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90+ Online Selling Sites and Marketplaces

March 25, 2014 /

online selling sitesUpdated for 2024. Need a comprehensive list of online selling sites and marketplaces where you can sell your handmade, print on demand or vintage products? Luckily for you, you have so many options to choose from, and you don’t have to choose just one!

In fact, the best strategy for any e-commerce business is to try and sell on as many online sales sites as possible, to really widen your reach as well as not be too dependent on one customer source. You just never know when the market will change or a company will get bought, so don’t put all of your eggs in one basket.

Below are 90+ online selling sites and marketplaces where you can sell your products and services. Some are niche-specific, some are country-specific, but many are for international sales of any type of handmade product.

Online Selling Sites for Selling Art

There are many sites for selling your art online, so there really is no need to just settle on one, especially since the profit margins are not always ideal. These sites below are specifically geared just for artists and their artwork but you can also sell your artwork at the sites for home decor and the general marketplaces links that I have coming up.online marketplaces

⇒Be sure to download my 12-Month Marketing Plan for Online Art Shops.

Online Selling Sites for Fashion

When I say selling clothes online, I do not mean used clothes (keep reading for those) but rather original fashion creations by indie designers. Related content: How to Increase Your Online Sales Conversion Rate.online marketplaces

⇒Be sure to download my 12-Month Marketing Plan for Online Fashion Shops.

Online Selling Sites for Wedding Products

A lot of wedding blogs realize the value of selling products right on their site and then taking a commission. So here are some that are now selling products from small vendors:

⇒Be sure to download my 12-Month Marketing Plan for Online Wedding Shops.

Online Selling Sites for Kids & Baby Products

Here are some top kids and baby marketplaces to try selling your goods at:online selling sites

⇒Be sure to download my 12-Month Marketing Plan for Kids & Baby Shops.

Online Selling Sites for Home Goods

There are a growing number of sites just to sell your original home decor including art, accessories and furniture. Keep in mind that Wayfair also owns Joss & Main, ALLModern, Birchlane and Perigold.

⇒Be sure to download my 12-Month Marketing Plan for Home Goods Shops.

Online Marketplacesonline marketplaces

The following are a combination of sites, marketplaces and e-commerce platforms where you can sell any type of product from art to home decor to wedding products to kids and baby to vintage. Commission percentages do vary, as do monthly fees, and in some cases, you will have increased competition from other shops selling competitive products.

⇒You will also want to read my post, 4 Online Selling Sites for Eco-Friendly Products.

Online Transaction Sites

The sites below  are more of transaction platforms that handle payment processing for you for digital products, but will not really bring you any customers as they do not have much of a main marketplace for customers to enter in from. You typically use these types of sites to accept payment on your website, blog or even your social media pages.

UK Only Sites

The UK has a really large handmade community, so there are several marketplaces that have been set up exclusively for UK sellers:

E-Commerce Platforms for Selling Onlineonline marketplaces

If you want total independence online, then you can set up your own e-commerce store using any of these platforms below. The downside is that you do not get the marketing benefits of being on a large marketplace that will drive customers to you. You pretty much will have to do all the marketing yourself. Related content: How to Start Selling Online

Print on Demand Selling Sites

If you don’t want to make huge profit, just some extra money, then you can sell your graphic designs to a print on demand site that also has a marketplace. Not a ton of work involved on your part, just upload your designs and they do the rest. You do have to sell a lot of volume for it to be really worthwhile.

Wholesale Sites

If you are selling handmade products and you would really just rather sell them through wholesale, these sites will help you:

Used & Vintage Items Sites

This is where e-commerce all started, selling used, second hand and vintage items. Here are some marketplaces for these types of items:online selling sites

⇒If you decide to sell on Poshmark, be sure to check out my 13-Page Poshmark Planner.

⇒Be sure to download my 12-Month Marketing Plan for Vintage Shops.

Costs of Selling Online

Again, all of the above are online selling sites that will take a cut of your sales as that is how they make their money. Most sites are very affordable, such as Etsy at just 5% commission, whereas others will take up to 50% of the sale as a commission (basically wholesale pricing), as well as a monthly fee, making them a much more costly option.

