All Webo "ftale" business opportunities are Agency Appointments. Agents can be accredited as Marketplace Marketers, Site Builders and as eMarketing Agencies. Agents are independent businesses that are contractually appointed on a non-exclusive basis after a three month trial. Webo Agencies can be built up and sold for 100% own account, subject to buyer accreditation.
About Webo Marketplaces
Webo Marketplaces, aka Webo Hoods / aka Webo Trade Shows, are "GO Local" Online Trading Destinations offered as a business opportunity that may be a Side Hustle, or it can be your full-time passion. Webo Hoods are GO Local Community Destinations available to Webo Marketplace Marketers who, upon accreditation, have the right to promote any Webo Hood or Webo Niche Trade Show and offer an accreditation logo to comfort buyers that the seller is a verified business entity. The Webo Marketplaces are listed on the Webo Directory in two Sub Categories; Loco Markets and Nook Markets.
The Loco Markets Category
Loco Markets, as the category title indicates, are "LOCAL" and a little "CRAZY." Local as they are local neighbourhood specific and Crazy as they specialise in crazy specials and deals. Sellers can list an unpriced showcase (for buyers to window shop up to 20 images) free of charge, and they can upgrade to sell specials, deals coupons and gift cards on the Loco Markets marketplace. There are a variety of Marketplaces: Amazon, Takealot, Makro and more. Webo Loco Markets are different as the focus is not on offering thousands of products but on offering Deals and Specials. Loco Markets are destinations that are visited to find Deals (25%+ off) and Specials (24%- Off). In addition, Webo does not seek to own the customer. Customers buy from Sellers who trade in their names on Loco Markets. If sellers upgrade to sell on eCommerce stores, these stores will be linked to the Loco Market. It means that buyers will, in most cases where sellers have online payment gateway accounts, pay the seller directly.
Deals and Specials
We define specials as being offers to buy at a discount of less than 25%. Deals offer discounts of 25% or more.
Referral Rewards
Sellers will be offered loyalty and referral reward promotions. Loyalty programmes are suggested at 5% of the retail price paid. Points can be redeemed at retail pricing with points earned from the seller or after consolidating points earned from other participating sellers. Every buyer will be given an online loyalty account and a loyalty card, plus they will be able to register an interest in deals and specials within a defined location for a defined product category or business.
Audience Building
Offering new listings a Free "About Us" Biz Page and a Free Product or Service Showcase in return for handing our Promotional flyers to customers will see between 10,000 to 20,000 flyers distributed monthly at 200+ pm per business. Once an audience is established, we will offer referral rewards for social sharing to maintain the growth of the local audience. Flyers will be changed on a frequent basis to maintain a dynamic brand awareness. Examples are set out below; they are A6 double-sided flyers.
The above strategy will expedite the building of an audience that, once established, will have experienced the benefit of marketplace collective marketing, and at this point, Marketplace Marketers will switch focus to selling promotion upgrades that will be featured on the marketplace.
The Nook Markets Category
Nook Markets are niche marketplaces designed to take Local SMEs to the World and to attract Local, National, and Global attention to the product showcases as well as to Deals, Specials, Coupons or Gift Cards as is discussed above. They can be a specific craft, trade or profession that may or may not be a work-from-home business venture. They too could be an online "Trade Show" for a hobby, business industry, etc.
The Loco Markets Sub-Category
... is home to GO LOCAL Marketplaces catering to Local Neighbourhoods' needs, eg's include:
Read more about Nook Marketplaces at www.nook.markets
SERVICE DELIVERY
Option 1: Free Listing
Sellers select a Preferred Marketplace Marketer who lists Products and services in a Service Showcase.
Listing is FREE to Sellers who :
Upload the content (An entire webpage and 20 images) on a Loco or Nook Marketplace with the upload option, which offers a full HOW TO TIPS panel at the foot of the upload template.
Option 2: Free Business Page
Sellers can upload a FREE DIY business page designed to be an About Us Splash page.
Option 3: B4U Managed eCommerce Sales
Sellers select a Preferred Marketplace Marketer that offers B4U Services.
