So you want to be a successful seller with your own eBay business, do you? Here’s a simple, ten-step path to eBay enlightenment.
Step 1: Identify your market. Take a while to sit and watch for what sells and what doesn’t out of the items you’re interested in. Any market research data you can collect will be very useful to you later on. You’ll probably see the ‘sweet spots’ quite quickly – those one or two items that always seem to sell for a good price.
Step 2: Watch the competition. Before you invest any money, see what the other sellers in your category are up to, and what their strategies are. Pay special attention to any flaws their auctions might have, because this is where you can move in and beat them at their own game.
Step 3: Find a product: Get hold of a supplier for whatever it is you want to sell, and see what the best rates you can get are – don’t be afraid to ring round quite a few to get the best deal. If the eBay prices you’ve seen are higher than the supplier’s, then you’re set.
Step 4: Start small: Don’t throw thousands at your idea straight away – get started slowly, see what works and what doesn’t, and learn as you go. Remember that it’s very cheap to try out even the craziest ideas on eBay, and who knows, they might just work!
Step 5: Test and repeat. Keep trying different strategies until you find something that works, and then don’t be ashamed to keep doing it, again and again. The chances are that you’ve just found a good niche.
Step 6: Work out a business plan: A business plan doesn’t need to be anything formal, just a few pages that outline the market opportunity you’ve spotted, your strategy, strengths and weaknesses of the plan and a brief budget. This is more for you than it is for anyone else.
Step 7: Invest and expand: This is the time to throw money at the problem. Buy inventory, and start spending more time on your business. Set a goal number of sales each week, increasing it each time.
Step 8: Make it official: Once you’ve made a few thousand dollars worth of sales, you should really register yourself as a business. Don’t worry, it’s not expensive or hard to do – a lawyer is the best person to help you through the process.
Step 9: Automate: You’ll probably find that you’re writing the same things again and again in emails or item descriptions. This is the time to give up on the manual method and turn to automated software that can create listings for you, and respond to completed auctions and payments with whatever message you provide.
Step 10: Never give up: Even when it looks like it’s all going wrong, don’t stop trying until you succeed. If you keep working at it then you’ll almost always find that you make a real breakthrough just when things are starting to look desperate.
Once you get into the swing of things, you might start thinking that you should quit your job and take up eBay selling part time. But it’s not always as easy as that – there are all sorts of factors that you need to consider. The next email will weigh up the case for and against taking up eBay full-time.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
10 Steps to Successful Selling on eBay
So you want to be a successful seller with your own eBay business, do you? Here's a simple, ten-step path to eBay enlightenment.
Step 1: Identify your market. Take a while to sit and watch for what sells and what doesn't out of the items you're interested in. Any market research data you can collect will be very useful to you later on. You'll probably see the sweet spots quite quickly - those one or two items that always seem to sell for a good price.
Step 2: Watch the competition. Before you invest any money, see what the other sellers in your category are up to, and what their strategies are. Pay special attention to any flaws their auctions might have, because this is where you can move in and beat them at their own game.
Step 3: Find a product: Get hold of a supplier for whatever it is you want to sell, and see what are the best rates you can get. Don't be afraid to ring round quite a few to get the best deal. If the eBay prices you've seen are higher than the supplier's, then you're set.
Step 4: Start small: Don't throw thousands at your idea straight away - get started slowly, see what works and what doesn't, and learn as you go. Remember that it's very cheap to try out even the craziest ideas on eBay, and who knows, they might just work!
Step 5: Test and repeat. Keep trying different strategies until you find something that works, and then don't be ashamed to keep doing it, again and again. The chances are that you?ve just found a good niche.
Step 6: Work out a business plan: A business plan doesn't need to be anything formal, just a few pages that outline the market opportunity you've spotted, your strategy, strengths and weaknesses of the plan and a brief budget. This is more for you than it is for anyone else.
Step 7: Invest and expand: This is the time to throw money at the problem. Buy inventory, and start spending more time on your business. Set a goal number of sales each week, increasing it each time.
Step 8: Make it official: Once you've made a few thousand dollars worth of sales, you should really register yourself as a business. Don't worry, it's not expensive or hard to do - a lawyer is the best person to help you through the process.
Step 9: Automate: You'll probably find that you're writing the same things again and again in emails or item descriptions. This is the time to give up on the manual method and turn to automated software that can create listings for you, and respond to completed auctions and payments with whatever message you provide.
Step 10: Never give up: Even when it looks like it's all going wrong, don't stop trying until you succeed. If you keep working at it then you'll almost always find that you make a real breakthrough just when things are starting to look desperate.
Once you get into the swing of things, you might start thinking that you should quit your job and take up eBay selling part time. But it's not always as easy as that - there are all sorts of factors that you need to consider.
Step 1: Identify your market. Take a while to sit and watch for what sells and what doesn't out of the items you're interested in. Any market research data you can collect will be very useful to you later on. You'll probably see the sweet spots quite quickly - those one or two items that always seem to sell for a good price.
Step 2: Watch the competition. Before you invest any money, see what the other sellers in your category are up to, and what their strategies are. Pay special attention to any flaws their auctions might have, because this is where you can move in and beat them at their own game.
Step 3: Find a product: Get hold of a supplier for whatever it is you want to sell, and see what are the best rates you can get. Don't be afraid to ring round quite a few to get the best deal. If the eBay prices you've seen are higher than the supplier's, then you're set.
Step 4: Start small: Don't throw thousands at your idea straight away - get started slowly, see what works and what doesn't, and learn as you go. Remember that it's very cheap to try out even the craziest ideas on eBay, and who knows, they might just work!
Step 5: Test and repeat. Keep trying different strategies until you find something that works, and then don't be ashamed to keep doing it, again and again. The chances are that you?ve just found a good niche.
Step 6: Work out a business plan: A business plan doesn't need to be anything formal, just a few pages that outline the market opportunity you've spotted, your strategy, strengths and weaknesses of the plan and a brief budget. This is more for you than it is for anyone else.
Step 7: Invest and expand: This is the time to throw money at the problem. Buy inventory, and start spending more time on your business. Set a goal number of sales each week, increasing it each time.
Step 8: Make it official: Once you've made a few thousand dollars worth of sales, you should really register yourself as a business. Don't worry, it's not expensive or hard to do - a lawyer is the best person to help you through the process.
Step 9: Automate: You'll probably find that you're writing the same things again and again in emails or item descriptions. This is the time to give up on the manual method and turn to automated software that can create listings for you, and respond to completed auctions and payments with whatever message you provide.
Step 10: Never give up: Even when it looks like it's all going wrong, don't stop trying until you succeed. If you keep working at it then you'll almost always find that you make a real breakthrough just when things are starting to look desperate.
Once you get into the swing of things, you might start thinking that you should quit your job and take up eBay selling part time. But it's not always as easy as that - there are all sorts of factors that you need to consider.
10 Safety Tips For Buying On eBay
eBay has become a household name for shoppers. A lot the buyers on eBay are not regular internet shoppers but they still shop on eBay. Such is the power of eBay giving simplicity of shopping and top bargains. From time to time, there is some fraud on eBay about fake fashion items, event tickets that do not exist, some expensive electronic items that do not exist.
eBay does its best to intervene and resolve such disputes. As a shopper, you can follow these 10 safety tips to avoid being conned.
1. Check the seller’s feedback. Positive feedback rating of over 95% is good. If there are many recent negative feedbacks, then this is not a good indication. Also, read all the negative feedbacks. Are these negative feedbacks reasonable? What type of response does the seller have for these feedbacks? Does the seller’s defense sound reasonable? Sometimes new members who buy items on eBay are paranoid and they leave a negative feedback in a haste so make sure if the seller has defended himself/ herself in a reasonable manner. If there are too many complaints of the same nature, then it is probably true.
2. The sellers must have some kind of identification or recognition seal like Paypal verified, or Square trade or a Powerseller seal on the auctions. Such sellers are more reliable. This is especially a good check when you buying an expensive item.
3. Ask seller a question before bidding on the item. Responsible sellers reply promptly to questions. Also, if the seller actually has the item, he/ she maybe able to answer a valid question otherwise not.
4. If you are buying something expensive, then get the contact information of the seller at http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQtZvbQQsofindtypeZ9. You have to login to your eBay account and send a request. You can get the seller’s address and phone number. In doing this, your address and phone number will also be emailed to the seller.
5. The items must have pictures unless it is a service that is sold on eBay. If there is no picture, then the items is probably not there. Almost all sellers will put at least one picture of the item. Let’s assume that the item is there but the seller has been lazy in not putting the picture in the auction ad. Would you like to deal with someone who is so careless? It just shows that the item may not be in good condition, maybe defective or broken.
6. Check description of the item. Research other websites for the same item. Some of the shopping websites to research would be shopping.yahoo.com, overture.com and shopping.msn.com. These sites are adequate for researching items and get the description that you need. The eBay description should match item description on other sites.
7. Research prices for the item on sale. If the item on sale is Gucci handbags, then search for this model of handbag on shopping.yahoo.com. If it retails for $800 on Yahoo and seller on eBay is selling a brand new one for $90, then this item may not be authentic! Large wholesaler are able to sell items for around 50% of retail but something like an original Gucci handbag, it is unlikely that a seller would let go for $90 because these items sell like crazy. Just a note on fraud items – a lot of fraud eBay occurs on fashion items. This is very unfortunate and eBay has taken a lot of steps to eliminate fraud.
8. If the seller has not mentioned any shipping and handling terms, then ask before bidding. There are many auction ads, where the seller mentions that shipping and handling will mentioned to the winning bidder. Surprisingly, there are bids on that item! If you start bidding on the item, then it means that you agreed to the terms and condition of the sellers and there is less room for you to dispute later so ask for the clear instruction on shipping and handling.
9. Reliable sellers have clear description on their refund policy. If it is not there, then ask the seller for it. If the seller has no refund policy, then do not bid on the item. If the there is no refund policy in the auction description, then make sure you get the refund policy in an email from the seller. In this way, you have a document of the refund policy.
