Have you ever wanted to join the world of e-commerce, but felt unsure where to start? In today’s world, it’s never been easier to become an online business owner. On Amazon alone, there are millions of third-party sellers. Whether you have prior selling experience or not, with a little know-how and trial and error, anyone can succeed in e-commerce.
With over 5 billion internet users across the globe and countless online marketplaces to choose from, opportunities in the world of online sales are truly endless. Whether you're a seller or a buyer, however, the need for product protection is universal. Extended warranties can help ensure all of your products and materials are covered no matter what might happen.
But with so many online marketplaces to choose from, how can you narrow it down to find the right platform to sell your products? Let’s take a look at some of the best websites to sell items online.
Amazon
Undoubtedly the king of platforms when it comes to e-commerce, Amazon is a well-established, highly-polished online marketplace. As an enormous company, Amazon can offer resources to sellers that many other platforms simply can’t compete with, such as the Amazon seller app, Amazon Vine, Brand Analytics, and even FBA (Fulfillment by Amazon), a service that Amazon sellers can use to store, pack, and ship their orders for a reasonable fee.
That said, there are some drawbacks to using Amazon. In many product categories, Amazon is highly inundated, making the competition extremely fierce. However, overall, it’s hard to beat Amazon’s perks as an incredible e-commerce platform.
eBay
There’s hardly anyone in the world who hasn’t heard of eBay, and that’s probably because it’s almost as old as the internet itself. Established in 1995, eBay is a unique online platform that allows both businesses and consumers to sell products directly to buyers.
With its auction-like setup, buyers can bid on products, allowing both parties to negotiate. Although eBay doesn’t charge buyers, sellers who exceed a certain number of listings do have to pay a small fee.
Shopify
Another giant in the e-commerce world, Shopify is a versatile, easy to use online platform, and a great place for a budding online business to start. Set up a virtual storefront and wait for the shoppers to come to you. Shopify is easy to use and provides endless opportunities for advertising, marketing, and growth.
Want to get started, but not sure how? There are plenty of Shopify experts online that you can hire to help with every facet of your business, including logo design, SEO optimization, product descriptions, and much more.
Poshmark
When it comes to the world of fashion, Poshmark has garnered quite a reputation as the place to buy and sell clothing and accessories. Although sellers on Poshmark can also sell electronics and home items, the platform is best known for providing the opportunity for consumers to score incredible fashion items at unbeatable prices. Poshmark is an especially great platform for sellers who have unique or trendy items.
If you choose to use Poshmark, remember to provide the best customer service you can. Good Poshmark reviews are essential in order for buyers to trust you.
Chairish
If home decor and vintage finds are your passion, you can’t beat Chairish. Similar to Poshmark, Chairish has quite the reputation–but for home finds instead of clothing. Chairish specializes in high-quality antiques and vintage items.
Although listing your item is free, it’s important to note that Chairish does take a portion of your sales (up to 20%).
Final thoughts
As you can see, when it comes to setting up an e-commerce business, there are many online marketplaces to choose from. So, which one is best for your business? In most cases, it depends what type of product you’re selling. When it comes to clothing, Poshmark is probably your best bet. For other used items, eBay or Chairish are both great options. If you’d like to create a storefront for new products, you can’t go wrong with Amazon or Shopify.
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