Not sure how or where to sell online to get the best return? Check out our online marketplace guide to learn about the top-selling platforms for businesses — from Amazon to Walmart Marketplace — plus how to sell online successfully. Keep reading to discover the best place for selling products online now!
Get your website ranked at the top search engine result pages. Digital Guider provides keywords-driven top ranking at affordable SEO packages. We offer:
SEO or search engine optimization is the process of improving a website’s online visibility on search engines like Google, Bing, Yahoo, etc., by which customers can easily connect with your business online. An effective SEO marketing helps in –
How is it done?
Professional SEO companies can help increase your website’s online visibility by improving your digital presence. Here are some of the salient features of SEO services for your business-
Compared to conventional advertising techniques, SEO provides an affordable means of bringing in regular visitors without paying for ongoing advertising, which improves ROI and boosts revenue.
Best SEO services increase your website’s ranking in search engines, thereby increasing organic traffic from people who are actively looking for your product or service.
SEO improves the structure of your website, the quality of your content, and the navigation of your website, resulting in improved user experience, increased engagement, and higher conversion rates.
A high search engine ranking increases user trust and confidence in your brand, increasing brand awareness and ultimately leading to more revenue.
Unlike paid ads, which stop driving traffic once your budget runs out, SEO services lead to continuous organic traffic and long-term profitability without long-term investment.
Tools used by professional SEO companies give valuable insights into user behavior, search patterns, and demographics, which help in optimizing marketing efforts & conversion rates.
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Not sure how to start selling your products online? Follow these six steps:
Before you start selling online, you’ll need to establish a business plan and decide what items you want to sell through an online marketplace.
When deciding what to sell, consider demand, potential profit margins, and your own interests.
You can use various online tools to gauge demand and come up with ideas for products to sell. Here are a few useful tools to check out:
You’ll also want to research your potential profit margins. Look into how much products similar to yours sell for, and estimate how much it will cost you to produce and distribute your products.
Don’t forget to consider your own interests as well! Selling products you’re excited about can keep you motivated as you figure out how to sell online.
Every business needs a plan, including those that use online selling platforms. Creating a detailed business plan will help you determine how to sell your products online and help you reach your goals.
When creating your business plan, consider factors such as:
After establishing your inventory, you’ll need to determine where to sell online.
Whether you sell on your own website or a top online marketplace, there are more options than ever for diversifying your selling channels in 2023.
Our guide outlines the pros and cons of selling on each platform, as well as your ecommerce site, so spend some time reviewing your options when deciding where to sell online.
If you need help determining which selling platform is best for your business, Right Symbol can help. Connect with our ecommerce experts to learn more!
Next, you can start building your online store and listing products for sale.
If you chose to use an online marketplace, you’ll need to create an account and set up your page.
If you decide to sell on your own website, you’ll want to pick a domain name that reflects your brand and is easy to remember. Platforms like Shopify make it easy to get your online shop up and running quickly. So, keep that in mind when setting up your online site — especially if you don’t have a lot of technical expertise.
For platform-specific instructions on how to build your online store, check out the below section on where to sell online.
Selling on your online store vs. an ecommerce marketplace requires ongoing maintenance and optimization — and we recommend partnering with an ecommerce agency like Right Symbol to get the best results.
Many elements go into how to sell online, and you’ll need to set up various processes and functionalities before you launch your ecommerce store. These elements include:
To start selling online, you’ll need to set up payment processing.
You have numerous options for accepting online payments, whether you open a merchant account or use a payment processor like PayPal, Square, or Stripe.
Where you sell online will also impact the payment processing solution you choose.
For more info on choosing the best online payment system, check out this helpful guide.
Next, you need to identify the shipping methods and rates you’ll offer.
Depending on your country, you may have access to USPS, FedEx, Canada Post, Royal Mail, AU Post, or other carriers.
Free shipping entices customers to buy but remember that you’ll need to absorb that cost.
Some online marketplaces — like Amazon — offer fulfillment and shipping options to help you sell more online.
So, be sure to consider all the options and rates available when determining where to sell online.
No matter where you sell, you’ll want to enable secure online payments so people feel comfortable shopping on your site and purchasing from your business.
Use a payment processing system with proven security and ensure your site has a secure sockets layer (SSL) certificate.
You’ll want to have several documents available on your ecommerce website. These documents include:
You’ll also want to make sure you have all the necessary business licenses. Check your local, state, and federal laws to determine which licenses you’ll need.
Ensure your customers have a way to contact you, and determine how you’ll handle customer service issues.
For more essential functionalities and other items to take care of before launching your site, check out our ecommerce checklist.
Finally, you’ll need to market your online business, so people can easily find your site and purchase.
You can have the most beautifully designed site and world-class products, but without proper optimization and promotion, nobody will be able to find your ecommerce store or your profile on a top-selling site.
Marketing is a crucial part of how to sell goods online, so be sure to invest in digital marketing services — like search engine optimization (SEO) and website maintenance — that set your site up for long-term success.
Looking for a digital marketing partner to take your online sales to new heights? Give Right Symbol a call at +1 (347) 486-6388 or contact us online to learn how our ecommerce solutions can grow your business.
Not sure how to start selling your products online? Follow these six steps:
Before you start selling online, you’ll need to establish a business plan and decide what items you want to sell through an online marketplace.
When deciding what to sell, consider demand, potential profit margins, and your own interests.
You can use various online tools to gauge demand and come up with ideas for products to sell. Here are a few useful tools to check out:
You’ll also want to research your potential profit margins. Look into how much products similar to yours sell for, and estimate how much it will cost you to produce and distribute your products.
Don’t forget to consider your own interests as well! Selling products you’re excited about can keep you motivated as you figure out how to sell online.
Every business needs a plan, including those that use online selling platforms. Creating a detailed business plan will help you determine how to sell your products online and help you reach your goals.
When creating your business plan, consider factors such as:
After establishing your inventory, you’ll need to determine where to sell online.
Whether you sell on your own website or a top online marketplace, there are more options than ever for diversifying your selling channels in 2023.
Our guide outlines the pros and cons of selling on each platform, as well as your ecommerce site, so spend some time reviewing your options when deciding where to sell online.
If you need help determining which selling platform is best for your business, Right Symbol can help. Connect with our ecommerce experts to learn more!
Next, you can start building your online store and listing products for sale.
If you chose to use an online marketplace, you’ll need to create an account and set up your page.
If you decide to sell on your own website, you’ll want to pick a domain name that reflects your brand and is easy to remember. Platforms like Shopify make it easy to get your online shop up and running quickly. So, keep that in mind when setting up your online site — especially if you don’t have a lot of technical expertise.
For platform-specific instructions on how to build your online store, check out the below section on where to sell online.
Selling on your online store vs. an ecommerce marketplace requires ongoing maintenance and optimization — and we recommend partnering with an ecommerce agency like Right Symbol to get the best results.
Many elements go into how to sell online, and you’ll need to set up various processes and functionalities before you launch your ecommerce store. These elements include:
To start selling online, you’ll need to set up payment processing.
You have numerous options for accepting online payments, whether you open a merchant account or use a payment processor like PayPal, Square, or Stripe.
Where you sell online will also impact the payment processing solution you choose.
For more info on choosing the best online payment system, check out this helpful guide.
Next, you need to identify the shipping methods and rates you’ll offer.
Depending on your country, you may have access to USPS, FedEx, Canada Post, Royal Mail, AU Post, or other carriers.
Free shipping entices customers to buy but remember that you’ll need to absorb that cost.
Some online marketplaces — like Amazon — offer fulfillment and shipping options to help you sell more online.
So, be sure to consider all the options and rates available when determining where to sell online.
