We’re all familiar with the old saying, “don’t put all your eggs in one basket”. It’s sage advice when it comes to pinning all your hopes of success on a single solution. However, it’s something that too many online sellers seem to forget. This is particularly visible when it comes to choosing where you’ll sell online.

Chances are good that you sell on Amazon and not many other places. That’s never a good decision, and, thankfully, there is a way around it. In fact, there are plenty of Amazon alternatives out there. You just need to know how they stack up to one another.

Walmart

We’ll start our discussion with the second largest online retailer, and one that you might not have realized you could even sell through – Walmart. While it is only available to customers and sellers in the US at the moment, that could change. You can also sell pretty much anything through the site; there are few restrictions when it comes to product categories. With that being said, you’ll have to apply to sell on the website, and there is no guarantee that Walmart will accept you.

You’ll also need to remember that Walmart is both a marketplace and retailer, and there is a chance you’ll be competing against them. However, realize that Walmart is currently experiencing (early 2018) faster growth than both eBay and Amazon. Their third quarter 2017 sales represented a 63% increase year over year.

Sears

While the Sears name might not carry the same clout that it once did, the company’s online marketplace can be an excellent option for any retailer looking to diversify their choices. You’ll also find that there are three ways you can use Sears’ platform to your advantage. One of those is, you guessed it, to sell directly through their ecommerce platform.

However, you can also opt for Fulfilled by Sears, which is a program very similar to FBA. Finally, you can choose to just advertise through the Sears platform, and do the selling through your own storefront or through another platform altogether.

Newegg

Newegg is a US-only ecommerce platform that specializes in electronics, games and the like. That means if you’re selling clothing or cosmetics, or pretty much anything that’s not electronics-related, you’ll need to look elsewhere. However, for retailers in this niche, Newegg can be an excellent option that even includes an in-house fulfillment system.

You’ll also find that Newegg does not charge anything in the way of listing fees, and the commission you pay per sale will depend on the product category in question. Ultimately, this can be a great choice for anyone selling computers, peripherals, games and gaming devices, and the like.

There are several other marketplace options out there that might be worth your time to consider. Jet.com was founded by the same entrepreneur who created Diapers.com, and is modeled on Amazon in many ways. If you’re in the UK, you might consider applying with Tesco (invite only), or selling through OnBuy or Pricefalls. For those looking for a global audience, Fruugo may be a viable alternative to Amazon, as well. Bonanza, Storenvy, and even Etsy can be good choices depending on what you’re selling and your target audience.

In the end, diversifying your marketplace options makes a lot of sense. It ensures that you’re not pinning all your hopes of success on just one marketplace, and can allow you to take advantage of consumer buying shifts, more competitive commission arrangements, and other perks that add to your bottom line or otherwise benefit you.