The ultimate guide
to selling on Alibaba.com
An introduction to Alibaba.com
Founded by Jack Ma in 1999, Alibaba.com has since become the largest B2B
eCommerce platform in the world, serving millions of buyers and suppliers globally.
As part of Alibaba Group, Alibaba.com offers suppliers the tools necessary to reach
a global audience. As a platform, they continue to develop services to help
businesses do more and discover new opportunities.
A snapshot
With over 26 million buyers, Alibaba.com allows both buyers and sellers to be part of
the biggest 24/7 non-stop B2B trade show. What makes it so powerful is its offering
of features, tools and services that streamline the B2B sourcing experience – not
just for buyers but for sellers too.
26M+ 190+
buyers countries and
regions
340k+ 40+
product enquiries industries
daily
Top five buying countries
USA INDIA CANADA BRAZIL AUSTRALIA
An introduction to Alibaba.com
Top 10 categories by buyers' interest
Typical buyers are retailers, wholesalers, sourcing agents and manufacturers who
source products for resell or private label for their own businesses. The 40+
industries represented on Alibaba.com span everything from food & beverage to
agriculture, beauty and medical supplies.
Food & Beverage
Agriculture
Beauty & Personal Care
Apparel
Consumer Electronics
Vehicles & Accessories
Office & School Supplies
Health & Medical
Minerals & Metallurgy
Home & Garden
0 10 20 30 40
Alibaba.com is a leading eCommerce platform that helps SMEs go global.
Functioning as an always-open trade show, it allows sellers to connect with
over 26 million active buyers from all around the world.
Why sell on Alibaba.com?
Alibaba.com is renowned as the leading B2B platform in the world. A player in the
eCommerce marketplace for over 20 years, it has become the trusted, go-to
destination when sourcing wholesale products.
As a seller, you can access advanced tools and services to support you every step of
the way, from digital merchandising to keyword advertising and translations.
Alibaba.com supports sellers with everything from product listings to
communication with buyers
Alibaba.com Alibaba.com
Alibaba.com
Store Product Company
Storefront
Listing Profile
Alibaba.com
Keyword Communication
Product
Advertising Tools
Lising
Real-time Alibaba.com Request for
Translation Search Result Quotation
Trust is paramount to the platform’s success; suppliers can be vetted through the
following processes, allowing buyers to transact with peace of mind.
Gold Supplier Verified supplier Star ratings
Gold suppliers are verified by To become a verified supplier, a This rating system allows
Alibaba.com via a premium seller’s company profile, production buyers to evaluate suppliers’
membership capabilities, products and process capability, quality and service
controls must be inspected and
verified by independent third party
institutions
Case studies
Leveraging technology for digital transformation
Andrea Gradassi, CEO, Terre Francescane
Like many small business owners, Andrea Gradassi found that
he had to pivot quickly due to COVID-19. He’d been in the olive
oil business since 1998, predominantly targeting domestic
consumers, but made the decision to collaborate with
Alibaba.com in order to reach new markets.
Participating in national and international trade shows can be
an expensive exercise; Alibaba.com, as an always-open online
trade show, doesn’t have the regular costs of traditional
exhibitions.
Andrea has found the platform and built-in tools easy to use
and intuitive, helping him tap into Scandinavian and North
American markets, which now account for 25% of his market
share.
Find out more
"Alibaba.com is a new and important opportunity for businesses to adapt to global scenarios…
A fundamental and very useful tool is the platform’s chat to talk with the customer,
who can contact you at any time and it allows you to immediately start the negotiation.
The chat also allows you to automatically translate the conversations in many languages."
Promoting Russian culture across the world
Maria Shishkina, Head of Export, SORDIS
SORIDS is one of the largest producers of alcohol in
Russia, specialising in premium vodkas, bitters and sweet
liquors, all made from locally sourced, natural ingredients.
The company needed to reach more buyers and access
untapped markets efficiently, in order to expand across
the world and share the natural flavours of Russia.
Joining Alibaba.com allowed the brand to connect not
only with large-scale distributors, but also with resellers
and trading companies. 40% of their new customers now
come from Alibaba.com, from China, Vietnam, Canada,
Germany, Latvia, Georgia and Armenia among other
countries.
Find out more
"As a marketplace, Alibaba.com attracts more buyers and inspires confidence in the
connections made through the platform. If we contact buyers directly, outside of
Alibaba.com, we are more likely to get turned down, but by using the platform we
have a higher success rate in generating new business as it helps to establish trust."