No matter where you sell, you’ll want to enable secure online payments so people feel comfortable shopping on your site and purchasing from your business.
Use a payment processing system with proven security and ensure your site has a secure sockets layer (SSL) certificate.
You’ll want to have several documents available on your ecommerce website. These documents include:
You’ll also want to make sure you have all the necessary business licenses. Check your local, state, and federal laws to determine which licenses you’ll need.
Ensure your customers have a way to contact you, and determine how you’ll handle customer service issues.
For more essential functionalities and other items to take care of before launching your site, check out our ecommerce checklist.
Finally, you’ll need to market your online business, so people can easily find your site and purchase.
You can have the most beautifully designed site and world-class products, but without proper optimization and promotion, nobody will be able to find your ecommerce store or your profile on a top-selling site.
Marketing is a crucial part of how to sell goods online, so be sure to invest in digital marketing services — like search engine optimization (SEO) and website maintenance — that set your site up for long-term success.
Looking for a digital marketing partner to take your online sales to new heights? Give Right Symbol a call at +1 (347) 486-6388 or contact us online to learn how our ecommerce solutions can grow your business.
Get your website ranked at the top search engine result pages. Digital Guider provides keywords-driven top ranking at affordable SEO packages. We offer:
SEO or search engine optimization is the process of improving a website’s online visibility on search engines like Google, Bing, Yahoo, etc., by which customers can easily connect with your business online. An effective SEO marketing helps in –
How is it done?
Professional SEO companies can help increase your website’s online visibility by improving your digital presence. Here are some of the salient features of SEO services for your business-
Compared to conventional advertising techniques, SEO provides an affordable means of bringing in regular visitors without paying for ongoing advertising, which improves ROI and boosts revenue.
Best SEO services increase your website’s ranking in search engines, thereby increasing organic traffic from people who are actively looking for your product or service.
SEO improves the structure of your website, the quality of your content, and the navigation of your website, resulting in improved user experience, increased engagement, and higher conversion rates.
A high search engine ranking increases user trust and confidence in your brand, increasing brand awareness and ultimately leading to more revenue.
Unlike paid ads, which stop driving traffic once your budget runs out, SEO services lead to continuous organic traffic and long-term profitability without long-term investment.
Tools used by professional SEO companies give valuable insights into user behavior, search patterns, and demographics, which help in optimizing marketing efforts & conversion rates.
When it comes to selling products online, the best-selling platforms for businesses are:
Keep reading for a breakdown of each online marketplace, which includes an overview of their:
In most cases, businesses will benefit from selling on multiple online selling sites. If you have a dedicated website, plus a presence on Amazon, for example, that allows your company to reach more shoppers through multiple channels.
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Now that you know how to sell online and have an overview of the best online selling sites, let’s break down the ins and outs of where you can sell your products and how to sell online with each marketplace. Use the links below if you’d like to jump straight to a specific best platform to sell online.
Amazon Marketplace ranks number one on our list of the best platform to sell online in 2023.
In the U.S. alone, more than 1 million SMBs sell on Amazon Marketplace.
It’s fairly easy to start selling on the platform, and Amazon Marketplace allows sellers to get more eyes on their products fast.
Wondering how to sell online with Amazon Marketplace? Here’s how to get started:
If you’re listing products already on Amazon.com, you will need to indicate:
If you’re listing products that aren’t on this selling platform yet, you’ll need to identify their UPC/EAN and SKU, as well as list product attributes like titles and descriptions.
With the Individual plan, sellers pay $0.99 per item sold, plus additional selling fees.
The Professional plan allows you to sell an unlimited number of products for $39.99/month with additional selling fees.
If you only sell a few products each month, the Individual plan may work for you. However, the Professional plan appeals to sellers with larger product quantities.
Amazon offers numerous ad options to help sellers reach more customers and boost online sales.
They include:
When shipping your Amazon Marketplace products, you have two options — Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) and the Merchant Fulfilled Network (MFN).
A noteworthy perk of selling on Amazon Marketplace comes from Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA), which you can use to ship your products.
With FBA, you pay to store products in Amazon’s fulfillment centers. When a customer places an order for your FBA product, Amazon receives the info, picks the stock from the shelves, packs, and ships the item.
Amazon also provides customer service for all FBA products.
FBA fees depend on the size and weight of items sold. Amazon also charges short- and long-term storage fees, so you’ll pay more for products that stay in the FBA inventory longer.
FBA offers many benefits, including:
HOW TO GET STARTED WITH FBA
To begin using FBA, follow these steps:
If you need to convert existing inventory to FBA, you can:
If you don’t want to use FBA, you can ship products via the Merchant Fulfilled Network (MFN), also known as Fulfilled by Merchant (FBM).
MFN allows you to ship products directly from your home, business, or warehouse. Just remember — with this option, you’re responsible for locating stock, packing orders, arranging shipping, and providing customer service.
Now that you understand how selling on Amazon Marketplace works, you’re probably wondering, “Is it better to sell on Amazon or my website?”
Let’s look at some pros and cons of selling on Amazon Marketplace.
First, let’s look at some advantages of using this online selling site.
You can find all the information you need on landing page cost, and Right Symbol’s social media and PPC landing page pricing, by referring to the chart above.
For more info on Amazon Marketplace selling and marketing, check out these resources from Right Symbol.
Want to boost online revenue fast? Amazon is a good option for small and midsize businesses selling a range of products like apparel, home goods, electronics, and much more!
Walmart Marketplace comes in second on our online marketplace ranking list.
In the U.S., 100 million people visit Walmart.com every month.
Selling on Walmart Marketplace expands your reach immediately, helping you sell more products.
To get started selling on Walmart Marketplace, you’ll need to:
While Walmart does not charge monthly fees, sellers can expect to pay referral fees ranging from 6-20% for various product categories on this online selling platform.
For example, if you sell apparel on Walmart Marketplace, you can expect to pay a 15% referral fee.
Before you start selling on Walmart.com, you’ll have a chance to review the Product Categories and their referral fees in your Walmart Marketplace Retailer agreement.
Select Marketplace sellers have access to the Walmart Sponsored Products program.
This program, which requires a $1000 minimum monthly ad spend, allows sellers to create native ads that appear in search results, as well as item, category, and product pages.
Walmart’s Sponsored Products program allows you to increase the visibility of your products without paying directly for views. Like pay-per-click (PPC) ads, you only pay when customers click on your ad. Walmart’s internal relevancy engines help determine the best time and place to make that happen.
While sellers can oversee their ad strategies in-house, Walmart offers ad management services for campaigns with budgets over $25,000.
Participation in Walmart’s Sponsored Products program requires approval and onboarding from the Walmart Media Group.
To start advertising on this selling platform, you’ll need to:
Walmart Marketplace offers five shipping methods, including:
Sellers select the carriers, shipping price, and shipping method when setting up their profile in Seller Central.
The online marketplace requires sellers to ship orders in non-branded packaging, and you can’t include materials from any company other than Walmart.
With Walmart Marketplace, sellers have access to the platform’s TwoDay Delivery option, which is a great incentive for buyers.
For more information, check out Walmart Marketplace’s shipping guidelines.
Let’s look at some pros and cons of selling on Walmart Marketplace vs. your ecommerce site.
For more info on Walmart Marketplace selling and marketing, check out these resources from Right Symbol.
Want to expand your online reach and streamline shipping? Walmart is a good option for sellers of apparel, beauty products, electronics, groceries, and more!
Next, we’ll look at Shopify, which is another one of 2023’s top online marketplaces.
A complete ecommerce solution, Shopify allows you to start, grow, and manage your business — all from one platform.
