Nov 26, 2022

14 minutes

How to Advertise on Walmart Marketplace: The Definitive Guide

It’s no secret that online retail is booming. In fact, a recent study by Forrester found that e-commerce will account for 17 percent of all retail sales in the United States by 2022. That’s up from just 9 percent in 2017. However, what may come as a surprise is that one of the biggest drivers of this growth is Walmart. The world’s largest retailer now has a marketplace where third-party sellers can sell their products directly to consumers.

If you’re not selling on Walmart yet, you’re missing out on a huge opportunity. This guide will teach you everything you need to know about how to advertise on Walmart Marketplace. We’ll cover almost every aspect of the process, from setting up your account to creating ads that drive conversions.

By the end of this guide, you will have a solid understanding of how to advertise successfully on Walmart Marketplace. So, let’s get started!

What Is Walmart Marketplace?

Walmart marketplace is a self serve platform

Walmart Marketplace is an online marketplace that enables third-party sellers to sell products on Walmart.com. The platform provides sellers with access to Walton’s massive customer base and fulfillment infrastructure. In return, Walmart charges sellers a commission on each sale. Walmart Marketplace is similar to other marketplace platforms like Amazon Marketplace and eBay. However, it has a few key features that set it apart from its competitors.

For example, Walmart Marketplace offers seller protection against certain types of fraud and offers a dedicated team of account managers to help sellers grow their businesses. Walmart Marketplace also allows marketplace sellers to offer products for in-store pickup, which can be a major advantage for customers who want to avoid shipping costs.

How To Advertise On Walmart Marketplace

Advertise using Walmart ad center where you can manage ad spend over your auto and manual campaigns

Are you ready to start advertising on Walmart Marketplace? Great – let’s get started. Here are the steps you’ll need to take:

Step 1: Set Up Your Seller Account

Set up your account for organic search and join Walmart Connect

Before you can start advertising on Walmart, you’ll need to set up a seller account. This relatively straightforward process requires only basic information such as your business name and contact details. It’s also important to note that Walmart has certain eligibility requirements, so make sure you read the terms and conditions carefully before signing up. The entire process should take no more than a few minutes.

Step 2: Add Products To Your Catalog

Now that you’ve set up your seller account, it’s time to add products to your catalog. While Walmart allows you to add individual items, it’s much more efficient to use a third-party software platform that integrates with the Marketplace. This will allow you to import thousands of items from your existing e-commerce store or other sources easily and quickly.

When adding products, make sure that you include accurate and detailed descriptions, including titles, categories, images, reviews, and more. This will help Walmart customers find your products easily and give them the assurance that they are buying from a reliable seller.

Step 3: Create Ad Campaigns

Create ad campaigns to appear within organic search results of any category pages

Once you have completed adding your products to your catalog, it’s time for the next step – creating ad campaigns. Ads help you reach an even larger audience and can be used to target customers based on their interests or demographics. With Walmart Marketplace, you can create ads directly from your product pages and manage them in just a few clicks.

First, decide what type of campaign you want to run – this could include Walmart-sponsored products, sponsored brands, or dynamic ads. Next, it’s time to create an ad group. This will allow you to target the right customers based on their interests and demographics. Set your budget for your ad campaign and launch it – this could take up to 24 hours for approval from Walmart before it goes live.

Once your campaigns are live, make sure to monitor them closely. Track clicks, conversions, and impressions so you can assess the performance of each ad group. This will help you maximize your budget and ensure your ads are reaching the right customers. You may need to adjust or stop certain Walmart ad groups if they’re not performing as expected.

Step 4: Analyze And Optimize

The final step in the process is to analyze and optimize your advertising campaigns. This means looking at data such as impressions, clicks, conversions, cost per click (CPC), cost per acquisition (CPA), and more. You can use this information to refine your targeting and create more effective ads that drive better results.

It’s also important to stay on top of trends and changes in the marketplace. Use tools such as Google Trends or Amazon Insights to identify new opportunities for growth.

