The Easy Start! Selling on Marketplaces for Beginners
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 about selling on marketplaces for beginners. It’s usually the easiest way to start selling online!
A marketplace is like a giant mall. You open your own little shop inside. And the mall already has buyers, a way to pay, and rules!
One home is enough
There are three kinds of homes for your business: a marketplace, a website, or a social store. And guess what? One is enough! For lots of grown-ups, one stays enough forever.
Then all your energy goes into one place. And “setting up” just means opening it. No posting or perfecting yet!
What’s a marketplace profile?
It’s a small shop inside a big platform. You put your products or services there, and people find them. The marketplace brings buyers to you!
Why it’s great for beginners
- Payments are done for you. No payment programs to set up.
- Customer help is partly done for you. Lots of marketplaces have systems for messages, problems and refunds.
- Some visitors come by themselves. Buyers already search inside the marketplace, and your shop can show up.
- No daily posting needed. People can find you without you posting every day.
- Some rules are covered. The marketplace’s own rules apply to its buyers.
You can invite people from anywhere
Your shop is in the mall, but you can invite anybody on the internet! Share your listing on Pinterest, in a blog post or in an email.
Setting up, step by step
- Pick one marketplace. The one that fits your offer and your niche best. Just one, so you can learn its rules and how its search works.
- Open your account. Pick a shop name, add a simple logo or picture, and write a short description. Don’t spend days on it! Buyers mostly look at your listings.
- Make your first listing. Write a clear title with the words buyers would search for. Add good photos, an honest description and a fair price. This listing is your lobby!
- Bring visitors. Lots of guides forget this step! Share your listing where your people already hang out. Pinterest is great for this, because pins can bring visitors for months.
Watch out for tricksters!
It’s easy to get tricked on marketplaces. Be extra careful if somebody asks for your bank info or personal details. Tricksters sometimes pretend to be buyers, or even the marketplace itself!
Rule: Never type secret info on a page you reached by clicking an email link. Even if it looks like it’s from a famous platform! Always go straight into your own account and check there. And turn on two-step login wherever you can.
No face needed
Marketplaces are one of the easiest places to stay private. Buyers see your shop name, your products and your reviews. That’s it!
Is it a real business?
Yes! Lots of grown-ups run their whole business from a marketplace, sometimes for years. It’s not worse than a website. Just a different road.
And you can always add a website later. A marketplace lets you test your idea with real buyers first.
What’s next?
The next article is about the second kind of home: your own website. The whole lesson is in the book on our products page. Want a grown-up to help you pick a marketplace? Go to our services page.
What grown-ups usually ask (and I answer)
What’s a marketplace profile?
A little shop inside a big platform, where buyers come to find things.
Why is it good for beginners?
Payments, some customer help and some visitors are already taken care of.
Can I only sell to people already on the marketplace?
No! You can invite people from anywhere on the internet.
What are the risks?
Tricksters! Never type secret info after clicking an email link.
Are there step-by-step lessons for starting each of the ten ways cheaply?
Maybe! If lots of people want them. Join the waitlist and you’ll know first.
Is a marketplace shop a real business?
Yes! Lots of grown-ups run their whole business that way.
Is there a cheap way to start?
Yes! Lynnaider shows you how to start each of the ten ways 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!
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.
