Pick Your Home! Where to Sell Products Online
LYNNIE VERSION
Would you like to read this article in more grown-up words, still easy to understand? Jump here.
Hi! I’m Lynnie! Today I’m telling you where to sell products online. It’s like picking a home for your shop!
Lynnaider teaches three profile types: a marketplace, your own website, or social media with a social store. For an Own Online Shop, all three work! New to profiles? Online business setup for beginners explains them.
Route A: You ship it yourself
Remember Route A? You sell and ship everything yourself. Here you have three choices!
Choice 1: Your own website
You build your own shop website, for example with Shopify. You decide EVERYTHING: the look, the prices, how customers feel. But you pay for running it.
It usually needs money upfront for tools, design and ads. Think of it as your “north star,” a goal for later!
Choice 2: A social store
Simpler, and often free! You sell right on your social media, with payment links from a company like Stripe. Less automatic, but super quick to start.
Carter, the cube friend, sells exactly like this on Instagram!
What these two have in common: You get to know your customers directly. And you keep more money, because you don’t share with a marketplace. But you do more jobs yourself, like shipping and helping customers.
Choice 3: A marketplace, like Etsy
Marketplaces usually take a little piece of each sale. They also charge listing fees that come back every few months for each product, and sometimes a one-time starting fee.
But here’s the good part: shoppers are already there! The marketplace shows your products to people who are looking for things like yours. You start with people who are already shopping!
Can people find my website without a marketplace?
Yes! A well-made website can be found on Google, and more and more through AI helpers like ChatGPT. Grown-ups call that SEO and GEO. But it takes some learning, and time.
Route B: With a partner
In Route B, a fulfillment partner ships for you. The most common one is Fulfillment by Amazon, or FBA for short. You send your stock to Amazon’s warehouses, and Amazon stores, ships, and answers lots of customer questions.
Good and not-so-good
Not so good: Amazon has rules about who can join. Sending stock to their warehouses can cost a lot, especially to another country. And Amazon keeps part of each sale.
Good: Lots of people trust Amazon! And it makes everything much easier, especially in new countries.
Check where they deliver!
Only bring visitors from countries your partner delivers to!
How to pick
Just starting? A social store or a marketplace is usually easiest. Like making content? Pick a social store. Prefer shoppers who are already searching? Pick a marketplace.
Selling regularly? Think about your own website as your long-term home. Too much shipping? Look at a partner. Lots of makers end up using two homes at once!
Small and private
No paid website needed on day one! A social store with free payment links, or one marketplace listing, costs very little. You’d be surprised! No monthly payments before you have visitors. And you can bring visitors yourself.
None of these needs your face. Secret Agent approved!
What’s next?
The next article lists the extra setup your shop needs, like legal pages, payments and shipping. All ten ways to earn are in the book on our products page. Want a grown-up to help pick where to sell? Go to our services page.
What grown-ups usually ask (and I answer)
Where should a beginner sell?
A free social store, or a marketplace like Etsy. Your own website later!
What is a social store?
A shop right on your social media, with payment links.
Is Shopify better than Etsy?
They’re different! Shopify gives control. Etsy gives shoppers.
What is Amazon FBA?
Amazon stores and ships your products, for a fee.
Is there a cheap way to start an Own Online Shop?
Yes! Lynnaider shows you how to start an Own Online Shop for free, or for very, very little money. You’d be surprised! And a free robot helper called Lynnaider Compass helps you step by step!
Will there be step-by-step lessons for each of the ten ways?
Maybe! If lots of people want them. Join the waitlist and you’ll know first.
Disclaimer: This article is for general informational purposes only and should not be regarded as legal, tax, or business advice. Pursuing an online business does not guarantee income; results depend on many factors including the business environment, individual effort, skills, and consistency. Some links on this site may allow Lynnaider to earn a commission at no additional cost to the reader.