10. Do a search for the sellers past items on eBay. Check to see if the seller has sold similar items in the past. To search on the past auctions, go to the Advanced Search page. Here click on the items by seller link and type in the sellers ID and check the box for Include Completed listing. It is always good to check this especially if you are considering buying something expensive.
eBay does its best to intervene and resolve such disputes. As a shopper, you can follow these 10 safety tips to avoid being conned.
1. Check the seller’s feedback. Positive feedback rating of over 95% is good. If there are many recent negative feedbacks, then this is not a good indication. Also, read all the negative feedbacks. Are these negative feedbacks reasonable? What type of response does the seller have for these feedbacks? Does the seller’s defense sound reasonable? Sometimes new members who buy items on eBay are paranoid and they leave a negative feedback in a haste so make sure if the seller has defended himself/ herself in a reasonable manner. If there are too many complaints of the same nature, then it is probably true.
2. The sellers must have some kind of identification or recognition seal like Paypal verified, or Square trade or a Powerseller seal on the auctions. Such sellers are more reliable. This is especially a good check when you buying an expensive item.
3. Ask seller a question before bidding on the item. Responsible sellers reply promptly to questions. Also, if the seller actually has the item, he/ she maybe able to answer a valid question otherwise not.
4. If you are buying something expensive, then get the contact information of the seller at http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQtZvbQQsofindtypeZ9. You have to login to your eBay account and send a request. You can get the seller’s address and phone number. In doing this, your address and phone number will also be emailed to the seller.
5. The items must have pictures unless it is a service that is sold on eBay. If there is no picture, then the items is probably not there. Almost all sellers will put at least one picture of the item. Let’s assume that the item is there but the seller has been lazy in not putting the picture in the auction ad. Would you like to deal with someone who is so careless? It just shows that the item may not be in good condition, maybe defective or broken.
6. Check description of the item. Research other websites for the same item. Some of the shopping websites to research would be shopping.yahoo.com, overture.com and shopping.msn.com. These sites are adequate for researching items and get the description that you need. The eBay description should match item description on other sites.
7. Research prices for the item on sale. If the item on sale is Gucci handbags, then search for this model of handbag on shopping.yahoo.com. If it retails for $800 on Yahoo and seller on eBay is selling a brand new one for $90, then this item may not be authentic! Large wholesaler are able to sell items for around 50% of retail but something like an original Gucci handbag, it is unlikely that a seller would let go for $90 because these items sell like crazy. Just a note on fraud items – a lot of fraud eBay occurs on fashion items. This is very unfortunate and eBay has taken a lot of steps to eliminate fraud.
8. If the seller has not mentioned any shipping and handling terms, then ask before bidding. There are many auction ads, where the seller mentions that shipping and handling will mentioned to the winning bidder. Surprisingly, there are bids on that item! If you start bidding on the item, then it means that you agreed to the terms and condition of the sellers and there is less room for you to dispute later so ask for the clear instruction on shipping and handling.
9. Reliable sellers have clear description on their refund policy. If it is not there, then ask the seller for it. If the seller has no refund policy, then do not bid on the item. If the there is no refund policy in the auction description, then make sure you get the refund policy in an email from the seller. In this way, you have a document of the refund policy.
10. Do a search for the sellers past items on eBay. Check to see if the seller has sold similar items in the past. To search on the past auctions, go to the Advanced Search page. Here click on the items by seller link and type in the sellers ID and check the box for Include Completed listing. It is always good to check this especially if you are considering buying something expensive.
10 Great Ways To Source Low Cost Products For Ebay.
So you’re having trouble finding stock cheaply enough to sell it for a good profit? Well, you’ve come to the right place.
Garage sales. The chances are you’ve gone most of your life seeing ads for these and ignoring them. Start going to as many as you can. You won’t find good things at every one, but when you find one person with good stuff, make them an offer for the lot – they’ll be so happy about it that you can get a real bargain.
Markets. If your area has a market, then go there and look around for anything good. You could buy it there if it’s cheap enough, or try to make friends with the market traders and find out who their suppliers are.
Pawn shops. Pawn shops don’t usually know what to do with the junk they accumulate (unless it’s jewellery, of course). Generally, they put their stock out on the shelves haphazardly, hoping that someday someone with a little money will just happen to come in, search around and buy wildly obscure things. Get them to offer you a discount for bulk.
Real auctions. Go to a real auction, as the chances are that you can resell things for more than they will sell them. After all, they only have a few hundred people in that room – you have a few million to sell to!
Local newspapers. Place an ad in the local paper that reads “I pay cash for [your item type]”, with your phone number. If you can afford it, make it a big display ad, so it’ll be noticed.
Ad boards. Get one of those little ads in the grocery store.
Friends. Ask your friends if they have anything they’d like to sell you, and ask them to spread the word to their friends.
Become known. Give out business cards, mention to people what you do. The chances are that you’ll come across someone who’ll say “Oh, really? I’ve got a load of [item] I don’t want”.
Shops. This might be a little surprising, but some real shops even sell things more cheaply than they sell on eBay. Take a look around your local deep discounter, and pay special attention to any shop that takes trade-ins from customers. The chances are they take a loss on trade-ins as a promotion, and are dying to get rid of that stock.
And finally: eBay! When you’re looking at the completed items view, you’ll notice the massive range of prices that items can sell for on eBay. Try taking the highest-priced item and searching for it on its own, then sort by lowest price first: I can almost guarantee that you’ll see an auction for the same item where it sold for almost nothing. The trick is to find these flawed auctions before they close, win them using a bid sniping service, and then turn around and resell the item.
After all that trouble, though, when do sell the item you might find that a buyer leaves you a feedback rating you just don’t think is fair. The next email will show you what to do about it.
Garage sales. The chances are you’ve gone most of your life seeing ads for these and ignoring them. Start going to as many as you can. You won’t find good things at every one, but when you find one person with good stuff, make them an offer for the lot – they’ll be so happy about it that you can get a real bargain.
Markets. If your area has a market, then go there and look around for anything good. You could buy it there if it’s cheap enough, or try to make friends with the market traders and find out who their suppliers are.
Pawn shops. Pawn shops don’t usually know what to do with the junk they accumulate (unless it’s jewellery, of course). Generally, they put their stock out on the shelves haphazardly, hoping that someday someone with a little money will just happen to come in, search around and buy wildly obscure things. Get them to offer you a discount for bulk.
Real auctions. Go to a real auction, as the chances are that you can resell things for more than they will sell them. After all, they only have a few hundred people in that room – you have a few million to sell to!
Local newspapers. Place an ad in the local paper that reads “I pay cash for [your item type]”, with your phone number. If you can afford it, make it a big display ad, so it’ll be noticed.
Ad boards. Get one of those little ads in the grocery store.
Friends. Ask your friends if they have anything they’d like to sell you, and ask them to spread the word to their friends.
Become known. Give out business cards, mention to people what you do. The chances are that you’ll come across someone who’ll say “Oh, really? I’ve got a load of [item] I don’t want”.
Shops. This might be a little surprising, but some real shops even sell things more cheaply than they sell on eBay. Take a look around your local deep discounter, and pay special attention to any shop that takes trade-ins from customers. The chances are they take a loss on trade-ins as a promotion, and are dying to get rid of that stock.
And finally: eBay! When you’re looking at the completed items view, you’ll notice the massive range of prices that items can sell for on eBay. Try taking the highest-priced item and searching for it on its own, then sort by lowest price first: I can almost guarantee that you’ll see an auction for the same item where it sold for almost nothing. The trick is to find these flawed auctions before they close, win them using a bid sniping service, and then turn around and resell the item.
After all that trouble, though, when do sell the item you might find that a buyer leaves you a feedback rating you just don’t think is fair. The next email will show you what to do about it.
9 Reasons To Do Joint Venture Deals On eBay
eBay is THE most popular home business in the USA, but it's not without its problems. Many have tried to succeed but have failed due to confusion over what products to sell, giant numbers of competitors, copy and picture theft from other sellers and eBay and Paypal that eat into profits.
One way to avoid this swamp, though, is to do a Joint Venture with established eBay sellers. This allows a JV partner to build her own mailing list and sell products off eBay.
There are multiple advantages to this way of doing business on eBay:
1. The biggest uncertainty for would-be eBay sellers is what products to sell. Sometimes vendors risk large sums of money on untried products, only to lose their investment, become sour and give up. With a Joint Venture there is no risk except for a few hours of time.
2. Since there are no auctions listed on eBay, no one can steal copy or pictures from JV sellers - because there is nothing to copy. In effect, we become invisible - no one even knows we exist and this hidden aspect has many advantages.
3. eBay JVs are usually done with a digital product that can be instantly downloaded. This is great for any entrepreneur because inexpensive autoresponders mean that her entire business is handled via autopilot. Contrast this with the usual way of doing business on eBay which involves mailing dozens, hundreds or even thousands of boxes.
4. eBay and Paypal have lots of rules. It's easy to break some unwittingly, and even the most honest seller does so from time to time. A JV merchant isn't answerable to eBay, however, but only to her customers.
5. A JV seller never directly lists on eBay, thus avoiding eBay and Paypal fees.
6. Successful Powersellers have large numbers of customers and there are lots of administrative details involved. Implementing a sales system can cost time and money because without attention to detail packages won't be mailed in a timely fashion, payments won't be accurate, items will be sent to the wrong buyers, and so on. A JV partner eliminates all of that because all transactions can be funneled through a hands-off system.
7. eBay selling lives or dies through the 'feedback' system. Negative feedback can kill sales instantly and lack of feedback causes buyers to hesitite and choose other sellers. Feedback is totally irrelevant to a Joint Venture seller because she is using the reputation of carefully chosen other sellers. She knows in advance that their feedback is high quality or she doesn't do deals with them.
8. Inexperienced sellers sometimes drag wiser merchants into price wars. In a panic over sales, they foolishly slash prices, beginning a chain reaction that results in bare bones bids that allow no one to make any money. A Joint Venture seller floats serenely above such hiccups in the marketplace.
