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  Are you a micro or small-scale business looking to sell your products or services globally? There are lots of platforms that allow you to do this. The great thing is, they’re mostly free to register on. If you’re on any of them, you could pitch to numerous individuals and businesses worldwide, or get discovered by them. Often, you could do so without having a full-fledged website of your own (although we encourage you to do this).
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For product exporters, sites like eWorldTrade, Export Hub, and Ali-etc, may be worth checking out. And if you’re service-oriented, you may start selling on sites like Upwork, 99Designs (for graphics designers), Contently (content creators), and Toptal.

Route To Selling On Global Platforms

Here’s how you can get on these platforms and begin earning off them.

Know What You’re Going To Sell

If you already have a fixed product or service that you sell, you may skip this part. But if you’re just starting or haven’t picked a speciality yet, this is something you’ll want to do. The sweet spot you’re looking for should come at the intersection of your skills and the most in-demand products or services. You may not even identify it until you’re well into step two.

Choose A Platform

There are a lot of websites to choose from. To find the right one for you, you’ll have to ask people who are already into this, surf the web and find the options yourself, and read the products and services allowed to list on these sites. It’s worth noting that some sites have higher entry-level requirements than others. There are also differences in the minimum fees that can be charged for services.
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Learn From Existing Users

There’s a lot you can learn from existing users of these platforms. If they’re open, they can share things like how to meet the requirements of the site you want to register on, how to gain your first customer, and how to become a top-tier seller. You may find these users online (on forums for instance) or in-person (if you know anyone who fits this description).

Register

The registration process may vary across platforms. Some are lengthier than others. A few will even ask you to take a test. If you sell services, you may be required to provide a portfolio of your previous works. If you have discussed this with an existing user, none of the steps should come as a surprise to you. Just make sure that you have the items needed to successfully register.

Start Selling

If your registration is confirmed successful, you may go on to begin selling. Some websites operate a bid system, which means you have to pitch your services to someone who has requested it. You will be doing this along with several sellers. On other websites, the prospective buyer will look for a seller. Be sure to use keywords in your description, so that it’s easier for prospects to find you. It could take you a while to learn the ropes on these platforms. But when you do, you’ll raise your chances of selling regularly on them.

Final Words

The path to succeeding with these international marketplaces isn’t always straightforward. But if you keep at it and get your advice from experienced people, it should prove rewarding for you soon enough. Featured Image Source: OFX
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This article was first published on 28th June 2021

ikenna-nwachukwu

Ikenna Nwachukwu holds a bachelor's degree in Economics from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. He loves to look at the world through multiple lenses- economic, political, religious and philosophical- and to write about what he observes in a witty, yet reflective style.

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