Are you ready to take your e-commerce business to the next level? You need to know how to choose the best online marketplaces for your products.
E-commerce marketplaces are platforms where you can sell your products alongside other sellers. These online marketplaces usually reach a massive number of customers. However, not all of them are created equal. Each one of them offers different features, fees, audiences, and requirements.
To sell more effectively, you’ll want to find which e-commerce platforms are the right fit for your business. This is why, this online marketplace guide exists. By the end of this article, you’ll be able to make an informed decision on which online marketplaces to use for your e-commerce business.
9 Tips for Choosing the Right E-commerce Marketplace for Selling Products
There are several online marketplaces in the Philippines right now. Consider the following tips to understand which platforms hold the most promise for your products.
1. Understand Your Customer
The number of e-commerce marketplaces and websites in the country continues to increase. Identifying your customer base can narrow down your choices and help you connect with the right people.
Knowing your customers is a crucial marketplace strategy that will directly affect your success. You want to know who your ideal customers are, what they want, and how they behave to effectively connect with them.
Our suggestion is to create a buyer persona. This is a fictional representation of your ideal customers. A buyer persona includes details such as age, gender, and income level, as well as likes, their dislikes. By creating a buyer persona, you can tailor a strategy to help the right audience.
2. Know the Logistics of the Marketplace
Quick delivery is a key factor in running an e-commerce business. Several studies in the past revealed how important quick shipping is for customers. One of these studies was the 2021 PwC’s Global Consumer Insights Pulse Survey, which stated fast delivery as the most important online shopping attribute for global customers.
Leading e-commerce marketplaces in the Philippines usually have multiple logistic partners to deliver efficiently and quickly. So, when you receive an order you simply need to send them the product, and they will handle the shipping arrangement.
Some online marketplaces allow sellers to choose and integrate their preferred logistic partner. While there are also some which let you do the delivery.
When deciding on online marketplaces, it is important to consider the logistic option being offered and choose one that gives your business a competitive edge.
3. Customer Service
Customer experience is everything. A Microsoft study revealed that a staggering 97% of consumers said that customer service is the key to brand loyalty.
So, you want to find an online marketplace that offers 24/7 support not only for your customers but also for your team. In this way, you know whom to ask if anything goes wrong in the system. The last thing you want is to lose sales or a reputation for glitches or poor customer service.
4. Check and Compare Fees
E-commerce marketplaces offer several services to help you sell more online. However, most of the time this isn’t free. Typically, these companies take a commission for every item you sold on their platform. These may vary depending on the category of your products. Some marketplaces charge a flat fee per item, while others charge a percentage of the sale price.
Some marketplaces charge a flat fee per item, while others charge a percentage of the sale price. Be sure to find this information and compare it to different marketplaces before signing up.
Keep also in mind that some online platform doesn’t take any fee to its seller. The best example here is Facebook marketplace. You can list products on the platform completely free. However, this also means that you are responsible for handling your orders.
5. Test the SEO Capabilities
When your customer searches for a product, they search online. This is the main reason why, you should not overlook the Search Engine Optimization or SEO. Even today, not all e-commerce platforms are SEO-friendly. There are also some online marketplaces that have limited capabilities to optimize your online store.
You need to look for e-commerce platforms that offer built-in SEO features that can help you rank higher on search engines like Google.
6. Check the Mobile Compatibility of the Platform
An international study revealed, that consumers browse products on phones before buying. So, make sure that your e-commerce platform works seamlessly on all devices and screen sizes.
Choose websites and apps that offer responsive design as this conveys trust and quality. This feature lets your customer easily browse your online store whenever and wherever they need your product.
7. Feature for Marketing
A good e-commerce marketplace offers features for marketing. They offer promotional, engagement, and targeting tools to help you sell more on their platform. This may include ads inside the platform, vouchers, banners, and live-streaming features. They also provide data and insights that help make informed decisions and improve the result of your marketing efforts.
8. Check Your Store Security
Security is a major concern when it comes to E-commerce platforms. The online world is filled with unscrupulous people. It is your responsibility to protect your customer and your business from these threats.
Know the security features of your e-commerce platform. Go for marketplaces that offer good encryption. You may also want to consider platforms that offer fraud detection and prevention tools as an added layer of security.
9. Spy on your competitor
You can learn a lot of things by spying on your competitor, specifically in e-commerce. You may find out what strategy that works well with your industry. You may also want to consider using the same platform as your competitors if it fits your business needs and goals.
However, don’t just blindly follow your competitors. Consider also the other factors we mentioned above for you to find the best e-commerce marketplaces for your business.
Boost Your Sales on the Right E-commerce Marketplaces
As the e-commerce sector in the Philippines continues to grow, the number of online platforms is also increasing. This is the reason why finding the right e-commerce marketplace where you can effectively sell products has now become a challenging task. But don’t worry Be Global E-corporation is here to help you.
As the most trusted e-commerce enabler in the Philippines, we can help you increase your sales on whatever platform you choose online. With our comprehensive e-commerce solutions, can boost your sales like never before.
