Export your product catalog and sell on marketplaces
Exporting your product catalog
Why export your product catalog
Exporting your product catalog is an important process for selling on marketplaces. Marketplaces require detailed product information, including high quality images, detailed descriptions, specifications and prices.
By exporting your product catalog, you can easily transfer this information to the marketplaces of your choice. This saves time and efficiency in managing your presence on the different online sales channels.
In addition, exporting your product catalog can increase your visibility and sales by reaching a wider audience. Finally, it can also help you expand your geographical reach by allowing you to sell abroad on international marketplaces.
How to export your product catalog from your ecommerce site
There are several ways to export the product catalog of your eCommerce site. You can use specialized software or extensions for popular ecommerce platforms to export your product data.
Ecommerce platforms like Shopify, WooCommerce, Magento, and PrestaShop also offer built-in functionality for exporting product catalogs.
Other solutions such as Feedcast also help you retrieve your product catalog with connectors available on the main ecommerce platforms.
File formats for product catalog export
The most common file formats for exporting product catalogs are CSV, XML and JSON.
CSV (Comma-Separated Values) is a simple file format for storing data in tabular form. It is easily readable by spreadsheet programs such as Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets, as well as most ecommerce platforms. CSV is also easily editable and customizable, which is convenient for regular product catalog updates.
XML (eXtensible Markup Language) is a more complex file format for storing structured data. It is often used to exchange data between different applications or systems. XML is more easily customizable than CSV and allows for more detailed product information to be stored, such as categories, variants and images.
JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) is a file format similar to XML, but lighter and easier for developers to read. It is often used for web and mobile applications. JSON can also store structured data and can be easily customized.
Marketplaces such as Google, Microsoft, Facebook and Instagram have their own catalog formats for importing product data.
For example, Google uses the Google Shopping (or Google Merchant Center Feed) file format to import product data into Google Shopping, while Facebook and Instagram use the Facebook Dynamic Ads file format to import product data into their advertising platform.
These marketplaces typically recommend the use of their own catalog formats to ensure the quality and accuracy of product data on their platform.
By using their recommended catalog format, you can be sure that your products will meet the platform's quality and accuracy standards. In addition, using the recommended catalog format can also improve your advertising performance on these platforms.
Choice of the marketplace
The different marketplaces available
There are many marketplaces available, each with its own advantages and disadvantages.
Some of the most popular marketplaces include:
- Zalando, etc.
Each of these marketplaces has its own target audience, its own fees and policies, and different requirements for the products sold.
Amazon is one of the largest marketplaces in the world, offering a wide range of products and great visibility for sellers. The cost of selling on Amazon is generally high, but this can be offset by the volume of potential sales.
eBay is a popular marketplace for used and rare items, offering great flexibility for sellers in terms of pricing and return policy. Selling fees on eBay are generally lower than on Amazon.
Etsy is a marketplace specialized in handmade and vintage products, offering a large community of customers interested in this type of products.
Rakuten is a popular marketplace in Japan and other Asian countries, offering great visibility for international sellers.
Cdiscount is a popular marketplace in France, offering a wide range of products at competitive prices.
Fnac is a French marketplace specialized in cultural products such as books, CDs and DVDs.
La Redoute is a French marketplace specialized in fashion, offering a large selection of clothing and accessories for men, women and children.
Zalando is a European marketplace specialized in fashion, offering a large selection of clothing and accessories from popular brands.
How to choose the right marketplace for your business
To choose the right marketplace for your business, you need to consider several factors.
You need to look at the target audience for each marketplace and determine if your products are suitable for that audience. You should also consider the fees and policies of each marketplace, as well as the requirements for the products being sold.
Important criteria to consider when choosing a marketplace are:
- The target audience for each marketplace is one of the most important factors to consider. You need to look at the demographics and interests of the target customers on each platform and determine if your products are suitable for those customers. For example, if you sell luxury goods, you might consider selling on marketplaces such as Net-a-Porter rather than generalist marketplaces like Amazon or eBay.
- The fees and policies of each marketplace are also important. You need to look at the sales fees, payment processing fees, advertising fees, and storage fees, and determine if these costs are viable for your business. You should also review the return policies, promotion policies and compliance policies for each marketplace.
- The requirements for the products sold on each marketplace must also be considered. You need to look at the product quality requirements, packaging requirements, delivery requirements and compliance requirements for each platform.
- The competitors on each marketplace should also be considered. You need to look at the direct and indirect competitors on each platform and determine if your business is able to compete with these competitors.
- The level of competition on each marketplace should also be considered. You need to look at the number of competing sellers on each platform and determine if your business is able to stand out in this competitive environment.
Create an account and put your offer online
How to create an account on the chosen marketplace
Each marketplace has its own requirements for account creation, but the process is generally simple and easy to follow.
You will need to provide basic information about your business and products, as well as contact and payment information. You will also need to agree to the terms and conditions of the marketplace and provide proof of identity.
How to put your offer online on the marketplace
Once you've created an account on the marketplace, you can start posting your product offerings. Marketplaces have different upload interfaces, but the process is generally straightforward.
You will need to provide detailed information about your products, including images, descriptions, specifications, prices and delivery terms.
Elements to take into account when putting your offer online
When putting your offer online on a marketplace, it is important to take into account several key elements.
First of all, you need to make sure that your products are described in a clear and detailed manner, with high quality images and accurate specifications. In addition, you need to consider marketplace fees, return policies and delivery times.
Management of your offer on the marketplace
How to manage your offer on the marketplace
To manage your offer on the marketplace, here are some steps to follow:
- Make sure your offer is well presented on the marketplace with a clear description and quality images. This will allow customers to quickly understand what you offer.
- Respond quickly to customer questions. Customers may ask questions about your product or the ordering process. It's important to respond quickly to prevent the customer from moving on to another seller.
- Manage orders and returns efficiently. Ensure orders are processed quickly and products are shipped on time. If a customer wants to return a product, process the request quickly and ensure the customer is satisfied.
- Monitor customer feedback. Customer feedback can help improve your offering and identify problems. Respond to both positive and negative feedback to show that you are listening to customers.
- Follow the marketplace's policies. Each marketplace has its own rules and policies that you must follow to sell on the platform. Make sure you follow them to avoid any violations.
Finally, be prepared to handle emergency situations such as late deliveries or problems with products. Be proactive in resolving issues to avoid negative feedback and to maintain a good reputation on the marketplace.
How to optimize your offer to increase your sales
To increase your sales on a marketplace, it is important to optimize your offer using proven strategies. First, you need to make sure your products are competitive in terms of price and quality.
You can also use promotions, coupons and flash sales to attract customers' attention. In addition, you can optimize your product titles and descriptions for the marketplace's search engines.
How to track your sales and performance on the marketplace
Most marketplaces offer performance tracking tools to help you track your sales and performance.
You can use these tools to monitor your sales, reviews, ratings and traffic statistics. You can also use these tools to identify trends and opportunities to improve your performance.
Conclusion
In conclusion, selling on marketplaces is an important strategy for businesses looking to expand their online presence and reach a wider audience. By exporting your product catalog and putting your offers online on marketplaces, you can reach new customers and increase your sales.
To be successful on marketplaces, it is important to choose the right marketplace, to put quality offers online, to manage your offers efficiently and to monitor your performance continuously.