The e-commerce options such as Shopify Wix, SquareSpace, IndieMade and Big Commerce are platforms, not marketplaces, therefore they have monthly fees in addition to taking a cut of your sales.

Auction sites like eBay are for selling both. new and used items, and sites like One Kings Lane are really flash sales sites, and sites like these have struggled in the past (remember Fab?). Hopefully there is a selling site here that suits your particular interests and needs.

How to Drive More Traffic to Your Online Store

If you currently have an online store or are planning to open one, be sure to download one of my online selling sites marketplacesOnline Shop 12-Month Marketing Plans  as it will walk you through everything you need to do to have an effective marketing strategy to drive traffic and sales! There are plans for Jewelry, Home Goods, Art, Photography, Pets, Vintage, Bath & Beauty, Fashion, Wedding, Eco, Gifts, Food, Bakery, Tshirts, Greeting Cards and Kids & Baby shops.

More to Read:

©2012-2024 Gail Oliver. All rights reserved.

Unique Small Business Idea – Wine & Canvas

March 17, 2014 /

by Gail Oliver, Small Business Marketing Consultant

I saw an interesting business on the news the other day and thought it might be inspiration for other small business owners out there.

Unique small business ideas

 

Wine & Canvas Mobile Art Lessons

Wine & Canvas is a mobile business that hosts painting events at various local establishments, such as bars and restaurants, and it is packing them in!

People are looking for different forms of entertainment these days, as well as new social opportunities, and Wine & Canvas presents a great one. Customers get an art lesson alongside having a drink and socializing with friends and other painters (they also get to leave with their artwork).

It benefits the host restaurant as it provides an opportunity to bring in customers on their typically slower nights. As for Wine & Canvas, not only do they offer a unique event, but they also have minimal overhead costs as they do not have to pay for a hosting facility. Wine & Canvas makes money from the class fee, and the restaurant makes money selling food and drinks. It’s a win-win for both businesses.

How This Idea Can Inspire Your Business

If you are an artist of any kind, teaching is always a great way to have a second revenue stream, as well as introduce yourself to new potential customers.

If you are a store front, restaurant or other type of retail establishment, think of what types of complimentary businesses you can bring in for select events that will introduce your business to their customers and help you through those slower times.

Want Professional Marketing Advice But on a Budget?

I offer a new service called the “Quick Consult” for just $30. Check it out on my menu of marketing services.

Need Fresh Ideas for Marketing Your Online Business?

Check out my ebooks, packed with my advice and ideas, available at my Selz ebook shop.

© 2012-2014 G.B. OLIVER ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Great Product Photography: HerriottGrace.com

March 11, 2014 /

If you need examples of great product photography, I have one today.

I gave across this online shop the other day and I was blown away by their product photography so I had to share.

HerriottGrace.com is a father and daughter team where the father, Lance, hand crafts beautiful kitchen and serving ware in wood, ceramic and metal and his daughter, Nikole, an established photographer, styles and shoots his creations. The results are very inspiring.

examples great product photography

What Makes These Product Photos Work
  • Showing the product in use
  • The addition of pops of color against a white background
  • Creating interest by having others items leading the eye off-center
  • Including the shadows makes it less sterile
  • Keeping a little of the messiness of eating makes it realistic
  • These are magazine quality images that editors will use and people will share on social media

great product photography

How to Get Professional Photos for Free

If you cannot afford professional looking photographs, local photography students may do it for free.

Simply go to your local community college, see if they offer a photography class, and then ask the professor if they would be willing to do a class project whereby they shoot your products for you. They get a class project, you get free photos. Photography students are also in need of subject matter for their portfolio, so you could also approach individual students about shooting your products for this purpose. You can barter with them and/or offer a credit/link to them on your site.

great product photography tips

About Me

Do you need your Brand Story written or an SEO-Optimized Blog Post or a Personalized Business Consultation? A 20+ year marketing professional and small business consultant, all of my services are super affordable.

I have consulted for thousands of small businesses since 2012, and my advice has been featured in the NY Times, Success Magazine, Yahoo Business, American Express, Big Commerce, Business2Community to name a few – so this is professional advice you can trust!

