5 Must-Have Tools to Start a Marketplace Website in 2018

The success of any online marketplace depends primarily on user experience. If users find interacting with your online site convenient, they are more likely to browse through the options and make a purchase.

Team CometChat • Apr 21, 2020

The success of any online marketplace depends primarily on user experience. If users find interacting with your online site convenient, they are more likely to browse through the options and make a purchase.

In this post, we are sharing five must-have tools for any marketplace website in 2018. Using the online tools mentioned here, you can provide a seamless user experience that results in increased revenues from your site.

CometChat

CometChat enables communication between your buyers and sellers. A simple “Chat with seller” button right beside the product, listing allows the user to initiate a one on one chat conversation with the seller. CometChat and its features now allow the buyer to have a better experience and a fluid buying process.

Features like text chat and file sharing connect buyers with sellers allowing Buyers to ask questions, clear doubts and negotiate. Sellers can use file sharing to send Pictures of the product or Invoices over the Chat allowing for more faster and transparent purchases.

You can read more about chat integrations on marketplace websites here.

Catalog

Catalog is a marketplace theme inspired by “Ebay” and similar marketplace websites. It is built with Bootstrap, is 100% responsive ready and compatible with all mobile devices and mobile browsers.

Catalog is extremely easy to use and can be easily customized with multiple preset colors. The theme also comes with pre-made membership pages making it ready to integrate and easy to use.

Dokan

Dokan is another must-have plugin for an online marketplace. The online tool comes with advanced functionalities. You can have a single or multi vendor marketplace.

The online tool features a dashboard providing information about earnings. It also calculates the commission on different products. The online tool can also generate detailed sales reports. Vendors can view these reports from the front end.

Dokan features beautiful storefront style. Pro version of the tool also displays a location map on the storefront.

WC Marketplace

The WC Marketplace plugin allows you to create a multivendor marketplace website. The plugin also allows vendors to create individual stores, manage, inventories and shipping whilst allowing you to set and earn commission rates on the sales.

The plugin comes with multiple inbuilt features like a full features vendor dashboard that allows vendors to manage their listings and track their orders, a Commision Management system which allows you to set commission rates and disbursals.

The plugin is extremely easy to set up and has a smooth and fluid interface and with constant updates and plentiful add-ons, it is designed to scale alongside your website.

Easy Digital Downloads

Easy Digital Downloads is by far the most offbeat plugin on this list, it allows you to sell digital products on your marketplace website. It is built as a lightweight plugin and comes with all the essential features you may need.

The plugin has multiple extensions available that extend its functionalities and help customize it to fit your needs. The interface is clean and smooth and you can have your store up and running in no time.

Takeaway…

All these plugins help you add more control, flexibility and features to your website allowing buyers to have a personalized and trustworthy experience and giving your marketplace website an edge from the competition and helping it grow.

Team CometChat

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Experience CometChat's messaging with this interactive demo built with CometChat's UI kits and SDKs.