Here’s an overview of how to sell online using Shopify:
Shopify offers sellers a free 14-day trial, so you don’t need to enter a credit card when signing up on the platform.
When your free trial ends, you’ll need to select a pricing plan that matches your budget and business goals.
Choose from five plans:
Typically, small and medium-sized companies opt for the Shopify or Advanced Shopify plans, so you can expect to pay $79-$299/month to sell on Shopify.
Large businesses can sign up for Shopify Plus, but you’ll need to contact the company for a custom quote.
You may also opt for the Shopify Lite plan that allows you to sell on Facebook and interact with customers on Facebook Messenger. With this $9/month plan, you’ll add products to a website or blog and accept credit card payments.
Like Amazon, Shopify gives sellers access to several custom advertising options.
One of the first platforms to integrate Google’s new Smart Shopping campaigns, Shopify allows Google to pull product information from sellers’ stores.
Google then creates ads automatically and shows them to relevant audiences in places like Google search, Gmail, YouTube, and Google Display Network.
The seamless integration uses Google’s Smart technology to analyze results and optimize campaigns automatically, so you can maximize your paid ad budget.
In addition to ads on Google, Shopify sellers can also run Facebook Carousel ads right in Shopify.
These ads include up to five products or images to engage customers and boost awareness of your offerings.
You can also track your Facebook ad results in Shopify.
Shopify Shipping gives sellers access to pre-negotiated shipping rates and labels with shipping carriers based on your subscription plan.
In the U.S., sellers have access to USPS, UPS, and DHL Express.
Sellers in Canada have access to Canada Post.
Here’s an overview of the process:
Shopify Shipping offers a suite of tools to aid with the shipping process via your Shopify admin. For example, you can purchase and send return labels to customers from your Shopify admin.
U.S. sellers can also schedule package pickups.
If you purchase UPS or DHL Express labels via Shopify Shipping, you can schedule a pickup from your Shopify admin.
When using Shopify Shipping, remember that the cost of shipping labels gets calculated using the weight of the products and packaging. You can enter this information in your Shopify admin easily, as well as purchase and print your shipping labels.
Final shipping costs depend on the distance and how quickly customers want to receive the products.
For more info on how to sell online with Shopify, check out these resources from Right Symbol.
Want an easy-to-use interface that lets you quickly boost online sales? Shopify is a good option for small and midsize businesses offering a variety of unique products!
Target Plus™ is next up on our online marketplace ranking list.
A relatively new online marketplace, Target Plus™ allows third-party sellers to sell on Target.com.
The platform expands Target.com’s product offerings in categories like home furnishings, toys, electronics, and sporting goods.
Unlike other online marketplace platforms, Target Plus™ is invite-only.
To become a Target supplier, you must uphold the company’s values, which include:
If you want to boost your visibility with the Supplier Diversity team, you’ll need to fill out the Supplier Registration form.
You can also connect with a merchandising or sourcing team member. If selected, you will receive an email invite from a Target team member to set up an account on the Partners Online portal.
Then, Target will validate your company’s information during its approval and onboarding process.
You’ll also need to provide a list of brands you own or license from the trademark owner.
Target has not published information regarding Target Plus™ commissions and fees.
However, Target has stated that Target Plus™ sellers are responsible for shipping and other costs.
Target’s advertising platform, Roundel (previously Target Media Network), allows companies to reach Target shoppers with custom advertisements.
Going beyond display ads, Roundel clients can advertise brands — even brands not sold in Target stores — on Target’s website and external channels like Pinterest, PopSugar, and NBCUniversal.
Currently, Roundel is used by businesses in financial services, automotive, travel, and more. Its clients include heavy hitters like Coca-Cola, Disney, Pepsi, and Mastercard.
That said, advertising with Roundel may not be the best fit for small and medium-sized businesses. Fortunately, Right Symbol specializes in helping SMBs expand their presence on online marketplaces like Target Plus™.
Check out our Target Plus™ management and optimization services to learn more.
While Target Plus™ sellers are responsible for shipping products, Target processes online and in-store returns.
Questioning if Target Plus™ selling could work for your business?
Here are some pros and cons of selling products online via Target Plus™.
For more info on Target Plus™ selling and marketing, check out these resources from Right Symbol.
Want to expand your reach with the backing of a renowned brand? Target Plus™ is a good option for established businesses selling home furnishings, toys, electronics, or sporting goods!
Another top online marketplace in 2023, eBay allows consumers to buy and sell everything, from cars to electronics, sporting goods, and more. This powerhouse platform rakes in $35 billion in domestic sales each year — and it’s a household name across the globe.
To start selling your products online with eBay:
Individual eBay sellers can expect to pay several fees, including insertion and final value fees.
Each month, eBay sellers get up to 50 zero insertion fee listings — or more if you have an eBay Store (more on that later).
After you’ve exceeded the allowance, you’re charged insertion fees, which include:
Sellers are also charged a final value fee when an item sells.
This fee gets calculated as a percentage of the total sales amount, including any shipping and handling charges.
The amount eBay charges depends on the following factors:
Sellers also have the option to open an eBay Store to receive discounted fees and more free listings each month. Store owners have access to additional tools to manage and promote their businesses too.
To get started, you’ll need an eBay seller account with an automatic payment method on file.
If you want to open an eBay Store:
Store subscription plans from eBay start at $4.95/month (with a 1-yr plan) to $2999.95/month (with a 1-yr plan).
When opening an eBay store, you can choose from the following plans:
Take a look at eBay’s Store subscription fees to compare options and choose the one that’s right for your business.
Like other online marketplaces, eBay allows sellers to meet specific objectives with ads.
These goals include:
Build brand awareness for your company with these eBay ads:
Get shoppers to start thinking about your brand and products with these eBay ads:
Secure more sales and happy clients with these eBay ads:
When selling on eBay, you’ll follow these steps to ship products:
Sellers on eBay can also attract buyers with Fast ‘N Free shipping.
To qualify, you need to meet these requirements:
With Fast ‘N Free shipping, if a guaranteed item arrives late, eBay will offer buyers one of the following options:
To learn more, check out eBay’s shipping guidelines and seller shipping rates.
If you’re not sure if selling on eBay is right for you, here are some pros and cons to consider.
For more info on how to sell online with eBay, check out these resources from Right Symbol.
Want quick access to a large audience of buyers? eBay is a good option for businesses selling a variety of products, from electronics to second-hand items!
Etsy is next on our list of the top online marketplaces in 2023.
An online marketplace for handmade, vintage, and craft supply goods, Etsy is an excellent option for sellers catering to those niches. With 39.4 million active buyers on the platform, you can quickly and easily expand your reach and sell more products online with Etsy.
To open an Etsy shop, follow these steps:
Once your shop is open, you can start selling your products!
Wondering how much it costs to sell on an online selling platform like Etsy?
Etsy sellers can expect to pay several fees, including:
Check out Etsy’s complete list of selling fees to learn more.
Etsy allows sellers to advertise products on the Etsy site, including in its search results, and on Google.
Follow these steps to get started with Etsy ads:
By default, starting an ad campaign on Etsy advertises all your listings automatically.
If you want to update which listings you advertise, follow these steps:
On Etsy, you get charged when your ad gets clicked. Etsy calculates your total cost-per-click (CPC) each day and adds it to your payment account.
Etsy makes shipping easy and affordable for sellers with shipping labels, calculated shipping, and shipment tracking.
Like Shopify, Etsy offers shipping labels that allow you to sell directly from your shops via:
Even better, you can save up to 30% on shipping with Etsy Shipping Labels.
When you purchase a shipping label, Etsy marks the item shipped automatically. Just print the label, package, and send the item.
To start shipping on Etsy:
For more info about how to get started, check out Etsy’s shipping page.
