Starting and Running a Web Marketplace?

Hey friends
I am interested in starting and running a web marketplace where sellers and buyers trading their stuffs but am struggling with how to protect them and how to mange/control/grow it. Any input is greatly appreciated. I have struggled with this for months!

Might help to give more details. What kind of marketplace? What type of products or services?

When ever you have a platform that others can use, you have potential for abuse. Don't mean to be negative, just the reality.

One safeguard for sure is to delay payments. Will help some to keep out the quick scammers.

Obviously there are already sites out there that offer services such as that. Fiverr, seoclerks, ect. So many gig type sites these days.

How are you going to be better?

I have never set one up, so I really don't know. Like you said, there are many theme's out there for this kind of site. But those are just theme's, do they have safe guards for buyers and sellers. As you've already mentioned, that is going to be one of the most important aspects, protecting your buyers and sellers. You'll have to investigate the options and see if they have those features.

Or you could get a fiverr clone script. An idea.

Course, this like anything, how are you going to get traffic? How are you going to get buyers and sellers?

hi Joe,

So, I used to own the 4th largest freelancer marketplace 5 years ago, there are many challenges. You have mentioned few type of marketplaces, each has its own challenges. I have moved to other business since then ( i ended up selling it as i received an offer from the 2nd largest competitor at the time ).

My largest struggle after getting it successfully up and running, wasn't maintain the sales , SEO, marketing , etc but really keeping scammers off the site, there is a big portion of scammers that target these sites and one of the main reason a lot of those businesses end up out of business.

There are many solutions out there help you prevent those scammers and keep them out of ur site, but they tend to cost money ( i currently using a security solutions of all type for my business, email verification, phone verification, etc.

I would encourage you to study the market pretty well before entering, i spend 3 months just studying my competitors before i jumped in because i was aware it is a tricky market and more competitive than many people think.

We always look at the surface, and surface always looks good, it is what is underneath that should be of a real concern.

JoeHamilton said:

Hey friends
I am interested in starting and running a web marketplace where sellers and buyers trading their stuffs but am struggling with how to protect them and how to mange/control/grow it. Any input is greatly appreciated. I have struggled with this for months!

Click to expand...

First step is a business plan--what precisely will you offer, how will you offer it, how will you fund it, how will you advertise it etc...