Though eBay is located in San Jose, California, buyers and sellers from 39 markets worldwide participate in what is truly a global marketplace. With almost 84 million active users, eBay is a fantastic tool to not only sell your products but to increase exposure for your company.
The need for goods is universal – whether you’re looking for a pair of jeans, an antique brooch, or even a kitchen appliance. Likewise the need to sell goods is universal too. EBay is an ideal place for buyers and sellers from around the world to meet and support the needs of others.
EBay makes it easy to sell to anyone around the world.
So you are ready to take the step and open your own selling account on eBay. You are ready to make money on eBay. What are you waiting for? Do it now! You won't believe how easy it is to set up a seller's account and then to begin selling on eBay.
The eBay site is very easy to use when it comes to registering. If you know where to start the site will lead you step by step through the process. eBay wants the process to be pain free. After all, if you can make money on eBay you will come back to sell time and time again. The more successful sellers are on eBay the more successful eBay itself will be.
If you have already made some purchases on eBay then you are well on you way. Since you already have an account on eBay for buying you are almost ready to make money on eBay. With a few quick steps you will be ready to start selling.
All you need to do is to log in with your current account. Click on SELL on the toolbar that is located at the very top of the page. The next step toward the goal to make money on eBay is to click on CREATE A SELLER'S ACCOUNT.
If you have never registered and started using eBay before, then you will need to take all of the steps to open an eBay account. Once gain, eBay has taken the steps to make the process very easy to complete. Click on REGISTER link just below the toolbar. Next click on SELL. Finally click on CREATE A SELLER'S ACCOUNT. eBay will guide you step by step through the process. Once you complete the process you are ready to start taking the next steps to make money on eBay.
This very simple and easy to follow guide will give you all the information you need to sell and make high profits on eBay. Written by someone who makes money everyday on eBay and owns multiple eBay businesses that have sustained he and his family for years.
Learning how to sell on eBay seems easy. Anyone can do it. The question is can they do it and make substantial profits from it. I thought I could and found out otherwise. I was making some money, but not enough. I needed help if I was going to create the money making venture as I had planned. This guide helped me do that.
This marketing system can show you how to set up a profitable eBay store and the benefits of cross selling and upselling. It walks you through ways to get people who are just checking it out to buy your products. It gives you some good ideas on how to make sales to those people who didn’t bid high enough to purchase your product.
One of the benefits is the explanation of the new eBay Express. It tells you how you can use this and how your profits can sore because of this venue. You can link your auctions to merchandise in your eBay store along with slow moving products. With incentives like free shipping, people want to see what else you have and are more willing to make that purchase.
There’s information on how to run your eBay business on auto pilot too. Nobody wants to be tied to their work 24 hours a day 7 days a week. With this helpful information you don’t have to be.
Learning the buy it now system and the fixed price auction ideas helped to increase my sales over and over again. Not only did it improve my sales but it also showed me many of things that were hurting my sales and why.
Selling on eBay can be a fun and exciting experience but only if you do it right. There are a lot of people and ideas out there but I have found this ebook has been the best help. The final straw that sold me was knowing it was written by Skip McGrath, who has been involved in eBay for years and has made great money from it. He's one of, if not the best, eBay expert out there.
http://www.skipmcgraph.com
One of the most prominent benefits of niche marketing online is its search engine placement benefits.Small niches do not have as many websites competing against them for placement, so it is easier to get high placement for keywords pertaining to them. While this is usually of little interest to the seller who only sells at regular eBay auctions, eBay store owners can benefit tremendously from it.
Most online marketing gurus suggest that webmasters concentrate their businesses on a specific niche. This allows the opportunity to generate more targeted traffic and leads, resulting in greater profits. At first glance, this doesn't seem to apply to eBay. But it can be a good strategy for frequent sellers.
eBay store owners can also benefit from the focus provided by a niche. When customers find a certain type of item at an eBay store and are happy with the buying experience, they will be likely to look there again when they need a similar item. If they find it, they will keep coming back as needed.
