In today’s tech-abundant world, B2C marketplaces turn out to be unprecedentedly beneficial for businesses of all sorts as they allow them to connect with customers from all around the world.
This immense increase in audience range boosts their sales and revenue by far!
Hence, professionals from all fields of work who want to showcase their products/services to millions of potential customers and offer a seamless shopping experience to customers, turn to B2C online marketplaces.
But when it comes to building a successful B2C marketplace that simultaneously fills in a gap in the market and promotes trust between all parties, many entrepreneurs don’t know where to start.
It takes a strategic approach, a deep understanding of your customer’s needs and preferences, and a commitment to providing a high-quality shopping experience.
So, if you’re ready to explore the world of B2C marketplaces and, most importantly, how to build one, you’ve come to the right place.
What is a B2C marketplace?
To put it simply, B2C is the abbreviation of the business-to-consumer marketplace and represents an online platform that connects businesses that sell products or services directly to consumers.
By using such platforms, consumers can easily browse, compare, and purchase products or services from a variety of sellers all in one place.
I bet you are already familiar with B2C online marketplaces like Amazon, eBay, or Etsy.
But there are also niche service marketplaces that have specialized in a particular service that’s in demand but customers struggle to find it.
The goal is to provide a place for consumers to find what they are looking for as easily as possible. The narrower the niche is, the better the quality of the services should be.
B2C marketplaces can also be a great way for small businesses to reach a wider audience and increase sales. For instance, some people are extremely experienced in their field of work and they freelance online but they don’t get enough exposure.
To convince you even more why building a service platform is such a great idea, we’ll look at the benefits for both customers and sellers in the next paragraph.
Why build a B2C service marketplace?
As we already mentioned, B2C marketplaces provide access to a large and diverse customer base.
Professionals that would like to enjoy the benefits of freelancing might struggle to reach so many people otherwise. Especially if they are just getting started.
Additionally, B2C marketplaces often handle logistics, payment processing, and customer service, which reduces the administrative burden for businesses.
By doing so, service providers are encouraged to put their entire efforts toward excellent customer service.
As for the consumers, B2C marketplaces offer a convenient and efficient way to shop for a wide range of products from different sellers all in one place.
The interactions and transactions between both parties are extremely simplified and made more transparent.
For instance, depending on the B2C business models, there might be fees or subscription plans for more advanced features. The emphasis is put on letting both customers and sellers know where their money goes.
Also, many B2C online marketplaces offer features like customer reviews, ratings, and recommendations from previous customers. This type of transparency is another good sign that the service providers are trustworthy.
Overall, “convenience is the major factor driving the growth of the overall online shopping industry” as a B2C e-commerce report states.
💡 Pro tip
Wondering what your B2C service marketplace will look like? Play with our interactive demo and find out!
B2C service marketplace vs B2B service marketplace
B2B (business-to-business) marketplaces are niche service marketplaces designed for businesses that offer solutions to other businesses.
These marketplaces are typically focused on specific industries or niches and offer products and services that are geared toward businesses rather than individual consumers.
Examples of B2B marketplaces include Alibaba, ThomasNet, and Gooten.
The target audience is the key difference between B2C and B2B marketplaces and it makes all other aspects and features differ as well.
B2C marketplaces are focused on tailoring their listings to meet the demands of individual consumers, while B2B marketplaces are geared toward the needs of businesses.
In terms of functionality, B2B marketplaces often have more complex and sophisticated features than B2C marketplaces.
For example, B2B service marketplaces are usually offering the services of the best professionals in the respective industry as good expertise is the number one priority.
Let’s say your business is looking for finance consultants, B2B consulting marketplaces will allow you to browse through a vast talent base and pick the best fit for your company’s needs.
Also, depending on the size of your organization you may benefit from custom pricing based on the scope of your specific business needs.
B2B marketplaces also provide both service providers and seekers with industry-specific tools and resources that facilitate the working process.
How to build a B2C service marketplace?
With the emergence of the no-code movement, it has become easier than ever to create a marketplace.
No-code solutions like 3veta offer you the possibility of building a scalable marketplace from scratch.
The idea of paying a ton of money to hire a tech team to do the work for you is in the past.
Of course, some no-code solutions have faults. They don’t display your branding properly or they don’t include all of the features your marketplace might need.
However, we strive to provide you with everything you need in one place.
We’ve got a variety of modules ranging from HD video conferencing and seamless scheduling/booking for your consultation sessions to secure payments via Stripe and marketplace analytics to follow your progress.
Our marketplace builder incorporates all marketplace features you may need and provides frequent updates and website maintenance.
All you have to do is give us some basic information about your business and we’ll build a service platform for you.
Also, make sure to design a breathtaking logo because we’re white-label, hence, we’ll be showcasing your marketplace branding everywhere.
Want to know how things happen?
- Check out what we have to offer.
- Get in touch with us and tell us more about you.
- Tell us which features you’d like to have.
- Give us a few DNS records & your branding.
- Wait around 5 business days.
- Your marketplace is ready to be used!
Ready to build a service platform?
In this article, our goal was to provide useful information to entrepreneurs that are just starting as well as to those who already know what they want to do.
Hopefully, we managed to provide you with some clarity either way.
If you’ve already figured out your business plan and you’re ready to start your B2C service marketplace, let’s do it together.
But if you’re still in the very beginning and you need more inspiration, check out our suggestions for 6 promising service marketplaces.