This blog was updated on 02 April 2025, for more information connect with our team: https://www.easystore.co/contact 

How to Seamlessly Transition from E-Marketplaces to Your Own Online Store

Many new online sellers hesitate to start their own store, fearing they won’t attract enough traffic. Instead, they rely on selling through social media or online marketplaces. 

In Southeast Asia, platforms like Shopee, Lazada, Carousell, and Tokopedia are widely used for e-commerce. These marketplaces are great for beginners, helping sellers gain experience and build an audience.

However, as your business grows, relying solely on these platforms may limit your long-term success. Creating your own online store gives you more control, better branding, and greater profit potential.

Why You Should Move to Your Own Online Store

Marketplaces help with exposure, but they come with challenges. High competition makes it difficult to stand out, and sellers must follow strict marketplace policies. Additionally, marketplaces take a percentage of each sale, reducing overall profits.

Building your own store allows you to set your own rules, control your branding, and keep all your earnings. The good news is that transitioning does not have to be immediate. You can move gradually while still leveraging marketplace traffic.

1. Build Your Online Store

Before transitioning, you need a dedicated website where customers can shop. 

Platforms like EasyStore provide an easy way to create an online store with a professional storefront, a built-in shopping cart system, and tools for managing orders, products, and customers. 

Once your store is set up, you can start shifting customers from marketplaces to your own platform.

2. Drive Marketplace Customers to Your Store

Since you are already selling on marketplaces, use them to introduce customers to your online store. Update your marketplace profile to include your store’s name and website. 

Some marketplaces allow you to add business details in the "About Me" section, which can be a great way to direct visitors to your store.

Another effective strategy is to include marketing materials inside your shipments. A business card with your website, a QR code linking to your store, and a discount code for their next purchase can encourage customers to visit your site. 

However, be sure to review the marketplace’s policies, as some platforms have restrictions on promoting external websites.

3. Get Past Customers to Shop on Your Site

It is easier and more cost-effective to sell to existing customers than to acquire new ones. If you have collected customer emails, use email marketing tools like Mailchimp to send promotional offers and encourage repeat purchases. 

If you only have phone numbers, sending a short message via SMS or messaging apps like WhatsApp and Line with a special discount can also drive customers to your store.

Offering live chat support on your website can also improve the shopping experience, making it easier for customers to ask questions and complete purchases. 

Personalized service can be a strong incentive for them to choose your store over a marketplace.

4. Keep Visitors Engaged

Not every visitor will make a purchase on their first visit, but you can still keep them engaged. 

Installing Facebook Pixel on your website allows you to track visitors and show them retargeted ads on Facebook, increasing the chances of converting them into customers later.

Additionally, capturing emails through a newsletter sign-up with an incentive, such as a discount on their first order, can help maintain engagement. 

Once you have their contact details, you can send future promotions and updates to encourage repeat visits.

Conclusion

Relying solely on online marketplaces may limit your ability to grow. Transitioning to your own store allows you to build a brand, improve profit margins, and offer a better shopping experience for customers. 

By gradually shifting traffic from marketplaces, engaging past customers, and using targeted marketing strategies, you can successfully establish and grow your own online store.

Make Customers Love Buying From You

EasyStore empowers your brand to prioritize customers and enhance their experience, creating a unified customer experience (UCX) that makes customers love buying from you.

Over 50,000 brands have grown their businesses by embracing unified customer experiences (UCX) strategy through EasyStore across multiple sales channels - online store, retail outlets, marketplaces, and social media, ensuring consistency in product and service offerings for a seamless shopping journey.