e-Commerce on Marketplaces

Discover how to sell successfully on marketplaces and increase your online sales. Learn the keys to ecommerce on marketplaces in WikiTIPs
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E-COMMERCE ON MARKETPLACES

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Let's see marketplaces for what they are: a low-risk, high-potential alternative to sell and, above all, to confirm that our value proposition (+) With prudence and strategy I recommend that you evaluate it!

In the first phase, companies have denied e-commerce, they have said three times (and many more...) that selling online was not their style, that maybe it made sense for travel but not for their sector (clothes, shoes,... everyone has been dismantling the myth). until they realised that it did, and all the more so in the current situation of confinement.

Then, and for some years, companies have chosen to invest a lot of money, resources and talent in developing their own e-commerce solutions, leveraging their established brand or starting a new one from scratch. Everything that smelled of digital and sales seemed to make sense and would allow the company to achieve its objectives. The reality is very different, making e-commerce profitable is very difficult! Doing e-commerce without making money is much easier... and more common!

That is why, once again, the safest bet in e-commerce is making a strong comeback: to bet first, to test that our brand, product and price make sense for some customers, and there is nothing better than doing it in a market where there are millions of consumers and with a global character.

Again Amazon, eBay, AliExpress and many more, are starting to make a lot of sense for companies that want to sell, but don't want to take on the large investments involved in setting up their own platform.

In summary, the alternatives we would have are

  1. Setting up your own e-commerce platform, attracting traffic, organising logistics and reverse logistics, connecting your business' CRM and stock systems with the online shop, preventing fraud, securing information, etc. .... and, finally, making all of this worth less than the commercial margin obtained from sales. Very few companies will be able to achieve a positive balance sheet in the short term!
  2. Setting up a shop on a Marketplace and testing that our value proposal gets sales. We pay a % and, depending on the marketplace and the level of service we hire, we take on very few or many functions. In any case, we assume no platform development investment, no risk of fraud and we are guaranteed not to lose!!!!

My suggestion is to start with the first alternative in one or several Marketplaces and, once we have confirmed its validity and that we would obtain sufficient margin, continue with the second alternative, always keeping the two in parallel! They complement and nurture each other.

Visit ebay, Amazon and AliExpress and search for the products you want to sell.

You can also find out more:

  1. VISITING THIS PAGE (+).

  2. VIENDO THIS VIDEO (+).

  3. PODCAST PROGRAMME (+).

E-commerce in marketplaces refers to the sale of products or services through e-commerce platforms such as Amazon, eBay, Alibaba, MercadoLibre, among others. Marketplaces allow sellers to publish their products on the platform and reach a massive audience of online shoppers.

Below are some important points to consider when selling on marketplaces:

  • Research the appropriate marketplace for the type of product or service being offered, as well as the sales policies and commissions charged.
  • It is important to have a detailed and accurate product description and high quality images to attract buyers and increase the conversion rate.
  • Sellers should consider the competition on the platform and offer competitive prices to stand out from other sellers.
  • Logistics and shipping need to be properly managed to ensure that the product arrives in good condition and within the estimated delivery time.
  • Sellers must properly handle customer service and respond to questions and complaints in a timely and effective manner to ensure a good reputation on the platform.

Some success stories of companies that have sold on marketplaces include:

  • Anker, a company that sells electronic accessories, achieved sales of more than $$30 million on Amazon in its first year of operations.
  • Thule, a company that sells outdoor products, increased its sales by 70% after it started selling on Amazon.
  • Apple, a globally recognised company, has increased its sales and reached a wider audience by selling on Alibaba, one of the largest marketplaces in Asia.

In a nutshell, Selling on marketplaces can be an effective strategy to reach a wider audience and increase online sales. However, it is important to carefully research and consider each platform's policies and commissions, handle logistics and customer service properly, and offer competitive prices and descriptions to stand out from other sellers on the platform.

How to start selling E-COMMERCE ON MARKETPLACES?