Whether or not you have an eBay store, having a niche can be a very good thing. Concentrating on a particular type of product will allow you to learn a lot about it. That means that if a potential buyer contacts you with questions about something you are selling, you will be able to give him a thorough and authoritative answer. He will see you as an expert and be more likely to bid, and to return to you for future needs.
Having a niche can also make it easier for you to find good deals. When you know your products well, it is easier to find the best sources to buy them from. And if you're in a niche that is prone to fakes, such as antiques or designer handbags, your knowledge will make it easier to determine whether a given product is the real thing. This is good for you because it protects your investment, and good for your customers because they can buy from you with confidence.
There are many eBayers who do fairly well without a niche. They find deals on a wide variety of products, and they sell them at bargain prices. But they might get higher bids on their offerings if they were to specialize a bit more.
If helping buyers get great bargains is what you love to do, and it is allowing you to make the profits you want to make, then there is no harm in sticking with that. But finding a profitable niche could put more money in your pocket. Having a specific niche lets customers know what to expect from you, and when they are happy customers they will keep coming back and referring others.
Headlines are the first thing any prospective customer will see and a decision to read further or click away is made in less than 20 seconds. This makes the headline a make or break item for most sellers. Here’s how to write attention getting headlines for your auctions:
Step 1. Log on to your eBay seller’s account. If you don't have an account, gather the necessary information, a credit card number, business name and information, and address.
Step 2. Research items in your category to see how they’re presented. Some items will stand out, others will be completely ignorable. Write down a list of the words you see that catch your attention.
Step 3. Click the "Sell" link at the top of the page. A "Sell Your Item" form will appear.
Step 4. Select the appropriate category for your item. For example, if you’re selling jewelry then click jewelry. There are often sub-categories like bracelet, earrings, necklace etc… Decide where you want your item positioned.
Step 5. Write your description on paper first to see how it looks and sounds. Adjectives, words that describe like blue, sleek, lush, etc add interest and benefit to the headline.
Step 6. Less is more. A headline that overwhelms is just as effective as one that under whelms. Try to keep your headline to 8-10 words. Be accurate, succinct and compelling all at the same time.
Step 7. Test your headline. Not all headlines will receive the same response. Test two headlines for the same product and see which one receives more bids and sells for a higher price. This will help with headline creation the next time.
Consider writing a few headlines and testing them with friends and family before posting them online. Ask them which headline stands out and would compel them to bid and which headlines fall short. You may be surprised which ones they choose.
Often the key to a high selling price and many bidders is a strong headline. Be creative, be descriptive and test headlines for optimal results.
Have you ever run across an item on eBay that looked great, but had received no bids? In many cases, this happens because the seller didn't do what was necessary to get the item noticed by interested buyers. Don't let this happen to your auctions!
There are several things you can do to ensure that your online auctions get the attention they deserve. Here are five ways to get your listings noticed:
1. Write a good title and description. Including keywords that interested buyers would use to find your item will ensure that it shows up in the appropriate search results. Including important characteristics of your product in the title, such as size, color, and brand name, will make it easier for people who are searching for specific items to find yours.
2. Include good pictures of the item. Buyers are more likely to bid on something that they can view in detail. If you're selling on eBay, you have the option of adding a thumbnail of your product picture to your listing's search summary. Doing so may generate more interest in the listing.
3. Consider purchasing upgrades to your listing. This may not be feasible for items that do not bring a large profit, but it can be worth it for more expensive items. On eBay, you can add subtitles, highlighting, bold text, and photo pop-ups to your listing's summary in the search results for fairly small fees. There are also more expensive packages that will get your listing added exposure on eBay's home page and Featured Items sections. These are best suited to very unique or high-profit items.
4. Give users the opportunity to "Buy It Now". Some eBay buyers prefer not to wait until an auction is over to receive an item. Setting a "Buy It Now" price allows those who are particularly interested in the item to purchase it outright instead of bidding and waiting. If you like, you can also offer items for the "Buy It Now" price only. "Buy It Now" items are listed as such in the search results so that buyers can easily identify them.
