Online Selling Sites: The 10 Best Online Marketplaces

Ahrefs

Ahrefs is a SEO toolset with awesome capabilities in backlink analysis, keyword research, and competitive analysis. You can do keyword research for Google, YouTube, Amazon, Bing, Yahoo and many other platforms. If you have an online shop, you can use Ahrefs to optimize your website for SEO and increase the traffic to your online shop.

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Mailchimp is a leading email marketing platform allowing users to create, send, and analyze email campaigns with ease. With additional features like landing pages, social media integration, and e-commerce capabilities, Mailchimp serves as a comprehensive solution for businesses aiming to enhance their marketing efforts and engage more effectively with their customers.

Should I Use an Online Selling Site or Open My Own Online Store?

Deciding between using an online selling site or opening an online store comes with pros and cons for both sides. For example, if you start your own online store, you won’t have to pay fees to a marketplace and you can easily gather your customers’ emails addresses. However, getting people to visit a brand-new online store can be tough at first.

Using an online selling site like Amazon or eBay, on the other hand, gives you a fast way to reach a lot of customers right from the start. These online selling sites also handle everything from web design to payment processing and other technical tasks, freeing you from those concerns.

An online selling site works a lot like a regular marketplace where sellers show off their products. But online, just having the cheapest price doesn’t always mean you’ll make the sale. Gaining visibility and forging connections with customers often matters more. With so many people selling online, you really need to make your shop stand out to succeed.

What Does Your Listing on an Online Selling Site Consist Of?

In this section, we’ll explore the components of a listing on an online selling site. Understanding what makes up your listing can help you attract more customers and increase sales on an online marketplace.

1. Product Photos

Analyses of purchasing behavior revealed that product photos are the first thing customers look at. They must be appealing and compelling to ensure customers click on your product for more information.

You don’t need to hire a product photographer for photos in the beginning, especially if you don’t have the budget. If you have the equipment to take high quality pictures, use it to take your own photos. Good illumination and high image sharpness are essential.

2. Product Title

The next important element of your listing is the product title. It should contain  relevant keywords and be easy to read. The title should be concise and contain important product information. Avoid pushy promotional titles that may turn customers off.

One would think that the more keywords used in the title, the better the visibility. Include one or two essential keywords, but avoid keyword stuffing which may reduce  readability. Mention the brand name of your product at the beginning of the title. Nowadays this is mandatory on many platforms and it helps to increase your brand awareness.

The USP (unique selling proposition) of your product can be taken from the title. It will sets you apart from the competition. Add this information only if the title is not too long. It’s best not to lose clarity. The title must be written simply to retain customer-focus.

Here are a few more formal tips:

• Capitalize only the first letter of nouns, do not write words completely in caps
• Do not write out numbers
• Special characters like “!”, “?”, “&” etc., price, advertising phrases like “offer”, “special sale” etc. or “bestseller” should be avoided

3. Product Description

The product description will encourage the customer to place an order and can increase your conversion rate. Draft creative text that appeals to prospects on an emotional level. The product should be described along with its features and benefits. The description also offers a good opportunity to include additional keywords.

A slogan at the beginning of the description can be an effective marketing strategy. A slogan attracts attention and makes the customer more likely to read on. You may also present a problem in the description and describe how your product solves it. This strategy will reach customers emotionally. They may not have been aware of the problem beforehand, but your description will raise awareness and present a solution.

Finally, briefly summarize your product’s main benefits through an AI summarizer and add a call-to-action. This is a friendly invitation to add your product to the shopping cart. If your arguments were convincing, the CTA will give the customer the final jolt to choose your product.

4. Bullet Points

Amazon will provide you with five bullet points that you can use to summarize your product benefits. Think about which target group you want to address beforehand and adjust your text accordingly. Ask yourself the following questions:

• How old are your potential customers?
• How much money do they earn?
• What hobbies do they enjoy?
• What are your customers’ geographic locations?
• What problem are they trying to solve?

You must also write in an engaging manner. Use metaphors to gain and maintain their attention. Cumbersome wording may scare your customers away.