For products traded for the account of the Seller
A sales success fee is charged as a percentage of sales.
The charge levied covers the Webo hosting Fee, the Build Fee and the Marketplace Marketer's Fee.
Sellers offer delivery options that are charged at Checkout.
Sellers with Payfast or Flutterwave Accounts are paid immediately and are responsible for setting returns policies compliant with the Consumer Protection Act.
Sellers without Payfast or Flutterwave Accounts are paid within 30 days.
Sellers can set a handling fee to be charged for returns that are refunded.
Split payment processing can be set up for buyer payment processing.
Option 4: B4U eBusiness, eCommerce and eMarketing
eBusiness Services; DIY or B4U
Website, Blog, App, Private Client Meeting Rooms with Live Minute Taking, On Phone or PC Meeting Packs, Image and Text Agile Surveys, Work From Home Staff Desktops, eBook Hosting, Map/Plan/Large Page Hosting, Document Download Libraries, On-Phone Corporate Contact Lists, Online Forms, Online Kwik Quote Pages, Image Slideshows and Video Libraries, Business
eCommerce Services; DIY or B4U
All eBusiness Services plus online eCommerce trading with:
Delivery Notification
Checkout Payment Options including COD, Bank Deposit, EFT, Credit Card and PayPal.
Variation Management eg Size and Colour, bagged or boxed, sliced or whole, etc, selection options in the checkout.
Waiter, Salesperson Sales Tracking including commission/tips reporting.
Bulk Spreadsheet Upload
Showcase profiling; users/suppliers can upload product/service/personal profiles. eg a Big Corporate with 500 staff; staff upload profiles and a picture. Management can access the profiles on phones to verify/review detail.
eMarketing
Coupon, Loyalty and Referral Marketing
Marketplace Marketers with site building and or eMarketing accreditation can offer, quote and provide these services and if they are not accredited they must refer these requirements to Webo for allocation to an accredited "spider." At Webo, team members are called "Spiders" as we all work the web!
The Traditional
Big Budget Way
PUSH Info,
Deals and
Classifieds
on TV, Billboard,
Newspaper,
Social Media PPC and
Retargeting etc
with big Ad Spend Budgets
VS
The Webo
Affordably
Brilliant Way
Excite
Retain and
Grow with
affordably brilliant
strategies
that get delighted
customers
to grow businesses as it's easy & rewarded
ONLINE MARKETPLACE REVIEW
The availability of Online Marketplaces has grown globally since the pandemic saw a huge swing in online shopping.
eCommerce marketplaces are online retail platforms allowing sellers to list approved products. Listing offers access to established audiences, and they manage the consumer payment process. Some manage logistics and delivery tracking.
The most popular eCommerce marketplaces in South Africa are:
Tinge Tinge.co.za is a South African online store with millions of products and active buyers. They invite approved sellers of all sizes to access their audience by listing products.
Takealot Takealot.com offers a comprehensive product range. They, too, invite approved sellers to access their buyers by listing products on their website and mobile App.
Localised Localized.com is similar to the AliExpress model, a multivendor marketplace that tailors to retail and small businesses in South Africa.
Pricecheck PriceCheck.co.za is an eCommerce product aggregator & financial services platform. It allows buyers to compare prices.
Facebook Marketplace Facebook is South Africa's most popular social media network that offers paid advertising options.
Hello Pretty Hello Pretty is a designer and artisan marketplace allowing sellers to list products on their platform in gifts, jewellery, fashion, grooming & body products, wedding products, homeware, art, items for kids & babies, and more categories.
How big is the Global Marketplace Industry, and who dominates it?
The online marketplace industry is growing significantly. Consider the following facts:
In 2021, $3.23 trillion was spent globally on the top 100 online marketplaces.
The global e-commerce market is expected to total $6.3 trillion in 2023.
The leading online marketplaces worldwide, based on gross merchandise value (GMV), are Amazon, Taobao, Tmall, JD.com and Pinduoduo.
The most visited online marketplaces worldwide by monthly traffic are Amazon, eBay, MercadoLibre, Rakuten and AliExpress.
Roughly 79% of Americans today make purchases online.
15% of Americans make online purchases every week.
