STEP 1 - Become Confident with the Selling Process
Before you start hitting the big time you need to start small.
FOCUS! Your bidding/selling confidence will increase with
experience, so first gain that experience. Buy that first item
and carefully observe the process - it is important!
Start by selling all that unwanted or unused stuff lying about
your house, attic or seller. Go down to the local garage sale or
market and try find and purchase bargain items.
Go home and write and effective title. Take pictures, many
pictures, to showcase your item at its best. Write a great
item title and description.
If you don't own a digital camera - BUY ONE!
Do some research for similar items on eBay using the "completed
items" option. Find out the average price your item sells for.
Find out which get the most bids and why (low starting price
maybe).
With this you now effectively have the knowledge to successfully
list your item(s).
STEP 2 - Specialize
In deciding what you will start buying and selling, my suggestion
is to pick something that interests you, like items related to a
hobby you have. If you pick something that you like, it will be
much easier and enjoyable to stay involved with it.
Find your source of products to sell. These products and
opportunities are all around you.
Once you have found an item (or collection of items) that is good
for you, start to specialize. Become a master/guru on supplying
the eBay community of buyers your product.
The bottom line is FOCUS on one thing at a time.
Conduct your business in a professional manner and your customers
will quickly become repeat customers!
STEP 3 - Get Tools
If you are serious about making eBay something profitable, then
you WILL need to use tools to make your life easier, and more
productive.
Some of these tools will be free and others you'll need to pay
for! DON'T be afraid of paying for resources or tools that will
inevitably assist and help make your business more profitable,
easier, and fun!
If you don't own a digital camera, GET ONE QUICK! You'll end up
regretting it if you try and make do without one. You don't want
to be perceived as unprofessional!
STEP 4 - Receive Payments
Firstly get a PayPal account HERE:
I personally only accept PayPal payments. I believe it to be the
most simple, secure and easy form of payment. I always have
money lying in my PayPal account, so I don't even need cash to
purchase items most of the time
PayPal is also used by between 80%-90%+ of eBayers!
You are really going to have to decide on what payment options
you would be happy to receive. If you don't mind receiving
checks, going down to the bank to cash them, waiting for
clearance, then only shipping the item - then that's alright!
Remember the more payment option you accept, the more bidders you
will "probably" attract. You balance the pro's and con's of each
method yourself.
Once you have received confirmation that the buyer has paid you,
you will then need to PROMPTLY ship your item to your buyer.
STEP 5 - Prompt Shipping is a Must!
In the USA I would suggest you use USPS Priority Mail. Your
customers will love the fast shipping!
http://www.usps.com
For Free Online Shipping Labels click HERE:
http://www.usps.com/cgi-bin/api/shipping_label.htm
USPS Postage Calculator:
http://postcalc.usps.gov
Parcel Tracking:
http://www.usps.com/shipping/trackandconfirm.htm
Perhaps the best kept secret regarding shipping is the fact that,
so long as you ship via USPS Priority Mail, LITERALLY ALL of the
shipping materials are FR*EE! Boxes, tape, labels, and envelopes
are all free.
And ...
If you ship via USPS Priority Mail, it actually enhances your
sales. How? Because you can tell people, in your ads, "We Ship
Priority", or "Priority Shipping Cost $x.xx". People online LOVE
instant gratification and they will really love the idea of
getting something only a couple of days after payment.
STEP 6 - Request Feedback!
If everything went well with your auction, you will want to
request that your buyer "Leave you feedback". In return, you
will leave them positive feedback.
Positive feedback is your reputation as a trader on eBay!
I include a line in all my emails with the buyer. It reads like
this:
"I will leave you positive feedback after you leave me the same."
By adding this line to your emails you accomplish two things.
Firstly, this person now knows that if they leave you negative
feedback then you have the ability to leave them negative
feedback too. And believe you me, nobody wants negative feedback
on eBay. Secondly, this person also knows that if they want to
build their positive feedback rating, then they have to leave you
positive feedback.
The feedback system on eBay is NOT entirely fair. It's easy for
a deadbeat bidder to unfairly tarnish your feedback because you
gave him negative feedback for not paying you. For this reason,
I only leave feedback once it has first been left for me!
It's not perfect, but it works for me.
STEP 7 - Repeat!
Simply repeat process 1 through 6! It's that straight forward
Every time you repeat these steps you will get better at it, more
efficient, and ultimately more experienced.
I hope this helps a little