TO START SELLING ON E-COMMERCE MARKETPLACES, THE FOLLOWING STEPS ARE RECOMMENDED:

  1. Research and choose the right marketplace: There are many marketplaces on the market, so it is important to research and choose the one that best suits your business. Some of the most popular ones are Amazon, eBay, Alibaba, Walmart, among others.
  2. Register and create a seller account: Once you have chosen the right marketplace, you will need to register and create a seller account. Make sure you fill in all the necessary information, such as your contact details, company details and the products you offer.
  3. Set up your shop: Each marketplace has its own set of rules and requirements for sellers. It is important that you carefully read each marketplace's policies and requirements and set up your shop accordingly. Be sure to include pictures and detailed descriptions of your products to attract customers.
  4. Start publishing your products: Once you have set up your shop, it is time to publish your products on the marketplace. Make sure you follow the marketplace guidelines for publishing products and label them correctly.
  5. Manage your sales and shipments: When you start receiving orders, you will need to manage them and ship them on time. Some marketplaces offer tools to help you with order management and shipping, so it is important that you familiarise yourself with them.
  6. Promote your products: To stand out on a marketplace, it is important to promote your products. Some marketplaces offer paid advertising tools to highlight your products, but you can also use social media and other digital marketing strategies to attract customers.

In a nutshell, To start selling on e-commerce marketplaces, you will need to research and choose the right marketplace, register your seller account, set up your shop, publish your products, manage your sales and shipping, and promote your products.

Advantages and disadvantages of E-COMMERCE IN MARKETPLACES for entrepreneurs

SOME ADVANTAGES OF USING E-COMMERCE ON MARKETPLACES FOR ENTREPRENEURS ARE:

  1. Access to a large potential customer base: marketplaces have a large number of registered users who can become potential customers.
  2. Greater visibility and positioning: By publishing your products on a marketplace, your shop benefits from the visibility and positioning of the platform.
  3. Cost reduction: Instead of building an online shop from scratch, entrepreneurs can use the infrastructure of a marketplace platform, which can reduce operational and administrative costs.
  4. No need for advertising campaigns: marketplaces already have advertising and marketing campaigns in place, which can save the entrepreneur the time and resources needed to develop and execute their own campaigns.

ON THE OTHER HAND, SOME OF THE DISADVANTAGES OR DRAWBACKS OF SELLING ON MARKETPLACES ARE:

  1. Sales commissions: marketplaces often charge commissions for each sale made, which can reduce the entrepreneur's profit margins.
  2. Competence: When selling on a marketplace, the entrepreneur's products compete directly with those of other sellers on the same platform.
  3. Brand limitations: In a marketplace, the entrepreneur may have limitations on how to present his or her brand, as the platform has its own policies and presentation requirements.
  4. Dependence on the marketplace: by using a marketplace, the entrepreneur becomes dependent on the platform to generate sales and build his customer base, which can be a risk in the long run.

In general, the use of E-commerce on marketplaces can be an attractive option for entrepreneurs looking to increase their visibility and reach a large potential customer base.. However, it is important to carefully consider the advantages and disadvantages before making the decision to use this sales strategy.

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CASE STUDY FOR AN ENTREPRENEUR TO APPLY E-COMMERCE ON MARKETPLACES

Clara is an entrepreneur who has created an online shop selling gourmet products. She wants to expand her business and reach more customers, so she decides to apply the E-commerce strategy in marketplaces.

TO DO SO, PLEASE FOLLOW THE STEPS BELOW:
  1. Research the most popular marketplaces in your sector and select those that fit your business model.
  2. Create an account on the selected marketplaces and fill in all the information required for the creation of an online shop.
  3. Add your products to the marketplace online shop and optimise product descriptions and images to improve their visibility.
  4. Offer promotions and discounts to customers on the marketplace to attract new buyers and retain existing customers.
  5. Manages the logistics and shipping of products through the marketplace to ensure that customers receive their products within the agreed time and conditions.

Clara continuously monitors its sales and uses the data collected to optimise its marketing and sales strategy on marketplaces. As her business grows, she considers expanding to other marketplaces and expanding her product catalogue to reach more customers and increase her online sales.

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José Luis Ferrero

José Luis Ferrero

Business Director vdSHOP. Specialist in eCommerce and Digital Marketing.
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