By 2020, millennials accounted for 20.2% of digital purchases.
Amazon Demographics
Arguably, Amazon accounts for half the global online shopping spend.
Amazon's inventory lists some 12 million in-house items
Marketplace Sellers on Amazon add another 350 million line items available on Amazon.
Each month around 197 million people around the globe go on Amazon.
After finding a product on a competing online marketplace, 9 out of 10 people will go to Amazon to compare prices.
We all love a good bargain with many deal sites specialising in discounted products and services.
Classified Sites
Classified sites have become home to many bargain hunters.
The Webo GO Local Alternative
Founded in 2004, Webo is a new entry to the eCommerce Online Marketplace. Webo is the World's most comprehensive Directory eBusiness, eCommerce and eMarketing Site Builder. It is designed to take local markets to the World and to draw the World to local markets.
Businesses are offered FREE About Us listings, aka Biz Pages.
Sellers are offered a FREE product or service showcase that is listed as a classified on the International Directory.
Sellers can upgrade their offerings on Niche and Local Marketplaces and on eCommerce Stores to sell Physical and Digital Products as Fixed Price, Unpriced Classifieds or Managed Auction offerings.
Businesses can upgrade their Biz Pages and are offered a comprehensive suite of eBusiness, eCommerce and eMarketing tools designed to get customers to grow business turnovers.
Sellers can activate every product in an online shop's listing as a classified on the International Directory.
Every Buyer gets an online private account that details loyalty rewards (including points that can be consolidated) and allows buyers to specify their desire to be notified by location and product category or business name of new Information, Deals and Classifieds.
The strategy is based on Buyer PULL versus Seller PUSH. Buyers only get notified on info, deals and classifieds that they have requested for defined offerings available at specified locations, e.g. Pensioner lunchtime deals in Fourways, Sandton.
Webo offers small business owners a marketplace to promote their goods and services and reach users they could only tap into with bottomless budgets for advertising.
Albeit a new entry, Webo is an affordably brilliant alternative to others in the marketplace space.
Is establishing or promoting an online trade show, community or niche marketplace an idea to earn a second income from a Side Hustle that is AFFORDABLY BRILLIANT?
As a local business without a big Ad Spend budget,
should you work with a Marketplace Marketer to get your business found?
WHO SELLS WHAT, WHERE AND WHY?
Who and What?
Here are some of the top collective marketplaces, online or offline, based on various sources and criteria:
Amazon: The largest internet company by revenue in the world, selling everything from books to home goods and serving as a middleman between retailers and consumers.
eBay: One of the oldest and most popular online marketplaces, offering auctions, fixed-price listings, and classified ads for various products and services.
Etsy: The world leader in handmade and vintage items and craft supplies, with over 81 million active buyers and 4.3 million active sellers.
Alibaba / Taobao / Tmall: The largest e-commerce platform in China, offering B2B, B2C, and C2C transactions for millions of products and cloud computing, digital media, and entertainment services.
Walmart: The world’s largest retailer, operating both physical stores and an online marketplace that sells groceries, electronics, clothing, and more.
Mercado Libre: The largest online marketplace in Latin America, operating in 18 countries and offering products, services, payments, advertising, and e-commerce solutions.
Cdiscount: The leading e-commerce platform in France, selling various products such as household appliances, electronics, furniture, clothing, and toys.
Allegro: The most popular online marketplace in Poland, offering over 160 million products across 30 categories, as well as auctions, loyalty programs, and payment solutions.
Shopee: The leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan, offering mobile-centric shopping experiences, social features, free shipping, and integrated payment options.
Flipkart: The largest online marketplace in India, selling products across 80+ categories such as electronics, fashion, books, and home appliances.
Why?
Online community marketplaces, niche marketplaces and trade shows are cost-effective and popular with both buyers and sellers because they can offer many benefits, such as:
Reaching a targeted and engaged audience: Online community marketplaces, niche marketplaces and trade shows can help buyers and sellers connect with a specific group of people who share a common interest, need, or problem. They can also help interact with each other more quickly and effectively, as they share a common interest and goal.
