eCommerce

Where to Sell Online: Exploring Platforms Beyond Shopify and Etsy

Published:

November 28, 2024

Where to Sell Online: Exploring Platforms Beyond Shopify and Etsy

In the changing e-commerce affinity, entrepreneurs always seek the right platforms to display and sell their products. While Shopify and Etsy are extremely popular, one still wonders: Are there other platforms that can better fit a seller's unique needs? The short answer is yes. This blog explores top alternatives to Shopify and Etsy, highlighting their strengths and delving into how combining multiple platforms can supercharge your online business.

Why go beyond Shopify and Etsy?

Shopify is great for building standalone stores, but Etsy is a marketplace with great enthusiasm for handmade and vintage items. Both have limitations, however; Shopify requires marketing expertise, whereas Etsy charges listing fees and is a bit restrictive to your niche focus. A third party allows you access to new audiences, reduces dependence on a single marketplace, and tailors an e-commerce strategy.

The Best E-Commerce Platforms You Should Explore

1. Amazon: Access Millions of Global Shoppers

Amazon is a fantastic platform for sellers' specialization or handcrafted goods. Because it takes advantage of Amazon's enormous client base, it offers unmatched visibility, setting it apart from Etsy.

Key Features:

  • Amazon Prime shoppers.
  • Global audience with country-specific fulfillment options.
  • Built-in customer trust is a factor due to Amazon's reputation.

2. eBay: Great for Resellers and Unique Items

One of the first online retailers, eBay continues to rule the resale and collectibles sectors. eBay's "Buy It Now" choices and auction style enable a wide range of items, from electronics to antique apparel.

Why eBay Works:

  • Access to 190 markets around the globe.
  • Selling old, vintage, or new items.
  • Bidding and auction tools that create urgency.

3. WooCommerce: Using WordPress to Create an Adaptable Store

WooCommerce is a free plugin for creating an online store with WordPress. It offers all the features for a complete e-commerce experience. Users can easily display products for sale, and they can customize them on the online selling website according to their wishes with the help of these plugins. 

Benefits:

  • You simply have to pay for hosting and any premium plugins; there are no membership costs.
  • Complete control over store design and functionality.
  • A vast library of plugins and themes for customizations.

4. BigCommerce: An Expandable Alternative to Shopify

BigCommerce provides all the same features as Shopify but focuses on growing businesses seeking scalability and robust integrations.

Features to Like:

  • Integrated SEO solutions that improve exposure in search engine rankings.
  • No transaction costs, even when using payment gateways from other parties.
  • Advanced product filtering for more extensive inventories.

5. Squarespace: Stunning Artist Websites

Squarespace has an easy-to-use interface and beautiful template possibilities. It is ideal for service-based and creative enterprises that offer real or digital products.

Key Features:

  • Well-designed templates that provide professionalism for your online presence
  • An e-commerce solution that only requires a few add-ons.
  • Membership, subscription, and appointment scheduling support.

7. Walmart Marketplace: Battle the Giants

Walmart Marketplace is an excellent platform for those with high-quality products that can compete with prices while targeting Walmart's huge customer base.

Why Use Walmart:

  • Being associated with a well-known retail brand.
  • In-store pickups are needed to reach Walmart's customers through their brick-and-mortar locations.
  • No sign-up fees; you pay only referral fees after sales.

The Strength of Consolidation: Why Sell on More Than One Platform?

The more platforms you sell on, the more extensive your exposure and the more varied your revenue streams. Managing all of them can take a lot of work. Here's where integration tools become helpful.

E-commerce Integration: Essential Benefits.

1. Centralized Inventory Management

Through e-commerce integration, you can line up your inventory across all your sales channels. Stock levels are accurate, eliminating overselling or underselling through inventory management. 

 2. Order Fulfillment Simplified

Integration enables you to manage orders from various platforms in a single system. Whether you work with Amazon Multi-Channel Fulfillment or FBA, your warehouse, or both, processing orders is seamless. 

3. Increased Reach

With each platform comes a specific audience; targeting customers from several markets, websites, and social media platforms without repeating work is made possible via integration.

4. Data-Based Perspectives

Integrations combine information from different channels, offering a comprehensive view of your business. Use these insights to refine pricing, understand top-selling products, and optimize marketing campaigns. 

5. Reduced Manual Workload 

Automation tools that drive integrations reduce manual work like updating stock levels, processing orders, and reconciling sales data. This helps save time and reduces errors. 

