Getting Started on eBay - What You Need to Know.

Yes we all heard, read and probably even watched specials on the great eBay machine and how it has transformed the business arena. But what if you have been on the sidelines not sure how to get started? Well here's a little helpful guide to get you started.

So you've decided that you want to get started as a seller on eBay. There are a few things that you really need to know before you go and throw yourself in at the deep end.

What to Sell.

First off, you need to know what it is you're going to sell: what's your speciality? You'll do far better on eBay if you become a great source for certain kind of products, as people who are interested in those products will come back to you again and again. You won't get any loyalty or real reputation if you just sell rubbish at random.

When you think about what to sell, there are a few things to consider. The most important of these is to always sell what you know. If you try to sell something that you just don't know anything about then you'll never write a good description and sell it for a good price.

You might think you're not especially interested in anything, but if you think about what kind of things you usually buy and which websites you go to most often, I'm sure you'll discover some kind of interest. If all else fails mention it to your friends and family: they'll almost certainly say "Oh, well why don't you sell�", and you'll slap your forehead.

Out of the things you know enough about, you should then consider which things you could actually get for a good enough price to resell, and how suitable they would be for posting. If you can think of something of that you're knowledgeable about and it's small and light enough for postage to be relatively cheap, then that's great!

Don't worry if you think the thing you're selling is too obscure - it isn't. There's a market for almost everything on eBay, even things that wouldn't sell once in a year if you stocked them in a shop. You'll probably do even better if you fill a niche than if you sell something common.

Tax and Legal Matters.

If you earn enough money, you should be aware that you're going to have to start paying tax - this won't be done for you. If you decide to sell on eBay on a full-time basis, you should probably register as a business.

Prepare Yourself.

There are going to be ups and downs when you sell on eBay. Don't pack it in if something goes a little wrong in your first few sales: the sellers who are successful on eBay are the ones who enjoy it, and stick at it whatever happens.

Anyone can sell on eBay, if they believe in themselves - and if you do decide it's not for you, then the start-up costs are so low that you won't really have lost anything.

If you're ready to start selling, then the next thing you need to know is the different auction types, so you can decide which ones you will use to sell your items. An upcoming article will give you a guide.


Come back next week for more tips, tricks and techniques to assist you in your marketing efforts.

Remember we're all in this together and I'm pulling for ya.

Mahalo.

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Going, Going, Gone to My Site! Using Online Auctions To Generate Web Traffic

There is a very sneaky, yet totally legal and ethical way to increase traffic to your web site. Using an online auction site to sell your products. As you may know, there are numerous online auction sites all the internet. Just go to your favorite search engine and type in "Online Auction" and you would be surprised at the results. People love these sites because they feel that they can usually find great bargains. For others it is just the thrill of the hunt and chase. The good news is if you have an online business, you can use them to increase traffic to your web site.

One way is that you could create an electronic book or report that relates to your online business, then auction it off at an online auction. This way you could increase traffic to your web site by placing an ad for your web site in the electronic publication. Some online auctions will even allow you to link directly to your web site if you enroll in their extended plans, usually for a monthly or annual fee. Once you get rolling, this can be an option you should explore. After you see what kind of traffic the site sends your way.

Electronic publications don't cost you anything to ship, as they are virtual assets. You send them via e-mail or allow people to download them directly from your web site. If you send it via email, make sure you have your web site address in your signature and direct them there if they need to contact you. Also if you have a newsletter, this is a good time to mention it in the email. If you have them download the item, make sure you have a way for them to sign up for your newsletter/announcement sheet on the download page. One way some people set up their auctions is to offer their products for a lower price. When they visit the web site you could offer them a higher priced product or a related back end product.

Did you know you could also get traffic from people who don't bid or don't get the winning bid? You could offer them what is known as a "Second Chance Offer" and then direct them to your web site after they have agree to purchase the item. You could also direct potential bidders to your site and allow them to download and read a free sample of the ebook or report before they bid. If they want more detailed information about the ebook or report, and they didn't bid/won, you could also direct them to your web site for a purchase.

You don't have a digital product? Well don't worry as you can also get traffic to your web site by auctioning a physical product, such as whatever widget your company sells. Print out your web site advertisement on a flyer or brochure then insert it into each product package you ship. You should also place your web address on the packing slip/receipt. Make sure you draw attention to it by asking for comments, or to contact you if they have any questions or complaints. Of course direct them to your site's "Contact Us" page for contact info.

It is very important that before you start auctioning any product on an online auction site, you should read the terms and conditions of the site usage. There are some auction sites that may not allow the auctioning of electronic products or directly linking to your web site where you have other products for sale. It does you no good to generate bad publicity by being banned from a popular auction site just because you didn't understand the rules.

All in all this is a great way to augment your other marketing methods. After all they have just bought from you in a trusted environment, so why wouldn't they trust you in the future? It may be a sneaky way to get people to visit your site, but if you take care of your customers, they won't mind at all.

So find something and list today!

Mahalo.

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