Should You Sell on Your Own Website or an Online Marketplace? How to Choose the Best Option for You?

Start from the platform or start from the independent site?

In recent years, independent sites have become extremely popular, and many novice sellers are considering which way to start selling products. For novice sellers, whether to start from an independent site or from a platform depends on personal financial strength. Financial strength can be bluntly understood as whether you have enough financial support.

Advantages and disadvantages of independent sites

An independent site refers to an e-commerce website that is independent of major e-commerce platforms. The only source of traffic for an independent site is the funds you invest in attracting traffic. Otherwise, how would customers know that your website exists? You need to invest in advertising through overseas social media such as Google and Facebook to attract consumers to visit your site. However, this requires significant financial support. In addition, the initial investment in an independent site is substantial, the financial return is slow, and you need to consider whether you can withstand long-term losses or non-profitability.

Advantages and disadvantages of platform sales

In comparison, starting sales on platforms such as Amazon, eBay, despite fierce competition, the traffic is relatively cheaper compared to independent websites. If you cannot succeed on platforms, the chances of success on independent websites are also small.

Choose the path that suits you

Although many sellers have succeeded on independent websites, careful analysis of these successful cases will reveal that they either have substantial funds or have rich experience accumulated on platforms. These factors help them establish a foothold on independent websites. If you are a complete novice, it is recommended to start from platforms first, accumulate experience and funds to prepare for entering independent websites in the future.

Choosing the right sales channel for yourself is key to making rational decisions based on your own strengths and circumstances, and the path to success varies from person to person.