Case studies
Sourcing, selling and everything in between
Rashee Gupta, Founder, MGS Accessories
Already using Alibaba.com to source materials for her
high-quality makeup line, Rashee started selling on the
platform to expand MGS Accessories’ wholesale and
private label business both internationally and domestically.
Because of her experience as a buyer, she knew how to win
customers’ trust and anticipate their questions. She has
now expanded into India, a dream of hers since founding
MGS Accessories. Alibaba.com now accounts for 50% of
Rashee’s sales and the majority of her supplies.
"MGS Accessories was in the red before we joined Alibaba.com. Sales were
very slow. Now, we have the opposite problem. We're so busy we can't keep up."
A microbusiness with double-digit growth
Banhock Tan, Owner, Drillrig Equipment & Accessories
With an annual revenue of more than US$1 million and a
footprint that covers Southeast Asia and the Middle East,
it’s hard to believe that Drillrig Equipment & Accessories
is a two-man microbusiness.
Drillrig sells machinery and spare parts to other resellers
and end users. While owner Banhock’s rich experience
and knowledge of machinery sets him apart from other
suppliers on Alibaba.com, it’s the platform that has
allowed him to put customers first and maintain trust by
using the messaging in-built messaging tool and
showcasing his Gold Supplier verification.
Pre-COVID-19, only 10-20% of revenue came from
Alibaba.com; this has since doubled, allowing him to fully
focus on running the business on Alibaba.com.
Download case study
"Demand has shifted to eCommerce given the situation, and I believe this will be the
inevitable trend for the future."
Is selling on Alibaba.com
right for me?
Despite the benefits of selling on Alibaba.com, the platform may not be right for all
suppliers. You’ll need to assess whether you can maximise your returns and ask
yourself the following questions:
✓ What is the competition and demand like within my industry? Am I able to offer
value when it comes to price, service and logistics?
✓ Are the fees for paid membership worth the return I’ll get?
✓ According to Alibaba.com, the most successful businesses sell 10+ products and
have two or more employees, an annual revenue of US$500,000 or more and some
export experience. How many of these boxes do I tick?
✓ Am I confident that I’ll be able to navigate the buying and selling process, which
includes finalising payment details, understanding the rules and regulations
governing overseas buyers and using the online platform?
Germany in UEFA history
That’s not to say you won’t succeed – Alibaba.com offers sellers access to training
and ongoing support – but it is important to begin with realistic expectations.
How to get started
1. Visit the Alibaba.com seller homemage
2. Sign up for an account
a) Visit the Alibaba seller homepage and select the membership option that suits
your needs
b) Set up your company profile. This is the information that potential buyers will
use to assess your suitability, so include anything that you think will attract new
opportunities. At a minimum, you’ll need to include:
Who you are
What you do
Your production capabilities
Certifications the business holds
3. Create your online storefront
Upload your products, including videos, images, descriptions, sizes, materials,
price range and minimum purchasing requirements
State whether buyers can customise your goods
Include payment terms and specific requirement
Images & Video Gallery
SEO Optimised Heading
Pricing Tiers
Variations & Customisation
Payment Options
Supply Information
Contact Information
Company Snapshot
4. Connect with potential buyers
It’s easy to connect with buyers looking for your products. Inbound enquiries come
from buyers who have found your store via a search or referral, while you can reach
potential customers through Request For Quote (RFQ) and participating in online
trade shows and site-wide promotions. Plus, your online store and all your product
details are automatically translated into 17 languages, bypassing the language
barrier and connecting you with buyers worldwide.
Outbound
Inbound
Online trade shows, site-wide
Direct enquiries from
Alibaba.com-sponsored
interested buyers
campaigns, RFQs
How to reach your ideal buyer
Alibaba.com’s range of tools helps you market your products and are built right into the platform
Communication
Translation tools: Talk to customers globally with real-time translations into 17 languages
Product enquiries: Customers can get in touch via the contact form on your storefront
Online trade shows: Get your products in front of customers in a live setting
AliSupplier app: Manage your business on the go, from anywhere
Ads and lead generation
Product showcases: Display your top products with smart recommendations based on site data
Keyword advertising: Keyword advertising (KWA) is a value-added service available to
Gold Suppliers. You can maximise your business presence and receive better positioning
while only paying for clicks
RFQ: Proactively find and connect with buyers
Sitewide promotions: Participate in Alibaba.com-sponsored campaigns
Analytics and support
Dashboards: Alibaba.com’s interactive site tools help you visualise your store metrics and data so
you can optimise your results
Industry analytics: Understand your category through demand analysis, price comparisons and
more
One-on-one support: Basic and Standard Gold members can tap into local email support, while
Premium Gold members have the addition of a dedicated account manager
Resources: As a seller on Alibaba.com, you’ll have access to educational and training resources
that cover everything from the basics of foreign trade to analysis of your industry. There are also
regular workshops and events with experts that you are welcome to attend
Cost of launching on Alibaba.com
There are several tiers of Gold membership to suit your needs as a seller.
