Despite starting off as a modest B2B company in 1999, Alibaba has now gained recognition for its accomplishments such as surpassing Google, Facebook, and Twitter combined in its U.S. IPO and generating over $7.6 billion in revenue for Q4 of 2016.
When considering entering international markets and growing your global presence, Alibaba can serve as an excellent platform. Although starting out is simple, it is important to remember certain factors while registering, establishing, and managing your Alibaba account in order to maximize its benefits and enhance your financial performance.
If you want to sell your products on Alibaba, here is a step-by-step guide to help you begin.
1. Register for your account
To begin, it is necessary to create an Alibaba account. The registration process for an account is simple, requiring a valid email address, your name, and the name, location, and phone number of your company. Additionally, during this time, you can select the desired type of account: a seller account, buyer account, or a combination of both.
2. Establish your company profile
Once you have confirmed your account through email, it is necessary to create your company profile, commonly referred to as your company page. Remember that this is the information that potential buyers (or sellers, if you have the intention of becoming a buyer too) will have access to, so it is crucial to be as comprehensive as possible.
In general, you will be required to provide the following information.
- Type of business
- Location
- Products you plan to sell
- Company size
- Target markets (where you hope to sell your product(s)/service(s)
Taking the time to provide accurate information when setting up your profile can greatly contribute to instilling confidence in potential partners. This thorough profile will be instrumental in securing future business.
To enhance buyer confidence, you may want to think about incorporating any product test results or certifications you have obtained. These can be advantageous for meeting EU standards, which are usually strict, and can give your product an advantage over others, especially when safety standards play a role in the purchasing decision.
3. List your products
In order to sell your products on Alibaba, it is necessary to list them and, just like offering comprehensive business information, it is also important to provide detailed descriptions and images of the products you choose to list. By furnishing precise and comprehensive descriptions, you can enhance the visibility of your products and allure potential buyers.
Listing the product is important, but the number of products listed can significantly impact your success as an Alibaba seller.
If your product page has only 5-10 products, it will give the impression of being empty or incomplete. Additionally, having a greater number of products increases the likelihood of appearing in product search results, thereby increasing exposure and improving the chances of securing partners.
4. Be a quality communicator
If you haven’t already noticed, perception plays a crucial role in achieving success. It is necessary to establish integrity and confidence in your brand in order to make the most of Alibaba partnerships. Despite the benefits of having an impressive company page and comprehensive product descriptions, they may not always be enough to secure a deal.
In order to grow your business, it is crucial as a seller in the international market to respond and communicate with prospective and current buyers, establishing and maintaining strong relationships. Alibaba offers a message center to aid in managing communication and also provides TradeManager, which is a real-time chat platform for engaging with other Alibaba users.
5. Consider a gold membership
Alibaba allows users to join for free, but for those seeking to make the most of its offerings, including the customer base and site functionality, it may be worthwhile to consider a Gold Membership. At present, there are three levels of Gold Membership available: Basic, Standard, and Premium.
Each of these levels offer members their own custom webpage; priority rankings in their search results; unlimited product postings (free memberships cap at 50); and the ability to quote buying requests. Additionally, each level has access to product showcases, which according to Alibaba, can translate into 100 times more product views.
Premium members enjoy preferential treatment, including 1st ranked product placements, 28 product showcases (compared to 12 for Standard members and 5 for Basic members), and personalized customer service.
6. Take advantage of Alibaba resources
Alibaba offers a wide range of educational and training resources that assist business owners in optimizing the tools and functionalities provided by them. By exploring their learning center, users can access information on various topics such as foreign trade, industry analysis, e-commerce, and Alibaba basics, which can be beneficial for enhancing profits.
If you want to increase your market or make use of international sales opportunities, Alibaba can provide your company with the chance to do so. It is important to take the necessary time to correctly set up your account and utilize the tools and resources offered by Alibaba in order to maximize your success as a seller on the platform.
Where can products appear for Keyword Advertising?
