How to Succeed as an AliExpress Seller – The Ultimate Guide
- 09 June 2023
Whether you’re a vendor hoping to grow your business internationally or a consumer searching for amazing discounts online, the AliExpress marketplace might be just the right choice for you.
Source: https://saleslayer.com
The platform has established itself as a reputable brand in the world of online shopping due to its large selection of products, affordable rates, and global accessibility. In this guide, we will try to discuss various aspects of selling on AliExpress, such as:
- its features,
- the benefits of using it for selling your goods,
- the challenges that selling on AliExpress may pose.
So let’s get started and see what makes AliExpress a popular choice for millions of buyers and merchants across the world.
What is AliExpress?
AliExpress is an online marketplace owned by Alibaba Group, one of the world’s largest e-commerce companies from China.
Some quick facts about AliExpress:
- it connects buyers and sellers, offering a vast range of products,
- you can often buy things at attractive prices there,
- it has become a go-to platform for people looking for discounts from all over the world.
It was launched in 2010 and has since gained immense popularity among shoppers and sellers worldwide. According to the data as of 2022, the number of active users of AliExpress has well passed 180M, and it’s still growing.
How to Get Started on AliExpress?
Getting started on the AliExpress marketplace is a straightforward process. Once you get that, you will have access to a wide range of products. Here are the steps to begin your journey on AliExpress.
Account Creation
First, go to the AliExpress website and sign up for a new account. Provide the necessary information, including your email address and a secure password, and verify your account through the email sent by AliExpress.
Source: https://saleslayer.com
If you want to be a seller, the next thing you’ll need to do is to provide some of your business information, such as the company’s name, VAT registration number, or the ID number of the legal representative.
Source: https://cedcommerce.com
Product Search and Selection
Use the search bar on the homepage to find products of interest. You can refine your search by applying filters such as price range, shipping options, and seller ratings. Remember to read product descriptions, reviews, and ratings to make informed decisions.
Source: https://verumecom.com/aliexpress-dropshipping-center/
Placing Orders and Payments
Once you find a product you wish to purchase on the AliExpress marketplace, click on it to view the details. Select the desired quantity, size, color, or any other relevant options, and then add the item to your cart. Next, you can proceed to checkout, and choose a preferred payment method, such as:
- credit card,
- PayPal,
- AliExpress’ own payment system.
Once you do that, all that is left is to confirm your order and finalize the payment.
Shipping and Delivery Options
As for shipping methods, AliExpress offers various options here. You can choose standard shipping, express delivery, or even free shipping for some products.
Consider the estimated delivery time and any associated costs when choosing your shipping method. You can also track your orders through the AliExpress platform to stay updated on its progress.
Benefits of Selling on AliExpress
Selling on the AliExpress marketplace presents numerous advantages for entrepreneurs and businesses looking to expand their reach and grow their online presence. There are some key benefits you could consider.
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Access to a Global Audience
AliExpress provides access to millions of potential customers from around the world. The platform’s international reach allows sellers to tap into diverse markets and target a wide range of demographics.
Friction-free Entry
Setting up a store on the AliExpress marketplace is relatively easy and requires minimal upfront costs.
Compared to traditional brick-and-mortar businesses, the entry barriers are significantly lower, enabling small businesses and individuals to start selling with ease.
Low Cost of Advertising
Selling on AliExpress offers affordable advertising options, such as sponsored product listings and targeted ads, which allow sellers to promote their products to a larger and more specific audience without breaking the bank.
Brand Exposure and Recognition
AliExpress marketplace makes for a great opportunity for sellers to gain some brand exposure and recognition on a global scale.
Positive customer reviews and ratings can help build trust and establish a reputable brand image.
Challenges of Selling on AliExpress
While the AliExpress marketplace offers numerous benefits, if you consider selling on AliExpress, you should also be aware of the potential challenges you may encounter.
It’s essential to navigate these challenges effectively to succeed on the platform, so let’s go through the most common of them.
High Competition
AliExpress attracts a large number of sellers, resulting in a highly competitive marketplace.
It may require extra effort to differentiate your products and stand out from the competition.
Trust and Safety Concerns
Since AliExpress is an online marketplace with sellers from various countries, trust and safety can be a concern for buyers.
Buyer protection on AliExpress marketplace
Source: https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/buy-safely-aliexpress-scams/
It’s important for the AliExpress marketplace sellers to establish trust by providing:
- accurate product descriptions,
- high-quality images,
- prompt customer service.
Communication and Language Barriers
AliExpress addresses a global audience, and language barriers can sometimes pose challenges in communication between sellers and buyers.
That’s why it’s crucial to find effective ways to overcome possible language barriers. For example, you can try using translation tools or even think about hiring multilingual customer support.
Shipping and Customs Issues
International shipping can be complex, and sellers need to be aware of the shipping regulations and customs requirements of different countries.
Delays, customs fees, and lost packages are potential issues that AliExpress marketplace sellers should address proactively. If you’re planning on selling on AliExpress, you should provide support to your potential customers when such situations arise.
Tips for Success on AliExpress
Of course, not every single seller on AliExpress is equally successful. However, there are some things you can take into account while planning your business on the AliExpress marketplace. Consider the following tips.
