Yandex is opening a new sales channel for sellers without their own online stores, offering a unique opportunity to achieve a profitable CPM. Now their products are available in Search and chat with Alice AI, and purchases happen in one click. Connecting to the service is free, which makes it potentially beneficial for cheap hypothesis testing and finding new traffic sources. It’s important to calculate unit economics to maximize profit.
What does Yandex offer sellers without a website?
The new feature allows sellers without their own website to place products in Yandex search results and Alice AI. This expands opportunities to reach an audience without significant investment in developing an e-commerce platform.
How does it work?
- Yandex Commerce Protocol (YCP): the neural network selects relevant products, displaying them as cards.
- Yandex Universal Checkout: users make purchases with a “Buy in one click” button.
- Beta testing: the feature is currently in test mode.
“Traffic from Alice AI to Russian e-commerce has grown 4.6 times since the beginning of the year. These are not just numbers, this is sales growth potential that cannot be ignored,” — quote from an analytical report.
How much does it cost to connect and how to start selling?
Connecting to the service is free. The main costs will be associated with payment processing and logistics. This makes the offer an attractive budget alternative to seeding or expensive integrations with influencers.
Steps to start selling:
- Yandex Products: submit an application for checkout connection.
- Yandex KIT: upload assortment, specify prices, set up payment and delivery.
After these settings, products are automatically displayed in Yandex Search and Alice AI for relevant queries. This is a direct path to the buyer, bypassing the creation of an expensive website.
Logistics and analytics: counting cash
To fulfill orders, the seller can use various logistics options, which provides flexibility and allows for cost optimization. This is a key factor in achieving a profitable CPM.
Available logistics options:
- Marketplace logistics (if already present).
- Own logistics.
- External services: Yandex Delivery, SDEK, PEK, Dalli.
Analysts note that traffic from Alice AI to Russian e-commerce has grown by 358% since the beginning of the year. This is not just statistics, it is an indicator of a growing audience that can be converted into sales. How much money will it bring for every ruble spent – that’s a question for your unit economics.
Frequently asked questions
What CPM can be considered profitable when working with Yandex?
A profitable CPM is one that provides a positive ROI. In this case, with free connection, the cost will be formed from payment commissions and logistics. It is necessary to conduct test sales to determine the optimal CPM for your product.
What is cheaper: banner advertising or sales via Yandex Search/Alice AI?
Sales via Yandex Search and Alice AI can be significantly cheaper than traditional banner advertising, especially at the initial stage. The absence of a connection fee and the possibility of cheap hypothesis testing makes this channel attractive for small and medium businesses. Banner advertising requires large budgets and does not always guarantee a direct transition to purchase.
Is it worth investing in AI sales channels without your own website?
Yes, it is. Especially for a quick start and demand verification. Yandex provides ready-made infrastructure for accepting payments and delivery, which lowers entry barriers. This allows you to focus on the product and marketing, rather than the technical side of e-commerce.
Conclusion: cash or lost opportunity?
The new sales channel from Yandex is not just an option, it is an opportunity for sellers without a website to gain access to millions of potential buyers. Free connection and flexible logistics conditions allow you to compare prices with other channels and, possibly, find that very profitable CPM. Don’t miss the chance to test hypotheses cheaply.
Start accepting applications and uploading your assortment today to assess the real potential of this sales channel and turn it into a significant source of income for your business.