When you become a seller on Alibaba.com, you will receive more than just a storefront in a global marketplace. You will have access to an all-encompassing wholesale service platform designed to aid your business growth and support your buyers. Follow these steps to quickly set up your account and begin generating sales.
Register an Alibaba account
To begin selling on Alibaba, you must first create your account.
In order to create an account, it is necessary for you to provide:
- Name
- Email address
- Location
- Phone number
- Business name
To proceed, please indicate whether you would like to open a buyer account, seller account, or a combination of both. Once you have provided your information, you will receive an email to verify your account. Additionally, you have the option to get your company verified as a Verified or Gold Supplier, which instills confidence in potential buyers regarding your business.
Set up a company profile
Once you have completed the registration process, you can proceed to establish your company profile.
The importance of your company profile page cannot be understated if you want to excel as a seller. It serves as the initial perception that prospective buyers will form about your enterprise. You have the opportunity to provide details about your company’s whereabouts, scale, target audience(s), and merchandise.
Listing product certifications is helpful when dealing with goods that have specific safety regulations. Demonstrating proof of these certifications can make your business more appealing to potential buyers.
Post your products
In order to enhance the visibility and attract more customers, it is crucial to include all the products from your catalog in your store. By adding more products, the likelihood of appearing in buyers’ search results is heightened, thereby increasing the potential for gaining more exposure and acquiring additional customers.
You have the option to post individual products or use the bulk upload tool to simplify the process. The Intelligent Posting system, which utilizes AI, offers suggestions on how to optimize each listing according to the Alibaba.com algorithm and the preferences of buyers searching on the website.
Respond to customer queries and Alibaba RFQs
In order to succeed as an Alibaba supplier, it is crucial to have a strong company page and verified profile. Additionally, excellent communication plays a vital role in distinguishing your business in the competitive global market.
One effective method of establishing a connection with potential buyers is by promptly responding to Alibaba Requests for Quotations (RFQs). Utilizing the My Alibaba seller workbench and the AliSupplier mobile app can also enhance your communication and interaction. By utilizing these tools, you can receive notifications regarding new messages, enabling you to respond promptly and efficiently.
Use Alibaba support and tools
By taking advantage of Alibaba’s support features and tools such as ads, lead generation, analytics, and order management, sellers can increase their sales.
As a seller, you have the option to activate Trade Assurance on all transactions, depending on your country. Trade Assurance offers a safe payment platform and impartial mediation to resolve any issues that may arise.
Protect orders and payment
Trade Assurance, Alibaba.com’s order protection and secure payment service, aims to guarantee a positive end-to-end experience for your buyers.
This service simplifies the process of establishing trust between buyers and sellers worldwide, even if they never meet in person. This simplification facilitates the successful completion of sales and also enables the consolidation of all communication, orders, and payments into a single platform, streamlining the overall process.
Manage your account
Once inquiries and orders start coming in, you should start optimizing your process using tools that are designed specifically for B2B wholesale trade.
Stay connected with buyers
If you respond within four hours to an inquiry, there is a higher chance of having further interactions with the potential buyer. To effectively manage all your messages, you can utilize the AliSupplier mobile app, which allows you to promptly be notified of new messages from interested businesses.
Nurture your relationships
In contrast to numerous other B2B platforms, Alibaba.com encourages you to actively engage with your customers and take ownership of your relationships. This implies that you are granted access to your potential buyers’ data, along with their contact information. Utilize this to maintain communication, provide attractive offers, and sustain their interest, ensuring their return for further engagement.
Optimize sales
To take control of your sales, analyze the detailed data displayed on your dashboards. This analysis will help you review and improve various aspects such as exposure, click volume, spend, average click cost, user growth, store visits, inquiries, orders, and more. Additionally, the system will offer suggestions for enhancements based on trends within your account and the user base.
