Aliexpress is one of the largest e-commerce platforms in the world today. So if you’re a small business owner looking to sell your products, it should be on your radar as a potential sales channel. However, with so many sellers on Aliexpress, how can you stand out and attract customers?
If you’re brand new to selling on this platform, here are some tips that will help you succeed. Selling on Aliexpress as a seller requires some initial setup work – but once you do that, it’s relatively straightforward and simple to manage listings and upload products when they become available.
With sales forecasted to reach $21 billion by 2021 , it’s worth your while to get started with these tips now.
The e-commerce market is growing at an incredible rate, and Aliexpress in particular is expanding rapidly. With this increase in demand comes opportunity for sellers looking to expand their business.
Selling on Aliexpress gives you access to a huge potential customer base, as well as allowing you to tap into fast-growing segments such as the ‘millennium millennials’ who prefer online shopping to traditional brick-and-mortar chains. However, selling on Aliexpress isn’t always easy for beginners.
The site has over 315 million registered users, and the majority of them are based in China or other Asian markets where communication can be challenging for English speakers.
There are also different rules and regulations depending on what you’re selling, and Aliexpress places limitations on which sellers can sell specific products or services through its platform. Whether you want to open a new store or add another sales channel to your business, here are 28 tips on how to sell on Aliexpress for beginners:
1. Research your audience before selling on Aliexpress
Although Aliexpress is a massive e-commerce platform, you should still do your research to understand who your audience is and whether it’s the right place for you to sell your products. You can do this by looking at demographic data and sales volume to see which products are most popular and in high demand.
You can research your potential customers by using Google Trends to see what keywords are most popular and which search queries are leading people to your page or product. You should also research your potential competitors and see what they’re doing right and wrong.
You can do this by reading seller reviews on their product listings to see what customers are saying. You can also go through seller feedback to see if there are any recurring issues you should address before starting to sell on Aliexpress.
2. Leverage paid advertising to boost your sales
Many sellers on Aliexpress choose to boost their visibility and sales by investing in paid advertising, particularly search engine optimization (SEO) ads that appear on Google. Although the platform offers free marketing tools such as a storefront and detailed product descriptions, these alone may not be enough to attract visitors to your product pages.
Also read: The 13 Tips You MUST Know For Selling On Aliexpress and Making Money!
Search engine optimization ads are a great way to boost your sales on Aliexpress because you can target customers searching for products similar to yours. You can also use these ads to drive traffic to a specific landing page and product, which you can later track to determine what your most effective sales pitches are and which products are selling the best.
3. Communicate with your Aliexpress customers
Communicating with your Aliexpress customers is important, as it can help you build trust and establish your brand with potential buyers. You can do this by responding to feedback, reviewing, and comments on your product pages.
You can also use the messaging feature and email alerts on Aliexpress to respond quickly to customers and address any concerns they have.
Communicating with your customers is not just important for building customer trust. It can also help you improve your seller ranking on Aliexpress, which is based on several factors, including customer service and how many orders are cancelled or returned.
4. Make sure you’re selling the right product
When you’re selling on Aliexpress, you need to make sure that the product you’re promoting is allowed on the site. While the company allows anyone to open an account and start selling, certain product categories are restricted to certain sellers based on their business type.
You can research the restrictions on Aliexpress by going to the Seller Center, clicking on the ‘Business Type’ drop-down menu, and selecting ‘Retailer’. This will provide you with a list of all the product categories you can sell and those that are restricted.
You can also research the estimated sales volume for each product category. The higher the sales volume for a particular product, the greater your chances of success will be.
5. Be aware of Aliexpress restrictions
Even though you’re selling the right product on Aliexpress, there are still some restrictions that you need to be aware of. For example, products that contain mercury, lithium, or other hazardous materials are not allowed on the site.
You should be careful when choosing the product you sell on Aliexpress because you can’t change it later. If you start selling a specific product category, you can’t then change to another category without losing your seller ranking and customer trust.
