How to sell online in 2022: 6 easy-to-follow steps
Not sure how to start selling your products online? Follow these six steps:
1. Choose what products to sell
Before you start selling online, you’ll need to establish a business plan and decide what items you want to sell.
You may already have an established retail location for selling offline. But if you’re just starting your business, you’ll need to carefully consider what you’re going to sell.
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:
1.Google Trends: Google Trends is a tool from Google that provides data on the popularity of search terms over time. You can use this tool to see which searches are gaining popularity, enabling you to hop on product
trends while they’re on the rise.
2.Other keyword research tools: You can also use other keyword research tools, like SEMrush and KeywordsFX, to help you determine which product-related keywords are most popular. These tools also show you related keywords,
which can give you additional product ideas.
3.Social media: Browse social media sites, as well as forum and review sites, to see what products people are talking about. Also, look for problems people are mentioning that a product could help with.
4.Competitor research: Research the products other online retailers, especially big-name brands, sell to see what’s selling well. See if you can uncover any trends in product types. You can also browse sites like Amazon
and eBay and explore the trending pages.
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.
2. Create a business plan
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:
*Your goals: Determine what you want to achieve and create measurable goals to help you track your progress.
*Your competitors: Analyze the competitive landscape for your products. This will give you ideas for how to sell goods online in your industry and provide insight into the challenges you’ll face.
*Your audience: Determine who the target audience will be. You’ll want to tailor your products, website design, and marketing to your audience’s needs and preferences.
3. Decide where to sell online
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 2022.
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..
4. Build your online store
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 requires ongoing maintenance and optimization — and we recommend partnering with an ecommerce agency like Nanomaxhub to get the best results.
5. Set up ecommerce functionalities and processes
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:
Payment processing
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.
Shipping
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.
Security
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.
Policies and documents
You’ll want to have several documents available on your ecommerce website. These documents include:
1.Terms of use document: A terms of use document lays out rules for using your site and helps protect your business legally.
2.Privacy policy: Your privacy policy also helps protect your business legally and helps you establish trust with users.
3.Return policy: You’ll also need a document that describes the rules and processes for returning products. A good return policy can help establish trust with shoppers and encourage them to make purchases.
Licenses
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.
Customer service
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.
6. Promote your online business
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 Nanomaxhub a call at +256706017934 or contact us online to learn how our ecommerce solutions can grow your business..
11 best-selling platforms for selling products online
When it comes to selling products online, the best-selling platforms for businesses are:
Amazon
Walmart Marketplace
Shopify
Target Plus™
eBay
Etsy
Sears Marketplace
Alibaba
Rakuten
Facebook Marketplace
Your website
Keep reading for a breakdown of each online marketplace, which includes an overview of their:
Pros
Cons
Cost
Advertising options
Shipping options
How to get started
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.
Where to sell online: Inside the 11 best online marketplaces
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
Walmart Marketplace
Shopify
Target Plus™
eBay
Etsy
Sears Marketplace
Alibaba
Rakuten
Facebook Marketplace
Your website
How to sell on Amazon Marketplace
Wondering how to sell online with Amazon Marketplace? Here’s how to get started:
Decide what you want to sell. Amazon offers more than 40 product categories, plus 10 additional categories to Professional Sellers.
Choose a selling plan. Amazon offers two options for sellers, which we’ll cover below.
Create an account. To register your account, visit Seller Central, Amazon’s online interface for managing seller accounts.
List your products. Individual sellers can add products to the Amazon Marketplace catalog one at a time. The Professional plan lets you add products in bulk.
If you’re listing products already on Amazon.com, you will need to indicate:
Product quantity
Product conditions
Shipping options
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.
1.Start selling. You’ll receive payment directly to your bank account and receive an email notification when payment sends.
2.Ship your products. Amazon will notify you when a customer places an order. You can use Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) to let Amazon handle shipping — or take care of shipping products yourself.
3.Get paid. Amazon deposits payment into your bank account at regular intervals and notifies you when it sends.
Cost of selling on Amazon Marketplace
1.Individual plan: $0.99/item sold
2.Professional plan: $39.99/month
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 ad options
Amazon offers numerous ad options to help sellers reach more customers and boost online sales.
They include:
Sponsored Products: Ads appear in search results and on product pages to improve the visibility of individual products.
Sponsored Brands: Ads appear in search results and include your logo with a custom headline to boost brand awareness.
Sponsored Display (beta): A self-service ad solution that allows you to reach relevant audiences on and off Amazon.
Stores: Free, multi-page stores on Amazon to drive customer loyalty.
Display ads: Ads that showcase your brand or product on websites, apps, and devices on and off Amazon.
Video ads: Video ads on Amazon sites, devices like Amazon’s Fire tablets, and across the Internet.
Custom ads: Custom ad experiences boost brand awareness.
Amazon DSP: Amazon’s demand-side platform (DSP) provides advanced tools for buying ad placements on and off Amazon.
