The Basics of How To Sell on Ebay
The star that is Ebay continues to rise with its ultimate height
and potential reach still unknown. What is known is that over
$14 billion dollars worth of merchandise changed hands last year
with more expected this year. More and more people are joining
in the Ebay craze in hopes of making huge profits working for
themselves. Learning the basics of how to sell on Ebay is simple
and just about anyone can profit from the miracle of online
auctions.
Getting Started
With millions of visitors every month, the Ebay business machine
continues to be an incredible opportunity for people to go into
business for themselves and succeed with very little start up
capital. Essentially, all anyone needs to start selling items
using their own Ebay business are: a computer with Internet
access, a digital camera, and...well, something to sell!
Learning how to sell on Ebay begins with familiarizing yourself
with the site by actually getting your feet wet and selling
something. To do this, you will first have to register with
Ebay. You will need a credit card, a checking account, and a few
minutes to do this.
Listing Your Wares
Most people begin their Ebay business slowly by first selling
items around the house. Once you have scoured your home in
search of antiques, collectibles, or even clothing that you are
no longer interested in or just want to sell, you have to list
your item because online auctions just would not be as
interesting without something for people to bid on!
In order to do this, you will need a product description and a
photo of the item(s) being sold. This description needs to be
accurate while still casting your product in the best light
possible. Misrepresenting your item can cut your Ebay business
experience short because customer feedback is listed for all to
see. One or two really scathing reviews, especially in the
beginning, can kill your chances of selling things on Ebay
auctions in the future.
You are also going to need a picture of your item because this
will be the only way for a potential buyer to have an idea about
what they are bidding on other than your description. Be sure to
capture the true essence of the item with this picture because
you will get negative feedback for sure if people think they
were conned by some slickster with a digital camera taking
pictures that do not really represent the item being sold.
Monitor Bidding
Obviously, learning how to sell on Ebay means mastering the
bidding process itself. You will need to determine whether or
not to set a minimum bid amount or even to opt for something
like the "Buy Now" option which allows people to buy an item at
a listed price without going through the bidding process.
Regardless of what option you choose when auction selling, you
will have to be available for questions that customers have
about your item. Respond to these as quickly as possible and try
to provide the most useful information you can while still
answering their questions.
Conclude Transaction
After the bidding has ended it is time to collect your money and
ship the item to the customer. Be sure to have posted sales
policies and payment options so that customers know what they
are getting into when bidding on your items. People are
naturally a little skeptical of online auctions anyway because
they are bidding on something that they cannot see or touch. You
do not want to surprise them with high shipping costs or
complicated payment options.
You may want to include a little note or even a flyer about your
business to help cultivate good will with the buyer. Remember,
positive feedback is critical to the success of any Ebay
business and yours will be no exception. Once you run of out
things to sell from your own household, it is time to take your
Ebay store to the next level by locating more items to sell so
you can keep those profits rolling in!