I have also written publicity pitches for clients that resulted in them being featured in Real Simple Magazine, Apartment Therapy, House Beautiful, Vanity Fair, Houzz, Martha Stewart, Glamour Magazine, LONNY, DesignMilk, Emmaline Bride,– just to name a few. Check out my very affordable Publicity Pitch service.

And of course, I have a wide variety of business and marketing downloads you can check out at my Shopify store.

My Etsy Store
Read More of My Blog

© 2013 – 2016 Gail Oliver. All rights reserved. Great Product Photography

8 Keys to a Successful Business

March 6, 2014 /

Here are my 8 keys to a successful business as well as the hard facts. THERE IS NO MAGIC SECRET. Anyone who tells you there is, is lying. If you expect success to come quickly and easily, you might as well stop now (but don’t).

Key to a Successful Business #1: Believing It Will Be Successful

It doesn’t matter if anyone else does, it only matters that you do. Negativity and doubt breed negative results.

Key to a Successful Business #2: Work Hard

I don’t know anyone who is successful and didn’t have a long, hard road getting there. Expect to invest endless hours in your business, especially in the beginning. But once you have a steady customer base and a good reputation, things will come easier.Keys to a Successful Business

Key to a Successful Business #3: Be Patient

Nothing happens overnight, and you really don’t want too much success too quickly if you are not prepared to handle it. That can hurt your business. So set goals you wish to achieve daily, monthly and yearly and see those as a measure of success to stay motivated.

Key to a Successful Business #4: Be Willing to Change

I am constantly reminded of the famous quote, “Stupidity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results“. If your current marketing efforts are not working, why keep doing them, try something else.

Keys to a Successful Business

This art print is from LuciusArt on Etsy

Key to a Successful Business #5: Stop Compaing

I get this a lot. Why is this company that does the same thing I do, so much more successful? It could be a variety of reasons. First to market always helps. Maybe they have a large friends and family referral business. Maybe they had a personal contact at a major publication that brought substantial publicity. Maybe it’s just pure luck. Who knows for sure. Forget about them and focus on you. I have competitors, we all have competitors, but it is a large marketplace and you can carve out your own niche.

Key to a Successful Business #6: Take Advice

I have a lot of clients who come back to me asking why they are not getting results, only to find out they did not implement all the tactics I suggested, probably because they are hesitant to change (read #4 again). The truth is, you are not objective about your own business as you are just too close to it. So if you pay for professional advice trust what they are saying to do and do it.

Keys to a Successful Business

Key to a Successful Business #7: Invest in Your Business

Whether it is consulting services, advertising, graphic design, SEO, and so forth, you have to spend money to make money. If you are not willing to invest in your business, you are not serious about it.

Key to a Successful Business #8: Don’t Give Up

Failure is part of being successful. Everyone fails, the difference is successful people keep trying, they don’t give up.

More Business Posts
Be Sure to Also Check Out
© 2012-2015 Gail Oliver. All rights reserved. Keys to a Successful Business

5 Marketing Ideas for Your Website Banner Design

February 26, 2014 /

website banner designYour website banner design is a great marketing tool.

Most websites, e-commerce sites, blogs, and social media sites templates encourage you to include a banner or cover image or graphic header at the top.

This banner design has huge marketing potential, so make sure you are using it to the fullest. It is an ideal way to keep people on your site longer, and engage with more of your pages. It can definitely improve your bounce rate.

Website Banner Design That Displays Your Product Line

I love how this banner design shows a variety of their pillows in various colors and styles, so you get the idea that they have a large selection. Obviously, it is also to mention a very big sale, which is another great ideas for your banner as in the next point.

website banner design

Website Banner Design  to Display Any Sales or Promotions

This banner design is great because it is so bright and eye catching, a great way to announce a sale.

website banner design

Banner Design that Shows Your Best Sellers

This site uses their banner to take you right to their best sellers. The words “Best Sellers” carries a lot of weight with customers and usually convert the highest into a sale as they seem like a trusted purchase.

website banner design

Website Design to Show Your New Products

How fun and eye catching is this banner design, that shows the new products in the shop. This is helpful if you have frequent visitors, as they always want to see what is new.

website banner ideas

Website Banner to Display Your Holiday or Seasonal Products

website banners

xOther Ideas for Your Website Banner Design
  • Display your Social Media Sites
  • Display your Regular Offers, such as  Free Shipping
  • Display your Special Services
  • Display your Recent Press Coverage
  • Display your Blog URL
More Small Business Posts
My Small Business Services

I offer a variety of very affordable services for small businesses from one on one consulting to various marketing writing services.