Not sure if you should sell on Etsy or your website?
Here are some pros and cons of selling products online with Etsy.
For more info on Etsy selling and marketing, check out these resources from Right Symbol.
Want to target niche buyers and enjoy streamlined shipping? Etsy is a great option for sellers of handmade, vintage, and craft supply goods!
Another popular online marketplace is Sears Marketplace. This marketplace allows SMBs to sell products on Sears.com and in kiosks in Sears stores.
With millions of Sears.com members, you can access a broad audience of ready-to-buy shoppers.
To start selling on Sears.com, you’ll need to:
Sears does not guarantee return contact for forms. They will not prioritize incomplete forms either.
Sears.com sellers get charged a $39.99 monthly program fee, as well as a commission for each item sold.
Commission fees depend on product categories and range from 8-20%. For instance, if you sell clothing, expect to pay a 15% commission fee for each product sold.
If you opt for FBS, you’ll have access to a pay-as-you-go model with no long-term commitments. This means you’ll only pay for what you store and ship.
Check out the shipping section below to learn more about FBS options and pricing.
Sears also lets sellers create compelling ads to reach Sears.com shoppers.
With 15 million unique visitors each month, Sears.com is valuable territory for businesses looking to boost brand awareness and purchases.
Advertising on Sears gives you numerous options, including:
Check out the Advertise with Sears page for a full overview of ad options and pricing.
Sears discontinued its fulfillment program, which was called Fulfilled by Sears, in 2023. While Sears processes your orders and provides you with the information you need to fulfill your orders, you’ll need to ship the orders through your own delivery methods.
Curious about whether Sears is the right option for selling and shipping your products? Check out the pros and cons of this top online marketplace of 2023.
Want instant access to an audience of ready-to-buy shoppers? Sears is a good option for businesses selling appliances, home goods, electronics, and more!
A Chinese ecommerce company, Alibaba offers online marketplace, payment, and cloud computing services.
While Alibaba isn’t a U.S.-based selling platform, we think it’s worthy to note on our list of the best online selling sites. After all, it dominates 80% of China’s online shopping market and boasts the equivalent $1 trillion in online site transactions.
To determine if it’s better to sell on Alibaba or your website, let’s look at how to sell on the platform.
Start selling on Alibaba with these steps:
Alibaba offers a Free Membership plan that lets sellers:
In addition to Alibaba’s free option, sellers can opt to pay for a Global Gold Supplier Membership to earn more buyers and buyer trust.
Global Gold Suppliers choose from the following packages:
View Alibaba’s packages and pricing to learn more.
Alibaba also offers ad options to help your products gain exposure on the site.
To start advertising on Alibaba:
Alibaba allows Global Gold Suppliers to post unlimited products.
In addition, you can advertise in Trade Alert emails — Alibaba’s email updates on trending products, buying requests, and supplier info.
If you want to advertise via Trade Alert emails:
Alibaba Logistics provides shipping services to sellers in select countries — and you can choose from Air Express and Sea Freight options.
This service offers cost-effective shipping to the U.S. in 5-7 business days, as well as online order tracking.
You can also choose from two sea freight shipping options:
For businesses in the U.S., Alibaba offers exclusive access to shipping experts.
Learn more and schedule a call to find out if Alibaba Logistics is right for your business.
Still not sure if Alibaba is the best platform to sell online for your business?
Check out these pros and cons of Alibaba selling.
Want access to millions of B2B and B2C buyers, ready to purchase your items? Alibaba is a good option for businesses selling everything from apparel to machinery!
A top global online marketplace, Rakuten boasts 1.3 billion members across the globe.
While not based in the U.S., Rakuten features 12 million U.S. members.
If you want to become a Rakuten marketplace merchant, you’ll need to:
Brands currently selling on Rakuten include:
For more info about selling on Rakuten, check out its FAQ page.
Rakuten charges sellers $39/month, plus category commission and $0.99 for every item sold.
Commission fees range from 8-15%, depending on the product category. If you sell electronics on Rakuten, you can expect to pay an 8% commission fee, while selling clothing will cost you 15% commission.
Like most other third-party ecommerce platforms, Rakuten offers advertising options to boost brand exposure and conversions.
If you sell on Rakuten, you can increase exposure with:
To start advertising on Rakuten Marketplace or the Rakuten Marketplace Affiliate Program, fill out a contact form.
As a Rakuten seller, you choose the shipping options available to your customers — and you can choose from four shipping speeds.
Rakuten sellers can pick from the following shipping companies and options:
When people purchase from you on Rakuten, you’ll have two days to ship their products. Keep in mind that Rakuten bases its selling fees on the entire transaction cost, including shipping and handling.
Want to entice shoppers with exclusive deals and promotions? Rakuten is a good option for clothing, electronics, and household goods sellers looking to inspire loyal customers!
Facebook Marketplace — commonly used to buy and sell items like furniture, clothes, and even cars — features 800 million monthly users in 70 countries.
Though the platform is popular among individual sellers, Facebook has started to roll out Marketplace for Business — a feature for SMB sellers.
Marketplace for Business allows you to:
To list ecommerce inventory on Marketplace for Business, you’ll need to work with one of the following listing partners:
Facebook recommends contacting a listing partner directly to express interest in selling your products on Marketplace for Business.
All Marketplace listings must comply with Facebook’s Commerce Policies and Community Standards.
It’s important to note —Facebook is gradually introducing Marketplace for Business, so it may not currently be available to you.
A perk of using this selling platform — Facebook does not charge to list inventory on Marketplace.
However, you may encounter fees working with Facebook’s listing partners.
With Facebook Ads Manager, you can create ads to display in Marketplace.
To create a Marketplace ad:
After your ads are approved, they’ll appear as users browse Marketplace.
Marketplace for Business sellers are responsible for shipping inventory.
To sell on Marketplace for Business:
For more information and to start selling on Facebook Marketplace for Business, check out these resources from Right Symbol.
Want to boost awareness of your products and allow people to buy directly on social media? Facebook Marketplace for Business is a good option for selling retail items, home rentals, vehicles, and event tickets.
Now that we’ve looked at the top third-party marketplaces, it’s time to consider creating and selling on your own site.
For many businesses, creating and selling on their own ecommerce websites yields the best return. Since 74% of small business websites don’t have ecommerce functionalities, there’s a significant opportunity for you to move into the online selling space using your site.
To start selling products online via your site, you’ll first need to create or update your website.
Follow these steps to get started selling on your site:
Designing and launching your ecommerce store is a daunting task, but Right Symbol can guide you through every step of the process. Contact us today to speak with an expert and start selling from your custom online storefront.
Selling on your own site requires an upfront investment, but for many SMBs, it’s the best long-term option.
When creating your site, you’ll encounter several fees, including:
On average, you can expect to pay $12,000 – $150,000 to design and launch a custom ecommerce site. You’ll also need to invest in routine maintenance, which can range from $35 – $5000 per month.
Ultimately, the total cost of selling on your site depends on several factors. For a custom estimate, check out our website cost calculator.
If you want to drive long-term results with your ecommerce store, we also recommend investing in an SEO strategy.
Right Symbol offers ecommerce SEO services. In the last five years, we’ve generated over $3 billion in revenue for clients and driven more than 7.8 million leads for their businesses.
At Right Symbol, we understand the importance of creating websites that not only look great, but also function well and rank at the top of search results.
When you choose us as your ecommerce partner, you can rest assured we’ll earn you the best possible results — and you’ll enjoy more site traffic, leads, and online revenue.
When selling on your own website, you can choose to run paid ads on platforms like Google Ads, as well as social media sites, to boost traffic to your website.