5. Promote your auction on your own. Adding links to your current auctions to your blog or website will give them added exposure. There are also some pay-per-click advertising programs that accept auction listings, allowing your auctions to be seen on lots of sites. And if you're selling on eBay, you can set up and promote an eBay Store.
Getting your online auctions noticed will result in more sales and greater profits. Spending a little more time, and perhaps a little extra money, on your listings usually pays off. And if your item doesn't sell the first time, many auction sites will allow you to try again for free.
eBay is well known for being the place to go to when you're looking for just about anything. Sellers on the site offer household items, collectibles, automobiles, real estate, and much more. But, believe it or not, there are some things that you can't sell on eBay. Here are some of the most notable.
* Stocks and securities - The selling of stocks, or partial ownership of a business in any form, is not allowed on eBay. You can sell business equipment or inventory, and even complete businesses, as long as no transfer of stock occurs. This policy is necessary due to SEC regulations.
* Alcoholic beverages and tobacco - In general, eBay members are not allowed to sell alcoholic beverages on the site. Exceptions include valuable collectible containers that have not been opened and are not available in retail outlets. Wine may be sold only by pre-approved, licensed sellers. Tobacco sales are also not allowed unless the item is in a collectible container that is not available in retail outlets. With tobacco and alcohol, the seller must take steps to make sure the buyer is of legal age to buy the products.
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Some medical equipment - Medical equipment that cannot be purchased over the counter cannot be sold on eBay. This includes prescription glasses, contact lenses, and implantable devices, and any equipment or medication that requires a prescription. Most other medical equipment is subject to strict regulations. You can find more information about specific items on the eBay website.
* MLM, pyramid, and matrix program positions - Multi-level marketing programs are subject to strict legal regulations, and pyramid schemes and matrix programs are generally illegal. None of these may be promoted through an eBay auction.
* Weapons - Firearms, ammunition, and hand weapons are not allowed on eBay. Switchblade and disguised knives, as well as military ordnance, are not permitted. Stun guns, mace, and pepper spray may be sold only to buyers in locations where they can legally be purchased.
* Government IDs, licenses, and uniforms - Items issued by the government that could be used to impersonate a government employee or assume another person's identity are prohibited on eBay. Vintage passports and license plates are allowed, but only if they meet specific age requirements.
* Most hazardous materials - Toxic, flammable, and radioactive substances and items containing them are, for the most part, prohibited. This includes fireworks, mercury thermometers and batteries, and radioactive waste or contaminated items. Refrigerants may only be sold to EPA-certified buyers.
eBay places regulations and restrictions on many other items. For example, used clothing must be thoroughly cleaned before it can be sold on the site. If you have any questions about whether a particular type of item is allowed, check eBay's Prohibited and Restricted Items page, which is located in the site's Help section.
eBay is one of the most popular shopping destinations on the Internet. The site boasts millions of users, meaning that sellers often face a substantial amount of competition. Because of this, it is important to take advantage of every opportunity to increase your sales.
Some of the things you can do to increase your sales on eBay cost money. Others are completely free. Here are some tips:
* Upgrade your listings. eBay offers sellers several ways to enhance their listings and make them more prominent, increasing the likelihood that buyers will look at them. These include adding a gallery photo to your listing, including a subtitle, and adding highlighting.
* Let buyers "Buy It Now". Sometimes buyers would rather go ahead and pay a given price for an item than bid on it and have to wait to see if they won. This is especially true for in-demand items. You can offer your listings through "Buy It Now" only, or you can add it as an option to a regular auction.
* Give buyers a variety of payment options. Checks and money orders present some risks, so it's up to you to decide whether it is worthwhile to offer them as payment options. But the more options you offer, the more buyers will be willing to consider buying from you.