About Me

A 20+ year marketing professional, small business consultant, ebook author & blogger, my advice has been featured in the NY Times, Success Magazine, American Express, Big Commerce, Business2Community to name a few – so this is professional advice you can trust!

Since 2012, I have been selling online including on Shopify, Etsy, Gumroad and on Amazon back in its early years. This, combined with my decades of marketing & business experience means I can advise, mentor as well as come up with creative new ideas for your business. It really does help to talk to someone who is objective to get a new but professional perspective.

I have written publicity pitches for clients that resulted in them being featured in Real Simple Magazine, Apartment Therapy, House Beautiful, Vanity Fair, Houzz, Martha Stewart, Glamour Magazine, LONNY, DesignMilk, Emmaline Bride,– just to name a few.

© 2014 Gail Oliver. All rights reserved. Website banner design. 

How Your Small Business Can Get Big Attention on Social Media

February 24, 2014 /

Need ideas for getting attention on social media?

There is a reason Oreo cookies has over 35 million followers on Facebook. They take advantage of what is trending on social media to get themselves seen by millions (a suggestion I have made many times on this blog).

For example, here are some of their best posts from the last two weeks, capitalizing on the Sochi Olympics trending big on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

getting attention on social media

They are not blatantly promoting their product. They are using their product to comment on what is going on in pop culture in an entertaining way.

Now, obviously as a small business you can’t afford an in-house graphic artist to conceive a new idea for you every day. But every once in a while try posting a really creative graphic that ties your product or service in with something that is trending, and it may get you widely circulated on social media.

Upcoming Events That Will Be Trending on Social Media:
  • Paris Fashion Week (February 25)
  • Academy Awards (March 2)
  • Mardi Gras/Fat Tuesday (March 4)
  • International Women’s Day (March 8)
  • March Madness (March 18)
  • First day of Spring (March 21)
  • Passover (April 14)
  • Easter (April 20)
  • Earth Day (April 22)

About Me

Do you need your Brand Story written or an SEO-Optimized Blog Post or a Personalized Business Consultation? As a 20+ year marketing professional and small business consultant, all of my services are super affordable.small business seo

I have consulted for thousands of small businesses since 2012, and my advice has been featured in the NY Times, Success Magazine, Yahoo Business, American Express, Big Commerce, Business2Community to name a few – so this is professional advice you can trust!

My Publicity Pitch service has also gotten my clients featured in Real Simple Magazine, Apartment Therapy, House Beautiful, Vanity Fair, Houzz, Martha Stewart, Glamour Magazine, LONNY, DesignMilk, Emmaline Bride,– just to name a few.

More SEO Articles

 

 

© 2014 Gail Oliver. All rights reserved. Getting Attention on Social Media

Easy SEO Marketing Tips for Your Small Business

February 19, 2014 /

seo marketing tips small businessNeed a few SEO Marketing Tips for your Small Business?

SEO (or Search Engine Optimization) is one of the most important aspects of the online business. But not everyone can afford to hire SEO services. The big retailers can, so lucky for you, your online business can “borrow” a few quick and easy tips from them.

Title Tags

Your site’s title tag (the descriptive line that appears in the browser bar at the top when people land on your home page) is very important to be found in Google. So be specific as to how people search.

A lot of times when people are searching for an item, they will use words like “buy” or “for sale” as part of their search phrase.

For example, take a look at Apple’s title tag for their online store:

Notice the use of the word “buy” and then listing their products by their exact name.

Sometimes, putting a key feature of your business that people search on, works as well.

For example, take a look at FTD’s title tag for their online store:

Quick Easy SEO Marketing Tips for Your Small Business

FTD knows that “same day flower delivery” is not only a popular request, but a popular search phrase.

Section Title Tags

Sections or category title tags are also important to be keyworded correctly for SEO. When it comes to your site’s sections or categories, again, load up the title tag with as many possible search phrases as possible that you offer.