These are the basic steps for how to advertise on Walmart Marketplace. With some careful planning and optimization, you can ensure your ads are delivering maximum value to your business.

What Type Of Ads Can You Create On Walmart Marketplace?

Join Walmart Marketplace advertising for sponsored product

Walmart Marketplace offers a variety of different types of ads that you can use to promote your products. Here are some of the most common ad types:

1. Sponsored Products

Choose ad strategy for sponsored products

Walmart’s Sponsored Products are ads that appear on the product or search results pages and are intended to increase visibility for shoppers. When a shopper clicks on your ad, they will be taken directly to your product page or store page.

This type of paid advertising is an excellent way to get noticed on the Walmart Marketplace, but you will need to have an established store account with Walmart. The buy box and product page will be given priority to your sponsored products.

2. Sponsored Brands

Sponsored Brands are ads that appear on product detail pages, search results, and homepages. These ads provide an engaging way to promote your brand and products on Walmart Marketplace. They can feature images of up to three products or a logo with copy about your company, plus a link that directs shoppers directly to your product page.

Sponsored Brands are similar to other marketplace ads in that you set a daily budget and are charged based on click-throughs, but they offer much more visibility and brand recognition than other ads.

To create Sponsored Brands, you’ll need to provide Walmart with your company logo and product images (for up to three products), plus copy that explains why shoppers should buy from your store. Your ads will then be reviewed and approved by Walmart for placement on the Marketplace.

3. Dynamic Ads

Dynamic Ads are automated ads that are created and managed via Walmart Ads Manager. They use a retailer’s existing catalog to generate ads for products that match the shopper’s search query, creating personalized experiences for shoppers on Walmart.com or through an ad campaign.

Through Dynamic Ads, advertisers can target shoppers with product-level ads across desktop, mobile web, and in-store. This can help brands gain visibility and drive sales on the Walmart Marketplace.

Dynamic Ads are powered by algorithms that learn from shoppers’ search queries, interests, and product selections to present them with personalized ads through one-to-one targeting. This type of ad is ideal for brands that are looking to scale their Walmart advertising and reach the right customers quickly.

4. Display Ads

Display Ads are image-based ads that help you to showcase your products with eye-catching visuals. Walmart Marketplace ads are perfect for brands and businesses that have strong visuals or want to focus their advertising efforts on a particular product range.

Display Ads appear in the carousel by the Walmart media group at the top of relevant product pages and search results. They allow you to use up to six images per ad, making them a great way to focus attention on your products and demonstrate how they work.

When creating a Display Ad, you need to decide which images are most effective, as well as the order in which they appear. You’ll also need to choose an appropriate message or call-to-action that will encourage shoppers to click through to your product page.

5. Walmart Performance Ads

Walmart Performance Ads are highly targeted ads that appear on the Walmart Marketplace, delivering high-performance results for sellers. Performance Ads are powered by Walmart’s proprietary algorithm, which helps you reach shoppers based on their past shopping behavior and product selections. With Performance Ads, you can easily target the right customers in a cost-effective way to increase your sales velocity and drive more conversions.

Additionally, Performance Ads provide deep insights into customer behavior through automatic campaigns, allowing you to optimize your campaigns and get the most out of your ad budget. With Walmart Performance Ads, you can reach your sales goals faster and easier than ever before.

These are just a few of the different types of Walmart ads available on Walmart Marketplace. With so many advertising options to choose from, it’s important to understand your advertising goals and select an ad type that will help you reach them. By optimizing your ads for maximum engagement and performance, you can ensure that your products are seen by the right shoppers at the right time.

How Much Does It Cost To Advertise On Walmart Marketplace?

Walmart advertising cost instead of physical stores

Fortunately, on Walmart Marketplace there is no account fee, or minimum ad spend requirement to start advertising. You can set a daily budget and be charged based on clicks, impressions, or conversions. The cost per click (CPC) will vary depending on the type of ad you choose and the competition for that particular product category.

