When it comes to e-commerce ventures, one of the most pivotal decisions influencing your success would be the selection of platform to host your online store. In this era of digitisation, there is a multitude of options to choose from – each having its unique features, advantages, and caveicats. Choosing the best places for online selling thus becomes a quest you can’t afford to overlook. So if you are pondering on the question – ‘what is a good site to sell things on’ or ‘what is a good website to sell things on’, you are on the right page.
Opting to sell on an established marketplace provides a good combination of ease, audience reach, and trustworthiness. Let’s explore some of the most profitable platforms for selling goods online.
Amazon: Being one of the largest online marketplaces globally, Amazon extends a sea of opportunity for sellers from diverse niches. Whether it’s books, clothes, gadgets, or home décor; Amazon takes the lead as an ideal platform to get your products noticed and sold.
eBay: An excellent website to sell things on, eBay provides a virtual auction house for anything you can think of. With its reputation and worldwide popularity, eBay insists upon competitive pricing but it can bolster your startup with online visibility and provide you with a broad demographic exposure.
Etsy: If you’re selling vintage or handmade items, Etsy is your go-to market place. It is a niche platform that specifically caters to craft-happy buyers and sellers. Its vibrant, community-oriented marketplace nurtures a loyal customer base and supports small-scale artisans.
Shopify: Offering a complete ecommerce solution, Shopify allows you to set up an online store to sell your goods. It’s user-friendly interface, comprehensive customer support and vast array of customisable themes and features make it a versatile platform for sellers of all sizes.
Alibaba: Predominantly known for bulk selling, Alibaba is laudable for businesses and entrepreneurs aiming at a wholesale platform. Its powerful reach to suppliers worldwide and extensive product range make it an excellent option for those looking for a large-scale platform.
Facebook Marketplace: Leverage the power of social media with Facebook’s very own marketplace. Selling through Facebook becomes convenient with its personalised features to reach your targeted audience. Also, the lack of listing and selling fees makes it a cost-effective choice for small businesses.
While the above-discussed platforms are globally recognised, it is essential to understand that not every ideal marketplace is a well-known one. Many emerging, vertically-specialised marketplaces like Grailed for designer men’s clothing or GOAT for sneakers take precedence when specific category selling is the focus.
Now that we have taken you through various online selling platforms, here are a few points to ponder on while selecting the correct one:
Budget: Cost considerations play an enormous role in deciding which marketplace to go with. While some, like Facebook Marketplace, have no selling fees, platforms like Amazon charge a percentage.
Visibility: Consider if the platform will provide your products with adequate visibility. A large, established platform might have a large user base but equally high competition; whereas, a small niche site might have fewer users but less competition.
Customer Base: Depending on your product range, it is imperative to identify your target customers. Vertically specialised sites serve to a very niche customer base, hence they’re likely to have a higher conversion rate. On the other hand, a broad marketplace like Amazon provides access to a much larger audience.
Ease of Use: Evaluate the ease of use. While Shopify might provide a platform to sell, it may not have the ease and simplicity of setting up shop on Facebook Marketplace or Etsy.
To conclude, selling online can be a lucrative venture if done right. The first step in this journey would be opting for a platform that matches your requirements. What is a good site to sell things on, depends greatly on what those things are, who you want to sell them to, and what your budget limitations are. Equipped with the facts and considerations we have discussed, you can ensure your venture into the world of ecommerce is a profitable and successful one.