PPC ads appear at the top of search results — above organic listings. And they can help your SMB boost brand awareness, leads, and revenue.
Advertising on social media expands your reach and connects your business with a qualified audience — people most likely to purchase from your online site.
If you’re launching a new site, PPC ads can help you gain qualified leads immediately, while you work to establish your organic site rankings with SEO.
To get the best possible ROI from your paid ad campaigns, we recommend consulting a PPC expert.
At Right Symbol, our PPC specialists will take a deep dive into your goals and budget. We’ll also create a custom-tailored strategy to help you create and manage result-driving ads.
When selling on your own site versus an online selling site, you’re responsible for fulfilling and shipping all orders.
Here are some things to consider:
Keep in mind, you’ll also need to create a return policy and provide customer service to shoppers.
For more info on creating your ecommerce site, check out these resources from Right Symbol:
Want full control of your pricing and online sales platform? Creating your own website is a good option if you want to take the reins and position your business for long-term success!
Now that you know how to sell online and have an overview of the best online selling sites, let’s break down the ins and outs of where you can sell your products and how to sell online with each marketplace. Use the links below if you’d like to jump straight to a specific best platform to sell online.
Amazon Marketplace ranks number one on our list of the best platform to sell online in 2023.
In the U.S. alone, more than 1 million SMBs sell on Amazon Marketplace.
It’s fairly easy to start selling on the platform, and Amazon Marketplace allows sellers to get more eyes on their products fast.
Wondering how to sell online with Amazon Marketplace? Here’s how to get started:
If you’re listing products already on Amazon.com, you will need to indicate:
If you’re listing products that aren’t on this selling platform yet, you’ll need to identify their UPC/EAN and SKU, as well as list product attributes like titles and descriptions.
With the Individual plan, sellers pay $0.99 per item sold, plus additional selling fees.
The Professional plan allows you to sell an unlimited number of products for $39.99/month with additional selling fees.
If you only sell a few products each month, the Individual plan may work for you. However, the Professional plan appeals to sellers with larger product quantities.
Amazon offers numerous ad options to help sellers reach more customers and boost online sales.
They include:
When shipping your Amazon Marketplace products, you have two options — Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) and the Merchant Fulfilled Network (MFN).
A noteworthy perk of selling on Amazon Marketplace comes from Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA), which you can use to ship your products.
With FBA, you pay to store products in Amazon’s fulfillment centers. When a customer places an order for your FBA product, Amazon receives the info, picks the stock from the shelves, packs, and ships the item.
Amazon also provides customer service for all FBA products.
FBA fees depend on the size and weight of items sold. Amazon also charges short- and long-term storage fees, so you’ll pay more for products that stay in the FBA inventory longer.
FBA offers many benefits, including:
HOW TO GET STARTED WITH FBA
To begin using FBA, follow these steps:
If you need to convert existing inventory to FBA, you can:
If you don’t want to use FBA, you can ship products via the Merchant Fulfilled Network (MFN), also known as Fulfilled by Merchant (FBM).
MFN allows you to ship products directly from your home, business, or warehouse. Just remember — with this option, you’re responsible for locating stock, packing orders, arranging shipping, and providing customer service.
Now that you understand how selling on Amazon Marketplace works, you’re probably wondering, “Is it better to sell on Amazon or my website?”
Let’s look at some pros and cons of selling on Amazon Marketplace.
First, let’s look at some advantages of using this online selling site.
You can find all the information you need on landing page cost, and Right Symbol’s social media and PPC landing page pricing, by referring to the chart above.
For more info on Amazon Marketplace selling and marketing, check out these resources from Right Symbol.
Want to boost online revenue fast? Amazon is a good option for small and midsize businesses selling a range of products like apparel, home goods, electronics, and much more!
Walmart Marketplace comes in second on our online marketplace ranking list.
In the U.S., 100 million people visit Walmart.com every month.
Selling on Walmart Marketplace expands your reach immediately, helping you sell more products.
To get started selling on Walmart Marketplace, you’ll need to:
While Walmart does not charge monthly fees, sellers can expect to pay referral fees ranging from 6-20% for various product categories on this online selling platform.
For example, if you sell apparel on Walmart Marketplace, you can expect to pay a 15% referral fee.
Before you start selling on Walmart.com, you’ll have a chance to review the Product Categories and their referral fees in your Walmart Marketplace Retailer agreement.
Select Marketplace sellers have access to the Walmart Sponsored Products program.
This program, which requires a $1000 minimum monthly ad spend, allows sellers to create native ads that appear in search results, as well as item, category, and product pages.
Walmart’s Sponsored Products program allows you to increase the visibility of your products without paying directly for views. Like pay-per-click (PPC) ads, you only pay when customers click on your ad. Walmart’s internal relevancy engines help determine the best time and place to make that happen.
While sellers can oversee their ad strategies in-house, Walmart offers ad management services for campaigns with budgets over $25,000.
Participation in Walmart’s Sponsored Products program requires approval and onboarding from the Walmart Media Group.
To start advertising on this selling platform, you’ll need to:
Walmart Marketplace offers five shipping methods, including:
Sellers select the carriers, shipping price, and shipping method when setting up their profile in Seller Central.
The online marketplace requires sellers to ship orders in non-branded packaging, and you can’t include materials from any company other than Walmart.
With Walmart Marketplace, sellers have access to the platform’s TwoDay Delivery option, which is a great incentive for buyers.
For more information, check out Walmart Marketplace’s shipping guidelines.
Let’s look at some pros and cons of selling on Walmart Marketplace vs. your ecommerce site.
For more info on Walmart Marketplace selling and marketing, check out these resources from Right Symbol.
Want to expand your online reach and streamline shipping? Walmart is a good option for sellers of apparel, beauty products, electronics, groceries, and more!
Next, we’ll look at Shopify, which is another one of 2023’s top online marketplaces.
A complete ecommerce solution, Shopify allows you to start, grow, and manage your business — all from one platform.
Here’s an overview of how to sell online using Shopify:
Shopify offers sellers a free 14-day trial, so you don’t need to enter a credit card when signing up on the platform.
When your free trial ends, you’ll need to select a pricing plan that matches your budget and business goals.
Choose from five plans:
Typically, small and medium-sized companies opt for the Shopify or Advanced Shopify plans, so you can expect to pay $79-$299/month to sell on Shopify.
Large businesses can sign up for Shopify Plus, but you’ll need to contact the company for a custom quote.
You may also opt for the Shopify Lite plan that allows you to sell on Facebook and interact with customers on Facebook Messenger. With this $9/month plan, you’ll add products to a website or blog and accept credit card payments.
Like Amazon, Shopify gives sellers access to several custom advertising options.
One of the first platforms to integrate Google’s new Smart Shopping campaigns, Shopify allows Google to pull product information from sellers’ stores.
Google then creates ads automatically and shows them to relevant audiences in places like Google search, Gmail, YouTube, and Google Display Network.
The seamless integration uses Google’s Smart technology to analyze results and optimize campaigns automatically, so you can maximize your paid ad budget.
In addition to ads on Google, Shopify sellers can also run Facebook Carousel ads right in Shopify.
These ads include up to five products or images to engage customers and boost awareness of your offerings.
You can also track your Facebook ad results in Shopify.
Shopify Shipping gives sellers access to pre-negotiated shipping rates and labels with shipping carriers based on your subscription plan.
In the U.S., sellers have access to USPS, UPS, and DHL Express.
Sellers in Canada have access to Canada Post.
Here’s an overview of the process:
Shopify Shipping offers a suite of tools to aid with the shipping process via your Shopify admin. For example, you can purchase and send return labels to customers from your Shopify admin.
U.S. sellers can also schedule package pickups.
