10. Nextdoor Online Selling Platform
Similar to Craigslist, Nextdoor is an online version of your community and neighborhood. It is an online selling platform where neighbors can freely share information about what’s happening in their communities – from announcing a block party in the neighborhood to complaining that someone isn’t bringing in their trash cans in a timely fashion.
Beyond being a community forum, Nextdoor also provides a free place for selling your stuff online. Like Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist, there are no listing or membership fees required, but you have to meet your buyers and exchange in person.
This online selling platform feels a little safer than Craigslist as you need to sign up and create an account. Therefore, it tends to be more private and have fewer scams.
To list an item for sale, you choose the plus sign at the bottom of your Android or iPhone screen, create a new message, and select the “For Sale and Free” section. Next, you fill in details like price, description, and photos. As with similar apps, it’s up to you and your buyer to facilitate pickup and payment.
11. Newegg
Newegg is a California-based online marketplace with distribution facilities across Canada and North America and globally reach into over 50 countries. It claims to be the “#1 marketplace for everything tech,” meaning electronics, computers and parts, smart home, entertainment, and gaming products.
It’s also easy for sellers to create informative and detailed product pages, and approach up to 36 million customers. Newegg’s target audience is mainly aged from 18 to 35, so if it’s your target market, Newegg might be a brilliant option for you.
To help you succeed with your business, Newegg recommends taking advantage of its merchandising vehicles, such as daily deal emails, as well as its various seller programs. More than that, make sure you’re providing excellent customer service and not listing any prohibited items.
Newegg’s selling fee: In addition to a commission rate of between 8% and 15%, Newegg offers 3 tiered membership options, including:
- Standard: Zero fees
- Professional: $29.95
- Enterprise: $99.95
12. Ruby Lane Online Selling Platform
Ruby Lane has been designed to bring sellers and buyers of art, antiques, vintage collectibles, and jewelry together – quite similar to marketplaces like Etsy and Bonanza. This online selling platform has 1.1 million unique visitors per month, which is impressive for a niche marketplace.
Most website visitors are located in the US, UK, Australia, Canada, and Germany, but it has a global reach. 85% of users are women aged over 40, and most of them describe themselves as a “collecting enthusiast,” so if it suits your target market, Ruby Lane might be an excellent option.
Ruby Lane seems to attract more educated and purposeful buyers who might be willing to spend more money than anyone who is scouring eBay for bargains. Moreover, you can count on timely and high-quality customer support and a quick resolution of issues here.
Ruby Lane’s selling fee(: While there is no commission, Ruby Lane charges sellers $0.19 per listing and a tiered “maintenance” fee that starts from $79 per month for small sellers, to $0.01 per item for major ones. There’s also a one-off $100 set-up cost.
5 small tips to successfully selling your products online
Once you’ve chosen an online place to sell your stuff, you might wonder how to earn money quickly, as well as stand out from the competition. Then, the 5 small but powerful tips are for you!
1. Optimize your product content
There are product listings visitors see, and product listings they buy.
What makes the difference?
It’s all about your product content. Your titles and descriptions need to be concise and clear, display the condition of the item (brand new, like new, second-hand, etc.) and include a size chart if it is a clothing item. Many buyers will also want to know whether your item is from a smoke-free or pet-free home.
Besides, spend time choosing the right keywords, write attractive appealing product descriptions, and optimize them. And finally, some people don’t read your descriptions carefully and ask you questions that you have already answered. When it happens, just remember to respond friendly!
2. Be ready to advertise
Almost all product pages are facilitated by advertisements. However, these are not the same as banners and popups that customers tend to ignore. These will get clicked.
If you want to gain attention on marketplaces, you’ll need to spend on at least a little digital marketing to promote your products. For example, you can try using an exit intent popup which will appear every time your visitors will browse to close your page. This will help you make your visitors stay on your page and therefore increase your conversions and sales.
3. Make the checkout process simple
Do you know that one of the most popular culprits making customers abandon a shopping cart is the checkout process? No matter how great your products are, if you don’t manage your site well, they can easily navigate away from you.
So, try to make the checkout process simple and straightforward. The more information and steps requested, the greater friction, and the more sales you will lose as customers abandon their purchase. You can imagine buying your product as a prospective buyer would. Can you do it easily and quickly without too much thought?
Learn more:
- 6 Tips to Enhance Online Checkout Process
- How to Optimize Checkout Page on Mobiles
- Magento 2 One Step Checkout vs. One Page Checkout
4. Diversify your shipping strategy
A whopping 96% of customers now expect free shipping, and 26% are likely to discard a shopping cart if shipping is too slow.
Without a reasonable way to ship on these demands, fulfillment costs could take up a large number of your profits. So, it’s essential to access the most competitive carrier pricing and shipping choices.
A combination of various methods can make sure the fastest and most economical choice for each order. In this situation, you can take advantage of private carriers like FedEx and UPS for some orders, and USPS for others.
You might feel interested in:
- The Impact of COVID-19 on E-commerce Shipping & Tips to Stand Out Among Your Competitors
- How to Reduce Abandoned Carts by Magento 2 Shipping Cost Extension
- How to Offer More Flexible Shipping Methods by Table Rate Shipping Module
5. Provide great customer service
33% of Americans say that they will think about switching companies after just one poor customer service. When consumers consider buying something from a website, they are looking for reassurance. So, help them shop with confidence.
Regardless of whether the business is brick-or-mortar or online, one technique for selling is to guarantee that if the consumer is not satisfied, you will refund them with no questions.
Besides, be sure that your support team is well-trained, friendly, polite, and patient. You can ask your customers to review your support team’s performance, so that you will know how to improve it.
The bottom line
Whether you’re starting out as a new E-commerce business, or have been in the game for a while, online marketplaces should be a key part of your campaign. We hope that with the list of 12 Best Platforms to Sell Your Products Online, you can easily choose the most appropriate platform for your business.
This post was originally published on Mageplaza.