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Provide thorough descriptions and good pictures. Since your buyers won't be seeing the products in person before they buy, they rely on your words and images to determine whether and how much they should bid. Detailed descriptions and high-quality pictures are important if you want to get the most out of your listing.
* Offer incentives for multiple purchases. This could be offered in the form of a discount when buying more than one item, a free gift, or free or reduced shipping for two or more items.
* Open an eBay store. This gives happy customers a place where they can browse everything you have to offer. It also provides a great place to direct traffic from your website or blog, or through advertisements. Best of all, it offers the convenience, familiarity and popularity of eBay without competition from other sellers.
* Keep your customers happy. This will give you a good feedback rating, which will give buyers more confidence in bidding on your items. It's also important to answer inquiries promptly and correctly. If a customer's questions go unanswered, he probably won't bid on that item. He may not bid on any of your items in the future, either.
* Offer a satisfaction guarantee. This may not always be practical, but if you can do it, customers will feel more comfortable buying from you. Warranties and favorable return policies are also good confidence-builders.
Photos are one of the most important things in an eBay listing. Since customers can't see your items first-hand, it is essential to provide them with quality pictures. Doing so lends credibility to your listing that words alone can't come close to.
Pictures of your items should show as much detail as possible. But it's also important to make the pictures stand out. This can be accomplished in a number of ways.
* Make your photos look professional. With a little practice and the right equipment, you can take pictures that are almost as good as professional ones. You don't need thousands of dollars worth of camera accessories and lighting. You can do a reasonably good job with just a run-of-the-mill digital camera and good natural light. Simply using a solid-colored background and making sure the lighting is right can go a long way toward making your photos look more polished.
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If the size of the item is an important consideration, include another item in one of the photos for reference. Common items of standard sizes, such as coins, are good for smaller items. You could also use a ruler to show the size.
* Crop your photos so that the item takes up most of the picture space. This makes the item more prominent, and it eliminates any distractions from the background.
* Make sure that your photos are large enough to show detail. eBay's standard picture service limits the size of your photos, but you can have them Supersized for an additional fee. You could also host your photos elsewhere and make them as large as you like. This has the added benefit of eliminating the extra cost for additional pictures. Flickr is a great source for free photo hosting, and it's easy to resize your photos. They also provide copy and paste code that you can use on your eBay pages.
* Add attractive borders to your pictures. This will make them more pleasing to look at and draw the eye to them. Just make sure that the border isn't too overwhelming, so that it doesn't detract from the photo itself.
* Pay the small fee for a gallery photo. This will put a thumbnail of your main photo with your item's description in the search results. Items with gallery photos get more views and bids than those without.
Your product photo can make a big difference in your auction's outcome. Listings with high-quality, attractive, and detailed pictures often bring in higher bids compared to the same item listed with blurry pictures with poor lighting. You don't have to hire a professional to take your eBay photos to make them effective. A little attention to detail can make them everything they need to be.
eBay makes it easy for anyone with a computer and Internet connection to sell things. Whether you want to get rid of unused household items or sell wholesale lots, it only takes a few clicks of a mouse and a small fee to list your offerings. What could be easier?
One of the most expensive things about doing business on eBay is the shipping costs. You can pass these along to the buyer, but some buyers don't like the idea of getting a good deal on something only to have to pay more to get it shipped. That's one reason why digital products are so popular.
Digital products consist of software, music, ebooks, or anything else that can be downloaded. The buyer can get them much faster than if he had to wait for them to be shipped to him, and shipping charges are eliminated. The seller doesn't have to bother packaging the item and taking it to the post office or scheduling a pickup. These advantages make digital products attractive to both buyers and sellers.
There are a few things that a seller should be aware of before offering digital products on eBay. These include the following:
* The seller must own the copyright to any digital product he is selling, or have permission from the copyright holder to distribute the product. If you're selling an ebook, for example, you must either be the legal copyright holder or have resell rights to it. If you're selling MP3s, you must own all rights to them.
* If you are selling software, you must make sure that it will do no harm to the buyer's computer. It can't have a virus, spyware, or cookies. It also cannot cause the buyer's computer to perform unauthorized actions, such as sending spam emails.
