{"id":19584,"date":"2018-08-29T15:44:02","date_gmt":"2018-08-29T20:44:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hostgator.com\/blog\/?p=19584"},"modified":"2018-09-07T16:55:09","modified_gmt":"2018-09-07T21:55:09","slug":"find-ecommerce-marketplace-online-store","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hostgator.com\/blog\/find-ecommerce-marketplace-online-store\/","title":{"rendered":"Finding the Best E-Commerce Marketplaces for Your Online Store"},"content":{"rendered":"

Why Promote Your Online Store on E-Commerce Marketplaces?<\/h2>\n

A website and an online store<\/a> are musts for e-commerce, but they’re also only a good start. <\/span><\/p>\n

Industry analysts say small online retailers also need to establish a presence on multiple marketplaces to stay competitive and reach more potential customers. <\/span><\/p>\n

You have more marketplace options than you may realize-and because the marketplace marketplace is so competitive, many marketplaces work hard to make selling, shipping, and marketing easier for their merchants.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"HostGator<\/a>Why Should You Sell on Multiple E-commerce Marketplaces?<\/h2>\n

Nearly all consumers-<\/span>97%, as of June 2017<\/span><\/a>-search on marketplaces at least some of the time.<\/span><\/p>\n

Avoiding marketplaces means missing out on product searches by virtually all online shoppers. Not only that, but\u00a0<\/span>about a third of shoppers search on marketplaces<\/span><\/a> before heading to a retailer’s own online shop, which means marketplace accounts are marketing tools as well as<\/em> points of purchase.<\/span><\/p>\n

So signing up your store for one of the big marketplaces like Amazon or eBay should be all you need to do, right? Probably not. <\/span><\/p>\n

The marketplace industry is growing, with new, niche, and international options coming online all the time. For example, Tokyo-based <\/span>Mercari’s June IPO raised $1.2 billion <\/span><\/a>and it’s planning to expand its current US peer-to-peer market. <\/span><\/p>\n

Limiting yourself to one marketplace limits your exposure to potential buyers. Sticking with big marketplaces also means ignoring smaller marketplaces that may cater better to your audience. <\/span><\/p>\n

And each marketplace has its pros and cons one may have more visitors overall, while in another your shop has less competition. Your shop doesn’t need to (and couldn’t possibly be) on every marketplace, but being on the right marketplaces for your business is important.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Major E-commerce Marketplaces<\/h3>\n

Here’s a quick rundown of some of the largest and best-known marketplaces along with a few niche options and some peer-to-peer platforms that can also work for certain types of small business.<\/span><\/p>\n

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1. Amazon Marketplace<\/h4>\n

Amazon Marketplace<\/b> reaches 150 million unique visitors in the US each month, plus more abroad. The marketplace offers businesses who pay a base monthly rate of $39.99 more support and options than individual Amazon sellers receive, like payment processing, geolocation-based offers, and fulfillment.<\/span><\/p>\n

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2. Walmart Marketplace<\/h4>\n

Walmart Marketplace <\/b>reaches 110 million monthly visitors and only charges referral fees on each sale. Those fees range from 6% for personal computers to 20% for jewelry, with everything else at eight, 12, or 15%. Store owners have to pass Walmart Marketplace’s approval process, which can take up to two weeks.<\/span><\/p>\n

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3. Ebay<\/h4>\n

Ebay<\/b> had 113 unique US visitors a month in late 2017. Like Amazon, eBay gives individual sellers and businesses a platform for selling. Businesses can choose from a range of monthly plans that include a set number of listings, from a couple hundred (like my tiny resale shop where I offload thrift-store finds) to several thousand. Store subscriptions come with marketing tools, store customization capabilities, and reports.<\/span><\/p>\n

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4. Etsy<\/h4>\n

Etsy<\/b>, which started as a marketplace for crafters and artisans, reaches some 19 million shoppers. It just announced changes that include new paid plans for shop owners that come with more tools than the free plan. Etsy focuses on handmade goods, vintage, craft supplies, and items manufactured in compliance with the company’s policies. Etsy also connects retail buyers with sellers that have the capacity to produce wholesale lots.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Other US Marketplaces<\/h3>\n

Besides the 'big three'\u009d marketplaces, you have other options. <\/span><\/p>\n