Which marketplace is best for your business? Ecommerce specialist from Ecommerce na Prática explains

Those who decide to start an online business have certainly wondered which marketplace is the best to start selling on. Although they have similar business models, each of these sales channels requires specific strategies to attract buyers and promote products. The good news is that all of them offer an advantageous infrastructure for sellers, making business growth easier.

Fabio Ludke, e-commerce consultant and teacher at the world's largest e-commerce school, the Ecommerce in PracticeExplain the advantages and particularities of the main online sales platforms in Brazil: Mercado Livre, Shopee, and Amazon. 

According to the expert, the biggest challenge for those who sell on these marketplaces is to gain visibility. However, each platform offers different strategies to overcome this obstacle.

Mercado Livre

One of the greatest advantages of Mercado Livre is its comprehensive ecosystem, which includes logistics (Mercado Envios), payment processing (Mercado Pago), and ad optimization (Mercado Livre Ads). Additionally, the program "Decola Mercado Livre" offers benefits for new sellers to gain visibility and achieve the status of professional seller.

For those starting on the platform, Ludke points out that it is common for entrepreneurs to struggle to achieve the first ten sales, which are essential to activate the sales thermometer. He recommends that sellers focus on products with high demand in the marketplace, using multiple ad techniques to create different offers with varied titles, descriptions, and photos. The goal is to test and understand what works best.

"Being on Mercado Livre strategically positions the retailer to reach new customers and generate an additional source of revenue for the e-commerce. It is important, then, to work on the after-sales to bring the marketplace customer to your own ecosystem. A tip is to send a flyer with a QR Code along with the product, inviting the customer to visit your store," she affirms.

Shopee

With a focus on products with lower average ticket prices, Shopee stands out for its marketing tools and free shipping program, attracting a price-sensitive audience. 

“She offers features such as live streams, sending messages to clients, and creating specific audiences. These factors can significantly boost sales, but many sellers still do not take advantage of these tools. Learning how to use them can help to stand out,” she explains.

Amazon

Amazon is one of the marketplaces that has grown the most in Brazil and holds a privileged position in international commerce, even offering opportunities for retailers to sell products from Brazil to the United States. The expert affirms that the ideal strategy for those looking to harness the power of Amazon is to understand the demand on the platform in order to identify which products have a higher chance of performing well, by searching for the 'best-selling' items on the site. 

Another relevant point to consider when selling on Amazon is the use of FBA and DBA, which are the marketplace logistics systems to streamline delivery. This not only allows for faster delivery to customers but also generates greater visibility for ads.

Multichannel Strategy to Maximize Sales

According to Ludke, the ideal is to invest in both your own online store and marketplaces, using complementary strategies to multiply revenue.

"The sales potential that marketplaces provide is essential in the digital age. Your customers may not yet know your brand, but they are certainly already searching for products like yours on Amazon, Mercado Livre, or Shopee," emphasizes the expert.

However, he explains that a successful e-commerce diversifies its sales channels, reducing risks through a multichannel approach, and thus grows securely.