Your own web shop or selling on a big platform?
Selling on bol.com or Amazon is quick to start, your own web shop gives you more control. The pros and cons side by side.
If you want to sell online, you face a choice: your own web shop, or listing your products on a large marketplace such as bol.com or Amazon. Both can work well. It depends on what you sell and what matters to you.
Selling on a platform
- Quick to start, without your own website.
- Lots of visitors who are ready to buy.
- You pay commission on every sale and often fixed fees.
- You compete directly next to other sellers, often on price.
- The customer is mainly the platform’s customer. It is hard to reach them again yourself.
Your own web shop
- No commission per sale, only your own costs and payment fees.
- Your brand, your story and your customer list.
- You set your own prices, promotions and shipping options.
- You have to attract visitors yourself, through Google, social media or your shop.
The best of both worlds
Many business owners do both. They use a platform to be found and their own web shop for regular customers, special products and better margins. Just starting out? Pick what brings in revenue fastest and build the rest step by step.
What to look for in your own web shop
Make sure you have secure payments such as iDEAL, clear shipping and returns rules, fast loading on mobile and an admin area where you manage stock and orders yourself. And have the shop properly secured, because you process personal data and payments.
Related service: Web shop development
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