9. Best of all, a JV seller doesn't settle for a one time sale. She concentrates her efforts on a mailing list of happy customers that she can sell to again and again and again. In this way, not only is she ensuring repeate profits, but she gets paid for creating this list, rather than having to pay someone else for names.
With its 147,000,000 registered users, eBay is the best source of targeted, Net-savvy buyers on the web. By putting together Joint Venture deals with established sellers, anyone can add large numbers of qualified buyers to their database efficiently and inexpensively.
One way to avoid this swamp, though, is to do a Joint Venture with established eBay sellers. This allows a JV partner to build her own mailing list and sell products off eBay.
There are multiple advantages to this way of doing business on eBay:
1. The biggest uncertainty for would-be eBay sellers is what products to sell. Sometimes vendors risk large sums of money on untried products, only to lose their investment, become sour and give up. With a Joint Venture there is no risk except for a few hours of time.
2. Since there are no auctions listed on eBay, no one can steal copy or pictures from JV sellers - because there is nothing to copy. In effect, we become invisible - no one even knows we exist and this hidden aspect has many advantages.
3. eBay JVs are usually done with a digital product that can be instantly downloaded. This is great for any entrepreneur because inexpensive autoresponders mean that her entire business is handled via autopilot. Contrast this with the usual way of doing business on eBay which involves mailing dozens, hundreds or even thousands of boxes.
4. eBay and Paypal have lots of rules. It's easy to break some unwittingly, and even the most honest seller does so from time to time. A JV merchant isn't answerable to eBay, however, but only to her customers.
5. A JV seller never directly lists on eBay, thus avoiding eBay and Paypal fees.
6. Successful Powersellers have large numbers of customers and there are lots of administrative details involved. Implementing a sales system can cost time and money because without attention to detail packages won't be mailed in a timely fashion, payments won't be accurate, items will be sent to the wrong buyers, and so on. A JV partner eliminates all of that because all transactions can be funneled through a hands-off system.
7. eBay selling lives or dies through the 'feedback' system. Negative feedback can kill sales instantly and lack of feedback causes buyers to hesitite and choose other sellers. Feedback is totally irrelevant to a Joint Venture seller because she is using the reputation of carefully chosen other sellers. She knows in advance that their feedback is high quality or she doesn't do deals with them.
8. Inexperienced sellers sometimes drag wiser merchants into price wars. In a panic over sales, they foolishly slash prices, beginning a chain reaction that results in bare bones bids that allow no one to make any money. A Joint Venture seller floats serenely above such hiccups in the marketplace.
9. Best of all, a JV seller doesn't settle for a one time sale. She concentrates her efforts on a mailing list of happy customers that she can sell to again and again and again. In this way, not only is she ensuring repeate profits, but she gets paid for creating this list, rather than having to pay someone else for names.
With its 147,000,000 registered users, eBay is the best source of targeted, Net-savvy buyers on the web. By putting together Joint Venture deals with established sellers, anyone can add large numbers of qualified buyers to their database efficiently and inexpensively.
7 Ways To Outsell Other Ebook Resellers On Ebay
How would you like to have your car payment or mortgage paid for? Or perhaps you would like to quit your job and work part time from the comfort of your home?
Whatever your dreams are, selling ebooks and software with resell or master resell rights can help make them a reality! But what if you are not a savvy internet marketer? Well, eBay is an easy and great place to start. It is also a great source of supplemental income even for seasoned resell rights marketers.
But, with increased competition on eBay among ebook resellers, an effective strategy is a must have to continue to grow your ebook business effectively. Don’t ever let the seemingly low prices and the thought of resell rights saturation discourage you from reaping large financial rewards. I have been selling ebooks and software on eBay for 3 years now and have developed and refined 7 tried and true tactics that will allow you to resale ebooks for up to 10 times the price of your competition.
The secret is in the listing title! Below are 7 ways to maximize your traffic, conversion and profit using smart listing strategies.
1. Keyword Rich Listing Title
This tip is not unknown but is still rarely used. Most people who sell ebooks with resell rights simply list their item on eBay using the “actual name” of the product for the listing title.
For example, “James Jackson's Giveaway Gold” is listed by many sellers by it’s title. In reality this is an ebook on how to build your email list. If you were looking for a guide on how to build your mailing list would you type in “James Jackson’s Giveaway Gold?“ Not if you have never heard of such an ebook! It should be listed as “Build Create Make Your Mailing Email List”. This would be a wise use of relevant keywords and phrases which will bring in the greatest amount of traffic to that listing. You can find these targeted keywords with a free keyword search tool.
2. Understand What You Are Selling
If you don’t know what you are selling how can you give it a proper listing title? Be sure to read the sales page that it comes with. Often times you can find useful keywords and phrases in the sales page that will help you list it correctly.
3. Check Out Your Competitor’s Listing Titles
Do this before you pick your listing title. As you start writing down possible keywords and phrases to use in your title, cross check them on eBay to see if any other of the same products pull up. Be sure to choose the keywords and phrases that give you the fewest competitors.
4. Use Misspellings To Your Advantage
People’s inability to spell means money for you. For example, a product that has to do with “Google Adsense” can also be written as “Google Ad Sense,” or even Goggle Adsense.”
5. Cross Positioning
A great example of this would be having an ebook on coin collecting but listing it as coin collecting with metal detector. There may be nothing in your ebook on metal detectors but no doubt anyone who pulls up metal detectors will see your ebook on coins and bingo, you just created a niche listing with no competitors.
6. Name Recognition Tie In
This is a great way to pull in brand name recognition traffic even though you aren’t selling the product with the name. An example of this would be if you were selling an ebook on how to create a pay per click search engine. You could list the title as something like “Make A Pay Per Click Search Engine Like Google Adwords.”
Another benefit to using all 6 of these techniques is that often times the resellers won’t find you very easily. Resellers will be looking at other resellers and trying to copy their titles while undercutting their listing price. Because most of them are looking for the actual name of the product, you will be virtually invisible to them.
7. Put Your Ebook On CD
Now that you have positioned yourself on eBay away from the rest, burn your ebooks to CD. Why on a CD? You can increase the price as well as charge shipping and handling. You can easily charge $4.99 for shipping when in fact it costs less than half that to pay for the CD and shipping materials.
There you have it. Now you can be the ebook reseller you have always wanted to be and start pulling in easy cash, the smart way!
Whatever your dreams are, selling ebooks and software with resell or master resell rights can help make them a reality! But what if you are not a savvy internet marketer? Well, eBay is an easy and great place to start. It is also a great source of supplemental income even for seasoned resell rights marketers.
But, with increased competition on eBay among ebook resellers, an effective strategy is a must have to continue to grow your ebook business effectively. Don’t ever let the seemingly low prices and the thought of resell rights saturation discourage you from reaping large financial rewards. I have been selling ebooks and software on eBay for 3 years now and have developed and refined 7 tried and true tactics that will allow you to resale ebooks for up to 10 times the price of your competition.
The secret is in the listing title! Below are 7 ways to maximize your traffic, conversion and profit using smart listing strategies.
1. Keyword Rich Listing Title
This tip is not unknown but is still rarely used. Most people who sell ebooks with resell rights simply list their item on eBay using the “actual name” of the product for the listing title.
For example, “James Jackson's Giveaway Gold” is listed by many sellers by it’s title. In reality this is an ebook on how to build your email list. If you were looking for a guide on how to build your mailing list would you type in “James Jackson’s Giveaway Gold?“ Not if you have never heard of such an ebook! It should be listed as “Build Create Make Your Mailing Email List”. This would be a wise use of relevant keywords and phrases which will bring in the greatest amount of traffic to that listing. You can find these targeted keywords with a free keyword search tool.
2. Understand What You Are Selling
If you don’t know what you are selling how can you give it a proper listing title? Be sure to read the sales page that it comes with. Often times you can find useful keywords and phrases in the sales page that will help you list it correctly.
3. Check Out Your Competitor’s Listing Titles
Do this before you pick your listing title. As you start writing down possible keywords and phrases to use in your title, cross check them on eBay to see if any other of the same products pull up. Be sure to choose the keywords and phrases that give you the fewest competitors.
4. Use Misspellings To Your Advantage
People’s inability to spell means money for you. For example, a product that has to do with “Google Adsense” can also be written as “Google Ad Sense,” or even Goggle Adsense.”
5. Cross Positioning
A great example of this would be having an ebook on coin collecting but listing it as coin collecting with metal detector. There may be nothing in your ebook on metal detectors but no doubt anyone who pulls up metal detectors will see your ebook on coins and bingo, you just created a niche listing with no competitors.
6. Name Recognition Tie In
This is a great way to pull in brand name recognition traffic even though you aren’t selling the product with the name. An example of this would be if you were selling an ebook on how to create a pay per click search engine. You could list the title as something like “Make A Pay Per Click Search Engine Like Google Adwords.”
Another benefit to using all 6 of these techniques is that often times the resellers won’t find you very easily. Resellers will be looking at other resellers and trying to copy their titles while undercutting their listing price. Because most of them are looking for the actual name of the product, you will be virtually invisible to them.
7. Put Your Ebook On CD
Now that you have positioned yourself on eBay away from the rest, burn your ebooks to CD. Why on a CD? You can increase the price as well as charge shipping and handling. You can easily charge $4.99 for shipping when in fact it costs less than half that to pay for the CD and shipping materials.
There you have it. Now you can be the ebook reseller you have always wanted to be and start pulling in easy cash, the smart way!
7 Ways To Enhance High Priced Items On Ebay
Just like any eBay auction, you as the seller must have a powerful listing with attention-grabbing photos. It does not matter what type of object you want to sell. If potential buyers see it well presented on eBay, the chances of a sale only increase.
1) Price
Always decide the lowest possible amount you will accept for each object and set that price as the reserve. Make your opening bid as low as possible. If you foolishly start the bid at the price of the object, there is no doubt that you will lose customers. Keep in mind that people shop on eBay because that is where they want to get items very cheap. It does not take a rocket scientist to understand this method. That is just how business is done on eBay.