Choose the Right Products to Sell
Conduct market research to identify trending products and high-demand niches. Look for products that align with your target audience’s interests and preferences.
Create Compelling Product Listings
Write detailed and complex product descriptions. Try highlighting the unique features and benefits.
Also, use high-quality images and videos to showcase your products effectively. Remember that the better pictures you can get, the higher the chances that your products will generate more interest among your customers.
Offer Competitive Pricing
Price your products competitively to attract buyers. The right pricing is the key to success not only while selling on the AliExpress marketplace.
Build a Strong Reputation Through Customer Service
Provide excellent customer service by promptly responding to inquiries and addressing concerns. It’s important for your customers to feel safe while buying things from you. Encourage users to leave reviews and ratings to build a positive reputation. The more such reviews you will receive, the greater will be your chance to attract more customers.
Price Monitoring for AliExpress: AliPrice vs. Dealavo
Dealavo is a software company that specializes in price and product data management solutions. Our platform offers features like price monitoring, competitive analysis, and pricing automation. It helps businesses track their own prices as well as those of their competitors, enabling them to make data-driven pricing decisions. It also works with marketplaces.
AliExpress has its own price tracking tool, called AliPrice. It’s also available as a Google Play app for Android users. It allows people to compare prices across AliExpress marketplace, but also on Amazon, eBay, Shopee, Walmart, and others. It provides users with information on prices, discounts, and seller ratings, allowing them to make more informed purchasing decisions and find the best available deals.
AliPrice and Dealavo differ in a number of ways, which we’re going to cover now for you.
Target audience
First of all, the target audiences of both those software products are very different. Dealavo primarily targets businesses, including e-commerce retailers, manufacturers, and distributors.
AliPrice, on the other hand, targets individual consumers who shop on various e-commerce platforms. It’s more like a “virtual shopping assistant” that helps customers find what they need for the best price possible.
Data sources
As for Dealavo, it gathers pricing and product data from various online sources, including e-commerce websites, marketplaces, and retailers, providing businesses with a comprehensive view of the market.
AliPrice primarily focuses on data sourced from sellers within the AliExpress marketplace and other e-commerce platforms. It provides consumers with information specifically related to prices and discounts available there.
Price monitoring and optimization
Dealavo’s main features are Price Monitoring and Dynamic Pricing, both of which make the price optimization process much easier and more efficient. Businesses can analyze pricing trends, competitor behavior, and market demand to optimize their pricing strategies and maximize profitability.
Keep up price updates – use Dynamic Pricing!
AliPrice does not provide the same level of pricing strategy and optimization capabilities as Dealavo. Its main functionalities revolve around price comparison and seller analyses, allowing consumers to find the best deals from the most reliable sellers within the e-commerce platforms that AliPrice supports.
Other functionalities
Apart from price comparison or price monitoring, Dealavo and AliPrice offer some other features. In the case of Dealavo, these are such:
- competitive analysis,
- assortment management,
- market intelligence,
- data visualization.
AliPrice primarily focuses on price comparison for individual consumers. It offers a much narrower range of features. Still, it allows its users to:
- search for similar products via images (also available as a Google Chrome extension),
- read sellers’ reviews and check their ratings,
- translate product descriptions from various languages (since it supports multinational markets).
Business model
Dealavo operates as a software company with a subscription-based revenue model. Businesses pay for access to the platform’s functionalities and services, which are tailored to their specific needs and usage requirements. Pricing plans may vary based on factors such as:
- the scale of the business,
- the volume of data processed,
- the level of support provided.
AliPrice is free of charge. It is available to individual consumers at no additional cost as an extra tool for the AliExpress marketplace and other similar e-commerce platforms.
In conclusion, AliExpress attracts buyers with its competitive prices and diverse selection, although its range of functionalities is much narrower than that of Dealavo. This is because AliExpress focuses mainly on individuals, not on businesses. However, with proper strategies and dedication, sellers can tap into the immense potential of AliExpress, expanding their business and achieving long-term success.
Optimize Prices with Dealavo
Dealavo’s monitoring and price automation tool is the perfect solution for online stores that want to stand out from the competition with attractive prices on key products in every marketplace, including AliExpress.
The Dealavo tool enables daily monitoring of competitors and automatic price management based on pre-established rules that align with the store’s marketing and sales strategy. This allows for immediate adaptation to the current market situation and an increase in sales, often accompanied by improved margins, across the most important sales channels.
Dealavo also offers additional reports and services, such as ROAS Booster which helps improve Google Ads results by selecting the right products for promotion and increasing ad conversions.
AliExpress marketplace – wrapping up
In conclusion, AliExpress is a great marketplace for e-commerce retailers that want to make their products more accessible to a global audience. However, you must be aware that AliExpress is a non-European platform, therefore there are various obstacles for foreign retailers to getting started and becoming successful. The competition is rough, if you decide to join the AliExpress marketplace remember to choose a price monitoring tool first.
With price monitoring software you’ll be able to keep up with the ever-changing competitive landscape and you’ll increase your chances to leverage your sales level and competitiveness.
Try our 7-day demo to find out what price monitoring is all about, and how it can help your business grow.