Offering a personalized and differentiated experience: Online community marketplaces, niche marketplaces, and trade shows can help buyers and sellers customize their offerings or solutions to suit the preferences, needs, or challenges of their audience. Marketplaces can also help buyers find sellers that offer something unique, valuable, or memorable that they desire.
Building trust and loyalty: Online community marketplaces, niche marketplaces, and trade shows can help establish their credibility, reputation, and trustworthiness. They can also help create a loyal customer base or community supporting and promoting their business because buyers can see where sellers fit into the broader marketplace.
Reducing costs and risks: Online community marketplaces, niche marketplaces, and trade shows can help buyers and sellers lower their operational costs and risks by leveraging the power of the marketplace network through collective marketing that can attract enhanced traffic to the marketplace. They can also help access more resources, opportunities, or information to improve efficiency, productivity, or profitability.
Creating a sense of community and collaboration in the marketplace: The collective marketing of a shared marketplace can foster a sense of belonging and loyalty among businesses and customers. It can also create a culture of learning and innovation by facilitating the exchange of ideas, feedback, or best practices.
These are some of the main benefits of online community marketplaces, niche marketplaces and trade shows for buyers and sellers. Still, others may depend on each business's specific goals and challenges. Online community marketplaces, niche marketplaces and trade shows are powerful tools to help buyers and sellers grow and succeed in the competitive market.
Where do you have your "Ah Ha" moments when the penny drops?
1. Collective Marketing Works; you, too, can do the math in the tub!
If 50 businesses in a collective marketplace
Each forward, just one promotional flyer, on average, per day, five days a week, for a month, they will each distribute 20 flyers
Together they will distribute 1,000 flyers (50x20x1=1,000)
If only 10% of the flyers (1,000 x 10%= 100) that are given to local potential buyers are shared on social media, where on average, they have 325 friends each, then "invitations" to visit the marketplace will be sent, with a recommendation, to 32,500 people (100x325=32,500) then, in the second phase of sharing, no matter the size of the local market the message will saturate the local marketplace.
Yes, local Neighbourhood or Niche market communities will be reached.
2. The implications of the above a many and compelling because it shows that:
Customers can grow businesses
But it only works if you do it
It's that simple.
THE ONLINE SHOPPING PLAYING FIELD IS CROWDED
We expect that the online shopping playing field will grow and that it will be boosted by wholesalers and big chain stores offering suppliers access to their online customer base by opening a marketplace for 3rd Party Sellers to list on their sites. One needs to attract customers to thrive in a growing and competitive market. To do this, one needs to be aware of the matters that concern buyers, for once you have the buyers, the sellers will seek a listing.
What problem do we address for buyers?
Personal Relationships
Buyers seeking to support local suppliers who trade in their names versus trading under a third-party umbrella where the big business owns the customer will find that Webo meets the need for individual brands to grow trust and establish personal customer service reputations and relationships versus big business robotic service norms. This is so as local suppliers are likely to be owner run and hence, they can engage on a person-to-person basis.
Private Online Account
Every buyer gets a private online account and thus owns and manages their data. All payments are transacted on payment gateway servers, not Webo's site, which anyway enjoys 24/7 monitoring and advanced firewalling.
Customise Deal Alerts
Webo allows buyers to secure alerts for products and services, deals and specials by category, sub-category, micro category or business name from a defined county, state, city or postal code. In this way, Webo gets to gather insight into consumer demand and can work to secure the needs of consumers.
Browse to Shop
Given the local focus, Webo seeks to develop a balance between in-store and online eCommerce.
Secure Checkout Options
Drivers: effective and easy checkout, low delivery costs, convenient delivery times, choice of delivery options, transparent refund policies, and convenient return arrangements.
Delivery
Providing faster delivery that is more convenient to a customer is likely as are multiple options including:
Door to door
Dropbox pickup
Self Pickup
Local/Same day
Suggested Strategy
Build Visibility:
Build awareness via collective marketing/flyer distribution.
Offer seller visibility for online and offline shopping.
Maintain a dynamic product selection so buyers return to see what is new. (The objective is to change the array of deals and specials offered by a customer at least monthly.)