If you purchase UPS or DHL Express labels via Shopify Shipping, you can schedule a pickup from your Shopify admin.
When using Shopify Shipping, remember that the cost of shipping labels gets calculated using the weight of the products and packaging. You can enter this information in your Shopify admin easily, as well as purchase and print your shipping labels.
Final shipping costs depend on the distance and how quickly customers want to receive the products.
For more info on how to sell online with Shopify, check out these resources from Right Symbol.
Want an easy-to-use interface that lets you quickly boost online sales? Shopify is a good option for small and midsize businesses offering a variety of unique products!
Target Plus™ is next up on our online marketplace ranking list.
A relatively new online marketplace, Target Plus™ allows third-party sellers to sell on Target.com.
The platform expands Target.com’s product offerings in categories like home furnishings, toys, electronics, and sporting goods.
Unlike other online marketplace platforms, Target Plus™ is invite-only.
To become a Target supplier, you must uphold the company’s values, which include:
If you want to boost your visibility with the Supplier Diversity team, you’ll need to fill out the Supplier Registration form.
You can also connect with a merchandising or sourcing team member. If selected, you will receive an email invite from a Target team member to set up an account on the Partners Online portal.
Then, Target will validate your company’s information during its approval and onboarding process.
You’ll also need to provide a list of brands you own or license from the trademark owner.
Target has not published information regarding Target Plus™ commissions and fees.
However, Target has stated that Target Plus™ sellers are responsible for shipping and other costs.
Target’s advertising platform, Roundel (previously Target Media Network), allows companies to reach Target shoppers with custom advertisements.
Going beyond display ads, Roundel clients can advertise brands — even brands not sold in Target stores — on Target’s website and external channels like Pinterest, PopSugar, and NBCUniversal.
Currently, Roundel is used by businesses in financial services, automotive, travel, and more. Its clients include heavy hitters like Coca-Cola, Disney, Pepsi, and Mastercard.
That said, advertising with Roundel may not be the best fit for small and medium-sized businesses. Fortunately, Right Symbol specializes in helping SMBs expand their presence on online marketplaces like Target Plus™.
Check out our Target Plus™ management and optimization services to learn more.
While Target Plus™ sellers are responsible for shipping products, Target processes online and in-store returns.
Questioning if Target Plus™ selling could work for your business?
Here are some pros and cons of selling products online via Target Plus™.
For more info on Target Plus™ selling and marketing, check out these resources from Right Symbol.
Want to expand your reach with the backing of a renowned brand? Target Plus™ is a good option for established businesses selling home furnishings, toys, electronics, or sporting goods!
Another top online marketplace in 2023, eBay allows consumers to buy and sell everything, from cars to electronics, sporting goods, and more. This powerhouse platform rakes in $35 billion in domestic sales each year — and it’s a household name across the globe.
To start selling your products online with eBay:
Individual eBay sellers can expect to pay several fees, including insertion and final value fees.
Each month, eBay sellers get up to 50 zero insertion fee listings — or more if you have an eBay Store (more on that later).
After you’ve exceeded the allowance, you’re charged insertion fees, which include:
Sellers are also charged a final value fee when an item sells.
This fee gets calculated as a percentage of the total sales amount, including any shipping and handling charges.
The amount eBay charges depends on the following factors:
Sellers also have the option to open an eBay Store to receive discounted fees and more free listings each month. Store owners have access to additional tools to manage and promote their businesses too.
To get started, you’ll need an eBay seller account with an automatic payment method on file.
If you want to open an eBay Store:
Store subscription plans from eBay start at $4.95/month (with a 1-yr plan) to $2999.95/month (with a 1-yr plan).
When opening an eBay store, you can choose from the following plans:
Take a look at eBay’s Store subscription fees to compare options and choose the one that’s right for your business.
Like other online marketplaces, eBay allows sellers to meet specific objectives with ads.
These goals include:
Build brand awareness for your company with these eBay ads:
Get shoppers to start thinking about your brand and products with these eBay ads:
Secure more sales and happy clients with these eBay ads:
When selling on eBay, you’ll follow these steps to ship products:
Sellers on eBay can also attract buyers with Fast ‘N Free shipping.
To qualify, you need to meet these requirements:
With Fast ‘N Free shipping, if a guaranteed item arrives late, eBay will offer buyers one of the following options:
To learn more, check out eBay’s shipping guidelines and seller shipping rates.
If you’re not sure if selling on eBay is right for you, here are some pros and cons to consider.
For more info on how to sell online with eBay, check out these resources from Right Symbol.
Want quick access to a large audience of buyers? eBay is a good option for businesses selling a variety of products, from electronics to second-hand items!
Etsy is next on our list of the top online marketplaces in 2023.
An online marketplace for handmade, vintage, and craft supply goods, Etsy is an excellent option for sellers catering to those niches. With 39.4 million active buyers on the platform, you can quickly and easily expand your reach and sell more products online with Etsy.
To open an Etsy shop, follow these steps:
Once your shop is open, you can start selling your products!
Wondering how much it costs to sell on an online selling platform like Etsy?
Etsy sellers can expect to pay several fees, including:
Check out Etsy’s complete list of selling fees to learn more.
Etsy allows sellers to advertise products on the Etsy site, including in its search results, and on Google.
Follow these steps to get started with Etsy ads:
By default, starting an ad campaign on Etsy advertises all your listings automatically.
If you want to update which listings you advertise, follow these steps:
On Etsy, you get charged when your ad gets clicked. Etsy calculates your total cost-per-click (CPC) each day and adds it to your payment account.
Etsy makes shipping easy and affordable for sellers with shipping labels, calculated shipping, and shipment tracking.
Like Shopify, Etsy offers shipping labels that allow you to sell directly from your shops via:
Even better, you can save up to 30% on shipping with Etsy Shipping Labels.
When you purchase a shipping label, Etsy marks the item shipped automatically. Just print the label, package, and send the item.
To start shipping on Etsy:
For more info about how to get started, check out Etsy’s shipping page.
Not sure if you should sell on Etsy or your website?
Here are some pros and cons of selling products online with Etsy.
For more info on Etsy selling and marketing, check out these resources from Right Symbol.
Want to target niche buyers and enjoy streamlined shipping? Etsy is a great option for sellers of handmade, vintage, and craft supply goods!
Another popular online marketplace is Sears Marketplace. This marketplace allows SMBs to sell products on Sears.com and in kiosks in Sears stores.
With millions of Sears.com members, you can access a broad audience of ready-to-buy shoppers.
To start selling on Sears.com, you’ll need to:
Sears does not guarantee return contact for forms. They will not prioritize incomplete forms either.
Sears.com sellers get charged a $39.99 monthly program fee, as well as a commission for each item sold.
Commission fees depend on product categories and range from 8-20%. For instance, if you sell clothing, expect to pay a 15% commission fee for each product sold.
If you opt for FBS, you’ll have access to a pay-as-you-go model with no long-term commitments. This means you’ll only pay for what you store and ship.
Check out the shipping section below to learn more about FBS options and pricing.
Sears also lets sellers create compelling ads to reach Sears.com shoppers.
With 15 million unique visitors each month, Sears.com is valuable territory for businesses looking to boost brand awareness and purchases.
Advertising on Sears gives you numerous options, including:
Check out the Advertise with Sears page for a full overview of ad options and pricing.
Sears discontinued its fulfillment program, which was called Fulfilled by Sears, in 2023. While Sears processes your orders and provides you with the information you need to fulfill your orders, you’ll need to ship the orders through your own delivery methods.
Curious about whether Sears is the right option for selling and shipping your products? Check out the pros and cons of this top online marketplace of 2023.