2) Shipping
In order to keep everyone protected, you should insist that the potential buyer purchases shipping insurance. Try very hard not to make this a simple little option to be brushed off. You do not want to be held responsible if there is a problem getting a high priced item to the buyer. Stop and look everything over twice if the buyer does not want insurance.
3) Item Packing
Use a significant amount of space on your auction listing that explains how you will pack your item and send it. This is of major importance because the potential buyer wants to make sure that they will receive the item in excellent condition. If you say in your listing that it will be delivered in excellent condition, then they expect it that way. A buyer who wants a high priced item will always be thinking of the problems in case they receive a damaged item. You need to ensure them that they will get the item the same way it is presented on eBay.
4) Quality
Do everything in your power to prove that your item is of the best quality, or in other words, genuine. This one aspect could mean the difference between a sale and a dead item. A few questions to ask yourself as the seller are, is the object in the original package?, is it labeled correctly?, and are there any markings on the item? Be sure to take pictures of the item at all angles in and out of the package to ensure it is genuine.
5) Satisfaction Guarantee
This tip is another one of all time importance. Be sure to give the buyer a “satisfaction guarantee” type notice. Any buyer that is bidding on a high priced item will want to be able to send it back in the event that that they are unsatisfied or if the item is defective in any way. If someone is not satisfied and sends your item back, there is a high probability that it will be broken. This step will build credibility to you as the seller and will hopefully result in more future sales.
6) International Shipping
If you are planning on shipping worldwide, you will need to take special steps to protect yourself. Many countries outside the United States are full of fraudulent buyers. Be sure that you have insurance for yourself and do some research on the area you will be shipping to. If you need help with this part, eBay will provide services to help you out.
7) Escrow Service
With a high priced item, you should always offer the option of an escrow service. Charge the buyer the extra fee in case they want it. Even if they do not want it, keep it available as an option. As the seller, you already know the item is legitimate; however, the potential buyer is not so sure.
1) Price
Always decide the lowest possible amount you will accept for each object and set that price as the reserve. Make your opening bid as low as possible. If you foolishly start the bid at the price of the object, there is no doubt that you will lose customers. Keep in mind that people shop on eBay because that is where they want to get items very cheap. It does not take a rocket scientist to understand this method. That is just how business is done on eBay.
2) Shipping
In order to keep everyone protected, you should insist that the potential buyer purchases shipping insurance. Try very hard not to make this a simple little option to be brushed off. You do not want to be held responsible if there is a problem getting a high priced item to the buyer. Stop and look everything over twice if the buyer does not want insurance.
3) Item Packing
Use a significant amount of space on your auction listing that explains how you will pack your item and send it. This is of major importance because the potential buyer wants to make sure that they will receive the item in excellent condition. If you say in your listing that it will be delivered in excellent condition, then they expect it that way. A buyer who wants a high priced item will always be thinking of the problems in case they receive a damaged item. You need to ensure them that they will get the item the same way it is presented on eBay.
4) Quality
Do everything in your power to prove that your item is of the best quality, or in other words, genuine. This one aspect could mean the difference between a sale and a dead item. A few questions to ask yourself as the seller are, is the object in the original package?, is it labeled correctly?, and are there any markings on the item? Be sure to take pictures of the item at all angles in and out of the package to ensure it is genuine.
5) Satisfaction Guarantee
This tip is another one of all time importance. Be sure to give the buyer a “satisfaction guarantee” type notice. Any buyer that is bidding on a high priced item will want to be able to send it back in the event that that they are unsatisfied or if the item is defective in any way. If someone is not satisfied and sends your item back, there is a high probability that it will be broken. This step will build credibility to you as the seller and will hopefully result in more future sales.
6) International Shipping
If you are planning on shipping worldwide, you will need to take special steps to protect yourself. Many countries outside the United States are full of fraudulent buyers. Be sure that you have insurance for yourself and do some research on the area you will be shipping to. If you need help with this part, eBay will provide services to help you out.
7) Escrow Service
With a high priced item, you should always offer the option of an escrow service. Charge the buyer the extra fee in case they want it. Even if they do not want it, keep it available as an option. As the seller, you already know the item is legitimate; however, the potential buyer is not so sure.
7 Tips for Selling Expensive Collectibles On eBay
Recently, a friend asked me to help her brother sell his collection on Lladro glass figurines on eBay. These are expensive glass collectibles and I knew nothing about them - but I don't have to. The principles for selling expensive collectibles on eBay are the same, regardless of what is being sold.
Obviously, like any eBay auction, the seller must have a powerful listing with great pictures. This is always true regardless of what the merchandise is. Expensive collectibles offer splendid opportunities, but also need special precautions.
1. Price: decide the lowest amount you will accept for each figurine and set that price as a reserve. Then make your opening bid absurdly low - yes, absurdly.
Example: if you will accept $1,000 - make your opening bid $25. There is no risk in this, because you don't have to sell unless the bidding reaches $1000, but the low price attracts buyers, (assuming there is demand, of course).
Looking at completed eBay auctions allows us to track prices, Again and again we learn that starting the price where the seller hopes it will end is not a wise tactic.
For instance, a seller wants to get $750 for his figurine. An opening bid of $750 won't attract nearly as many buyers as an opening bid of $25 and - surprisingly - the lower bid almost always gets higher prices. There is some psychology at work with the cheap price. It may not make logical sense, but it's the reality of life on eBay.
2. Devote space in your auction listing explaining how you will pack your item to ensure safe transit. This is critically important because in the back of every buyer's mind is the dread of receiving a package that rattles. A collectibles buyer will inevitably be thinking of the hassle she will have to go through - and the possible loss of purchase price - if her item is broken. She needs to know that the seller has carefully considered this issue and has a solution.
3. For the protection of both of you, insist that the buyer pay for appropriate insurance. Don't allow this to be an option. You definitely do not want the liability of a broken collectible that costs hundreds of dollars. In fact, if a customer objects to paying for insurance, this might possibly be a red flag. A genuine collector is very eager to add to her collection and wants her figurine to be protected.
4. We can safely assume that every Internet buyer has heard stories of fraud on eBay and elsewhere on the Net. Therefore, anything you can do to prove the authenticity of your collectible is well worth your time. Is there a marking on the bottom? Do you have the original box or other container? Does it have a label? Is there a certificate of authenticity or an appraisal by a respected organization? If the answer to any of these is "yes", then be certain to emphasize your authenticity in your auction. Taking pictures of your proof is especially effective.
5. I don't suggest offering a guarantee except in the most general way - that is, you, the seller, are telling the truth about the product. Anyone bidding on a collectible is knowledgeable and therefore they know what they're buying so there should be no reason for a return. If someone expresses dissatisfaction and mails your merchandise back, there is every likelihood of it being broken. You do not want the hassle of trying to collect on broken merchandise or putting yourself into a litigious situation with someone who refuses to believe that the collectible was broken via return shipping.
Also, you don't want to take a loss on your eBay fees, which might be substantial if the price is high.
6. With a really expensive item, always offer the option of an escrow service - at the buyer's expense, of course. They may not take want this service, but make certain they have the option. You, of course, know that your merchandise is legitimate, but the buyer isn't so certain. eBay recommends an escrow service that is available to all members.
7. If you're willing to ship worldwide, you need to take special steps to protect yourself. In the US we have AVS (Address Verification System) which offers some protection. A very large portion of the fraud suffered by buyers occurs outside the United States and you are justified in protecting yourself. Losing the purchase price on a $5 item isn't such a big deal - but a $1,000 collectible absolutely does matter.
Your bank can advise you on the time it will take to verify foreign funds. Be certain to let any prospective buyer know in your auction that there will be a delay if they are outside of your country. Do not let your merchandise out of your hands until you are sure!
If you follow these 'rules', the chances of selling your expensive collectibles at the highest possible prices will be greatly increased.
Obviously, like any eBay auction, the seller must have a powerful listing with great pictures. This is always true regardless of what the merchandise is. Expensive collectibles offer splendid opportunities, but also need special precautions.
1. Price: decide the lowest amount you will accept for each figurine and set that price as a reserve. Then make your opening bid absurdly low - yes, absurdly.
Example: if you will accept $1,000 - make your opening bid $25. There is no risk in this, because you don't have to sell unless the bidding reaches $1000, but the low price attracts buyers, (assuming there is demand, of course).
Looking at completed eBay auctions allows us to track prices, Again and again we learn that starting the price where the seller hopes it will end is not a wise tactic.
For instance, a seller wants to get $750 for his figurine. An opening bid of $750 won't attract nearly as many buyers as an opening bid of $25 and - surprisingly - the lower bid almost always gets higher prices. There is some psychology at work with the cheap price. It may not make logical sense, but it's the reality of life on eBay.
2. Devote space in your auction listing explaining how you will pack your item to ensure safe transit. This is critically important because in the back of every buyer's mind is the dread of receiving a package that rattles. A collectibles buyer will inevitably be thinking of the hassle she will have to go through - and the possible loss of purchase price - if her item is broken. She needs to know that the seller has carefully considered this issue and has a solution.
3. For the protection of both of you, insist that the buyer pay for appropriate insurance. Don't allow this to be an option. You definitely do not want the liability of a broken collectible that costs hundreds of dollars. In fact, if a customer objects to paying for insurance, this might possibly be a red flag. A genuine collector is very eager to add to her collection and wants her figurine to be protected.
4. We can safely assume that every Internet buyer has heard stories of fraud on eBay and elsewhere on the Net. Therefore, anything you can do to prove the authenticity of your collectible is well worth your time. Is there a marking on the bottom? Do you have the original box or other container? Does it have a label? Is there a certificate of authenticity or an appraisal by a respected organization? If the answer to any of these is "yes", then be certain to emphasize your authenticity in your auction. Taking pictures of your proof is especially effective.