Additionally, Walmart offers discounts for larger spending when you’re ready to scale up your advertising campaigns. It’s important to keep in mind that although the cost of advertising on Walmart.com is relatively low, it’s still important to measure and monitor your campaigns to ensure that you’re getting a return on your investment.

Why Should You Advertise On Walmart Marketplace?

Why advertise on Walmart ad center and social media

Walmart is the world’s largest retailer, with more than 11,000 stores in 27 countries. And their Marketplace platform is a growing force to be reckoned with, hosting more than 60 million SKUs from over 10,000 third-party sellers. So why should you advertise on Walmart Marketplace? There are a few key reasons:

1. Reach A Massive Audience

Walmart Marketplace opens up your products to a massive audience of shoppers—both online and in-store. With more than 300 million visitors each month, you can be sure that potential customers are seeing your products.

2. Grow Your Brand Visibility

Advertising on Walmart Marketplace provides an opportunity to increase your brand’s visibility and build customer loyalty. With the right ad campaigns, you can stand out from the competition and reach shoppers who are already searching for products like yours.

3. Drive Sales & Conversions

Drive in store sales on Walmart with offsite display ads

The ultimate goal of any advertising campaign is to drive sales and conversions. Walmart Marketplace provides a platform to do just that. With the right combination of ad types, you can showcase your products in the most effective way and get shoppers to take action.

4. Enjoy Low Costs & Flexible Payment Options

Walmart Marketplace offers a low-cost-per-click advertising model that makes it easy to manage your budget. Plus, you’ll enjoy flexible payment options and discounts for larger spending. It’s a great way for brands and businesses of any size to get started with advertising on Walmart Marketplace.

5. Benefit From Walmart’s Expertise

Walmart provides access to a dedicated team of experts who can help you create an effective advertising strategy. They also offer tools and resources to ensure that your campaigns are optimized for maximum performance. With their help, you can get the most out of your advertising investment and reach shoppers in the most efficient way possible.

These are just a few of the benefits that come with advertising on Walmart Marketplace. With so many opportunities to reach shoppers and drive sales, it’s easy to see why this platform is gaining in popularity among brands and businesses of all sizes.

Is It Easy To Sell On Walmart Marketplace?

Yes, it is. Walmart Marketplace offers simple ways to list and manage your products on the platform. You can easily upload product data sheets and use pre-built categories and filters to help shoppers find what they’re looking for quickly. Plus, you’ll have access to insights that will help you better understand customer behavior and optimize your listings for maximum performance.

Can I Sell On Walmart Marketplace As An Individual?

Sell on Walmart as an individual

Yes, individuals are allowed to sell on Walmart Marketplace. You will have to register as a seller and create an account in order to access the marketplace and begin selling products. Once you’re approved, you can list items for sale, set pricing, and manage orders.

You will need to provide additional information, including your banking details, product descriptions, photographs, and more. Walmart Marketplace provides sellers with access to the millions of customers visiting Walmart’s website.

How Do I Run A Sale On The Walmart Marketplace?

Offer sales with Walmart Connect as a marketplace seller

After creating your Walmart marketplace seller account and listing products for sale on the Walmart Marketplace, you may want to start running a sale. A sale can be used to draw more customers and increase sales of your products. Running a sale on the Walmart Marketplace is easy and straightforward. First, set up the promotion by choosing a discount amount and duration for your sale. Then select the product categories, items, or brands that you want to include in the sale.

You can also set limits on units per transaction or total units sold during the promotion period. Once you have your sale set up, select “Activate Promotion” to make it live. Then, customers will be able to see and take advantage of the discount when they shop for your items on the Walmart Marketplace. You can even use a brand amplifier for your ads promotion.

The Bottom Line

Now you know how to advertise on the Walmart Marketplace, it’s time to get started. With the right strategy and a dashboard full of insights, you can create campaigns that reach your target audience, increase sales, and grow your business.

When done correctly, Walmart Marketplace advertising is an incredibly effective way to bring customers to your store or website and generate more revenue quickly. Just remember to take advantage of all the insights at your fingertips and optimize your manual campaigns regularly!

Be sure to check out our other e-commerce guides.