Want instant access to an audience of ready-to-buy shoppers? Sears is a good option for businesses selling appliances, home goods, electronics, and more!
A Chinese ecommerce company, Alibaba offers online marketplace, payment, and cloud computing services.
While Alibaba isn’t a U.S.-based selling platform, we think it’s worthy to note on our list of the best online selling sites. After all, it dominates 80% of China’s online shopping market and boasts the equivalent $1 trillion in online site transactions.
To determine if it’s better to sell on Alibaba or your website, let’s look at how to sell on the platform.
Start selling on Alibaba with these steps:
Alibaba offers a Free Membership plan that lets sellers:
In addition to Alibaba’s free option, sellers can opt to pay for a Global Gold Supplier Membership to earn more buyers and buyer trust.
Global Gold Suppliers choose from the following packages:
View Alibaba’s packages and pricing to learn more.
Alibaba also offers ad options to help your products gain exposure on the site.
To start advertising on Alibaba:
Alibaba allows Global Gold Suppliers to post unlimited products.
In addition, you can advertise in Trade Alert emails — Alibaba’s email updates on trending products, buying requests, and supplier info.
If you want to advertise via Trade Alert emails:
Alibaba Logistics provides shipping services to sellers in select countries — and you can choose from Air Express and Sea Freight options.
This service offers cost-effective shipping to the U.S. in 5-7 business days, as well as online order tracking.
You can also choose from two sea freight shipping options:
For businesses in the U.S., Alibaba offers exclusive access to shipping experts.
Learn more and schedule a call to find out if Alibaba Logistics is right for your business.
Still not sure if Alibaba is the best platform to sell online for your business?
Check out these pros and cons of Alibaba selling.
Want access to millions of B2B and B2C buyers, ready to purchase your items? Alibaba is a good option for businesses selling everything from apparel to machinery!
A top global online marketplace, Rakuten boasts 1.3 billion members across the globe.
While not based in the U.S., Rakuten features 12 million U.S. members.
If you want to become a Rakuten marketplace merchant, you’ll need to:
Brands currently selling on Rakuten include:
For more info about selling on Rakuten, check out its FAQ page.
Rakuten charges sellers $39/month, plus category commission and $0.99 for every item sold.
Commission fees range from 8-15%, depending on the product category. If you sell electronics on Rakuten, you can expect to pay an 8% commission fee, while selling clothing will cost you 15% commission.
Like most other third-party ecommerce platforms, Rakuten offers advertising options to boost brand exposure and conversions.
If you sell on Rakuten, you can increase exposure with:
To start advertising on Rakuten Marketplace or the Rakuten Marketplace Affiliate Program, fill out a contact form.
As a Rakuten seller, you choose the shipping options available to your customers — and you can choose from four shipping speeds.
Rakuten sellers can pick from the following shipping companies and options:
When people purchase from you on Rakuten, you’ll have two days to ship their products. Keep in mind that Rakuten bases its selling fees on the entire transaction cost, including shipping and handling.
Want to entice shoppers with exclusive deals and promotions? Rakuten is a good option for clothing, electronics, and household goods sellers looking to inspire loyal customers!
Facebook Marketplace — commonly used to buy and sell items like furniture, clothes, and even cars — features 800 million monthly users in 70 countries.
Though the platform is popular among individual sellers, Facebook has started to roll out Marketplace for Business — a feature for SMB sellers.
Marketplace for Business allows you to:
To list ecommerce inventory on Marketplace for Business, you’ll need to work with one of the following listing partners:
Facebook recommends contacting a listing partner directly to express interest in selling your products on Marketplace for Business.
All Marketplace listings must comply with Facebook’s Commerce Policies and Community Standards.
It’s important to note —Facebook is gradually introducing Marketplace for Business, so it may not currently be available to you.
A perk of using this selling platform — Facebook does not charge to list inventory on Marketplace.
However, you may encounter fees working with Facebook’s listing partners.
With Facebook Ads Manager, you can create ads to display in Marketplace.
To create a Marketplace ad:
After your ads are approved, they’ll appear as users browse Marketplace.
Marketplace for Business sellers are responsible for shipping inventory.
To sell on Marketplace for Business:
For more information and to start selling on Facebook Marketplace for Business, check out these resources from Right Symbol.
Want to boost awareness of your products and allow people to buy directly on social media? Facebook Marketplace for Business is a good option for selling retail items, home rentals, vehicles, and event tickets.
Now that we’ve looked at the top third-party marketplaces, it’s time to consider creating and selling on your own site.
For many businesses, creating and selling on their own ecommerce websites yields the best return. Since 74% of small business websites don’t have ecommerce functionalities, there’s a significant opportunity for you to move into the online selling space using your site.
To start selling products online via your site, you’ll first need to create or update your website.
Follow these steps to get started selling on your site:
Designing and launching your ecommerce store is a daunting task, but Righty Symbol can guide you through every step of the process. Contact us today to speak with an expert and start selling from your custom online storefront.
Selling on your own site requires an upfront investment, but for many SMBs, it’s the best long-term option.
When creating your site, you’ll encounter several fees, including:
On average, you can expect to pay $12,000 – $150,000 to design and launch a custom ecommerce site. You’ll also need to invest in routine maintenance, which can range from $35 – $5000 per month.
Ultimately, the total cost of selling on your site depends on several factors. For a custom estimate, check out our website cost calculator.
If you want to drive long-term results with your ecommerce store, we also recommend investing in an SEO strategy.
Right Symbol offers ecommerce SEO services. In the last five years, we’ve generated over $3 billion in revenue for clients and driven more than 7.8 million leads for their businesses.
At Right Symbol, we understand the importance of creating websites that not only look great, but also function well and rank at the top of search results.
When you choose us as your ecommerce partner, you can rest assured we’ll earn you the best possible results — and you’ll enjoy more site traffic, leads, and online revenue.
When selling on your own website, you can choose to run paid ads on platforms like Google Ads, as well as social media sites, to boost traffic to your website.
PPC ads appear at the top of search results — above organic listings. And they can help your SMB boost brand awareness, leads, and revenue.
Advertising on social media expands your reach and connects your business with a qualified audience — people most likely to purchase from your online site.
If you’re launching a new site, PPC ads can help you gain qualified leads immediately, while you work to establish your organic site rankings with SEO.
To get the best possible ROI from your paid ad campaigns, we recommend consulting a PPC expert.
At Right Symbol, our PPC specialists will take a deep dive into your goals and budget. We’ll also create a custom-tailored strategy to help you create and manage result-driving ads.
When selling on your own site versus an online selling site, you’re responsible for fulfilling and shipping all orders.
Here are some things to consider:
Keep in mind, you’ll also need to create a return policy and provide customer service to shoppers.
For more info on creating your ecommerce site, check out these resources from Right Symbol:
Want full control of your pricing and online sales platform? Creating your own website is a good option if you want to take the reins and position your business for long-term success!
Before we dive into detail about landing pages, let’s quickly cover the basics on PPC. PPC is a paid advertising strategy that allows you to reach valuable leads that are interested in your business. These ads appear at the top of the search results, above the organic listings.
PPC ads are great for attracting valuable leads that are interested in your business.
To start using PPC ads, you must first select keywords for your page. These keywords will trigger your ad to appear in relevant search results. You’ll want to stick to long-tail keywords, which contain three or more words, as these drive more qualified leads to your page.
Once you select your keywords, you will bid for your ad’s placement. You will set your maximum bid, which is the amount you’re willing to pay each time someone clicks on your ad. This amount is flexible and can be changed at any time.
Your maximum bid and quality score will determine your ad’s placement. Once you have your placement, you will launch your campaign.