It is important to have an understanding of the locations where your ads appear when engaging in Keyword Advertising on Alibaba. Alibaba provides four placements for the display of your ads.
- The first five positions on the first page of search results
- The ten positions to the right of the search results
- The top four positions below each page of search results
- The top ten positions on the first page of app search results
What are the benefits of keyword advertising?
What advantages does Keyword Advertising offer for promoting your products? There are four major perks of advertising on Alibaba.
By utilizing Keyword Advertising, your product listings on the Alibaba website and mobile app can be strategically positioned, resulting in increased exposure for your business. This better placement allows more people to discover your products at the appropriate moment.
By advertising products on Alibaba, you enhance your targeting capabilities and reach a larger audience of potential customers. This enables your business to showcase its products specifically to buyers who are highly likely to make a purchase, thereby boosting sales.
Alibaba’s payment model is based on clicks: You are only charged by Alibaba when individuals click on your promoted product listing. This ensures that you pay for leads that are the most relevant, as they were sufficiently interested in your products to click on your listing.
You can have control over your budget with Keyword Advertising. You have the freedom to set the budget you want, which means you don’t have to worry about spending too much to advertise on Alibaba.
How to sell more on Alibaba: Alternative ways to market on Alibaba
Although Keyword Advertising is the sole option available for advertising on Alibaba, it does not prevent you from promoting your products using other methods. Here are five alternative approaches that can assist you in effectively marketing on Alibaba.
1. Integrate keywords
To enhance the visibility of your products on Alibaba, one effective method is to optimize your product listings with appropriate keywords. By adding keywords to your product listings, Alibaba allows you to increase the likelihood of appearing in relevant search results. Keep in mind that you can only include a maximum of three keywords per product listing, so it is crucial to select them wisely.
When choosing keywords, it is important to prioritize the ones that are commonly searched by your target audience. For instance, if your product is a bill counter, your main keyword should be “bill counter.” You can also consider utilizing similar keywords such as “Money detector” or “Money counter” as supplementary options.
Using the keyword feature is an effective strategy to promote your products on Alibaba and increase the chances of attracting relevant potential customers.
2. Create a storefront
To advertise products on Alibaba, first, create a storefront for your business. This storefront will serve as a dedicated store with multiple pages for customers to browse through your offerings. Having a storefront also allows you to incorporate your brand’s distinctive style into your sales page.
By assisting shoppers in getting acquainted with your brand, you can enhance your chances of earning conversions. When individuals have a good understanding of your brand, they are more inclined to select your brand when they are prepared to convert.
3. Create product showcases
To increase sales on Alibaba, consider utilizing product showcases as a strategy. These showcases are exclusively accessible for Gold Suppliers and allow you to exhibit your most sought-after products to potential buyers, thereby boosting your business’s sales.
To create a product showcase, you can visit:
Navigate to the “My Alibaba” section, then proceed to the “Products” tab and subsequently click on the “Products Showcase” option. Finally, choose the desired products by making a selection.
Creating a showcase serves as an excellent strategy to catch the eye of potential buyers and entice them to explore your finest products. It facilitates increased sales, thus benefiting your business in terms of revenue generation.
4. Build relationships
Building relationships with customers is one of the most effective strategies to advertise products on Alibaba. Although it is not a direct marketing approach, it holds significant potential for boosting sales on the platform. By forming strong connections, you can secure loyal customers who consistently return to make purchases.
To ensure a proper response, engage with inquiries from potential buyers and market your products to them. When people attempt to negotiate price, make sure to collaborate with them while highlighting the value of your products.
By prioritizing the development of relationships, you are able to create chances to market your products to customers who are interested and guide them towards making a purchase.
5. Use the request for quotation feature
The Request for Quotation (RFQ) feature is the final option available for advertising on Alibaba. RFQ serves as a platform where buyers can submit product requests using Alibaba instead of directly contacting suppliers. Afterwards, suppliers can assess these requests to see if they meet their requirements.
