Before you start selling anything on eBay, you’ll want to become familiar with eBay techniques and the policies of the auction site. Read several books and articles so that you can capitalize on the advanced selling methods practiced on the site. It’s best to be somewhat conservative about your selling while you are ingesting all the training material that you can get your hands on to help you thoroughly understand the eBay community.
A must read for Ebay beginners is Anton Gate’s book, Ebay Inside and Out. Anton’s simple, easy to follow process will have you making thousands of dollars each week on eBay starting in as little as 24hrs.
Next, if you thought you needed to sell items on ebay to make money, you’ll need to take the time to consume eBay Crusher. Dave Fransko will show you his step by step system to combine affilate marketing with the largest online auction marketplace and to quite simply make money with less hassle than a traditional auction product.
Here’s what to do while you are studying these guides:
Setup Your eBay Account
If you haven’t had any experience with Ebay, you may feel some reservations about creating an account. However, it is surprisingly simple to get started and you’ll be amazed at how quickly you will be posting your very first auction. The eBay site is very user friendly and will guide you through the process of opening an account and getting the account ready for buying and selling. Go to the site and click on “Register.” Then, just follow the directions. Before you can buy or sell anything on eBay, you must give credit card details and bank information which eBay can verify.
Do Some Research on Item Ideas
While you’re waiting for verification, do some research. If you are interested in an eBay business, you will eventually need a product to sell. But if you don’t have a product right now, you can start by selling old or odd items from your home like most people do. Others go to garage sales and pick up bargain items, then resell them on eBay. Some purchase from companies that offer low prices and discount deals. For your first sale with eBay, it doesn’t really matter what you sell. Just take a look around your own home and find something you’re willing to part with. Small books, coins, DVDs and CDs are ideal first items.
Once verification is complete, it may be your first inclination to rush right out a try to sell your items, but I urge you to do some research first to make sure that there is a need for the item that you are selling. Use the ebay site as a research tool. Do a search for your item and see how many items turn up from the search. Check other auctions for similar items and note how well and at what price they are selling. Consult the completed listings. You want to know that there is interest in your item before offering it.
Post One Listing
To post any item, the first thing you need to do is choose a category. There are specific categories for items to be listed on eBay. The purpose of categories is to have an organized tracking system for the products for sale. Choosing the exact category where the item belongs will help it sell very quickly. If you mis-categorize your item, people searching in the right category will miss seeing it.
Next set the starting price, the duration, and the payment method. A good starting price is $0.01, since that will draw bidders who otherwise wouldn’t bid. The duration may be set to 3, 5, 7 or 10 days. The longer the auction the more bids you will get, yet the auction will seem to go on forever if you select 10 days! You may also want to include a “reserve price” and a “BUY-IT-NOW” button. This allows a buyer who is willing to pay the full asking price, to end the auction. While it is tempting to get the sale over quickly, there are many buyers who shy away from items with “BUY-IT-NOW” prices. Some suggest that including a reserve price or the “BUY-IT-NOW” button will hurt your sales. Remember to include shipping details and make it very clear to your buyer if you are offering free shipping or requiring the buyer to pay for shipping. You should never surprise your buyer with hidden costs.
If you’ve taken a picture, you must upload it to the eBay database. Items with pictures always sell better and help to build more trust between you and the buyer. So if you can manage to get a digital image of your items uploaded you will have better sales. It is also extremely important to use precise keywords to describe your item. Do not exaggerate your descriptions. Your descriptions are essential to avoid any problems or potential returns by buyers.
Finally, you should indicate which payment methods you will accept. As a beginner, it is best to use Paypal to as your payment method and limit your post to your own country. Signing up for PayPal is another way to increase your sales by attracting buyers who use Paypal. By making it easier to pay, people will be more inclined to buy on the spur of the moment.
Pay Attention To Peak Buying Times
There are better times to list items. By timing your auctions so that they end during peak buying times, you will see higher sales. Here is a guide for you to follow:
- Eastern Time Zone – list your auction between 9pm-11pm
- Central Time Zone - list between 8pm-10pm
- Mountain Time Zone – list between 7pm-9pm
- Pacific Time Zone – list between 6pm-8pm
Like Moths to a Flame
Now let eBay do its job! Buyers will find your item and leave bids until the auction ends. 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 you can list it again for a different asking price.
Collect Payment and Ship the Item to the Buyer
Once you’ve sold the item, eBay will send your buyer emails guiding them through the process of sending a payment for the item. Make sure you have the money before you mail anything. Once you’ve been paid, all you need to do is pack the item for shipping. Make sure to wrap the item securely (use bubble wrap if available) since you do not want the item to arrive damaged during shipment. Buyer feedback is very important on eBay. Having positive feedback is necessary because buyers consider your feedback ratings before deciding to buy from you. To get positive feedback, make sure you give good customer service and always be prompt and friendly.
After your first sale and when you have completed Ebay Inside And Out and eBay Crusher you will be prepared to become a successful eBay seller. Don’t forget to keep reading and learning about the methods of selling on auction sites to teach you all the intricate details about doing business on Ebay and becoming a power seller fast.
This course helped me learn to be a much better seller on eBay. I think getting some training before you start selling really helps. It helped me!