Learn more about Alibaba Seller Pricing.
Standard Standard Premium Premium
Package Basic - Basic Ultra Plus Ultra Plus
Pricing US$1,999/ US$2,499/ US$2,999/ US$2,999/ US$4,999/ US$4,999/
year year year year year year
Available platform features
Mini-site
Product posts Unlimited Unlimited Unlimited Unlimited Unlimited Unlimited
Showcase 10 10 10 20 10 20
Receive &
Respond to
Enquiries
Respond to
Requests for 20/month 20/month 20/month 60/month 20/month 60/month
Quotation (RFQs)
Data reports
Sub-accounts 5 5 5 5 5 5
Paid traffic allowance
Keyword
advertising x US$500 US$1,000 x US$3,000 US$2,000
(KWA) spend
Accepting payments
Alibaba.com accepts a variety of payment methods, including credit card, debit card and
telegraphic transfer. For payments in USD, buyers can also use online banking or pay via Boleto or
Pay Later. Payments in Euros can also be done via online banking.
A note on international payments
With over 190 countries and regions on Alibaba.com, you can expect orders from overseas and
payments in multiple currencies. Getting paid in a foreign currency involves exchange rate
fluctuations and potential fees, ultimately eating into your margins. While your bank can take care
of the currency conversion, you’ll often pay high transaction fees and below-market exchange
rates, which is why many businesses choose to open an online seller account. This allows them to
receive fast payments in several currencies and repatriate funds with a bank-beating exchange
rate to maximise what they receive. As international payments experts and a Global Service
Partner of Alibaba.com, WorldFirst can support clients’ global ambitions.
Why use WorldFirst for
global transfers
Competitive FX rates
Enjoy a great exchange rate and low fees
Fast, secure transfers
MAS Authorised. We get your money there quickly and securely – often within 1-2 working days for
major currencies
5 star customer service
Make your transfers online 24/7 or over the phone with our dedicated account managers
We’re currency experts
$160B transferred for our customers since we launched in 2004, more than 1M transfers per year
Collect Manage Pay
Over 30 approved Receive up to 10 Pay your overseas
marketplaces and different currency suppliers or withdraw
payment gateways accounts, without funds back to your
to collect from the need of a bank bank account
How to ship
One of the key aspects in a buyer’s purchase decision is often the shipping cost and delivery
timeframes. As orders are often made in bulk, it’s advisable to consider a specialist international
courier and compare quotes from several providers for the best option. Shipping by air will be
quicker and more reliable, while shipping by sea is more cost-effective, especially for bulky
and heavy shipments. WorldFirst has shipping partners that they can introduce to sellers.
How WorldFirst can help
WorldFirst is an international payments business helping move money around
the world. As part of Ant Group since 2019, we share a purpose ‘to make it easy
to do business anywhere’ by offering inclusive and affordable services to small-
and medium-sized businesses and online merchants trading globally.
WorldFirst allows you to open a free account to collect and manage up to 10 receiving
currency accounts, all with competitive FX rates and no hidden fees.
Collect. Convert. Pay. Manage.
Collect payments Convert your Make international Manage your
from global money at bank- payments in 68 money and FX
marketplaces & beating exchange currencies transactions all in
payment gateways rates one place
Contact the WorldFirst
Singapore Team
+65 6805 4390
[email protected] www.worldfirst.com/sg/
This guide was produced independently by WorldFirst. These comments are the views and opinions of the author and should not be construed as advice. You
should act using your own information and judgement. Whilst information has been obtained from and is based upon multiple sources the author believes to
be reliable, we do not guarantee its accuracy and it may be incomplete or condensed. All opinions and estimates constitute the author’s own judgement as of
the date of the briefing and are subject to change without notice.
WorldFirst Asia Pte. Ltd. (Company Registration No. 201229924N) (“WorldFirst”) is licensed to carry on cross-border money transfer services as a Major
Payment Institution under the Payment Services Act 2019 by the Monetary Authority of Singapore ("MAS"). WorldFirst is also exempted from holding a licence
in respect of its provision of account issuance services, domestic money transfer services and e-money issuance services pursuant to the Payment Services
(Exemption for Specified Period) Regulations 2019 . WorldFirst is also licensed by the MAS to carry on the regulated activity of dealing in capital markets
products that are over-the-counter derivatives contracts under the Securities and Futures Act 2001.
