7 Ways to Sell Products Online for Free and Accept Payments Without Cost

Intro

For solopreneurs and small businesses taking their first steps into the e-commerce landscape, opting for free methods to establish an online presence is a highly recommended strategy.

This approach is particularly advantageous as it allows business owners to gain valuable experience in online selling and optimize their store's operations without the pressure of upfront investment.

For entrepreneurs and small businesses looking to expand their reach in new ecommerce markets without incurring upfront costs, there are several effective, free methods to sell products and accept payments.

In this article, we’ll look at 4 free ways to sell products online for free and 3 free ways to accept payments.

Let’s get started.

Free Ways to Sell Products

Starting with free e-commerce solutions not only helps in conserving cash reserves but also provides a practical learning ground to understand the nuances of the digital marketplace before committing significant financial resources. This method ensures a more sustainable and informed approach to growing an online business.

The following methods are a great way to begin and step into the e-commerce business:

1. Free eCommerce platforms
2. Social media
3. Marketplaces
4. Whatsapp businesses

Free E-commerce Platforms

To sell products for free, you can choose an eCommerce platform that offers a free plan for businesses.

Platforms like BigCartel, Ecwid, and Uvodo offer a cost-effective solution for setting up an online store. They are user-friendly, providing templates and tools to create a professional-looking store without needing extensive technical skills.

Other free eCommerce solutions or platforms that offer free trials are Shopify, or completely free eCommerce platforms like WooCommerce and Magento.

• Shopify: Offers a 14-day free trial, ideal for businesses starting out. Users can create an online store with various templates and tools, and integrate with multiple payment gateways and merchant accounts. However, Shopify is free only for the first 14 days, and after that period, merchants should subscribe to a paid plan. Plus, there are additional costs for installing apps, themes, etc. in the invoice at the end of the billing period.
• WooCommerce: A free WordPress plugin that is ideal for those who are already have a WordPress website. This plugin offers extensive customization options and supports a wide range of add-ons to enhanced its functionality. However, using WooCommerce requires some upfront costs such as hosting domain name, and SSL certificate. By incorporating WooCommerce into your online store, you can gain additional insights through WooCommerce analytics, which can help you track sales, customer behavior, and product popularity.
• Magento: Known for its robustness, Magento is open-source and free to use. It's suitable for businesses with some technical know-how, offering powerful customization and scalability. Being an open-source eCommerce platform, to run a Magento store, merchants need to have technical expertise and also a heavy budget to run an online store like hosting, domain, eCommerce SEO, themes and design, development and maintenance, etc.

Social Media

With a global audience already browsing and scrolling through social media platforms feeds, it presents the perfect opportunity to capture their attention with your offerings.

Selling on social media positions your products or services in the midst of the world's largest gathering place.

Leveraging social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest is a powerful way to reach potential customers. You can create 3D renders of your products using a 3D modeling software and then use them for marketing.

These platforms allow you to create business profiles, showcase products through posts and stories, and engage directly with your audience.

Social media is not only free but also provides the benefit of a built-in audience and the ability to create targeted marketing campaigns. With the right social media marketing strategy, you can actually start an online business and make sales.

Instagram, in particular, has emerged as a highly influential platform for free online selling. With its visually driven content, Instagram allows businesses to create a compelling visual narrative around their products. Features like shoppable posts, where products are tagged directly in images or videos, streamline the shopping experience for users.

Additionally, Instagram Stories and IGTV provide platforms for more engaging and longer-form content. Businesses can also monetize Instagram Reels – short, entertaining videos – as a powerful tool to showcase their products in a creative and engaging way.

Similar to Instagram, TikTok has rapidly become one of the most popular and effective sales channels for e-commerce businesses, capitalizing on trending content and engaging formats.

TikTok statistics and growing user numbers prove its effectiveness in However, GPT Builder stands out as an innovative solution in the realm of free e-commerce tools, offering businesses a unique way to enhance customer interactions and streamline operations.

Marketplaces

Online marketplaces provide a ready-made customer base and simplify the process of listing and selling products. These platforms, such as Etsy, eBay, and Amazon Handmade, are ideal for businesses looking to access a larger audience without the need for extensive marketing or a personal website.

Marketplaces are especially useful for sellers who want to reach a larger audience without investing in their website or marketing.They offer various tools and resources to help sellers connect with customers globally. However, it’s always a good choice to consult an e-commerce analytics agency to uncover actionable insights on sales performance and customer behavior, thereby enabling them to optimize their sales strategies and enhance their bottom line.

While these platforms might charge a small fee upon sale, theyprovide a vast customer base and ease of use.

• Etsy: A great platform for handmade, vintage, and unique goods. It offers free listings with a small fee charged upon sale. Etsy is particularly popular among crafters and artists, and you can use it to sell digital products as well.
• eBay: Known for its auction-style listings, eBay also offers "Buy It Now" options. It's versatile for various products and offers a large global audience.
• Amazon Handmade: Specifically for handcrafted goods, similar to Etsy but with the vast audience of Amazon. It's ideal for artisans looking to expand their reach.

