The Most Efficient Sales Channels for an ecommerce Site

Table of Contents

1. Benefits of adding new sales channels
2. What to consider before opening new channels
3. The 4 main sales channels in ecommerce
   1. Online shop
   2. Marketplaces
   3. Social networks
   4. Comparators

Here we explain the advantages of opening new ecommerce channels and how to choose the most suitable ones for your business.

Benefits of adding new sales channels

• The larger the audience the more people will buy: The more channels you open, the more likely your products will be discovered by new consumers.
• More flexibility when shopping: Omni-channel experiences allow users to find many ways to buy a product.
• More revenue streams: Opening new channels in ecommerce can translate into more opportunities to grow your business and diversify where your revenue comes from.
• Lower costs than a network of shops: Opening an ecommerce shop is cheaper than the investment needed to open a physical shop.
• Higher quality traffic: Opening related sales channels allows you to attract more traffic to your website that really fits the profile of the buyer you are looking for.

What should you consider before opening new online sales channels?

• If you are a manufacturer of your own products, or a retailer of several brands.
• If you sell in a B2C or B2B environment.
• If you have your own warehouse or use dropshipping.
• Whether your strategy focuses on price or quality.
• The type of product you sell.

The 4 main sales channels in ecommerce

Online shop

Publishing your own website or mobile app with your product catalogue is the most popular, safe and useful option for brands.

A PIM (Product Information Management) platform is the best option for launching any type of online shop, especially if you manage many product references.

Marketplaces

Marketplaces are a popular option among buyers. They allow sellers to publish their products and manage the logistics.

Social media

Many social media companies are launching integrated ecommerce channels to make it easier for brands to sell directly to their audiences.

Product comparison sites

Pages dedicated to comparing products work in a similar way to marketplaces but link directly to the pages where the products can be purchased.

The conclusion is that, wherever you sell, your best strategy is to use a PIM system to connect your product data to any channel in an automated way.