Just a year ago I first experimented with a marketplace (Dan), but I can't say it has produced any notable results - even with pointing the domain's traffic at the Dan lander. So I really can't say its done any better than just pointing domains to my own lander, commission free.
And I also find that with my own landers, if an outright purchase seems unlikely, I can counter by offering a payment plan - which many platforms don't offer. I hate to lose that option using someone else's lander. I experimented with Dan's payment plan options, but now I feel a little screwed with $15 USD bank wire fees on a $89 monthly payment. The net result is that I'm collecting about $103 CAD/mo, but the buyer is paying $154 CAD/mo... So 1/3 of the payments are lost to commissions and fees. Experiment failed, in my opinion.
But I can also see how its possible that a distribution network like SedoMLS or Afternic could have a positive effect on sales. But to truly deliver on that promise, they have to:
1. Sell based on their own network exposure, not my traffic. I shouldn't pay anything more than a 5% commission on sales coming from my own traffic, just to cover some overhead costs.
2. Sell with the same net-profit to me. If I just reduced my prices by 25% on my own landers, I know I'd get more sales without them too.
Without meeting those two requirements, are they worth it?
So I think it only makes sense to drive your own traffic to your own landers, but, also use the distribution networks with increased prices to either fully or at least partially cover the added commissions & expenses. That's the only way I'll know if they're actually delivering any value.
That being said, does anyone have any good advice on how to most efficiently list your large portfolio on both SedoMLS & Afternic, and then manage the differing prices & lander types? API access would be ideal...
