Ready to go global? Your business can penetrate new markets and reach customers around the world with an Alibaba.com seller account. Here's how to get started!
As an Alibaba.com seller, you're getting more than a storefront in a global marketplace. You're getting an end-to-end wholesale service platform calibrated to help you grow your business, and help you provide services to your buyers. Here's how to get up and running so you can start making sales.
As a new seller, you may have multiple types of selling packages/plans to choose from, depending on the country your business is in. Follow a few easy steps to register for an Alibaba.com seller account and get your Business Verification process done to build trust between you and your potential buyers. You can also choose to have a dedicated account manager who will help you through the process.
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What is Business Verification?Business Verification is a critical component of Alibaba.com seller membership as it establishes the validity of your company's status and authorized contact person. Business Verficaition helps buyers trust you and want to do business with you compared to seller accounts that did not go through a business verification.
It's important to add all of the products in your catalog to your store. Having more products in your store increases your chances of showing up in buyers' search results. This means you'll potentially get more exposure and secure more customers as a result.
You can post products individually, or streamline the process with the bulk upload tool. As you post products, the Intelligent Posting system uses AI to suggest ways to optimize each listing based on how the Alibaba.com algorithm works, and what buyers are searching for on the site.
On Alibaba.com, you get a multi-page store dedicated entirely to your business, where you can create a unique digital identity to help your brand stand out and showcase your goods. Your storefront is easy to set up, with no coding or design skills necessary. This one storefront is a powerful asset because customers from anywhere in the world can find it and see your brand and products in 18 different languages auto-translated by Alibaba.com.
After listing your products, you will begin receiving inquiries from potential buyers. As a true B2B platform, Alibaba.com lets you own the relationship with your customers – messaging back and forth and negotiating prices. Inquiries that are responded to within four hours have 30% more follow-up responses from potential buyers, so the My Alibaba seller workbench and the AliSupplier mobile app are available to ensure you get notified when inquiries come in.
Check out the quick response playbook/blog
Ensure a positive end-to-end experience for your buyers with Trade Assurance, Alibaba.com's order protection and secure payments service. This service makes it easier for buyers to trust working with sellers around the world who they may never meet in person – which makes it easier for you to close the sale. This also helps you streamline your process with all messages, orders, and payment in one place.
What is Trade Assurance?Trade Assurance protects orders from payment through delivery. It provides a secure payment platform for both the buyer and seller, ensures products arrive at the final destination on time and as expected, and provides impartial mediation if there is a dispute. Trade Assurance is only available in select countries. Be sure to activate Trade Assurance after creating your account.
Once you start getting inquiries and orders, it's time to optimize your process with tools built specifically for B2B wholesale trade.
After receiving an inquiry, you're more likely to have additional interactions with the potential buyer if you respond within four hours. To stay on top of all your messages, you can download the AliSupplier mobile app. That way you'll immediately know when you have new messages from interested businesses.
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Unlike many other B2B platforms, Alibaba.com wants you to interact with your customers and own your relationships. That means you have access to your potential buyers' data, as well as their contact information. Use this to stay in touch, offer deals, and keep them interested and coming back for more.
Take charge of your sales by analyzing your dashboards of in-depth data to review and optimize for exposure, click volume, spend, average click cost, user growth, store visits, inquiries, orders, and more. The system will also suggest improvements based on trends within your account and the user base.
You've set up your account, and the orders are coming in. If you're ready to expand even more, take your business to the next level by using marketing tools to increase awareness and sales.
What is the Request for Quotation (RFQ) market?A Request for Quotation (also referred to as an RFQ) is a sourcing request that a buyer submits to the Alibaba.com platform rather than to an individual seller. The buyer details what they're looking for and submits the RFQ, which is then open for all sellers to view and send quotes on. The RFQ market is where sellers can search through all the buyers' RFQs and respond to the ones that are relevant to them.
Trade shows are now digital, and an ideal place to showcase your products to interested and motivated buyers. Join a trade show as a keynote speaker or exhibitor to reach a huge audience on Alibaba.com's social media – plus an intimate audience during closed-door sessions.
Connect with customer service that's there when you need it, plus a suite of third-party service providers including website designing services, optimized product posting, keyword recommendation, and more.
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