This guide will show you how you can create a website just like AlieExpress fast and easy, and also with the possibly minimal investments.

What is All The Noise About?

AliExpress is the fifth biggest B2C online marketplace in the world. It is famous for doing in Asia what Amazon or eBay never actually did: connecting the Chinese sellers and the rest of the world via an easy-to-use and flexible platform.

Every day 20 million people log in to Ali to do their shopping: from woolen socks to guitars, iPhone chargers and jewelry. In the last fiscal year, Ali reported $72 billion in profit. So, is it possible to make an AlieExpress clone? Actually, it is. Let’s see how!

Cloning AlieExpress: Keys to Success

What does make AlieExpress so successful? Actually, there is a good deal of factors: 

• It’s international.
• China is the world’s biggest ‘workshop’.
• Flexible logistics system with free shipping.
• Various payment systems from Visa to WeChat Pay.
• The founder of Ali Jack Ma understood business in China like no one else.

And, of course, we can’t forget the intuitive interface of the platform. AlieExpress is 100% user-oriented both for companies and individual buyers. So, let’s talk more about Ali’s anatomy and why it is so good.

Here are the key elements that your AlieExpress clone must have:

Easy registration: Don’t make it a drag

There’s nothing else that an e-customer hates more than a lengthy, intricate registration. AlieExpress allows you to create an account in barely two minutes: either via an e-mail or a social network profile.

But for sellers, this procedure takes a bit more time. There’s an obligatory verification: all sellers must provide essential info about their company. They can get to business only after Ali’s administration checks and confirms it. This is necessary to filter out scammers.

Product search: Let ‘em find what they need

Ali is a monstrous hub, and you can easily get lost in the myriad of its products. Typically, buyers search for stuff using keywords: phone case, memory card, silver necklace, Japanese money cat…

However, sometimes they don’t know how to describe what they search for. Just like Google, Ali allows uploading a picture. And using it, the site’s algorithms will find what you desire. The search can also be filtered by product categories: toys, domestic appliances, clothes, etc.  

Payment process: Keep it simple

If you intend to succeed internationally, a variety of paying methods is a must.

You can’t limit your platform just to PayPal as your overseas customers may have problems with it: currency conversion, legal limitations, high commission, etc. 

Besides, it’s always better to be able to pay instantly, not having to wait for an invoice. The fact that you’ve just paid for a thing you wanted so bad provides the feeling of satisfaction.

You don’t need to invent a clone of Alipay — the platform’s native payment service. But such options as MasterCard/Visa, Samsung Pay, Kiwi, Dwolla and other less-known local systems should be compatible with your marketplace at all costs.

Purchase management: Provide the details

Ali also allows customers to keep track of the status of their orders. This includes the order amount, export methods, payment status, refund details, and so on.

Feedback: Credence won’t hurt

One of the reasons why Ali is so popular is the reviews and ratings left by the real people who shop there. Customers use them to pick the most reliable supplier, the top high-quality products and the best refund policy. 

Besides, sellers and buyers can stay in touch, thanks to the messaging. This brings even more trust as people can clarify various details and get updates on the status of their order. Dialogue is always necessary when it comes to e-commerce.

Client support: Solve Issues Promptly

A client is always right. But in your case, there will be two customer types who at times will turn into the warring factions. You need to provide a chat/email support to regulate disputes, liquidate any foul play, arrange returns or refunds, etc. 

Monetization: Getting your cut

Your slice of the pie can come from two monetization models:

1. Commission. In this scenario, you will get a percentage from each monetary transaction on your marketplace. In this case, the profit will directly depend on the number of the overall deals per month/year.
2. Subscription. You will need to create subscription plans that will offer various options and bonuses. And the costlier the plan is, the more premium features it needs to provide: more products for display, priority customer support, etc. 

Interestingly, AliExpress prefers selling subscription plans to the companies. But since you just start out, you might want to stick to the commission model.

The Best Solution…?

As you can see. The digital architecture of such a marketplace is enormous. It allows making millions of purchases, processing millions of transactions and registering thousands of new sellers and buyers every single day.

Needless to say, recreating a website like this from scratch would cost an arm and a leg. The final price charged by a web-studio for such a project can be as much as $200k and more.

The best tactic here is to use a ready-made script. At a much cheaper price, you will get:

• Multilingual support.
• Sales reports & statistics.
• Flexible order management.
• Comment & review sections.
• The advanced payout system.

And other essential features, without which AliExpress would never make it. It is the easiest way to set up your own e-commerce market and attract thousands of clients quickly. Besides, you can try the free demo and see how it works.

Your E-commerce Saga Begins!

Now you know which tips to follow and what tech tools to apply. They will surely make your long-term e-commerce strategy effective. 

Just don’t forget the most important lesson that Jack Ma probably learned himself while building AliExpress and Alibaba: whatever service you offer, it must be for the sake of people and not just money-making.