Grow your business
After successfully creating your account and receiving orders, if you are prepared to further grow your business, consider utilizing marketing tools in order to enhance both awareness and sales.
Hone in on keywords
By utilizing a range of advertising tools, you can effectively target your desired audience and enhance visibility among the most engaged potential customers. Tailor your focus by considering factors such as geography, click history, and more, and only incur charges per click.
Showcase products
Increase your exposure by up to 43% with product showcases, which can be considered as the virtual versions of a window display. Decide which products you would like to be highlighted more prominently in your store and in search results, or opt for Alibaba.com’s AI-driven recommendations.
Exhibit at online trade shows
In the current scenario, trade shows have become digital, making them an excellent platform to display your products to potential buyers who are enthusiastic and interested. By participating as a keynote speaker or exhibitor in a trade show, you can effectively engage a vast audience through Alibaba.com’s social media channels, while also connecting with a smaller and more exclusive audience during private sessions.
Join site-wide promotions
You can enjoy increased traffic periods and interest by participating in multiple annual campaigns and promotions sponsored by Alibaba.com.
How to receive international payments from Alibaba
Alibaba serves as a global platform, facilitating transactions between buyers and sellers across 190+ countries. Consequently, you have the ability to accept payments from various parts of the world. Alibaba’s website offers diverse payment options, including wire transfer, credit card, online bank payment, online transfer, Boleto, Western Union, PayPal, and more.
When it comes to receiving payments into your bank account, traditional banks can be complicated and costly. However, Wise Business can help you save money in this regard. With the Wise Business account, you can avail local account details for up to 10 major currencies, including IBANs and Routing Numbers. This feature enables your customers to pay you as if you were a local merchant.
You can also save up to 19 times compared to PayPal by paying other Alibaba suppliers at the mid-market rate.
How to ship items from Alibaba
Once you’ve successfully made a sale, the next and final task is to ship the product to your customer. It is important to be aware of the trade and shipping regulations that apply to both your own country and the country to which you are exporting. The United States Trade Representative is a reliable and helpful resource for anyone involved in exporting to or from the United States.
After understanding trade regulations, the subsequent step involves choosing between air or ocean freight as the method of shipment.
Air freight is typically quicker and pricier, whereas ocean freight might be more cost-effective but takes longer for delivery. To acquire further details, please refer to Alibaba’s ocean freight FAQs and air freight FAQs.
How much does it cost to sell on Alibaba
Alibaba charges a fee for selling on their platform. Depending on their requirements, sellers can select from various payment plans. Now, let’s examine these plans more closely.
Standard
Among many other features, you get a standard plan at a cost of $3,499 USD per year.
- Unlimited product postings
- Initial keyword advertising spend of $500 USD
- Dedicated account manager?
For new sellers who want access to basic account features without spending a large sum, this could be a beneficial plan.
Standard extended
The extended plan, which includes an extra keyword ad spend of $550 USD, costs $5,299 USD for a duration of 2 years. By purchasing this plan, you can save 20% as opposed to renewing the standard plan.
If you have already tried the Standard plan and it has proven successful for your business, implementing this plan can be a favorable option. It can also be effective if you possess a well-established product that will maintain its market demand in the foreseeable future.
Premium
Premium users receive a range of benefits and the annual fee for the premium plan is $6,999 USD.
- Keyword ad spend of $1150 USD
- 100 posts with the help of an Alibaba posting expert
- NYC-based key account manager
- Access to the Key Success Program (KSP)?
For those who have the financial resources, this is an excellent choice to maximize the promotion of their products.
Is selling on Alibaba right for you
To make a profit by selling on Alibaba, it is important to follow a step-by-step approach. Firstly, it is crucial to determine whether there is a clear demand for your product that allows for new competitors in the market. Secondly, you must have a distinct advantage that sets you apart, which can be achieved through competitive pricing, superior quality, or exceptional service. Furthermore, being ready to handle the complexities associated with trade and shipping is essential for success.
