3 Types of E-commerce Platforms

Written by Kevin Liew on 02 Feb 2019
24,510 Views • Mobile Development

E-commerce has changed the way people do business, and it’s showing no signs of stopping, but many people still don’t really have a firm grasp of what it is. To put it simply, e-commerce consists of doing business online instead of in person, and many will argue that it can be far more convenient than that alternative.

If you’re looking to learn more about e-commerce, then you need to know what kinds of sites e-commerce takes place on, and it’s likely that you’ll recognize some of the bigger ones. In this article, we’re going to explore where e-commerce takes place on the internet. We’ll take a look at online marketplaces, online storefronts, and even social media.

Online Marketplaces

These are the kinds of e-commerce sites that most people are already acquainted with, as they include some of the biggest companies in the world. An online marketplace is something like Amazon or eBay, where people sell their goods, and the company itself doesn't necessarily have stock of its own.

Although Amazon now produces its own goods under its AmazonBasics line, it had no products of its own for a long time, and simply made its money off of the fees that sellers pay to use it. Online marketplaces make it easy to sell your goods online, and they give a brand more reach than otherwise.

Online Storefronts

For businesses that operate more directly, online storefronts give them a place on the web where they can sell their goods. Most companies will manage their own online storefronts, while some will outsource the management of their website to a more qualified firm.

Keep in mind that it takes an effort to create an online storefront, but there are many e-commerce platforms that make the task far simpler. Companies like Shopify and Magento ensure that anyone can approach the domain of e-commerce with relatively little training and have a store of their own in no time.

Social Media

Most e-commerce companies won’t sell their goods directly over social media, but they will use it to promote their business and the things that they have in stock. Social media provides these businesses with a place to promote their goods, and paid advertisements on sites like Facebook and Instagram can go a long way.

Even carefully managing a business’ social media page can make it look more professional and potentially bring in more customers. It is crucial to establish a brand and get it out there when working in the domain of e-commerce, as the competition is stiff and a business has to make itself known.

Conclusion

As you can see the actual e-commerce takes place on either online marketplaces or online storefronts, but social media is a crucial tool for companies as well. E-commerce may sound intimidating at first, but it really isn’t that complicated. If you’re looking for e-commerce solutions, take a moment to check out https://newizze.com/.

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