5. I don't suggest offering a guarantee except in the most general way - that is, you, the seller, are telling the truth about the product. Anyone bidding on a collectible is knowledgeable and therefore they know what they're buying so there should be no reason for a return. If someone expresses dissatisfaction and mails your merchandise back, there is every likelihood of it being broken. You do not want the hassle of trying to collect on broken merchandise or putting yourself into a litigious situation with someone who refuses to believe that the collectible was broken via return shipping.
Also, you don't want to take a loss on your eBay fees, which might be substantial if the price is high.
6. With a really expensive item, always offer the option of an escrow service - at the buyer's expense, of course. They may not take want this service, but make certain they have the option. You, of course, know that your merchandise is legitimate, but the buyer isn't so certain. eBay recommends an escrow service that is available to all members.
7. If you're willing to ship worldwide, you need to take special steps to protect yourself. In the US we have AVS (Address Verification System) which offers some protection. A very large portion of the fraud suffered by buyers occurs outside the United States and you are justified in protecting yourself. Losing the purchase price on a $5 item isn't such a big deal - but a $1,000 collectible absolutely does matter.
Your bank can advise you on the time it will take to verify foreign funds. Be certain to let any prospective buyer know in your auction that there will be a delay if they are outside of your country. Do not let your merchandise out of your hands until you are sure!
If you follow these 'rules', the chances of selling your expensive collectibles at the highest possible prices will be greatly increased.
5 Tips To Protect Yourself From Ebay Scammers
Ebay is the world’s largest marketplace with millions of dollars of transactions taking place every day. As such it also attracts a fair number of unwanted personnel, ebay scammers.
Here are a few tips you should note when buying and selling on ebay to avoid falling into the traps set by ebay scammers
1) Payment Terms
Whether you are selling or buying anything on ebay, never agree to use Western Union or Money Gram for your transaction. It has been proven unsafe by numerous ebay users and it is also against ebay’s safe payment policy.
2) Beware of Phishing
Phishing is when someone sends you a spoofed email asking for your personal details usually from a recognized company or authority. Usually, they will have a link asking you to submit your details on that webpage.
Do not submit any personal information regarding your ebay login account through it. If you are not sure whether it is authentic, call ebay and asked whether an email was sent to you. In all my years with ebay, they have never me an email asking to verify my ebay account login or credit card details or any of that sort. This also applies for Paypal.
3) Monitor Your Ebay Account
You need to monitor your ebay account closely for any suspicious activity. Examples may be any feedback left, transactions closed, auctions you have listed
Without your knowledge. Inform ebay the moment you suspected your ebay account is being compromised.
4) Second Chance Offers
This seems to be the new favorite scam with ebay scammers and I’ve seen a couple of them. If you receive a second chance offer for an item you recently bid, check it is from your ebay Messages inbox with the title “ebay Second Chance Offer for …”If it is, it is authentic. If the email is not in your ebay message inbox or the email title is different, then chances are it is from an ebay scammer. If you are not sure, contact ebay and ask to verify it.
5) Ebay Toolbar and PayPal SafetyBar
Ebay provides a toolbar which can determine whether you are on a legitimate ebay or paypal site. My advise is to install it since it’s free. Paypal Safetybar can also detect scam emails in your inbox
By Following the five points above, you will reduce your chances of being scammed by a ebay con artist.
Here are a few tips you should note when buying and selling on ebay to avoid falling into the traps set by ebay scammers
1) Payment Terms
Whether you are selling or buying anything on ebay, never agree to use Western Union or Money Gram for your transaction. It has been proven unsafe by numerous ebay users and it is also against ebay’s safe payment policy.
2) Beware of Phishing
Phishing is when someone sends you a spoofed email asking for your personal details usually from a recognized company or authority. Usually, they will have a link asking you to submit your details on that webpage.
Do not submit any personal information regarding your ebay login account through it. If you are not sure whether it is authentic, call ebay and asked whether an email was sent to you. In all my years with ebay, they have never me an email asking to verify my ebay account login or credit card details or any of that sort. This also applies for Paypal.
3) Monitor Your Ebay Account
You need to monitor your ebay account closely for any suspicious activity. Examples may be any feedback left, transactions closed, auctions you have listed
Without your knowledge. Inform ebay the moment you suspected your ebay account is being compromised.
4) Second Chance Offers
This seems to be the new favorite scam with ebay scammers and I’ve seen a couple of them. If you receive a second chance offer for an item you recently bid, check it is from your ebay Messages inbox with the title “ebay Second Chance Offer for …”If it is, it is authentic. If the email is not in your ebay message inbox or the email title is different, then chances are it is from an ebay scammer. If you are not sure, contact ebay and ask to verify it.
5) Ebay Toolbar and PayPal SafetyBar
Ebay provides a toolbar which can determine whether you are on a legitimate ebay or paypal site. My advise is to install it since it’s free. Paypal Safetybar can also detect scam emails in your inbox
By Following the five points above, you will reduce your chances of being scammed by a ebay con artist.
5 Tips To Buying Cars On Ebay Motors
There are many terrific benefits to buying cars on eBay Motors, including a price that the you get to determine, lower insurance and the absence of a car payment every month if you pay in full. If you plan on buying used cars on eBay Motors in the near future, here are several tips to make sure that the road to your new ride is a smooth one.
Buying Cars On eBay Motors Tip # 1
Check with your local automobile insurance agent before deciding on a specific used car. If the cost of auto insurance is an important deciding factor, you should be aware that SUVs will be more expensive than a car. Regardless, however, a used car will carry more affordable insurance than a new one of the same model and make.
Buying Cars On eBay Motors Tip # 2
Request a CarFax report. This information is available for a reasonable fee and includes information regarding the car’s history, including whether or not it has been flooded or if it has ever been involved in any type of accident. In addition, the number of previous owners and whether or not the title is clear should also be included in a CarFax report.
Buying Cars On eBay Motors Tip # 3
Check out the car’s value with Kelly Blue Book. This source is one of the most trusted when it comes to providing new or used car values. By entering certain information into the website, car shoppers can learn what that particular automobile should be sold for. This can help potential buyers realize whether or not they are getting a good deal.
Buying Cars On eBay Motors Tip # 4
Consider gas mileage. An SUV will typically use more gasoline than a compact car, which is important if the cost of fuel is a major deciding factor in your purchase.
Buying Cars On eBay Motors Tip # 5
Select a used car with as little mileage as possible. This should mean that the car has a longer life and hasn’t been used excessively.
And finally, when buying cars on eBay Motors, make sure that the automobile you choose is one that fits your lifestyle. For example, a family would likely be more comfortable in a van or SUV, while a single person or a married couple may be perfectly happy with a compact car. The design of an automobile that you may consider buying on eBay Motors will ultimately depend on your intended use and how many are in your family that will be riding along at the same time.
Buying Cars On eBay Motors Tip # 1
Check with your local automobile insurance agent before deciding on a specific used car. If the cost of auto insurance is an important deciding factor, you should be aware that SUVs will be more expensive than a car. Regardless, however, a used car will carry more affordable insurance than a new one of the same model and make.
Buying Cars On eBay Motors Tip # 2
Request a CarFax report. This information is available for a reasonable fee and includes information regarding the car’s history, including whether or not it has been flooded or if it has ever been involved in any type of accident. In addition, the number of previous owners and whether or not the title is clear should also be included in a CarFax report.
Buying Cars On eBay Motors Tip # 3
Check out the car’s value with Kelly Blue Book. This source is one of the most trusted when it comes to providing new or used car values. By entering certain information into the website, car shoppers can learn what that particular automobile should be sold for. This can help potential buyers realize whether or not they are getting a good deal.
Buying Cars On eBay Motors Tip # 4
Consider gas mileage. An SUV will typically use more gasoline than a compact car, which is important if the cost of fuel is a major deciding factor in your purchase.
Buying Cars On eBay Motors Tip # 5
Select a used car with as little mileage as possible. This should mean that the car has a longer life and hasn’t been used excessively.
And finally, when buying cars on eBay Motors, make sure that the automobile you choose is one that fits your lifestyle. For example, a family would likely be more comfortable in a van or SUV, while a single person or a married couple may be perfectly happy with a compact car. The design of an automobile that you may consider buying on eBay Motors will ultimately depend on your intended use and how many are in your family that will be riding along at the same time.
5 Simple Steps To Posting Your First Ebay Auction.
It’s surprisingly simple to get started posting your very first auction on eBay. Here’s what you need to do.
Step 1: Open an eBay seller’s account.
If you’ve bought things on eBay, then you already have an account – just log in with it and click ‘Sell’ in the toolbar at the top of the page, then click ‘Create a seller’s account’. If you’ve never used eBay before, then you’ll need to open an account first using the ‘register’ link underneath the toolbar, and then click ‘Sell’ and ‘Create a seller’s account’. The eBay site will then guide you through the process. For security, this may involve giving card details and bank information.
Step 2: Decide what to sell.
For your first little experiment with eBay, it doesn’t really matter what you sell. Take a look around the room you’re in – I’m sure there’s something in there that you’re not all that attached to and could put in the post. Small books and CDs are ideal first items.
Step 3: Submit your item.
Click ‘Sell’, and you’re on your way to listing your item.
The first thing you need to do is choose a category – it’s best to just type in what the item is and let eBay choose for you. Next, write a title and description. Include key words you think people will search for in the title box, and all the information you have about the item in the description box.
Now set a starting price. $0.01 is the best starting price, as it draws people in to bid who otherwise wouldn’t, and items will almost never finish at such a low price. The next thing to set is the duration of the auction: 3, 5, 7 or 10 days. This is up to you: longer sales will usually get more bids, but will also seem to drag on forever. If you’ve taken a picture, add it now – items with pictures always sell for more. Finally, tick the payment methods you will accept (just PayPal is best for now), and where you will post to (limit yourself to your own country to begin with). Submit and you’re done!
Step 4: Wait for it to sell.
This is just a matter of sitting back and letting eBay do its thing – buyers will find your item and leave bids on it. Some bidders might email you with questions about the item, and you should do your best to answer these questions as quickly as you can.
Remember that if your item doesn’t sell then you can list it again for free.