Amazon shipping options
When shipping your Amazon Marketplace products, you have two options — Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) and the Merchant Fulfilled Network (MFN).
Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA)
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:
Free shipping on eligible orders: FBA products are eligible for Amazon Prime’s free two-day shipping perk, as well as free shipping on eligible orders.
1.Customer service and returns: Amazon handles customer service and returns for FBA products.
2.Exclusive programs to expand your reach: FBA Subscribe & Save, FBA Small and Light, Multi-Channel Fulfillment, and FBA Export help sellers maximize sales and inspire repeat purchases.
3.Business management tools: FBA sellers can access optional services like product preparation, labeling, repackaging, and Amazon-partnered carrier options.
To begin using FBA, follow these steps:
1.Set up FBA. If you already sell on Amazon, just add FBA to your account.
2.Create product listings. Add products to the Amazon catalog one at a time, in bulk, or by integrating your inventory management software with Amazon’s API.
3.Prepare your products. Check out Amazon’s packaging and prep requirements to ensure your products arrive at the fulfillment center safely.
4Ship your products to Amazon. Finally, create your shipping plan, print your Amazon shipment ID labels, and ship your products to the appropriate fulfillment centers.
If you need to convert existing inventory to FBA, you can:
1.Visit the Manage Inventory page and select the products you want to sell via FBA.
2.Click “Change to Fulfilled by Amazon” from the “Actions” menu.
3.Select “Convert & Send Inventory” to continue creating your shipment, or choose “Convert only” to continue adding inventory.
Merchant Fulfilled Network (MFN)
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.
Pros and cons of selling on Amazon vs. your website/strong>
First, let’s look at some advantages of using this online selling site.
Pros:
You can start selling fast: Amazon Marketplace allows you to start selling products online without creating a website, and you can easily manage everything from Seller Central.
You can leverage Amazon’s traffic: In the U.S., Amazon has more than 150 million unique monthly visitors. If you just launched your website or don’t use SEO services, it’s difficult to drive that kind of traffic.
Selling on Amazon can get more eyes on your products, which means you can sell more.
You can streamline fulfillment: FBA makes inventory management and shipping processes easy for sellers. So, if you’re worried about keeping up with order fulfillment, Amazon Marketplace is an excellent option for
your business.
You can combat copycats and scammers: With the Amazon Brand Registry, you can protect your products against copycat sellers with knockoff products. Check out our Amazon Brand Registry consulting services to learn
how to protect your brand!
Cons:
*You have greater competition: While Amazon gives you access to a broader audience, as being one of the best platform to sell online, you’ll also experience a higher volume of competitors. This means you’ll need
to employ strategies like Amazon SEO to help your listings stand out and encourage people to buy.
*You experience fixed pricing: Greater competition also means you’ll have to monitor your pricing to remain competitive. If other sellers offer products of equal value for cheaper, you’ll likely lose sales and
revenue.
*You have to pay fees: Selling on Amazon also requires you to pay a monthly fee, plus additional selling fees, which can cut into your profit.
Additional Amazon Marketplace resources
For more info on Amazon Marketplace selling and marketing, check out these resources from Nanomaxhub.
Amazon SEO Optimization
Guide to Selling Your Products on Amazon
Amazon Marketing for SMBs: Everything You Need to Know
Summary
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
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.
How to sell on Walmart Marketplace
To get started selling on Walmart Marketplace, you’ll need to:.
Fill out an application with information about your business and products.
Sign your contract. Sign the Retailer Agreement with a Walmart representative.
Complete your seller profile and connect a payment account.
Complete the onboarding process. Choose an integration method, add products, and test orders.
Go live. Walmart will conduct a final review before giving you the green light to start selling.
Cost of selling on Walmart Marketplaces
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.
Walmart Marketplace ad options
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:
Provide basic company details to confirm eligibility.
Receive confirmation of successful onboarding.
Log in to advertising.walmart.com to start advertising
.
Walmart Marketplace shipping options
Walmart Marketplace offers five shipping methods, including:
Value
Standard
Expedited
Next Day
Freight
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.
Pros and cons of selling on Walmart Marketplace vs. your website
Let’s look at some pros and cons of selling on Walmart Marketplace vs. your ecommerce site.
Pros:
You don’t have to pay monthly fees: Unlike many other online selling sites, Walmart doesn’t charge sellers monthly, setup, subscription, or listing fees.
You have access to Walmart’s TwoDay Delivery program: Sellers on Walmart Marketplace also have access to the platform’s TwoDay Delivery option. This incentive adds value and encourages shoppers to order.
You can reach a broad audience: Walmart.com receives 100 million unique visitors every month. Selling on the platform allows you to reach a massive audience of consumers and boost sales for your SMB.
Cons:
You pay referral fees: While Walmart Marketplace axed monthly subscription fees, you will still have to pay a referral charge for every product you sell. With referral fees up to 20%, Walmart Marketplace can cut your revenue.
You must maintain competitive pricing: While you set prices for your inventory, you’ll need to price your products competitively to help them stand out from competitor offerings and Walmart’s stock.
