Quick and Easy Ways to Start Selling Online

If you have already got a brick and mortar store and you’re fascinated by going “All In” by adding eCommerce, look at our recent article. If, however, you’d wish to take some smaller steps, and check the waters a bit, there square measure many choices (and those choices keep growing) to form your entry into on-line mercantilism abundant easier.

Many sites permit you to sell on-line, even while not having your own store. Here square measure the execs and cons for 3 of the foremost well-known and in style sites that permit you to sell on-line, and that they all connect with ShipStation for shipping:

1.

Amazon

Benefits:

Large customer base. Amazon is that the largest on-line merchant within the U.S., and the second largest within the world (after Alibaba). With many a lot of customers, it offers a large chance for product sales.

Build on Amazon’s name. Smaller corporations will level the competitive taking part in field by mercantilism on Amazon. If your merchandise are unknown to customers, mercantilism them through Amazon offers an added layer of trust for consumers.

Warehousing, shipping and fulfillment.  this is often one in all the foremost necessary profit to selling on Amazon. With the Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) program, you can have your merchandise warehoused at Amazon, orders picked, packed, and shipped by the Amazon team, and even have your returns handled by Amazon (for a fee, of course). Participation within the FBA program permits you to utilize Amazon’s free shipping supply on orders over $35 and Amazon Prime.

Caveats: 

Fees. Amazon charges fees on everything as well as fulfillment, listing your merchandise, repositing, transactions and shipping. These fees will run as high as twenty fifth or a lot of of your products’ value. they create on-line sales easier, however bear in mind you're paying for that convenience.

Small fish in a big pond. On Amazon you're one amongst several sellers, and you don’t have plenty of say once problems return up. you'll even be undercut on value by alternative vendors or maybe Amazon.

No branding or marketing opportunities. wish to use a branded box to ship your things from Amazon? Hoping to create your list with Amazon customers UN agency purchase your product? No will do. These aren’t choices once fulfilling through Amazon.

2.

eBay

Benefits:

Large customer base. eBay might not be as giant as Amazon, however it's over a hundred million active consumers worldwide. The intrinsic  traffic to the positioning helps new sellers. 

Simplicity. eBay’s three-step “List It, Ship It, Get Paid” model is backed by glorious tools and infrastructure to assist get merchandise on the positioning quickly and simply.

International sales. wish to sell your merchandise round the globe? eBay makes it straightforward. look at our article on mercantilism internationally on eBay.

Caveats: 

No warehousing, shipping and fulfillment options. in contrast to Amazon FBA, you have got to handle your own repositing, shipping and fulfillment (although you'll source those functions). whereas it makes the fees not up to Amazon, it will need time beyond regulation to meet on your own, have associate worker bonk, or manage the outsourcing method. 

Fees.  whereas not as high as Amazon FBA, fees is ten or a lot of of the terms. Fees embody a list charge, final price fee, listing upgrade fees and supplemental service fees.

Nonpayment and seller issues.  eBay’s bidding choice may be a huge nonpayment downside. additionally, eBay leans towards protective the customer quite the vendor, with protracted come and negative client feedback policies.

3.

Etsy

Benefits: 

Large, specific customer base. whereas Etsy is giant, with over forty million active members, they're specifically trying to find artisanal things, as well as handmade  and specialty. If your merchandise match those niches, this is often a good place to sell.

Quick and inexpensive to set up. It’s straightforward to list merchandise on Etsy, and Etsy solely takes a three.5% mercantilism fee. alternative fees embody a $.20 listing fee per product and mastercard process fees.

Merchant community. in contrast to alternative giant on-line sales sites, Etsy contains a sturdy community. The friendly feeling is fostered through Etsy forums and groups.

Caveats: 

No warehousing, shipping and fulfillment options. like eBay, mercantilism on Etsy needs you to handle your own repositing, shipping and fulfillment. Again, you'll source this, otherwise you will bonk yourself or have workers beware of it, that might take up a bit of your time. 

Competition. whereas Etsy has created a robust community, there's still a good deal of competition. Etsy’s quality has attracted larger customers, particularly those from overseas, UN agency square measure undercutting costs.

Final Thoughts
Whether you opt to dip your toe into the water, or move full force into on-line mercantilism, by investing on-line mercantilism channels you’re certain to increase sales. the following tips ought to assist you notice the proper fit  your business therefore you'll start quickly and fruitfully.