Last year, 79% of U.S. customers shopped online. It is estimated that by late 2022 and early 2023, there will be over 300 million U.S. shoppers. This means if you have a business and aren't selling online, you're missing out on some pretty serious cash.
Whether you're starting a new business or want to expand your existing one, you need to be everywhere. The more channels you use, the more customers you'll reach. Brick-and-mortar stores are a great option, but online shopping is an easier, more convenient alternative for most customers.
Here are 5 of the best sales channels for your business you should try today to sell more products.
1. Amazon
Amazon is the largest online retailer in the world with a customer base that's hard to surpass. The platform has great credibility with consumers, a wide range of products, and widespread popularity. This is something you don't want to miss out on with your business.
Also, be careful about selling items that you don't have the copyrights to sell. If you happen to receive a complaint, responding to a claim of Amazon Marketplace trademark infringement the right way can save you from future problems.
2. eBay
eBay is one of the top internet retailers for both new and used items. It's an auction marketplace where customers can bid on items and you don't pay any fees if you list less than 50 items per month.
You can sell unique, handmade, used, vintage items, or new products and either let people bid or set a 'buy now' fixed price.
3. Etsy
If your product is homemade, handmade, or otherwise unique, Etsy is the best platform to sell online. To quality for Etsy, you can't sell or re-sell mass-manufactured items, alcohol, tobacco, medicine or herbal substances, and other illegal or violent products. For each listing, you pay Etsy a fee and keep the rest as profits.
4. Social Media Marketplaces
Social media networks are catching up to big retailers by creating their own marketplaces. You can sell almost anything on social media in just a few clicks. Not only can you market your business to thousands of fans, but you can also sell your products right then and there.
The best platforms for this type of selling include Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter, and LinkedIn. Note that Facebook will not allow merchants to ship internationally, so bear this in mind when listing your products.
5. On-Demand Production Marketplaces
On-demand production marketplaces enable merchants to sell their own designs printed on t-shirts, coffee mugs, bags, phone cases, and a variety of other products. When a customer orders an item, the platform does the printing, payments, labeling, shipping, and returns.
Some of the most popular such platforms include:
- CafePress
- Zazzle
- Society6
- Redbubble
Use These Sales Channels to Boost Sales and Grow Your Business
No matter what industry you're in, using multiple sales channels to sell your products is a must in today's business climate.
Choose a few channels as your top priorities and dedicate your time and effort to promoting your business to the customers that matter the most.
Need more sales and business tips? Check out some of the other sales articles on our site where we cover the latest industry e-commerce trends and selling news.
