How to manage sales on more than one site
Jan 24, 2025
Why Sell on Multiple Sites?
Selling on more than one site—like eBay, Etsy, Mercari, or Facebook Marketplace—can boost your reach, increase your chances of making sales, and help diversify your income. But managing listings, inventory, and orders across platforms can get confusing and risky if you don’t have a plan. Here’s a step-by-step guide to keep things organized and stress-free, even if you’re just starting out.
Step 1: Choose Your Selling Platforms
Decide which sites fit your products and target audience. For example, vintage items often do well on Etsy, while electronics might sell faster on eBay or Facebook Marketplace. Don’t start with too many at once—two or three is plenty for beginners.
Step 2: Set Up a Central Inventory System
The biggest challenge of multi-site selling is keeping your inventory in sync. You don’t want to sell the same item twice by accident! Here are simple options:
Basic Spreadsheet: Use Google Sheets or Excel to track each item, where it’s listed, and its quantity.
Inventory Management Tools: If you want automation, consider tools like Gavelbase (which syncs listings and inventory across major sites), or alternatives like Selled and Vendoo.
Tip: Make it a habit to update your inventory every time you make a sale, regardless of the system you use.
Step 3: Keep Listings Consistent and Up-to-Date
Copy your product titles, descriptions, and photos into your central system. When you need to make a change (like a price update), update it in your “master” record first, then on each platform. Tools like Gavelbase can help automate this, but you can also do it manually at first.
Step 4: Assign Basic Team Roles (If You Have Help)
If you’re not working alone, assign clear roles to avoid confusion:
Listing: Who creates and updates listings?
Inventory: Who tracks stock levels and removes sold items?
Shipping: Who packages and sends orders, or organizes pickups?
Customer Service: Who replies to buyer messages and handles issues?
Even if you have just one helper, written roles can prevent mistakes.
Step 5: Track Sales and Fees for Each Site
Every platform charges different fees and has its own payout schedule. Keep a simple log tracking:
Which item sold
Which site it sold on
Sale price and shipping paid
Platform fees and net payout
This can be in your spreadsheet, or even a notebook. Over time, this helps you spot which sites are most profitable, and plan your pricing or promotions.
Step 6: Handle Shipping and Pickup Smoothly
Once you make a sale, immediately update your inventory to avoid double-selling. For shipping:
Use the platform’s shipping label system when possible (it’s often discounted and tracks automatically).
For local pickups, set clear times and safe meeting places. Mark items as picked up or delivered in your inventory system.
Keep packaging supplies handy and standardize your process to save time.
Step 7: Review and Adjust Regularly
At the end of every week or month, review your sales, fees, and inventory. Ask yourself:
Are any items not selling on certain platforms?
Are you running low on anything?
Did you have any hiccups with shipping or double-listings?
Use these insights to tweak your approach, drop underperforming platforms, or try new ones.
Useful Tools for Multi-Platform Selling
Gavelbase – Sync inventory, listings, and sales data across popular marketplaces.
Vendoo – Cross-list and manage items on multiple platforms.
List Perfectly – Bulk cross-posting and inventory tracking.
Google Sheets – Free spreadsheet for manual tracking.
Final Thoughts
Managing sales on more than one site doesn’t need to be overwhelming. Start simple: choose a couple of platforms, track inventory carefully, and update your records after every sale. As you grow, experiment with automation tools like Gavelbase to save time and reduce errors. With consistent habits and clear roles, you’ll be able to sell confidently across the web.