* Sellers who wish to list digital downloadable items must be PayPal Verified. This simply means that you have added a bank account to your PayPal account and verified that it is in fact your own. This is a means of confirming your identity.
* Digital products offered on eBay cannot be pornographic.
Sellers who violate these policies can be subject to various adverse actions at the discretion of eBay. If a listing that violates the requirements is discovered, eBay can remove it without refunding the seller's fees. They may also limit or suspend the seller's account or take away his PowerSeller status. If a copyright violation is involved, the seller can be referred to the rightful copyright owner, law enforcement, or both.
Selling digital products on eBay can be quite profitable. But it is important to understand and follow the site's policies on such items. Doing so will ensure that your eBay reputation and privileges remain intact.
Are you looking for things to sell on eBay? You may not have to look any further than your own house! Many sellers have gotten started selling household items that were previously just sitting around taking up space. And once you've sold some of your own items and gotten a feel for what works, you can start hitting garage sales and picking up more items to sell.
There are lots of household items that have great selling potential on eBay. Here are ten of the best, in no particular order:
1. Antiques - This is a pretty broad category, but if you are knowledgeable about antiques you can use that to your advantage. Many types of antique furniture and home décor are in demand. If you're not sure about the origins or value of your older items, you can find information online, at the library, or from your local antique dealer.
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Collectibles - If you are a collector, you probably have a great deal of knowledge about the things you collect. You may even have found some of your pieces on eBay. Collectors are often willing to pay top dollar for items that are missing from their collections, so it is possible to make a great deal of money selling collectibles.
3. Small Appliances - Do you have a fancy blender that you never use tucked away in your cabinet? Chances are there's an eBay buyer out there who would love to have it. Small appliances that are in good condition are hot sellers.
4. Books - Book lovers often search eBay for out of print or limited edition books. You can get more money out of books that are in good condition, but those in fair condition often sell at lower prices. Consider selling book series together, or offering reduced shipping to customers who buy more than one book to cut shipping costs.
5. Tools - There are lots of tools that sell well on eBay. Power tools are quite popular, but there is quite a market for quality hand tools as well. Specialty tools are also good sellers.
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Musical Instruments - If you have any musical instruments or accessories sitting around gathering dust, eBay is a great place to get some cash for them. Vintage or signed instruments often bring great prices, but any instrument in good condition is worth listing.
7. Computer Hardware - Printers, scanners, laptops, and PCs that are in good working condition are in demand on eBay. If you have replaced all or part of your system, you might be able to unload your old hardware by auction.
8. Sporting Goods - eBay is a great place to get rid of unused sporting goods. Some popular items in this category include golf clubs, fishing poles and reels, snowboards, and hunting equipment.
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Toys - Some toys sell well on eBay. The best bets are older or rare toys that you can't find at your local discount store. Train sets, Star Wars toys, and vintage Barbie dolls are hot sellers.
10. Kitchen Items - Dishes and pots and pans often bring good prices on eBay. They may be difficult to pack and ship safely and efficiently, however, so be sure to do a trial run before listing them and charge enough to cover the shipping.
eBay is a wonderful place where buyers and sellers come together. But it can be a bit frustrating at times, especially for novice sellers. Maybe you're not getting bids on your items, or maybe they're not bringing the prices that similar items are.
Chances are, if you're not getting the results that sellers of similar items do, some simple adjustments to your listings could help. Here are five things to avoid when trying to sell on eBay:
1. Misspellings - If you misspell the name of your item, those who are searching for it may never find it. And if someone does happen to find it and bid on it, that person may be the only one who happens upon it. That means that he will get your item for bottom dollar.
Besides making your listing hard to find through the search function, misspellings just look bad. Buyers may be hesitant to hand their money over to a seller who can't be bothered to take the time to proofread her listings. If spelling is not your strong suit, consider having someone else proofread your listings. At the very least, copy and paste it into your word processing program and do a spell check.