PPC ads aren’t restricted to just Google. You can run PPC-like ads on social media, too. These ads appear in a social media user’s newsfeed. It’s a great way to reach new leads for your business.
Social media ads seamlessly integrate into people’s newsfeeds. With both PPC and social media ads, you will only pay when someone clicks on your ad. This means that your money is going towards valuable leads interested in your products or services.
We’ll dive into more detail about these landing pages later. For now, let’s look at why it’s important that you create a landing page for your PPC and social media ads.
Implementing search engine optimization and online advertising to increase your site’s traffic is one thing. Converting traffic into sales is another. That’s where landing page design services for PPC comes into play.
Landing pages convince your visitor to stay and perform a specific action, such as purchasing a product or posting your page in online communities for others to view. Instead of directing visitors to your homepage where they may not know what to do next, you can send them to a highly targeted landing page that moves them into the next step in your sales funnel.
To illustrate this further, you can also think about landing pages in terms of continuity. Let’s say you own a luxury pet care business, and you’re currently running a Google Ads campaign targeting search terms related to dog walking services.
Without a landing page, potential customers who clicked on the ad looking for more information about your dog walking service will end up on your homepage. Because you offer hundreds of different pet care services and products for a range of different animals, the customer then has to figure out how to navigate to the section of your website related to your dog walking services.
This is already too much effort for most people, and it results in very low conversion rates.
With a custom landing page design, you could set up a page that’s all about your dog walking service. When a potential customer clicks on your ad, you can direct them to this specialized page instead of your homepage. They’re immediately met with information, pricing, and so on relating to your dog walking service, and they’ll be that much more likely to continue with the purchase.
Humans favor consistency, and landing pages are perhaps the best way to accomplish this. Ultimately, you’re minimizing disruptions and distractions, and streamlining your sales funnel.
Landing pages also allow for much more organized, accessible data. If you’re just funneling all traffic to your homepage, it’s going to be hard or impossible to optimize for better user metrics.
Making one single change on your homepage affects everyone who lands on it, so even if you bump up the conversion rate for a specific demographic, you may be adversely affected the conversion rate for other demographics.
Landing pages act as partitions, and they let you optimize specific and exactly for a range of different traffic types. Professional landing page design services from Right Symbol can help you create natural partitions that work with your site seamlessly.
The price for a landing page, as well as a custom landing page design, varies.
A single landing page price is impacted by the amount of content, testing, development, and optimization that goes into it. A simple PPC landing page may not cost very much at all, while a complex social media landing page with special effects or strong calls to action may require a larger investment.
When you hire a landing page design company, the cost can range from $1,400 to $3,200, depending upon the extent of the design and optimization. If you have a more intricate landing page idea, you can expect to pay more for it.
You can find all the information you need on landing page cost, and Right Symbol’s social media and PPC landing page pricing, by referring to the chart above.
The million-dollar question: What is the best platform sell online? A top online marketplace or your own website?
Unfortunately, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer — but hopefully, our online marketplace guide helps you get started. Depending on your business, goals, and budget, you may get a better return selling on an online marketplace, your own site, or a combination of online selling platforms.
Choosing where to sell online is a big decision — and it can make or break your business.
At Right Symbol, we understand the importance of fully researching and vetting all options to find the perfect online selling platforms for your business. That’s why we recommend consulting ecommerce specialists, like the Right Symbol team.
We specialize in creating ecommerce websites that not only look great, but also rank at the top of search results.
Plus, we help companies like yours take advantage of the best online selling sites, like Amazon and Walmart Marketplace, so you can earn more sales through more online channels.
Contact us online or give us a ring at +1 (347) 486-6388 to learn more about our ecommerce web design services, as well as marketing services for online marketplaces like Amazon, Walmart Marketplace, and Facebook Marketplace.
Do you still have questions about using selling sites and online marketplaces like Etsy and Amazon?
Browse our FAQs.
An online marketplace is an ecommerce platform that offers different products from different sellers. Amazon, Google Shopping, Walmart Marketplace, and Etsy are all examples of online marketplaces that businesses and individual sellers use.
When selling products online, online marketplaces offer a unique advantage.
Many, like Amazon, eBay, and Walmart Marketplace, have an established audience of shoppers. Joining one of these online selling platforms allows your business to reach a massive audience of ready-to-buy consumers, which can translate to more online orders and sales.
Overall, it’s smart to take advantage of online marketplaces to sell your products because they offer access to a broad audience that’s looking to buy. Plus, they have an established infrastructure and quick onboarding process for new sellers.
That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t sell on your website — only that you should consider opening another channel for generating orders.
U.S. online marketplaces account for $2.67 trillion in sales, making digital retail platforms a valuable investment for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs). When deciding how and where to sell online in 2023, you’ll want to consider these powerhouse platforms.
Let’s look at some stats about America’s top-ranking online marketplaces:
The million-dollar question: What is the best platform sell online? A top online marketplace or your own website?
Unfortunately, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer — but hopefully, our online marketplace guide helps you get started. Depending on your business, goals, and budget, you may get a better return selling on an online marketplace, your own site, or a combination of online selling platforms.
Choosing where to sell online is a big decision — and it can make or break your business.
At Right Symbol, we understand the importance of fully researching and vetting all options to find the perfect online selling platforms for your business. That’s why we recommend consulting ecommerce specialists, like the Right Symbol team.
We specialize in creating ecommerce websites that not only look great, but also rank at the top of search results.
Plus, we help companies like yours take advantage of the best online selling sites, like Amazon and Walmart Marketplace, so you can earn more sales through more online channels.
Contact us online or give us a ring at +1 (347) 486-6388 to learn more about our ecommerce web design services, as well as marketing services for online marketplaces like Amazon, Walmart Marketplace, and Facebook Marketplace.
Do you still have questions about using selling sites and online marketplaces like Etsy and Amazon?
Browse our FAQs.
An online marketplace is an ecommerce platform that offers different products from different sellers. Amazon, Google Shopping, Walmart Marketplace, and Etsy are all examples of online marketplaces that businesses and individual sellers use.
When selling products online, online marketplaces offer a unique advantage.
Many, like Amazon, eBay, and Walmart Marketplace, have an established audience of shoppers. Joining one of these online selling platforms allows your business to reach a massive audience of ready-to-buy consumers, which can translate to more online orders and sales.
Overall, it’s smart to take advantage of online marketplaces to sell your products because they offer access to a broad audience that’s looking to buy. Plus, they have an established infrastructure and quick onboarding process for new sellers.
That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t sell on your website — only that you should consider opening another channel for generating orders.
U.S. online marketplaces account for $2.67 trillion in sales, making digital retail platforms a valuable investment for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs). When deciding how and where to sell online in 2023, you’ll want to consider these powerhouse platforms.
Let’s look at some stats about America’s top-ranking online marketplaces:
Get a custom ecommerce website that is mobile-friendly, plus follows SEO best practices so more people can find your store.
Advertise on Google and Bing with ads built for ecommerce stores by a dedicated ecommerce PPC specialist.
Selling products online? Want to keep inventory moving? Ecommerce SEO is the longterm strategy that keeps your warehouse busy!
I had the pleasure of working with Right Symbol. Their broad product knowledge, analytical mind, and great people skills make them a well-rounded digital transformer. Having them as a part of any team will make the work more enjoyable and efficient.
I had the opportunity to work with Right Symbol on a regular basis on our project, and it has always been a pleasure. I personally learned a lot about digital strategies while working with them. I wish the team the best of luck for future ventures. Stay in touch, and we will keep growing!
I recommend Right Symbol for your digital marketing needs. Their excellent attitude towards the product and their result-driven strategies make them different. They are creative, passionate, and result-oriented. I am looking forward to working with them again in the future.
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