6. Understand shipping policies and procedures
You can’t just list your products on Aliexpress without thinking about shipping and logistics. This is especially important if you’re selling perishable goods such as food and beverages, or you’re dealing with fragile or heavy items.
Before you start shipping products, you need to understand the seller ratings system on Aliexpress. This system is based on customer ratings, and the number of ratings you receive will determine your seller ranking. Poor seller ratings can lead to restrictions on your account and even removal from the site.
Another thing to consider is the difference between shipping timelines and delivery dates. Although you can track the shipping timeline for each order and post it on your product page, you won’t know the delivery date unless you work directly with your shipping partners.
7. Don’t rely on just one platform for sales
While it’s a great place to start selling your products, Aliexpress alone may not be enough to sustain your business. You need to diversify your sales channels and offer products through multiple e-commerce platforms, not just with one where you’re selling on Aliexpress.
Amazon, for example, is the largest e-commerce platform in the world, which makes it the perfect place to sell your products.
You can set up an Amazon Seller account without investing in warehousing or inventory and sell your existing products. You can also use Shopify to sell your products using a third-party like Dropship Wholesale to fulfill your orders.
You can also sell your products on Amazon FBA, which lets you store your inventory in Amazon fulfillment centers and ship it directly to customers.
8. Learn the basics of selling on Aliexpress
Now that you know the basics of selling on Aliexpress, it’s time to get started. Before you open an account, though, you need to familiarize yourself with the Seller Terms and Conditions as well as the specific restrictions on each product category. You can do this by clicking on ‘Seller Central’, ‘Seller Guidelines’, and ‘Seller Attention’.
You should also learn about the fees and charges you need to be aware of as a seller on Aliexpress. You can do this by clicking on ‘Seller Central’, ‘My Account’, and ‘Service Fee’.
You can also learn how to improve your seller ranking and customer satisfaction by studying the Seller Guides and Seller Forums. You can also take advantage of the Seller Social Network to connect with other sellers and learn from their experiences.
9. Decide on your shipping strategy
Shipping is an important component of your business on Aliexpress and an area you need to be aware of before you start selling. You need a solid shipping strategy from the start to ensure that your products arrive on time and in good condition.
You can decide which shipping method to use based on the product category you’re selling and where your customers are located. For example, if you’re selling perishable goods, you may want to use expedited shipping options to get your products delivered as soon as possible.
And don’t forget to factor in taxes and duties when determining your shipping strategy. You may need to adjust your strategy based on the volume of orders you receive, particularly during high-traffic times like holiday shopping periods.
10. Make sure you’re selling the right product
Be aware of Aliexpress restrictions ## Understand shipping policies and procedures ## Don’t rely on just one platform for sales ## Decide on your shipping strategy ## Learn the basics of selling on Aliexpress ## Make sure you’re selling the right product ## Communicate with your Aliexpress customers ## Be aware of Aliexpress restrictions ##
11. Know your target market
Before you even begin to sell on Aliexpress, you should do some research to find out who your customer base is. Aliexpress shoppers are a mix of domestic and international customers, with the majority based in Asia.
That’s not to say that you can’t sell to an international audience though – in fact, that’s a great way to expand your business. However, if you’re only selling to people in your own country, you’ll miss out on a huge chunk of profit. Most successful sellers on Aliexpress tend to focus on clothing or electronics which are popular categories among all demographics.
12. Don’t rely on reviews or ratings
Even though it’s incredibly useful to build a positive reputation as a seller, don’t rely on customer reviews or ratings to sell your products. On Aliexpress, almost every customer will leave a review for the seller, even if they received a faulty product or poor service. However, you can’t rely on these reviews alone to build your reputation – in fact, you’re far more likely to encounter fake reviews.
13. Use a reputable courier service
While it’s not essential to use a courier service, it’s definitely a good idea when you’re first starting out. You can either work with a courier that’s already been established on the site, or use a company that specializes in cross-border shipping.