For example, take a look at Gap’s category title tag for “jeans”:

Quick Easy SEO Marketing Tips for Your Small Business

Women don’t search “jeans“, they search a specific type, and Gap has it covered in their section title tag.

Another good example, Asos.com’s category title tag for “earrings”:

easy seo tips and tricks-1

Take a look at top sites in your segment, then take a look at popular search phrases and see how you can maximize the SEO of your title tags and section title tags.

About Me

Do you need your Brand Story written or an SEO-Optimized Blog Post or a Personalized Business Consultation? As a 20+ year marketing professional and small business consultant, all of my services are super affordable.SEO Marketing Tips Small Business

I have consulted for thousands of small businesses since 2012, and my advice has been featured in the NY Times, Success Magazine, Yahoo Business, American Express, Big Commerce, Business2Community to name a few – so this is professional advice you can trust!

My Publicity Pitch service has also gotten my clients featured in Real Simple Magazine, Apartment Therapy, House Beautiful, Vanity Fair, Houzz, Martha Stewart, Glamour Magazine, LONNY, DesignMilk, Emmaline Bride,– just to name a few.

More SEO Articles

 

 

 

© 2014 Gail Oliver. All rights reserved. SEO Marketing Tips Small Business

18 Great Marketing Ideas for Selling Online

February 12, 2014 /

marketing ideas for selling onlineLooking for some truly awesome marketing ideas for selling online?

Whether you sell on Etsy, on Amazon, on Shopify or somewhere else online, these marketing ideas are  from my 12-Month Marketing Strategy Plans for Online Shops.

These detailed downloads are super easy to follow and will help you drive more traffic (and sales) to your online store.

18 Marketing Ideas for Selling Online
  1. Highlight any publicity your business has received with an icon or shoutout on your store page banner. For example, “As featured in this month’s issue of…”
  2. Ask a local photography class to take highly stylized, creative photos of your products as a class project. As a result, you get free high quality product photos to use.
  3. Create a gift card for your store and promote it on your home page and at the end of every product listing.
  4. Add text fly-outs to your product photos that highlight special features or a target customer that would benefit from this feature. See this post for examples.
  5. Get a free Square.com reader for your smart phone, so you can sell your products by credit card anywhere, anytime (out of the trunk of your car, if need be). You also get your products featured in Square’s online shop for free.
  6. Apply to have your products included in monthly subscription boxes to get in front of potential new customers. It can be sample sizes or even a coupon.
  7. Instead of always going after the end user, try to also target potential business users for your products such as restaurants, small hotels, fashion stylists, interior decorators, daycare centers, dog groomers, event planners, AirBnBs, and so forth.
  8. Post something nice about a prominent brand company to your social media sites and tag them on it and they will likely repost it to their social media sites (so your business now gets seen by their followers).
  9. Change or add your shop categories depending on the time of year, and make them as detailed as possible to really attract interest.. For example, Valentine’s Gift Ideas for Kids, Beautiful Holiday Decorating Ideas, New Fashion Jewelry for Fall 2022, etc.
  10. Put your shop logo and url on your smart phone case, lap top, lap top bag, coffee travel cup, yoga mat and anywhere else other people will see it as you travel throughout your day.
  11. Create a free list or checklist that promotes your business or is something your target market would be interested in. For example, if you sell jewelry, create a “10 Classic Jewelry Pieces to Own” list or if you sell wedding products, “Six-Week Countdown Wedding Checklist”.
  12. Attend a popular music or sports event and wear a t-shirt that has your store name and url printed in a large readable font on the front and back.
  13. In your product copy cover the 5 Ws (and one H) and tell customers what it is, who will use it, when they will use it, why they will use, where they will use it, and how they use it (if applicable).
  14. Offer and promote an ongoing discount to trades, professionals, students and/or seniors, whichever is most applicable.
  15. Join a Facebook fan page of something you are truly interested in, like a favorite TV show. Just join in the conversation; never use it to promote your business.  Your avatar and Facebook user name should say it all.
  16. Use your social media avatar like an ad, to promote your latest product or sale.
  17. Have a fridge magnet made with your online store url. Then ask friends and family to put it on the refrigerator in the lunch room of their work place, in addition to their home fridge.
  18. When sending out customer packages at Christmas, include a recipe card with a Christmas cookie recipe on it. Make sure your store name and url are also clearly on it. This is something they will keep and pull out every Christmas, reminding them of your store.

x

Download One of My 12-Month Marketing Plans!

