Posbytz’s Guide: Best Online Sales Platforms and Marketplaces

11 Feb

The sudden eruption of digital shopping has led small businesses to sell online. Customers have reshaped online and mobile shopping thanks to the pandemic and the subsequent change in customer preferences.

The pandemic took the homebody economy mainstream – and it’s here to stay. Increased spending is a sign that the homebody economy will be a new fixture in a post-pandemic world.

In the year 2021, according to Inc42, Amazon has seen sign-ups from even tier 2 and tier 3 cities in India. This is an exciting time for business owners as digitization is spreading beyond the major cities in the world and is accessible everywhere.

Today as an online seller, you may see different businesses online. Some may be niche businesses such as sugar-free desserts and integrated technology. In contrast, others may be generic selling platforms that deliver clothing, groceries, and furniture.

In this guide, let us help you look at the best platforms to sell online, the benefits of choosing the right online sales platform to sell products, geographically located marketplaces, and how the online selling platforms can increase your audience reach.

Building Your Store: Choosing The Best Platforms to Sell Online

The idea of creating your online store may seem daunting, but it is the most fulfilling and profitable dream if it is executed properly. You have complete control of your marketing strategies and can build your brand according to your business goals.

This means you do not have to pay high commissions for every order you make and lose the ability to break even for your business.

Let us show you how to build a free store with Posbytz’s online sales platform-

PosBytz allows you to set up an online store quickly and seamlessly. It enables you to fulfill multiple orders and is integrated with comprehensive inventory management. It also has different customizable templates to help you design your website and create a personalized shopping experience for your customers.

3 steps to create an online store with Posbytz’s online sales platform-

Start a free account with PosBytz
Customize and add the products you would like to sell
Launch your store

There are other options such as Shopify, Squarespace, and BigCommerce to help scale your business based on your objectives.

Top US online selling sites

Amazon

One of the most recognizable eCommerce brands globally that have disrupted the eCommerce industry is Amazon.

The pandemic helped boost sales across the eCommerce platform. In the midst of the pandemic, Amazon still had record-breaking sales, cloud services and even revamped the hiring system. According to eMarketer, in 2020, the giant captured about 38.7% of the market.

But how has Amazon become the best-selling platform in such a short time? The main strength of the giant is its ability to provide the best customer experience. It ensures that the fake products or reviews are scrutinized. Furthermore, the strategy of introducing Amazon Prime helped create customer loyalty. Customers were amazed by the opportunity to have their products delivered for free in less than a day. The innovation in each step of the buyer journey is why Amazon still leads in the eCommerce marketplace.

As a small business owner, selling on Amazon depends on the plan, business strategy, and product category. This is why it is one of the best online selling platforms for businesses to reach a global audience.

eBay

eBay is one of the largest online marketplaces connecting buyers and sellers of used items in auction-style listings. Your products are easily visible for different buyers and are categorized into lists. Sellers even have powerful protection policies to help them sell with confidence.

Sellers can even offer combined shipping to their sellers to ensure minimal shipping charges when a customer purchases multiple items from them. Buyers also can choose different payment options and conveniently make their purchases from the seller.

However, you need to consider the selling fees charged per item while selling on eBay. This fee is non-refundable, so you need to be sure while listing the item.

Etsy

Etsy is a go-to-market for craft enthusiasts and vintage collectors. According to Wallstreetzen, there are currently around 86.53 million active users on the website. This is a great way to showcase your products and develop a loyal customer base. However, a minimal listing fee is charged for each item. This listing is valid only for 4 months, after which you will have to renew the same again if your product does not sell.

As a small business owner, you can access an active buyer network and build your presence for your product. But, the hassle of paying fees every 4 months may deter you from choosing Etsy to sell your products.

Chairish

Chairish is an online curated marketplace for home decor and furniture. As a seller, you can take advantage of listing your item for free with shipping support from Chairish. When you list your item, the Chairish’s team helps you edit the photos and ensures that the listing meets the company’s policies and standards.

The great thing about Chairish is that you do not have to worry about logistics since they take care of it. So, if your business involves selling well-designed furniture or home decor, then Chairish is the best place to begin your business.

Local online selling sites

Let us look at some of the top sites to sell locally within your community.

Facebook Marketplace

Facebook Marketplace helps businesses sell their products locally. People can buy, sell and discover the items they are searching for. People can browse the listed items by filtering the results by location, price and category. It is a great place to sell to targeted audiences.

Platforms such as Shopify can be paired with Facebook Marketplace to check their inventory, advertise items, and find potential buyers.

Craigslist

Craigslist started originally as a San Francisco community electronic newsletter featuring local events held in the city. You can find a listing about anything on Craigslist, including the job posting, housing, and sale categories.

You can also find postings of community or personal ads and forum discussions on distinct topics.

The only disadvantage is that the marketplace is risky and can contain numerous scams.

VarageSale

VarageSale lets buyers and sellers have a virtual garage sale. It was started in Toronto by an ex-schoolteacher who was fed up with coming across numerous scams and fake listings on other sites.

VarageSale has a manual review process that authenticates the user profile before buying or selling online. Users can look up the ratings and connect with the sellers before making a purchase. The best part is that it is entirely free for members, whether a buyer or a seller.

Best global online platform to sell products

How can you connect to an international audience? Here are a few popular online platforms to sell products across the world.

AliExpress

AliExpress is a popular online platform that sells different products at competitive prices compared to other eCommerce platforms like Amazon. The store was founded in 2010 and has become one of the largest retail platforms in the world.

AliExpress charges commission fees for each product sale depending on the product category. So, it may not be feasible in the long run for your business.

Taobao

This is a Chinese online shopping platform that is B2C oriented. Sellers can list the products and services at a fixed price and include reviews or ratings to help their potential customers assess the products before purchasing. This allowed small business owners to sell their products quickly to their customers.

Flipkart

Flipkart is an Indian eCommerce website headquartered in Bangalore, has grown exponentially in recent years. It is a direct competitor to Amazon and sells products online ranging from fashion, home essentials, and groceries. According to Statista, Flipkart reported revenue of approximately 346 billion rupees in 2020.

As a seller, you can access a wide range of support services and get to know the easiest way to reach your customers.

Why does your business need the right online sales platform?

Launching your online store with the perfect online sales platform partner is vital so that you can reach a broad customer base with minimal investment. An eCommerce software optimizes the back-end operations and makes selling convenient for your business to reach your customers directly. Direct to Consumers is a great business model (D2C), as it enables businesses to understand their customers due to the customer data available to them. This helps them personalize the experiences and nurture customer relationships.

According to Neha Kant, Founder & Director of Clovia, a direct connection to customers enables brands to track trends, growth, and feedback in real-time. (Business World)

Besides being an online platform to sell products, they offer additional features such as cloud-based backups, which help monitor inventory and process payments securely across multiple channels.

Finally, it is essential to note that deciding the perfect partner boils down to two basic questions-

What is the objective and size of your business?
What is the budget outlined to meet your company’s goals?

Posbytz helps you start selling immediately without the hassle of paying outrageous commissions. You can even integrate third-party applications to transform daily operations.

Discover free customizable templates, generate powerful sales reports, and sell fast with Posbytz’s online sales platform!

Related Resources

No Comments

Ecommerce

Posbytz’s 2023 Guide: Best Online Sales Platforms and Marketplaces