Whether you go with a regular courier or one that specializes in cross-border shipping, make sure that they’re reputable and have a good record of customer service. You’ll also need to read the courier’s terms of service very carefully to make sure that they meet all of your business requirements.
14. Pay close attention to the product listing and ads
One of the most important aspects of your product listing is the title of the product. Make sure that you include all relevant keywords, and try to include a ‘search-friendly’ title without any capital letters.
The image is also crucial – if possible, make sure it’s a high-quality photo of the product itself. If you don’t have your own professional photos, a stock photo website such as Shutterstock can help you out.
Most importantly, you should pay close attention to the description of the product. Make sure that you include all relevant keywords, so that the product is easily discoverable by customers when they perform a search.
15. Define success and be transparent with your customers
Every seller has different goals and expectations when it comes to profitability. Some people are just happy to break even, while others are trying to make a full-time income off of their online storefront. If you’re just starting out with selling on Aliexpress, you’ll want to keep your expectations low.
While you might be able to turn a profit quickly, it’s far more likely that you’ll make some sales, but lose more money in the process. That’s not to say that you should give up – it just means that you need to be realistic about how quickly you’ll turn a profit.
16. Have a clear goal before you begin
Before you even begin selling on Aliexpress, you should have a clear goal in mind. What do you want your store to achieve, and what are you trying to accomplish? By staying focused on your long-term goal, you can stay motivated even when sales are slow and profits aren’t as quick as you’d like.
Conduct market research, analyse your competitors, and try to understand your customer base. Find out what your customers need, and try to provide it. You might not make a profit in the beginning, but if you have a clear goal, you’ll find that your sales improve over time as you perfect your product line and marketing strategy.
17. Know your category and supplier rules before you launch
Before you even begin selling on Aliexpress, you should know the rules for the categories that you’re selling in. Most categories on Aliexpress have their own set of regulations and restrictions.
18. Don’t rely on the product image alone
Aliexpress allows sellers to add multiple images to their product listing, but don’t rely on these images alone. Whether you’re selling clothing or electronics, you can use images to show off your product, but it’s not enough to just show it off.
You need to explain your product and show your customer what they should do with it. By including images of your product in different situations and with different types of customers, you can boost your conversion rates.
19. Communicate with your buyer – and stay up to date on Aliexpress news
After you’ve made a sale, it’s important to keep your customer informed about the status of their order. When you’re first starting out, you might want to consider offering free shipping or expedited shipping to help boost conversions. Make sure that you don’t promise a delivery date that you can’t guarantee, and always communicate with your customers regularly.
Keep an eye on Aliexpress news, and try to stay up to date on company regulations and policy changes. If a new rule affects your business, you’ll want to learn about it as soon as possible so that you can adapt your business strategy accordingly.
20. Offer free shipping, an online warranty, and a return policy
Depending on what type of products you sell, you might not be able to offer a full return policy. However, you should at least offer free shipping and a return policy in the beginning to help boost your conversion rates and show customers that you care.
If you offer free shipping with no minimum purchase amount, an online warranty on your products, and a return policy, it will go a long way towards building your reputation as a trustworthy seller.
21. Make sure your product is unique (and try to be ahead of the curve)
Aliexpress sellers have a few advantages over Amazon sellers: more customers are actively buying on Aliexpress, and fewer sellers are actively operating on the platform. However, Chinese customers are notorious for shopping around, and many are well-informed about what they’re looking for.
If you’re selling a product that’s already being sold, such as a smartphone case, you’ll have to contend with existing brands that have strong online presences. In this case, you’ll have to offer something special to make your product stand out.
By keeping your ear to the ground and being aware of what’s trending, you can try to anticipate what products will be in high demand. If you can be one of the first sellers to get ahead of the curve, you’ll have a competitive advantage over other sellers who are just now catching on to the trend.
22. Use social media to grow your brand and build an audience
Social media is a great way to get in front of your potential customers. You can even start a Chinese-language marketing campaign on Weibo, WeChat, and other Chinese social media outlets to grow your brand.