Over 300 tactics to try for advertising, promotions, sales, publicity, SEO, content marketing and social media in my 12-Month Marketing Strategy Plans with plans specific for what you sell, including:

 

 

 

© 2014-2022 Gail Oliver. All rights reserved. Marketing ideas for selling online.

5 Ways to Find an Idea for Your Own Small Business

February 11, 2014 /

How to Find a Small Business IdeaWant to know how to find a small business idea?

I am also an expert contributor at the #1 women’s lifestyle website, SheKnows.com, read by more than 40 million women each month, and here is my first article for them (plus you can read it below): 5 Ways to Find an Idea for Your Own Business.

Do What You Like to Do (And Are Good At)

Everyone will tell you to follow your passion, but I like to add to that; it also has to be something you’re good at. For example, a lot of people love to sing, but if they are not good at it they won’t earn a living doing it. So find what you love to do and are good at, then determine if there is a way to make money doing it.

Listen To Those Compliments

Sometimes the best way to find out what you are good at is to listen to what people compliment you on. Maybe it is your sense of style, your cooking or your photography skills. If they like it, chances are other people will too.

Look At Your Own Needs

Another great way to find an idea for a business is to look at your own recent needs for a product or service. Were you unable to find what you wanted? Maybe others are looking for the same things you are. Where there is demand, there is opportunity.

See What People Are Searching For

Go to one of the question and answer websites like Quora, and type in “where can I find x.” The results are fascinating, everything from “where can I buy a stylish bike helmet?” to “where can I find someone to practice Spanish with?” You can even narrow it down to the city you live in, for example, “where can I find x in Seattle?” It’s a great way to get an idea of people’s current wants and needs and see if you can build a business around it.new business ideas

Read Product and Business Reviews

An interesting way to find an idea for a business is to read reviews of products and services on sites like Amazon and Yelp to see customer complaints about the ways these businesses are lacking. Capitalizing on a popular product or service’s weaknesses presents an opportunity for you.

If you have the entrepreneurial spirit, chances are there is a small business idea right for you; you just have to find it.

On my blog I focus on giving advice to help market and promote your small business. However, over at SheKnows.com I will be writing about topics related to starting and running a small business or becoming an entrepreneur, so I hope you will follow me over there!

Also read: 54 Small Business Ideas for 2022

Be sure to download my best-selling How to Start a New Business Planner.

© 2014 Gail Oliver. All rights reserved. How to Find a Small Business Idea.

Find Out What Your Target Market Wants With Google Autocomplete

February 7, 2014 /

google autocompleteI love Google Autocomplete because it gives you so much valuable information.

Not sure what Google Autocomplete is? It’s very simple. You go to do a search on Google by entering a word in the Google search box, and immediately a variety of search phrases will fill down. These are typically the most popular searches on Google, in order, and in fairly real-time (they are current).

Using Google search, you can conduct a simple test to know if you are offering products and services that people want and/or need. Try to do this every six months as needs are always changing.

You can start with a single word, like “sweater” and see what fills down. But, you want to go deeper to get more targeted search phrases.

Now, some of the best ways to find these targeted search phrases that people are using, are to use the words “that” “with” and “for”. Remember, people are using voice searches more than ever now, so searches are longer.

For example, in the Google search bar type in “table that …” and let out complete fill in the popular searches:

google autocomplete

Try it with “necklace for” and you get:

google autocomplete

Try it with “eye cream with” and you get:

how to create products people want

Not only is this a great way to do market research, but it also helps with your SEO efforts because you can add tags and product titles based on these searches. You can also write blog posts and other content marketing efforts to capitalize on these top search phrases.

More Google and SEO Articles to Read:

Be sure to visit my Shopify store to see the marketing products and services I sell.

© 2014 Gail Oliver. All rights reserved. Google Autocomplete. 

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