You can’t include branded shipping: Selling on Walmart also prevents you from including branded or promotional shipping materials. So, you’ll need to consider the branding drawback when selling on the platform.
Additional Walmart Marketplace resources
For more info on Walmart Marketplace selling and marketing, check out these resources from Nanomaxhub.
What Is Walmart Marketplace?
How to Become a Successful Walmart Marketplace Seller
How to Sell on Walmart Marketplace
Summary
Want to expand your online reach and streamline shipping? Walmart is a good option for sellers of apparel, beauty products, electronics, groceries, and more!
Shopify
Next, we’ll look at Shopify, which is another one of 2022’s top online marketplaces.
A complete ecommerce solution, Shopify allows you to start, grow, and manage your business — all from one platform.
How to sell on Shopify
Here’s an overview of how to sell online using Shopify:
Set up your Shopify account. Visit Shopify’s website to create your account and start your free 14-day trial.
Enter a domain address. By default, your domain will look like “examplestore.myshopify.com,” but you can purchase a custom domain or connect a domain you already own so it looks like “examplestore.com.”
Select a Shopify theme. Choose from free or paid themes. Then, customize your theme to create a unique storefront.
Add products. If you’re selling less than five products, you can manually add them by listing product names, descriptions, and types, as well as uploading images. To bulk upload more than five products, you can
import a CSV file.
Install apps and integrations. Shopify offers a host of integrations to expand your business and help you sell more products.
Optimize your site. To boost conversions, consider using SEO, email list building, and social media services from a company like Nanomaxhub.
Cost of selling on 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:
Shopify Lite: $9/month
Basic Shopify: $29/month
Shopify: $79/month
Advanced Shopify: $299/month
Shopify Plus: Custom pricing
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.
Shopify ad options
Like Amazon, Shopify gives sellers access to several custom advertising options.
Google Smart Shopping
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.
Facebook Carousel ads
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 options
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:
Choose shipping carriers you’d like to enable at checkout.
Customers select their shipping service and speed at checkout.
Receive payment for orders and shipping costs.
Fulfill the order in Shopify and print the correct shipping label and packaging.
Drop off the package with the appropriate carrier or schedule a pickup.
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.
Pros and cons of selling on Shopify vs. your website
Pros:
1.You can easily and quickly create a store: Easy-to-use, Shopify’s interface is built specifically for “technically challenged individuals.” That means you can launch your store and start selling without hassle.
You can even use a custom domain name with Shopify.
2.You can customize your storefront: Shopify’s online store builder and themes allow you to customize your online store. Create a store to match your brand and boost awareness of your business and products.
3.You won’t have to update software and servers: Since Shopify is cloud-based and hosted, you won’t have to worry about upgrading or maintaining software or web servers. This also means you can run your business
from anywhere with an Internet connection.
Cons:
1.You have to pay fees: Like other platforms, Shopify charges sellers monthly. Depending on your goals and budget, it may make more sense to launch your own site or optimize an existing store.
You have very basic content features: When advertising your products, content marketing is a huge asset for growing leads and sales. While Shopify offers built-in blogging software, its functionality is very basic
— especially if you’re used to WordPress posting.
Additional Shopify resources
For more info on how to sell online with Shopify, check out these resources from Nanomaxhub.
4 Best Practices for Choosing a Shopify SEO Expert
6 Best Ecommerce Platforms for Small Businesses
Nanomax: Trusted Shopify Web Designers
Summary
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™
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.
How to sell on Target Plus™
Unlike other online marketplace platforms, Target Plus™ is invite-only.
To become a Target supplier, you must uphold the company’s values, which include:
Diversity
Sustainability
Education
And others
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.
e You’ll also need to provide a list of brands you own or license from the trademark owner.
Cost of selling on Target Plus™
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 Plus™ ad options
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, blessed 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.
Target Plus™ shipping options
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™.
Pros and cons of selling on Target Plus™ vs. your website
Pros:
You can entice shoppers with benefits: Target Plus™ shoppers receive 5% off using a Target REDcard, free shipping, and easy in-store returns. These benefits, not available to SMBs selling on their own sites, can
entice shoppers to buy — and become repeat purchasers.
You have access to a broad audience: Target is the second-largest discount retailer in the U.S., with more than 1800 storefronts nationwide. When you sell on Target Plus™, you’ll receive access to Target’s massive
audience, boosting brand awareness and sales for your business.
Cons:
You have a high barrier to entry: Since Target Plus™ is currently invite-only, it’s difficult to get your products listed on this selling platform. You can submit a Supplier Registration form, but there’s no guarantee
Target will approve your business.
You must have a proven track record: Target prefers to work with businesses and products that have a proven track record — and you’ll need to uphold Target’s values. This means that if you’re a startup or even
an established SMB, you may have a hard time gaining entry to the Target Plus™ marketplace.
Additional Target Plus™ resources
For more info on Target Plus™ selling and marketing, check out these resources from Nnamaxhub technologies.
Summary
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!
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