2. Not Using Keywords - Buyers search for products in lots of different ways. So it's important to use keywords in your title and description as much as possible. Try to cover as many terms that could be used to search for your product as you can think of.
3. Bad Photos - When shopping at bricks and mortar stores, customers can see a product up close. When shopping online, they can't. That's why it is so important to provide good pictures of your auction items.
Photos should not be blurry, and they should show the product in as much detail as necessary. Multiple photos taken at various angles and showing important labels and accessories will give buyers more information. It's also important to make your photos look reasonably professional. While you don't have to hire an experienced photographer, it's a good idea to use a contrasting, solid-colored background and proper lighting.
4. Reserves - A reserve is the minimum amount you will accept for an item, but it is not shown to buyers. If someone bids below the reserve price, he is simply told that the reserve has not been met, and he will have to try bidding again. In most cases, reserves serve only to frustrate buyers.
Many sellers like using reserve prices because they will not be obligated to sell at a lower price, and they don't have make the starting bid so high that no one is willing to place a bid. In this case, using a reserve price and disclosing it within your listing may be the best answer.
5. Incorrect Categorization - Buyers can get more relevant results by searching within the right categories. And some forgo searching altogether, going directly to the specific category that they think is most appropriate. That means that placing your item in the right category is very important to your listing's success. Searching for items similar to yours and noting the categories they're in should give you an idea of which ones to use.
EBay is a useful tool to sell just about anything. In order to make the most of EBay it is helpful to establish a store. Let’s take a look at the steps to set up an EBay store
that sells well.
Step 1. Register with EBay. A basic account is free and will provide a wealth of getting started type information.
Step 2. Understand the basic layout of a store. Each store has:
• Store Logo – This helps with brand recognition.
• Store Description – A couple sentences that describe the store including keywords which help potential customers find the store.
• Promotion boxes – Highlights any current promotions the store has. For example, free shipping through the holidays or buy two get one for free.
• Search box – This gives customers the opportunity to search for a specific item.
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Store categories – A list of the types of items the store sells. For example, if a store sells jewelry then the categories may be: necklaces, earrings, and bracelets etc…EBay offers more than 300 categories. It will be helpful to review the categories before sitting down to build your store.
• Gallery View. Inside the gallery view are pictures of the products and a brief description.
Step 3. Decide which level of store to build. EBay offers three store levels:
• Basic Store - $15.95 a month
• Premium Store $49.95 month. Offers advanced business tools to increase sales.
• Anchor Store $299.95 per month. Designed for high volume stores and offers advanced business tools.
Step 4. Custom Pages. EBay stores packages provide the option of creating a virtual store with a home page, an about us page, sizing and selection page – what ever you think will help represent your store and assist customers best. Take a look at other stores to research the custom pages they offer. Before sitting down to design pages, plan them on a piece of paper. It’s often much easier to get an idea of what you want and how you want it to look on paper first.
Step 5. Consider using the design services offered by EBay. They offer templates, tips, a directory of certified designers and a list of before and after web stores. These are handy to help in the planning process. EBay also offers a quick store setup option which operates like a web design wizard. This may be the easiest way to get a store up and running.
Once you have registered for an eBay account, researched stores and your competition, decided what level you want to start at and paid for your monthly subscription it is time to build the store. EBay offers tools to walk each store owner through the process and they make it easy to do it yourself.
Read the amazing true story of how one woman, with no previous business experience, earned $436,797+ in 2002 and now earns MUCH MORE than that ... just by selling other people's stuff online!
In her down-to-earth, sincere and often humorous style, Rosalind Gardner guides you through the entire process of building an affiliate marketing business on the 'Net.
Frequently revised and updated to reflect industry changes, the Super Affiliate Handbook now consists of 236 pages and 124 screenshots that will show you step-by-step how to become a Super Affiliate. You'll learn how to pick the best affiliate programs, negotiate a commission raise and save time, money and effort on everything from affiliate software to web hosting.
