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If you're new to the world of online marketplaces, you may come across some unfamiliar terms. That's where a marketplace glossary comes in handy. A marketplace glossary is a collection of definitions for the most commonly used terms in the industry. Whether you're a buyer, seller, or just curious about how online marketplaces work, having a glossary at your fingertips can help you navigate the jargon and better understand the ins and outs of the marketplace world.
API (Application Programming Interface)
A set of tools and protocols that allows different software applications to communicate with each other. In marketplaces, APIs are often used to connect third-party services like payment gateways or shipping providers.
B2C (Business-to-Consumer)
A marketplace model where businesses sell products or services directly to consumers, like Amazon or other online retail stores.
C2C (Consumer-to-Consumer)
A marketplace model where consumers trade products or services directly with each other, often seen in platforms like eBay.
Commission Fee
A fee charged by the marketplace to sellers, typically as a percentage of each transaction made on the platform.
Disintermediation
The process of removing intermediaries in a supply chain, allowing buyers and sellers to interact directly.
Escrow Service
A third-party financial arrangement where funds are temporarily held until the transaction terms are met, often used to ensure both buyers and sellers meet their obligations.
KYC (Know Your Customer)
A process used by businesses to verify the identity of their clients, typically involving identity verification, document collection, and background checks.
Marketplace-as-a-Service (MaaS)
A service model where providers offer tools and infrastructure to help businesses quickly launch and operate their marketplaces.
Network Effects
The phenomenon where the value of a marketplace increases as more users join, creating a virtuous cycle of growth.
Payout
The process of transferring funds from the marketplace to the seller after a transaction has been completed.
SEO (Search Engine Optimization)
The process of optimizing a marketplace’s content and structure to improve its visibility in search engine results.
SLA (Service Level Agreement)
A formal agreement between a service provider and a customer outlining the expected level of service, responsibilities, and guarantees.
Trust and Safety
Policies and technologies implemented by marketplaces to protect users, ensure secure transactions, and maintain platform integrity.
User Experience (UX)
The overall experience a user has when interacting with a marketplace, including the ease of navigation, design, and functionality.
Vendor
Another term for a seller, especially in the context of a marketplace that offers goods or services.
Arbitration
A process used to resolve disputes between buyers and sellers in a marketplace, often handled by a third party to ensure fairness.
Buyer
The individual or entity that purchases products or services on a marketplace.
Chargeback
A reversal of a payment made by a buyer, typically initiated by the buyer’s bank or credit card company due to fraud or dissatisfaction with the purchase.
Conversion Rate
The percentage of visitors to a marketplace who take a desired action, such as making a purchase or signing up.
Drop-shipping
A fulfillment method where a marketplace doesn’t hold stock but forwards orders to a third-party supplier, who then ships the product directly to the customer.
Freemium Model
A pricing strategy that offers basic services for free while charging for advanced or additional features.
Liquidity
The measure of activity in a marketplace, indicating the ease with which buyers and sellers can find matches and complete transactions.
MVP (Minimum Viable Product)
The simplest version of a product that can be released to market, with just enough features to satisfy early adopters and gather feedback for future development.
P2P (Peer-to-Peer) Marketplace
A marketplace where individuals can trade products or services directly with each other without intermediaries.
Platform Fee
A fee charged by the marketplace to either the buyer, seller, or both, often as a percentage of the transaction or a flat rate.
Seller
The individual or entity that lists and sells products or services on a marketplace.
Syndicated Listings
Product or service listings that are shared across multiple platforms or channels, expanding their reach and exposure.
Two-Sided Market
A platform that connects two distinct user groups who benefit from each other’s presence, such as buyers and sellers.
User Interface (UI)
The visual and interactive elements of a marketplace that users interact with, such as buttons, menus, and layouts.
White-Label Marketplace
A marketplace platform offered by a provider that can be branded and customized by another company to launch their own marketplace.
B2B (Business-to-Business)
A marketplace model where transactions occur between businesses, such as wholesale platforms where retailers purchase goods from manufacturers.
CAC (Customer Acquisition Cost)
The total cost associated with acquiring a new customer, including marketing, sales, and onboarding expenses.
CLV (Customer Lifetime Value)
The total revenue a marketplace can expect to generate from a single customer over the duration of their relationship with the platform.
Curated Marketplace
A marketplace where the operator selects and approves sellers or products to ensure a certain quality or niche focus.
Dynamic Pricing
A pricing strategy where the price of goods or services fluctuates based on demand, competition, and other factors in real-time.
GMV (Gross Merchandise Volume)
The total value of merchandise sold through a marketplace over a specific period, typically excluding returns and cancellations.
Listing Fee
A fee charged to sellers for listing products or services on the marketplace, regardless of whether a sale is made.
Multi-vendor Marketplace
A marketplace where multiple sellers offer their products or services on a single platform, such as Etsy or Amazon.
Payment Gateway
A service that authorizes and processes payments between buyers and sellers in a marketplace, ensuring secure transactions.
Revenue Share Model
A business model where the marketplace takes a percentage of each transaction or revenue generated by sellers on the platform.
Service Marketplace
A type of marketplace where service providers list and offer their services to buyers, such as freelance platforms like Upwork.
Take Rate
The percentage of each transaction that a marketplace takes as revenue, often referred to as the commission or platform fee.
Two-Sided Marketplace
A marketplace that facilitates transactions between two distinct user groups, typically buyers and sellers, like Airbnb or eBay.
UX/UI (User Experience/User Interface)
The design and layout of a marketplace that influences how users interact with the platform, affecting usability and satisfaction.