Step 5: Collect payment and post it.
eBay will sent your buyer emails guiding them through the process of sending you payment for the item. Make sure you have the money before you send anything.
Once you’ve got the payment, all you need to do is pack the item for posting (make sure to use some bubble wrap), take the buyer’s address from the confirmation email eBay sent you, and write it on the parcel. Put some stamps on, post it, and you’re done!
I hope you enjoyed selling your first item. Now that you’re starting to get into it, the next email will give you a checklist of things you need to do to be a successful seller.
Step 1: Open an eBay seller’s account.
If you’ve bought things on eBay, then you already have an account – just log in with it and click ‘Sell’ in the toolbar at the top of the page, then click ‘Create a seller’s account’. If you’ve never used eBay before, then you’ll need to open an account first using the ‘register’ link underneath the toolbar, and then click ‘Sell’ and ‘Create a seller’s account’. The eBay site will then guide you through the process. For security, this may involve giving card details and bank information.
Step 2: Decide what to sell.
For your first little experiment with eBay, it doesn’t really matter what you sell. Take a look around the room you’re in – I’m sure there’s something in there that you’re not all that attached to and could put in the post. Small books and CDs are ideal first items.
Step 3: Submit your item.
Click ‘Sell’, and you’re on your way to listing your item.
The first thing you need to do is choose a category – it’s best to just type in what the item is and let eBay choose for you. Next, write a title and description. Include key words you think people will search for in the title box, and all the information you have about the item in the description box.
Now set a starting price. $0.01 is the best starting price, as it draws people in to bid who otherwise wouldn’t, and items will almost never finish at such a low price. The next thing to set is the duration of the auction: 3, 5, 7 or 10 days. This is up to you: longer sales will usually get more bids, but will also seem to drag on forever. If you’ve taken a picture, add it now – items with pictures always sell for more. Finally, tick the payment methods you will accept (just PayPal is best for now), and where you will post to (limit yourself to your own country to begin with). Submit and you’re done!
Step 4: Wait for it to sell.
This is just a matter of sitting back and letting eBay do its thing – buyers will find your item and leave bids on it. Some bidders might email you with questions about the item, and you should do your best to answer these questions as quickly as you can.
Remember that if your item doesn’t sell then you can list it again for free.
Step 5: Collect payment and post it.
eBay will sent your buyer emails guiding them through the process of sending you payment for the item. Make sure you have the money before you send anything.
Once you’ve got the payment, all you need to do is pack the item for posting (make sure to use some bubble wrap), take the buyer’s address from the confirmation email eBay sent you, and write it on the parcel. Put some stamps on, post it, and you’re done!
I hope you enjoyed selling your first item. Now that you’re starting to get into it, the next email will give you a checklist of things you need to do to be a successful seller.
5 eBay Selling Tips for Newbies
I’m directing this article to those who are just starting their eBay Selling Venture. Whether you’re selling books, DVDs, CDs, collectibles or clothing, all things (with the exception of eBooks and services) need to be mailed. And it’s the postage, handling fees and mailing that seems to cause a great deal of angst among new sellers.
You’ve heard the advice – don’t overcharge for shipping. That is very good advice, indeed, as nothing turns off potential buyers like sellers who gouge you on the shipping costs. It’s also a practice that can rack up bad feedback.
However, I’m going to play Devil’s Advocate here and suggest that you don’t go overboard and give so much of a break on shipping that you’re chipping away at your profits. It’s good to remember the “hidden costs” of shipping: bubble wrap to secure your breakables, tape, shipping envelopes, boxes, etc. Then there’s the gas you put in your car to take all those trips to the post office.
You might think I’m being cheap, but, if you added up all your eBay expenses for the year (as some did for their recent taxes) you might be shocked to see how all the packing materials and gas for your car added up and took a little chunk out of your eBay profits. And, believe me, they do add up.
Some people are even more surprised to find they underestimated the weight of their packages, causing their profits to shrink even further.
How can you be fair to both you and your buyers?
1. Buy a scale. It may sound simple, but purchasing a scale can save you a bundle in shipping. If you’re just eyeballing the weight of the package, you can often times guess too low, and be in for quite a shock when you go to the post office and see the package is going to cost twice what you thought to ship.
2. Know the dimensions of your packaging before listing the item. Some packages cost more to ship because of their dimensions. Knowing the weight alone isn’t enough.
3. Offer the buyer a variety of shipping methods. Some prefer speedy delivery with Express mailing, while some prefer to save money with parcel post even though the wait is longer. It’s always a good idea when using parcel post or other slower ground shipping to alert the buyer by email that it can take anywhere from 8 to 10 days.
4. Save yourself money whenever possible by using boxes that have been used. Most stores are more than happy to let you rummage through their old boxes and take some home with you. But, do remember to choose boxes that are presentable, secure and strong enough for your items. And, if you have breakables, don’t skimp on the bubble wrap.
5. Give yourself a small handling fee that will cover your expenses. Some sellers add on an additional $1 or $2 to the shipping fees for their handling fees (depending on the cost of the item and how much packaging you have to use). I really advocate doing this because your expenses will add up if you do a lot of selling on eBay. Be sure to be upfront with your buyers that you have a small handling fee so they can’t complain about it later.
Being fair to both yourself and your buyer will keep you both happy, and keep more of your profit in your pocket.
You’ve heard the advice – don’t overcharge for shipping. That is very good advice, indeed, as nothing turns off potential buyers like sellers who gouge you on the shipping costs. It’s also a practice that can rack up bad feedback.
However, I’m going to play Devil’s Advocate here and suggest that you don’t go overboard and give so much of a break on shipping that you’re chipping away at your profits. It’s good to remember the “hidden costs” of shipping: bubble wrap to secure your breakables, tape, shipping envelopes, boxes, etc. Then there’s the gas you put in your car to take all those trips to the post office.
You might think I’m being cheap, but, if you added up all your eBay expenses for the year (as some did for their recent taxes) you might be shocked to see how all the packing materials and gas for your car added up and took a little chunk out of your eBay profits. And, believe me, they do add up.
Some people are even more surprised to find they underestimated the weight of their packages, causing their profits to shrink even further.
How can you be fair to both you and your buyers?
1. Buy a scale. It may sound simple, but purchasing a scale can save you a bundle in shipping. If you’re just eyeballing the weight of the package, you can often times guess too low, and be in for quite a shock when you go to the post office and see the package is going to cost twice what you thought to ship.
2. Know the dimensions of your packaging before listing the item. Some packages cost more to ship because of their dimensions. Knowing the weight alone isn’t enough.
3. Offer the buyer a variety of shipping methods. Some prefer speedy delivery with Express mailing, while some prefer to save money with parcel post even though the wait is longer. It’s always a good idea when using parcel post or other slower ground shipping to alert the buyer by email that it can take anywhere from 8 to 10 days.
4. Save yourself money whenever possible by using boxes that have been used. Most stores are more than happy to let you rummage through their old boxes and take some home with you. But, do remember to choose boxes that are presentable, secure and strong enough for your items. And, if you have breakables, don’t skimp on the bubble wrap.
5. Give yourself a small handling fee that will cover your expenses. Some sellers add on an additional $1 or $2 to the shipping fees for their handling fees (depending on the cost of the item and how much packaging you have to use). I really advocate doing this because your expenses will add up if you do a lot of selling on eBay. Be sure to be upfront with your buyers that you have a small handling fee so they can’t complain about it later.
Being fair to both yourself and your buyer will keep you both happy, and keep more of your profit in your pocket.
5 Easy Ways To Make Money On eBay
As the editor of the UK Auctionline Newsletter I receive a great number of e-mails from subscribers. Frequently the question they ask is, “Please tell me an easy way to make money on eBay.” I suppose the answer to this question really revolves around how you define the term easy.
It is my belief that there is no easier way to make money on the Internet than by selling items through eBay. What could be simpler, a straight forward 5 step process.
1. Get something to sell.
2. Photograph it, and write a description.
3. Upload your listing to eBay.
4. Collect your money.
5. Dispatch the item.
What could be simpler than that?
But I suspect what people are really asking is how can I easily get products to sell. From my experience this is what both newcomers and some experienced eBayers find difficult. So in this article I just want to highlight 5 very simple ways that you can get products to sell without even leaving your computer. This I hope that will be easy enough for everyone.
1. What, no photograph?
It is my belief that there is hardly an item listed on eBay or any of the other online auctions that does not benefit from having a photograph or image included in the listing. In fact most items that are listed without a photograph that actually sell tend to fetch 20% less than those with. In some categories the figures are even higher. For instance clothing items offered without a photograph average a 78% lower selling price than those with. So it would seem to be pretty easy to browse eBay looking for these “photo less” items, buying them and then relisting with a photograph. Money for old rope really.
2. Finding the poorly listed item.
There are many reasons why someone’s listing fails to attract any worthwhile bids. Bad title, short or poor description, wrong category, poor spelling and so on. You can find these by browsing around the auction site, but I would suggest an easier method.
Select the categories that you are interested in and look down the search feature for items finishing within the next hour. Here is where you will find the bargains that have failed to attract any bids for the reasons we have mentioned.
3. Unsocial hours
In any book about eBay you will find tips on when is the best time for auctions to finish. The most suggested times for most items are Sunday afternoon and evenings and Wednesday evenings. Some experts suggest that for business related items Monday or Tuesday during office hours are best. If you accept that there are times when you will get increased bids for your items there must also be times when if your auction ends you will not do so well. I would think if you have an auction that finishes between say 5 am and 8 am on a Monday morning you will not have too many people lurking to place last minute bids to push the price up. Again buy and relist with your auction set to finish at a more sociable time and you could easily make a 20% or more profit for very little effort.
4. Buy Collections
One of the easiest ways to make money on eBay is to cash in on other peoples laziness. If someone has say a collection of 10 china dogs, it is a fact that if they put all ten in one listing as a collection they will get less than if they had listed each item separately. But it is amazing how many sellers cannot be bothered to do this. I have in the past bought such a collection and actually made more from one of the items than I had paid for the whole collection.
