Should you sell on all platforms when selling online?

With all the available platforms online, one can easily get confused on which one to use. There are several platforms available and some cater to certain products but the most popular ones sell all types of products in general. Artisan products are mostly sold on Etsy, while mixed bags of products are sold either on Amazon, eBay or Walmart.com

While it is true that selling on all these platforms may be affordable, there are things that you should consider before moving forward with that plan.

1. Learning curve — each platform has its own guidelines and algorithm. For your product to dominate the platform, you will have to take your time learning the guidelines and the best practices to make sure that the platform algorithm will promote your product better than your competitors. If you try to put your products on all platforms, you have to read and learn about each platforms’ guidelines. Which means more time for you to spend learning rather than actually selling.
2. Financial consideration — while it is true that selling on different e-commerce platforms is fairly affordable, You should still consider the fees for each platform and how it will affect your budget for operation. Not to mention the fact that the fees from all the platforms where your products are listed might compound and will increase the amount you have to pay on a weekly or monthly basis. Some platforms like Amazon charge storage fees for your products.
3. Marketing strategies — every platform has its own algorithm and its own way of promoting products to potential buyers. This also means that there are different demographics of users for every platform. Some platforms may appeal to a younger audience and some may not. Depending on the product you are selling or if you would like to sell on all platforms you will have to modify your marketing strategy based on the platform. So understanding the demographics of each platform is essential.

The question remains, which platform is the best? In the battle of Amazon vs eBay, eBay vs. Walmart.com, Walmart.com vs. Amazon who will win? The answer may not be in pitting the platforms with each other but in finding out which platform your product could sell best, given your resources on time to tackle on the learning curve, the budget you are able to put in a platform, and your knowledge and resources available for your marketing strategies.