And there’s no denying that online sales platforms are a profitable business for everyone involved.
To give you a little idea, the market moved more than 3 trillion dollars in 2022 alone, according to data from Digital Commerce 360 .
Another survey, released by Ecommerce Platforms , indicated that around 24% of all purchases made in 2022 were made using online platforms.
To top it off, a survey released by E-commerce Brasil showed that almost 90% of people make at least one online purchase per month. And what does this data tell us?
Well, the information shows that it is worth investing in this type of business to expand your brand and sell more.
To help you understand better, we have prepared this article with everything that is most important about the topic, including tips on free online sales platforms for you to use.
Don't waste time and check it out!
What are online sales platforms, anyway?
An online sales platform is a virtual space where entrepreneurs can sell their products and services online. In practice, it is a virtual version of a physical store, where it is possible to separate items by category, receive payments, respond to customers, etc.
Let's face it: the advancement of technology has given rise to platforms for selling almost everything. Currently, it is possible to sell physical items — such as clothes, home materials, etc. — even infoproducts — such as online courses and e-books — for the whole world.
How do platforms work in practice?
The platforms work like a store, but in the virtual world. In other words, there is no need to have a physical space to display and sell your products, since everything is done online.
In practice, you need to register on an online sales platform, choose the category of products you want to sell and customize your space.
It is worth noting that, if you choose a marketplace, you need to pay attention to the commissions — the amounts charged on each sale —, which are not fixed. In fact, they tend to vary depending on the product category and, in general, fluctuate between 8% and 15% of the total sale price.
If you choose to have your own website, you may need to pay a fee to wholesale email list access essential features of the platform, such as online payments.
>>>> This article may interest you: Online sales techniques — check out 7 strategies to boost your business results
What are the types of online sales platforms?
In short, we can divide online sales platforms into 2 different types:
marketplace;
own website.
Read on to see the main differences between each one!
1. Marketplace
The marketplace — like Amazon — is like a shopping mall, with several stores grouped in one place. It's a great option for those who are starting out and need to gain visibility, as it allows you to create ads.
However, the layout — the appearance — of the store is not as customizable, so you have to compete with competitors to gain the attention of shoppers.
2. Own websites
If marketplaces are like shopping malls, your own websites can be described as a physical store outside of shopping malls. Here, you have complete freedom to customize the page as you wish and you have exclusivity, since only your products are sold.
