These tips are for the beginners who would like to earn some money on eBay. The nessary components to have your own online store are really not that demanding. All you need to start is a computer, Internet access, a digital camera, and of course, products to sell.
You can sell used or like new items you find at garage sales, in your garage and so on. You can sell new items that you find at discount prices from liquidators, dollar stores, store closings and clearance sales. You may be even luckier if you can find a supplier who will make you a deal.
Skills for the Online Business World
Skills for Marketing You can develop marketing skills as you educate yourself on how to sell various items on eBay. Reading some marketing books and articles to help yourself learn how to sell things is a good idea, but you can also learn from observing other successful entrepreneurs online. Take time to read and plan out your strategy. You will thank yourself later for taking this effort now.
Getting Organized You need to maintain good records of your sales, and not just for tax purposes. You need to be able to keep track of which buyers have paid, which have received their items, and so on. Setting up a spreadsheet with all the pertinent information should help keep your business under control. You can also take advantage of third party payment systems online. There are options to choose from; however, they charge for about one percent of the item price as a fee. The small fee is nothing compared with your clients purchasing your items with ease.
The Basics of HTML To ensure that your auctions eye-catching and appealing, you will want to know some basic HTML skills. There are a lot of easy and basic tutorials offered online. You can begin by searching for html tutorials, and then you can choose which one you like for your convenience.
Getting Started on eBay
Start by choosing a certain type of product to specialize in (for example, toys, clothes, etc.). That way, you can become an authority in those products and how to sell them effectively. You may decide to expand your product line at a later date.
Setting up an account is easy. Register an eBay user ID and you're on your way. Make sure to read the eBay selling rules thoroughly and check out all the tips eBay offers along the way.
To start, put up only a few items and don't saturate your auctions with too many of the exact same item. The primary goal is to sell your item at the highest price. If you are selling five of the same items, it may be more difficult for you to get a high price. Test out various selling methods and find out what works best for your particular items.
Ideas for Online Marketing Promote your business with your own personal website. Your site can be a webpage just to promote your eBay business, or it can be an online store that links to your auctions. It gives you a more credible presence on the Internet and gives your clients a better sense of who you are. Create a mailing list. Mail out an informative newsletter on a regular basis to your subscribers. Don't forget to promote your auctions in the newsletter too.
Other Auction Sites Don't limit your business to eBay. EBay is only one of the many auction sites available, but it is by far the largest. However, eBay's fees can prove to be expensive after awhile. It may be more cost effective to sell your items on other auction sites, and you may face less competition, particularly if you are selling items at a fixed price. Other auction sites might be a more lucrative opportunity for you to buy items to sell for higher prices elsewhere.
All you need is some motivation and patience to watch your hard-earned money grow through on eBay business.
Keep in mind, though, you may also have fewer buyers for your products and may have a lower selling price. You will need to determine which is the most efficient way to sell your items.
About the Author
Charles Taylor writes for several popular web sites, on small business advice and technology and business subjects.