5. Other online auctions.
Over 95% of all online auction sales are on eBay. They have the largest number of registered buyers and items listed for sale. For this reason items offered for sale on eBay get the best prices. So why not search around some of the smaller online auctions, because in many cases items listed with them will not attract such a good prices as could be achieved on eBay. Then all you have to do is buy from them and relist on eBay.
So there are 5 easy ideas for you to consider. Why not give some or all of them a try.
It is my belief that there is no easier way to make money on the Internet than by selling items through eBay. What could be simpler, a straight forward 5 step process.
1. Get something to sell.
2. Photograph it, and write a description.
3. Upload your listing to eBay.
4. Collect your money.
5. Dispatch the item.
What could be simpler than that?
But I suspect what people are really asking is how can I easily get products to sell. From my experience this is what both newcomers and some experienced eBayers find difficult. So in this article I just want to highlight 5 very simple ways that you can get products to sell without even leaving your computer. This I hope that will be easy enough for everyone.
1. What, no photograph?
It is my belief that there is hardly an item listed on eBay or any of the other online auctions that does not benefit from having a photograph or image included in the listing. In fact most items that are listed without a photograph that actually sell tend to fetch 20% less than those with. In some categories the figures are even higher. For instance clothing items offered without a photograph average a 78% lower selling price than those with. So it would seem to be pretty easy to browse eBay looking for these “photo less” items, buying them and then relisting with a photograph. Money for old rope really.
2. Finding the poorly listed item.
There are many reasons why someone’s listing fails to attract any worthwhile bids. Bad title, short or poor description, wrong category, poor spelling and so on. You can find these by browsing around the auction site, but I would suggest an easier method.
Select the categories that you are interested in and look down the search feature for items finishing within the next hour. Here is where you will find the bargains that have failed to attract any bids for the reasons we have mentioned.
3. Unsocial hours
In any book about eBay you will find tips on when is the best time for auctions to finish. The most suggested times for most items are Sunday afternoon and evenings and Wednesday evenings. Some experts suggest that for business related items Monday or Tuesday during office hours are best. If you accept that there are times when you will get increased bids for your items there must also be times when if your auction ends you will not do so well. I would think if you have an auction that finishes between say 5 am and 8 am on a Monday morning you will not have too many people lurking to place last minute bids to push the price up. Again buy and relist with your auction set to finish at a more sociable time and you could easily make a 20% or more profit for very little effort.
4. Buy Collections
One of the easiest ways to make money on eBay is to cash in on other peoples laziness. If someone has say a collection of 10 china dogs, it is a fact that if they put all ten in one listing as a collection they will get less than if they had listed each item separately. But it is amazing how many sellers cannot be bothered to do this. I have in the past bought such a collection and actually made more from one of the items than I had paid for the whole collection.
5. Other online auctions.
Over 95% of all online auction sales are on eBay. They have the largest number of registered buyers and items listed for sale. For this reason items offered for sale on eBay get the best prices. So why not search around some of the smaller online auctions, because in many cases items listed with them will not attract such a good prices as could be achieved on eBay. Then all you have to do is buy from them and relist on eBay.
So there are 5 easy ideas for you to consider. Why not give some or all of them a try.
4 Things You Never Knew About Ebay Auctions
This article is for every seller who hates the idea of their item selling for a lower price than they intend. Not everyone fully understands the many features on eBay. Here are the four different types of auctions you can use to sell your items.
1) Normal Auctions
These are by far the most popular on eBay. Almost everyone who has sold on eBay recognizes this format. You post an item, set up a bid for it, and wait for the customers to come to you.
2) Reserve Auctions
Reserve auctions are for sellers who do not want their items to sell for less than a certain price. They work just like normal auctions on eBay, except that the buyer will be told if their bid does not meet the reserve price previously set. If no one is willing to meet your price, then the auction is canceled, and you keep the item without any further charge.
3) Fixed Price Auctions
These auctions are only used when you want to sell an item for one fixed price only. You just simply add a Buy it now button to a normal auction. This shows that buyers can choose either to bid normally or to simply pay the asking price and avoid the whole bidding process. Some sellers just cut out the auction process altogether and simply list all their items at fixed price. This lets you avoid all the complications of the auction format and simply list your items for how much you want them to sell for.
Keep in mind that sometimes this will turn many buyers away. They will feel discouraged due to the fact that they cannot bid lower than the fixed price. In many instances the fixed price are much higher than they can afford.
Just recently eBay added a twist to fixed price auctions known as the best offer. This means that buyers can contact you in order to negotiate a price. The only downside to reserve and fixed price auctions is that you pay an extra small fee to use these formats.
4) Dutch Auctions
These are auctions where you can sell more than one of a certain item. Dutch auctions can be done by bidding. Potential buyers bid a price and say how many items they want. Afterwards, everyone pays the lowest price that was bid by one of the winning bidders. These auctions happen to be very rare due to the complications involved.
The more common issue is when a seller has a lot of one item and lists them using a combination of two auction types. These include Dutch and fixed price auction formats combines. You can just say how many of the items you have, and offer them at a fixed price per unit. Buyers can enter how many they want and click buy it now button to get them.
The eBay auction site has been a highly successful website in comparison to others. Just remember to pick the most appropriate auction format for your items.
1) Normal Auctions
These are by far the most popular on eBay. Almost everyone who has sold on eBay recognizes this format. You post an item, set up a bid for it, and wait for the customers to come to you.
2) Reserve Auctions
Reserve auctions are for sellers who do not want their items to sell for less than a certain price. They work just like normal auctions on eBay, except that the buyer will be told if their bid does not meet the reserve price previously set. If no one is willing to meet your price, then the auction is canceled, and you keep the item without any further charge.
3) Fixed Price Auctions
These auctions are only used when you want to sell an item for one fixed price only. You just simply add a Buy it now button to a normal auction. This shows that buyers can choose either to bid normally or to simply pay the asking price and avoid the whole bidding process. Some sellers just cut out the auction process altogether and simply list all their items at fixed price. This lets you avoid all the complications of the auction format and simply list your items for how much you want them to sell for.
Keep in mind that sometimes this will turn many buyers away. They will feel discouraged due to the fact that they cannot bid lower than the fixed price. In many instances the fixed price are much higher than they can afford.
Just recently eBay added a twist to fixed price auctions known as the best offer. This means that buyers can contact you in order to negotiate a price. The only downside to reserve and fixed price auctions is that you pay an extra small fee to use these formats.
4) Dutch Auctions
These are auctions where you can sell more than one of a certain item. Dutch auctions can be done by bidding. Potential buyers bid a price and say how many items they want. Afterwards, everyone pays the lowest price that was bid by one of the winning bidders. These auctions happen to be very rare due to the complications involved.
The more common issue is when a seller has a lot of one item and lists them using a combination of two auction types. These include Dutch and fixed price auction formats combines. You can just say how many of the items you have, and offer them at a fixed price per unit. Buyers can enter how many they want and click buy it now button to get them.
The eBay auction site has been a highly successful website in comparison to others. Just remember to pick the most appropriate auction format for your items.
4 Special rules for selling software on eBay.
Here are the various kinds of software that you're not allowed to sell on eBay, and how to spot them. You should always try installing used software before you sell it, as this might give you a few clues.
Computer software is one of the biggest sellers on eBay after all, everyone using eBay has a computer, don't they? There can be problems, however, if you try to sell certain kinds of software that eBay doesn't allow. Used software is a minefield, and you could end up buying something dodgy to resell without even realising it.
1.Pirate Software.
This one is reasonably obvious, but pirate software can be hard to spot. The biggest things to look out for are auctions that don't have pictures or only have pictures from catalogues, unrealistically low prices, and come with no manuals or documentation. Microsoft software comes with a Certificate of Authenticity, which you should check. Software that is on recordable media such as CD-RWs is usually pirated.
If you see software that offered for download only, it is often pirated but not always. Some small software developers allow download licenses for their software to be resold on sites like eBay. Type the name of the software into a search engine, and go to the manufacturer's site to check. Remember that software you download is very unlikely to come with resale rights, though.
2.Beta Software.
Beta software is pre-release software, issued by companies for testing purposes. Companies generally do not give permission for their beta software to be sold or redistributed, as it won't be as good as the final product. Do not buy anything that says it is beta, and return anything you receive that says beta or not for resale or distribution anywhere on the CD or during the install.
3.Academic Software.
Some companies sell special educational edition's or student license's for their software, which are designed to make it affordable to students and teachers. You can only sell this software if you are a licensed educational reseller for the company, and your buyers are educational users. Academic software will usually say somewhere on its CD or in its installation what it is.
4.OEM Software.
OEM stands for Original Equipment Manufacturer' this is software that is only supposed to be distributed with a new computer, as it came pre-installed on the computer. The licences for this software usually stop you from selling it without also selling any hardware. Look out for the message for sale with a new computer only, or similar. Note, though, that it's usually fine to bundle any OEM software you come across with computers that you sell on eBay.
If you sell any kind of software that isn't allowed, then eBay might shut down your auction, or your sellers might realise what they've bought and leave you bad feedback. It's not really worth the risk.
Computer software is one of the biggest sellers on eBay after all, everyone using eBay has a computer, don't they? There can be problems, however, if you try to sell certain kinds of software that eBay doesn't allow. Used software is a minefield, and you could end up buying something dodgy to resell without even realising it.
1.Pirate Software.
This one is reasonably obvious, but pirate software can be hard to spot. The biggest things to look out for are auctions that don't have pictures or only have pictures from catalogues, unrealistically low prices, and come with no manuals or documentation. Microsoft software comes with a Certificate of Authenticity, which you should check. Software that is on recordable media such as CD-RWs is usually pirated.
If you see software that offered for download only, it is often pirated but not always. Some small software developers allow download licenses for their software to be resold on sites like eBay. Type the name of the software into a search engine, and go to the manufacturer's site to check. Remember that software you download is very unlikely to come with resale rights, though.
2.Beta Software.