WhatsApp Business

WhatsApp Business is an excellent tool for small businesses. It allows for direct communication with customers, sharing product catalogs, and even facilitating transactions.

This platform is particularly useful for personalized service and building customer relationships, crucial in the digital marketplace.

To effectively sell on WhatsApp Business, you need to:

1. Set Up WhatsApp Business Account: Register with your business phone number and create a business profile.
2. Build Your Product Catalog: Add products or services with high-quality product photo shoot images, descriptions, and prices.
3. Promote Your Business: Share your WhatsApp number on other platforms and in marketing materials.
4. Engage with Customers: Respond quickly to inquiries and use quick replies for common questions.
5. Automate Responses: Set up automated greetings and away messages.
6. Process Orders and Payments: Take orders through chat and provide payment details.
7. Provide Post-Sale Support: Offer after-sales services and request customer feedback.

Learn more about how to use WhatsApp Business for eCommerce.

Alternatively, implementing a WhatsApp CRM system can further enhance these capabilities, helping businesses streamline their sales process, track customer interactions, and ultimately increase revenue through personalized engagement and efficient management of customer relationships in the digital marketplace.

Free Ways to Accept Payments

For small businesses venturing into e-commerce, finding cost-effective payment solutions is crucial. Fortunately, there are several eCommerce payment solutions for small businesses that offer budget-friendly options.

Uvodo Payments

Uvodo Payments simplifies the transaction process. It requires no setup or merchant account. Sellers can easily create an account on the Uvodo e-commerce platform, add their products, and start selling and accepting payments. One of its standout features is the ability to create payment links. These can be shared directly with customers on social media or via WhatsApp, streamlining the payment process.

WhatsApp Pay

WhatsApp Pay is another way that allows customers to order through WhatsApp.

WhatsApp Pay is an in-chat payment feature that allows users to send and receive money to and from their contacts.

It works on UPI (Unified Payments Interface) method and is developed by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI).

Users initiate a payment and set up their UPI account to enable WhatsApp Pay.

With this feature, users can send money to contacts or via QR codes to people not in their contact list.

However, WhatsApp Pay is available only on certain devices and limited to certain countries, namely India, Brazil, and Singapore.

Crypto Payments

David Kemmerer, CEO of CoinLedger shared a unique method based on the power of cryptocurrencies:

“Every e-commerce store now can receive cryptocurrency payments using open-source software such as BTCPayServer, which astonishingly incurs zero cost for the service. My team and I conducted comprehensive research in December 2023, revealing that the e-commerce sector is adopting cryptocurrency at a remarkably faster rate compared to other industries. With the help of cryptocurrency payments, e-commerce stores can expand their customer base, particularly attracting those who are knowledgeable in crypto, thereby enhancing their global accessibility and reach."

Offline payment methods

When we talk about transactions not processed through an online store's electronic payment system, we're referring to "offline payments." This broad category includes a variety of transaction methods such as cash on delivery, bank transfers, check payments, and card transactions conducted using physical point-of-sale (POS) terminals.

Offline payments are particularly relevant in scenarios where either customers or sellers opt for payment methods that do not rely on the online store's payment gateway. These methods offer flexibility and can be more accessible in certain contexts, accommodating a wide range of customer preferences and transaction scenarios.

Here are some examples for offline payments methods:

Cash on Delivery: Customers pay the exact cash amount when their order is delivered.

Card Payment at Delivery: Delivery personnel may bring a POS terminal, allowing customers to pay with debit or credit cards at the time of delivery and receive an immediate receipt.

Mobile Payment Option: When included in COD terms, customers can process payments via their smartphones using a mobile card reader upon order delivery.

Check Payment Option: In some cases, checks are accepted as a payment method for COD orders. Customers write a check for the total amount and give it to the delivery person.

Online Bank Transfer Before Delivery: Customers have the option to transfer the payment to the seller's bank account prior to delivery and show the delivery person proof of the transaction.

Digital Wallet for COD Transactions: Customers can utilize digital wallet payments for COD orders, authorizing the payment at the time of delivery.

Partial Deposit Before Delivery: Sellers might require a partial deposit beforehand to confirm the order, with the balance paid in cash upon delivery.

Conclusion

Selling products online for free and accepting payments has never been easier. With platforms like Uvodo, the power of social media, the reach of online marketplaces, the personal touch of WhatsApp Business, innovative payment solutions like Uvodo Payments, and the simplicity of cash on delivery, businesses of all sizes can now reach a wider audience without significant investment. Embracing these tools and methods can lead to increased sales, customer reach, and business growth.

In this digital age, the key to successful online selling lies in choosing the right mix of platforms and payment methods that best suit your business needs and customer preferences. By leveraging these free resources, entrepreneurs can effectively navigate the online marketplace and carve out their niche in the ever-expanding world of e-commerce.