Capitalization at the beginning of a bullet point is another effective marketing strategy. Here is an example:

• STAINLESS: We use stainless steel for our high quality knife blades,…

End bullet points with an exclamation mark to motivate customers even more. You should put one or two keywords in each bullet point. You should also mention the USP in your bullet points to remind them of your product benefits.

If there are features that make your product stand out, include them with your keywords. Phrase your bullet points so that the customer understands what problem would be solved if they bought this product.

Here’s an example: You launch a snow shovel on the market that, among other things, is wider than the competition’s. Rather than start the bullet point as follows:

“Snow shovel with a width of 58.4 cm”

… convey to the customer what they get out of it:

“Saves you time & work – Our snow shovel is 15 cm wider than conventional shovels. So you’re done 3x faster and can get back to enjoying winter!”

Tip: If it fits your product, you can start each bullet point with an emoji to increase the potential buyer’s interest. Here’s an example of this strategy:

Now you have the information you need to make a good first impression with your product.

5. Search Engine Optimization

SEO, or search engine optimization, refers to strategies that ensure your product shows up in the top of search engine rankings. For example, if you are selling blue t-shirts, you will want your product to show up when someone searches for blue T-shirts on Amazon.

From a seller’s standpoint, the best SEO tactic may be the use of keywords. Determine which keywords consumers will use when looking for a similar product. In addition to blue t-shirts, they may also search for cotton t-shirts, short sleeved t-shirts, casual t-shirts, etc. Be sure to include these keywords when you make your product description and title.

Find the Right Online Marketplace

Amazon is typically the first vendor you think of when you hear the words ‘online marketplace’. However, Amazon isn’t necessarily the most promising option for sellers. Depending on your products and your desired clientele, it may make sense to take a closer look at Amazon alternatives. Here are some criteria you should consider:

• Visitor numbers: High visitor numbers are better than low ones, especially for niche products. However, platforms with fewer visitors may be preferable if they cater to the right target audience.
• Target group: Some marketplaces specialize in a particular product group. Look for online marketplaces that cater to your target audience.
• Competition: The platforms that cater to your market group may have high competition. It may make sense to choose a platform with less competition.
• Cost: Some selling platforms provide their sellers with a website that makes it easy for you to attract customers. They typically charge a commission to sellers who take advantage of their marketing services. Consider these costs to ensure you can sell your products and still earn a profit.
• Usability: Most seller platforms offer convenient features like a search bar or a category tree. If your platform doesn’t have these features, customers may not want to shop there. The lack of traffic will hurt your business.
• Form of sale: Not all platforms follow the fixed-price model. For example, eBay offers  auction selling. Interested parties outbid each other. The highest bidder purchases the product.

The 10 Best Online Marketplaces

In the following section, we will introduce you to 10 of the most popular online marketplaces and give you important information about each online selling site.

1. Amazon
2. eBay
3. Alibaba
4. Etsy
5. Temu
6. Hood.com
7. Yatego
8. Avocado Store
9. Otto Market
10. Folksy
11. StockX

Amazon

Amazon may be the best-known online marketplace in the world. It comes as no surprise that more than 30% of the top 500 online retailers in Germany offer their products on Amazon.

The platform offers a variety of products through the marketplace. Amazon offers sellers access to an online selling site with the largest reach. However, this advantage comes at a price: the commission for sold items ranges from 7-45%.

Amazon stands out from other platforms because it allows sellers to store and ship their products. This can be tempting for newcomers. However, keep in mind that this will come at an additional cost. This service is called Fulfillment by Amazon.

Most customers are already familiar with the Amazon interface, so the usability  should not be an issue. However, the high number of visitors also means that online retailers have greater competition.

Helium 10 as Amazon Seller Tool

If you have decided to use Amazon as your selling platform, be sure to take advantage of Helium 10 software. Helium 10 offers several tools that will help you sell your products. For example, the Scribbles tool shows you how to optimize your listing for maximum success:

You can sign up for Helium 10 for free and test some tools via our link. If you want to make a purchase, you will even get a whole 20% discount on the first 6 months.