Using the Ebay search tool to see if a product will make money
on Ebay
That is the question that thousands are asking me every week. My
email is also flooded with questions like: How do I start an
Ebay store to make money on Ebay? What should I start selling on
Ebay? Is there an affiliate program that will help me make money
on Ebay? The list goes on and on.
The one question that we are going to cover today and one that
you should pay attention to is "I have a product but what is the
best way to evaluate the product and find out how I should price
it so that I can make money on Ebay?"
I have two words for you: Search Engine. No I'm not talking
about Google, Yahoo, or any other of the major search engines.
I'm talking about a search feature that is literally under your
nose at this very moment. I'm talking about the Ebay Search
Tool!
Did you realize that the Ebay search tools is the fastest and
most accurate way to finding out if people are buying products
like yours on Ebay? You will also be pleased to know that you
can discover what sells best so that you can make money on Ebay
and how to accurately price your products so they sell like hot
cakes!
Using the Ebay search tool to make money on Ebay
Be sure to search the 'completed auctions' to find out how
similar products like yours have been selling. The results that
you will find here will also help you determine which categories
to list your item in. Anone can make money on Ebay but you want
you do not want to be just 'anybody'
Each item sold on Ebay has a particular type of buyer that shops
for that item. If you were looking to buy paperback books on
Ebay then you obviously would not be searching under the
category of televisions, right? This line of thinking will help
you better profile buyers and after you have analyzed their
shopping patters by studying the completed auctions section of
the Ebay search tool then you will better be able to become a
'power seller' to make money on Ebay.
Hot Tip: Use this completed feature to find out what 'time of
day' that the high bidders snagged the sale and won. Are you
getting the idea yet? Good, let's continue...
Most of the time new sellers like to jump in and make money on
Ebay by selling a very common product. That is ok but you still
need to do your homework. What kind of homework? Well for
example you definitely want to check and find out how many other
Ebay sellers are pushing the same product. In conjunction with
this information write down what time their auctions close. If
you you are the second or third auction to close with the exact
same price then your profits will shrink to nothing, trust me.
Hot Tip: Space out your auctions that are similar to others to
avoid being left in the cold.
Although it is not necessary now, it is advisable for you to
learn the the Ebay search engine 'syntax' (shorthand) so that
you will be able to location your items with precise accuracy.
Of course you can make money on Ebay by by just finding your way
around using the small search box that shows on each page, but
eventually you will need to learn more. And, if you are really
new to using the Ebay search features then by all means simply
go to the search page.
5 parting tips
Last but certainly not least, I am going to leave you with a
brief list of tips below which will help you get as much as you
can from the Ebay Search Engine in order to help you make money
on Ebay.
1. To better define your search be sure to check off the boxes
next to 'search titles and descriptions' options
2. Do not worry about using caps when using the Ebay search
engine. It is not case sensitive.
3. Using conjunctions and articles are not advisable when typing
in your listing. The Ebay search tool may consider these
conjunctions/articles (a,or,an,the,etc.) as part of your search
and pull irrelevant listings.
4. When searching for a popular item then it is advisable to
search by the full 'description' and not by auction titles and
descriptions alone.
5. If you are interested in finding the history of pricing for
an item then make sure that you check off the box to search the
completed listings in addition to the current ones.