Suggest multiple Payment Gateway Options to sellers.
Suggest multiple delivery options, return time & day specifications, and local in-store pick-up options.
Have clear customer P2P support channels that are user-friendly vs. being robot-driven.
Suggest offering promotions campaigns and managed eCommerce integrated with coupon, loyalty and referral marketing upgrades that allow SMEs to focus on operations vs. marketing.
Focus
Select a number of trending online shopping options that could include: clothing, electronics, footwear, household appliances, furnishes, health products and fresh produce, restaurant takeaways, medical and personal product delivery, alcohol, office supplies, school stationery, pet supplies, and baby care.
Competition: Be aware of your competitors in the online shopping space. Note our focus is to compete in the field of Deals and Specials. Look for suppliers who offer deals and specials in product lines carried by 3rd party marketplaces such as: takealot.com, makro.co.za, evetech.co.za, clicks.co.za, zando.co.za, superbalist.com, home.co.za, builders.co.za, Woolworths, Sixty60, UberEats, MrD, Nike, CottonOn.
Meet and exceed expectations: Webo must be the destination for Deals and specials that are accurately described with photos, weights, dimensions, etc.
DO YOU QUALIFY
TO BE AN INDEPENDENT MARKETPLACE MARKETER?
Are you a tech-savvy go-getter with an appetite for breaking new ground in Marketplace Marketing? Are you passionate about building lasting relationships and creating impactful solutions that get local businesses growing? We seek to appoint results-driven marketplace Marketing Agencies that are enthusiastic about selling our Loco & Nook Marketplace Packages; Loco, as they GO Local with Info, Deals & Specials & Nook, as they GO Big, but in a micro corner of a global marketplace. This is an opportunity to grow an independent marketing business with the support of our globally available software.
About Us:
At Webo, we're at the forefront of revolutionising online SME marketing without big budgets. We drive customers to grow businesses. We believe in our solution to the 1.5 billion+ websites that have never, not once, ever, been opened from a search engine results page.
Our team thrives on challenges, embraces change, and pushes boundaries to deliver game-changing solutions with real-world impact.
What You'll Do:
As an Independent Marketplace Marketing Agency, you'll drive your Agency's growth journey. Your exceptional people skills and unwavering passion will drive your success. You'll:
Forge meaningful client relationships, understand their unique needs, and offer tailored solutions.
Champion our compelling value propositions.
Collaborate with us to elevate your Webo Agency's Brand and drive sales and market presence.
Work with us to execute a strategy to achieve your vision for your Webo Agency.
Progress the market trends to marketplace marketing.
Establish your Agency by contributing as a Guest blogger on Webo's blogs and social media pages.
Build the value of your non-exclusive Agency that you can sell for your account.
Who You Are:
You're more than just an Agency—you're a trailblazer. You possess:
A proven track record in B2B technology or other sales to SMEs, with the ability to articulate solutions.
A flair for building authentic relationships and fostering client trust.
A thirst for knowledge, staying up-to-date with the latest tech trends and market dynamics.
A knack for problem-solving and strategic thinking, driving positive outcomes for both clients and your Webo Agency.
At least two years experience in a Sales and Marketing role, alternatively, the enthusiasm to be a fast learner.
Why Join Us:
Impact: Be part of a team redefining SME Marketing through innovation.
Growth: Unlock unparalleled growth opportunities as we expand our global footprint.
Collaboration: Work alongside visionary minds in a supportive, dynamic environment.
Purpose: Drive change and shape the future of SME marketing solutions.
Ready to dive into marketplace marketing, innovation, and game-changing sales strategies for SMEs?
We want to hear from you if you're a passionate, people-oriented, and results-driven professional THAT WANTS TO WORK IN ANY CORNER OF THE GLOBE! Let us know which of the above requirements you meet and request a meeting with one of the team members listed below.
Yip, it's time to join us in shaping the future—one innovative solution at a time.
Please select a team member below to schedule a callback or to book an online meeting.
PS Webo Spiders work the web!
OUR MEMBERSHIP BLOG IS PASSWORD GATED. MEMBERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH AN ACCESS PASSWORD.