Ecommerce integration can improve business operations

E-commerce Channel Integration to Maximize Your Business Capabilities 

The E-commerce industry is growing speedily, and sales channels are creating a mixed ecosystem that improves effectiveness and boosts sales. These integrations allow merchandisers to streamline their operations, increase their client base, and easily manage their business processes. 

 Know more about the integrations, how they work, and the benefits you can get from them: 

1. Amazon Integration with Shopify

Amazon and Shopify are dynamic combinations for e-commerce sellers who wish to sell on their own branded stores and other marketplaces. 

How it Works:

  • Shopify connects your store directly to Amazon using the Amazon Sales Channel app.
  • You can manage your stock levels in Shopify and offer your items on Amazon by syncing your Shopify inventory with Amazon. 
  • Use Shopify fulfillment or Amazon FBA (Fulfilment by Amazon) to complete purchases on Amazon. 

Advantages:  

  • Reach Amazon's vast customer base with an exclusive Shopify storefront & Consolidate inventory management of both platforms.
  • Amazon's marketplace analytics combined with Shopify's store data will provide insights.

This is an ideal integration for sellers looking to expand their audience without giving up on their independent brand identity.

2. TikTok with Amazon

In the expansion sphere of social trade, TikTok has become one of the most important platforms on which to find a product. The combination of viral TikTok marketing potential with Amazon's world delivery capabilities is a transformer for e-commerce companies.

 How It Works:  

  • Sellers use TikTok's Business Center to create Shoppable Video Ads or organic posts.
  • TikTok drives users to Amazon product pages through affiliate links, TikTok Shopping ads, or direct integrations using third-party tools.

Advantages:

  • AMZ TikTok has a robust algorithm that allows for niche targeting.
  • Directly drives traffic to Amazon product pages where customers can make a purchase.
  • Increases product reach with influencer partnerships and user-generated content.

This integration benefits fashion, beauty, and trending consumer goods sellers.

3. Walmart Integration with Amazon  

Walmart and Amazon are two of the largest online marketplaces, and integrating them can help you tap into both giants for unparalleled reach.  

 How It Works:  

  • Use multi-channel fulfillment platforms like MapMyChannel by WebBee to connect Walmart Marketplace to Amazon.  
  • Sync inventory, prices, and order data between the platforms.
  • Walmart orders can be fulfilled using Amazon’s FBA services, although Walmart requires neutral shipment branding.  

 Benefits:  

  • Reach Walmart’s growing online audience while leveraging Amazon’s fulfillment expertise.  
  • Avoid overselling by centralizing inventory management.  
  • Seamlessly manage orders and customer service from both platforms.  

This integration is excellent for sellers targeting diverse customer bases who shop across marketplaces.

4. WooCommerce Integration with Amazon

Integration of Amazon with WooCommerce can help you expand your sales channel and boost your growth. 

How it Works:

  • Plugins allow you to list WooCommerce products on Amazon.
  • Sync inventory and automate order management between WooCommerce and Amazon.
  • Fulfill orders with WooCommerce's shipping options or Amazon FBA. 

Advantages: 

  • Have control over your website while leveraging Amazon's marketplace. 
  • Sell to various customer segments - direct buyers on WooCommerce and marketplace shoppers on Amazon. 
  • Integrate other WordPress plugins easily for additional functionality such as SEO and analytics. 

WooCommerce with Amazon is suitable for tech-savvy entrepreneurs who require flexibility and control.

5. eBay Integration with Amazon  

eBay and Amazon FBA serve the same audiences, but each has different selling features that can complement each other if brought together.  

How It Works  

Advantages: 

  • Expand your product reach to eBay's auction-driven marketplace while keeping your Amazon storefront. 
  • Centralized inventory and order management minimize manual labor.
  • Benefit from Amazon's Buy Box approach and eBay's exclusive seller features, such as auctions and "Make an Offer" choices.

Sellers of electronics, reconditioned goods, and antiques will love this integration. 

Diversify and Conquer the E-Commerce Space

Shopify and Etsy are excellent starting points, but branching out to platforms like Amazon or BigCommerce opens up opportunities to reach broader audiences. By integrating with multiple sales channels, everything functions smoothly, allowing you to concentrate on expansion rather than details. The goal of becoming an entrepreneur is to get where the clients are; a long-lasting e-commerce firm may be established by utilizing the appropriate set of platforms and connectors. What's preventing you?  Start exploring today!

Related Articles