Try to post about your products and the benefits that come with them. Post about your shipping times and return policies, and answer any questions that your potential customers might have.
23. Set Realistic Expectations
Selling on the Chinese Amazon has its ups and downs, and you should be aware of what to expect from the marketplace. Some things to keep in mind include: There are more sellers than buyers.
As a seller, you’ll have many more people trying to contact you. You’ll have to be prepared to get inquiries from potential buyers as well as general product feedback, as well as one-off requests like website changes or advertising assistance.
You’ll want to make sure you have a clear and concise policy on how you want to respond to these inquiries. It’s important to set expectations for yourself as well. If you’re selling on Aliexpress, you’ll want to be aware of your limitations.
You’ll be selling in the Chinese market, which means that you’ll have to be prepared to ship products to Chinese addresses. You’ll have to comply with Chinese regulations: there are certain things you can’t sell, and certain things that you’ll have to comply with. You’ll want to be prepared for a large number of inquiries, as well as a large volume of orders.
24. Choose the Right Product(s) to Sell
As we’ve discussed, there are certain products that you can’t sell on Aliexpress. However, there are also products that are low-quality or have had negative publicity in the past. Sellers who try to list these products will find their accounts have been suspended. Some products to avoid:
Again, the best way to find out if a product is viable for selling on Aliexpress is to do a bit of research.
Look at the top-selling products on the site, as well as what’s being talked about in the social media channels that your potential customers frequent. Find out what customers are interested in, what their pain points are, and what they’d like to see improved. You can also try searching for ‘[product category] on Aliexpress’ and reading the results.
You’ll often find forums or discussion boards where Aliexpress sellers are asking questions or discussing problems they’re having. You can use this information to develop better products that your customers will want to buy.
25. Research and Develop Keywords
One of the most important factors in your success on Aliexpress is your ability to rank well in the search engine. Being able to show up in the top search results will help you to be seen by a wide range of customers, as well as increase your overall sales.
You can improve your ranking by adding appropriate keywords to your product description. You can search for the most popular terms for your product category, as well as terms that have low competition but are still relevant.
Avoid using too many keywords, as this will look spammy and will have the opposite effect from what you’re hoping for. You’ll want to make sure that each keyword has some relevance to your product. Be specific, but also try to incorporate your brand name as well.
26. Comply With Aliexpress’ Codes of Conduct
Although Aliexpress is primarily in China, it’s a global marketplace that sells to a wide range of different countries. As a seller, you’ll want to make sure that you’re complying with all of Aliexpress’ codes of conduct by researching and understanding:
- You’ll want to comply with these codes of conduct to avoid having your account suspended.
- You’ll also want to be aware that there are certain products that you can’t sell on Aliexpress, or you’ll be suspended.
27. Be Transparent About Your Business Practices and Policies
You want to be upfront and clear with your customers about your business practices, return policies, and shipping expectations. You’ll want to make sure that you have these things clearly outlined on your product page.
You’ll also want to be transparent with your customers about any changes or updates to your policies. If you’re planning on instituting a flagging policy, or adjusting your return policy, you’ll want to let your customers know. You can do this by responding to customer inquiries, and posting updates on social media.
28. Be prepared for unexpected challenges and scams
Selling on the Chinese Amazon comes with a few inherent risks. You’ll want to be aware of the most common scams, and be prepared to deal with them when they crop up. You’ll want to avoid giving out your personal or financial information, or sending payment to anyone who you haven’t met in person.
You’ll also want to avoid paying for a product before it’s been shipped. Not only will you want to look out for yourself, but you’ll also want to protect your fellow Aliexpress sellers. You can help make sure that the marketplace stays legit by reporting scams when you see them.
Conclusion
Selling on Aliexpress isn’t easy, especially for beginners. However, it can be incredibly rewarding if you put in the effort up front. By conducting thorough research, following these tips, and staying up to date on Aliexpress news, you can become a successful seller on one of the world’s largest e-commerce platforms.