Beta software is pre-release software, issued by companies for testing purposes. Companies generally do not give permission for their beta software to be sold or redistributed, as it won't be as good as the final product. Do not buy anything that says it is beta, and return anything you receive that says beta or not for resale or distribution anywhere on the CD or during the install.
3.Academic Software.
Some companies sell special educational edition's or student license's for their software, which are designed to make it affordable to students and teachers. You can only sell this software if you are a licensed educational reseller for the company, and your buyers are educational users. Academic software will usually say somewhere on its CD or in its installation what it is.
4.OEM Software.
OEM stands for Original Equipment Manufacturer' this is software that is only supposed to be distributed with a new computer, as it came pre-installed on the computer. The licences for this software usually stop you from selling it without also selling any hardware. Look out for the message for sale with a new computer only, or similar. Note, though, that it's usually fine to bundle any OEM software you come across with computers that you sell on eBay.
If you sell any kind of software that isn't allowed, then eBay might shut down your auction, or your sellers might realise what they've bought and leave you bad feedback. It's not really worth the risk.
4 Secret Keys To Dominating Ebay
There is no doubt that eBay is packed with competition. Each day there are millions of dollars passing through that website into many accounts. If you follow these four tips, you will easily succeed and dominate the competition on eBay.
1) Try to get excellent feedback.
When you first sign up with eBay, you will have zero feedback. Most buyers will stay away from an eBay newbie with zero or very low feedback. Start building your feedback rating by selling personal items from around the house that you no longer want. This is a good way to get the feel of using eBay and to build positive feedback. You should invest in a good digital camera. Good clear pictures are an important selling feature on eBay. Remember to describe your items accurately and honestly. Do not try to trick or deceive buyers in any way. You really cannot afford receiving negative feedback this early in the game.
2) Do not lie about your auctions.
Do not ever use deception in your auctions or try to make money with shipping costs. If you treat your customers the way you expect to be treated you will never go wrong. You will certainly be well on your way to building a reputation as an honest future power seller.
3) Stay away from negative feedback.
If you happen to get a few bidders that do not pay, just simply resist the temptation to leave negative feedback for them. Leaving negative feedback will only result in possible retaliation by the non paying bidder and negative feedback for you.
Keep in mind that you do not want any negative feedback right now. Buying items off of eBay is another great way to build positive feedback. When you win an auction, pay for the item immediately. The result will be positive feedback for you. Most buyers will not care whether your feedback came as a result of buying or selling ,just as long as it is positive.
4) Do some research before making wholesale purchases.
After you have built a significant feedback rating, you should be ready to start purchasing wholesale merchandise to sell on eBay. If you have your eye on a particular item you think might sell on eBay, first do a search of that item to find out what people are bidding. If it looks great then it is probably a good deal for you. If it does not appear to be getting many bids, you should stay far from it.
You can also do an advanced search for auctions that have already ended. This is a great way to find out the final bid price for a particular item. A few extra minutes of research can save you from a giant headache down the road. It can also mean the difference between making money or not.
Remember that eBay is the largest auction site in the world. There are people who make a living selling and buying items. They will fight the competition in order the stay dominant. After following these simple tips, you too will easily dominate the competition.
1) Try to get excellent feedback.
When you first sign up with eBay, you will have zero feedback. Most buyers will stay away from an eBay newbie with zero or very low feedback. Start building your feedback rating by selling personal items from around the house that you no longer want. This is a good way to get the feel of using eBay and to build positive feedback. You should invest in a good digital camera. Good clear pictures are an important selling feature on eBay. Remember to describe your items accurately and honestly. Do not try to trick or deceive buyers in any way. You really cannot afford receiving negative feedback this early in the game.
2) Do not lie about your auctions.
Do not ever use deception in your auctions or try to make money with shipping costs. If you treat your customers the way you expect to be treated you will never go wrong. You will certainly be well on your way to building a reputation as an honest future power seller.
3) Stay away from negative feedback.
If you happen to get a few bidders that do not pay, just simply resist the temptation to leave negative feedback for them. Leaving negative feedback will only result in possible retaliation by the non paying bidder and negative feedback for you.
Keep in mind that you do not want any negative feedback right now. Buying items off of eBay is another great way to build positive feedback. When you win an auction, pay for the item immediately. The result will be positive feedback for you. Most buyers will not care whether your feedback came as a result of buying or selling ,just as long as it is positive.
4) Do some research before making wholesale purchases.
After you have built a significant feedback rating, you should be ready to start purchasing wholesale merchandise to sell on eBay. If you have your eye on a particular item you think might sell on eBay, first do a search of that item to find out what people are bidding. If it looks great then it is probably a good deal for you. If it does not appear to be getting many bids, you should stay far from it.
You can also do an advanced search for auctions that have already ended. This is a great way to find out the final bid price for a particular item. A few extra minutes of research can save you from a giant headache down the road. It can also mean the difference between making money or not.
Remember that eBay is the largest auction site in the world. There are people who make a living selling and buying items. They will fight the competition in order the stay dominant. After following these simple tips, you too will easily dominate the competition.
3 Tools For Product Sourcing On EBay - Using Seller Central
Summary:
You may have already discovered that selling on eBay can be fun and profitable. But after you’ve cleared out your garage and attic, and auctioned off everything your husband owns, where can you go to get new product ideas?
Tapping into EBay’s Resources
Most people don’t realize that eBay itself is actually a terrific place to find product sourcing ideas. Besides being an easy selling venue with built-in traffic, it also contains a goldmine of useful data about what that t...
Keywords:
ecommerce,market research,ebay,auction,auction listings,find products,sell,ebiz,online store,estore
Article Body:
You may have already discovered that selling on eBay can be fun and profitable. But after you’ve cleared out your garage and attic, and auctioned off everything your husband owns, where can you go to get new product ideas?
Tapping into EBay’s Resources
Most people don’t realize that eBay itself is actually a terrific place to find product sourcing ideas. Besides being an easy selling venue with built-in traffic, it also contains a goldmine of useful data about what that traffic wants to buy. One of eBay’s best-kept secrets is their Seller Central page (http://www.EBay.com/SellerCentral). Very few people, even PowerSellers, are aware of this valuable resource. Consequently, very few people are taking advantage of the tools available there:
• The merchandising calendar — this is a great spot to get sourcing leads because it shows you specifically what products eBay will be promoting over the next few months. It gives you dates and tells you which item categories you need to list your product in for it to be displayed on eBay’s homepage. When a user clicks on that item, your auction will pop right up.
• The hot items section — this is basically a monthly trend-watching report. It tells you what items are moving, producing more bids, and getting higher final prices. It lets you get a feel for where the demand is.
Whether you’re searching for products at a tradeshow or a rummage sale, Janelle Elms (http://JanelleElms.com), of eBay University, recommends, “Print this report and keep it with you at all times.” She explains, “If you don’t know what to look for, this will help direct and keep your mind focused to what’s moving on eBay.”
• The hot categories section — this resource takes the top categories and gives you tips on how to sell in those categories, insider secrets about your buyers, and trending info. For each category, there’s a section called ‘In Demand’ that tells you not only the top-selling items in that category, but also the top keywords that buyers are using to find these items. Use those keywords in your listing titles. If you have any left over, put them in your description. Essentially, eBay tells you what to sell and then tells you how best to list it.
Catering to Your Customers
Advises Elms, “Don’t ever try to sell to the buyer what you think they need to own.” Users are already telling you what they want to buy — you just have to listen. These tools show you what consumers are saying they want and how they’re saying they want to find it. EBay users are ready to spend money with you — all you need to do is give them what they’re looking for.
You may have already discovered that selling on eBay can be fun and profitable. But after you’ve cleared out your garage and attic, and auctioned off everything your husband owns, where can you go to get new product ideas?
Tapping into EBay’s Resources
Most people don’t realize that eBay itself is actually a terrific place to find product sourcing ideas. Besides being an easy selling venue with built-in traffic, it also contains a goldmine of useful data about what that t...
Keywords:
ecommerce,market research,ebay,auction,auction listings,find products,sell,ebiz,online store,estore
Article Body:
You may have already discovered that selling on eBay can be fun and profitable. But after you’ve cleared out your garage and attic, and auctioned off everything your husband owns, where can you go to get new product ideas?
Tapping into EBay’s Resources
Most people don’t realize that eBay itself is actually a terrific place to find product sourcing ideas. Besides being an easy selling venue with built-in traffic, it also contains a goldmine of useful data about what that traffic wants to buy. One of eBay’s best-kept secrets is their Seller Central page (http://www.EBay.com/SellerCentral). Very few people, even PowerSellers, are aware of this valuable resource. Consequently, very few people are taking advantage of the tools available there:
• The merchandising calendar — this is a great spot to get sourcing leads because it shows you specifically what products eBay will be promoting over the next few months. It gives you dates and tells you which item categories you need to list your product in for it to be displayed on eBay’s homepage. When a user clicks on that item, your auction will pop right up.
• The hot items section — this is basically a monthly trend-watching report. It tells you what items are moving, producing more bids, and getting higher final prices. It lets you get a feel for where the demand is.
Whether you’re searching for products at a tradeshow or a rummage sale, Janelle Elms (http://JanelleElms.com), of eBay University, recommends, “Print this report and keep it with you at all times.” She explains, “If you don’t know what to look for, this will help direct and keep your mind focused to what’s moving on eBay.”
• The hot categories section — this resource takes the top categories and gives you tips on how to sell in those categories, insider secrets about your buyers, and trending info. For each category, there’s a section called ‘In Demand’ that tells you not only the top-selling items in that category, but also the top keywords that buyers are using to find these items. Use those keywords in your listing titles. If you have any left over, put them in your description. Essentially, eBay tells you what to sell and then tells you how best to list it.
Catering to Your Customers
Advises Elms, “Don’t ever try to sell to the buyer what you think they need to own.” Users are already telling you what they want to buy — you just have to listen. These tools show you what consumers are saying they want and how they’re saying they want to find it. EBay users are ready to spend money with you — all you need to do is give them what they’re looking for.
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