If you're anything like me, once you have a good idea you want to put it into action immediately! Although you probably know in theory that any business takes 12-18 months to become established, somehow you still hope that you can get there in 2! But, one mistake entrepreneurs consistently make is to throw their life's savings into buying case loads of stock - before they even know how eBay works. It's easy to be lulled into a false sense of security on eBay after buying just one or two items. For buyers, eBay is meant to be user friendly. For sellers, things are a little more complicated. All powersellers agree that there are new things to be learned all the time and you'll be surprised at how much more you know after several months selling small, inexpensive items.
Be prepared to spend the first couple of months buying and selling a variety of inexpensive items you can purchase with your loose change. Keep track of what sells best and work on narrowing down the possibilities to a few strong products. By this stage you will also have experienced the best and worst situations eBay has to offer, so you will be much better prepared to crank things up a notch.
2. Respond to questions as quickly as possible
Most people use the Internet because it provides what they need instantaneously: information, contacts, gifts, advice, and so on. Therefore I can't emphasize enough the importance of checking your emails as often as you can and replying to queries as quickly as possible.
3. Organize your time and keep to a schedule
If you are holding down a full-time job and working after hours to get your ebay business in motion, then it's vital to have a list of what you need to get done and stick to it so you make the most of the precious time available. Once you are working on eBay fulltime, this becomes even more important! It's all too easy to reach the end of another day and find that you have got hardly anything done. So keep a planner or diary and make a timetable of what needs to be done and when.
4. Do take professional photographs from the beginning
The old saying remains as true as ever: A picture speaks a thousand words. A bad picture can look unappealing and unprofessional. Plus, if the buyer can't really see the item properly, they may be put off bidding because they can't tell if it is what they really want. So right from the beginning, work on creating the most professional pictures you can, even if it means spending money on a photo tent and better lighting.
5. Don't put all your eggs in one basket - use other ways of selling apart from eBay
eBay is not the be all and end all of selling online - although it is one of the best ways to start. As soon as you can though, try thinking of other ways you can increase your web presence. Perhaps you could place a classified ad in Yahoo or write about your auctions in a MySpace blog. There are plenty of cheap and easy ways to build up your profile.
6. Do keep a constant look out for other products to sell, while also monitoring carefully what you are already selling.
Don't become complacent! Even if your items appear to be stock standard - such as chairs for instance - make sure you keep looking at what other sellers are doing, emerging trends, magazine articles, home decor programs, and more. There may be another related product opportunity just waiting to happen that you completely overlook if you keep your blinkers on.
7. Do keep in contact with your wholesale supplier regularly to ensure you are aware of any stock issues.
A backorder can create a lot of extra work for you soothing customer's ruffled feathers. And if they want their order refunded, it costs you money too. So make life easier for yourself by regularly touching base with your suppliers and ensuring communication lines stay open.
8. Do carry out regular keyword and market research
Keyword research is the way to ensure your potential customers find you successfully. Set aside some time each day for marketing and research to ensure that you're keeping at the top of your game.
9. Do use software to help organize your sales
It's hard to part with the initial investment when the business is still finding its feet, but the right software will make life so much easier. My eBay quickly becomes unwieldy when you are selling more than 15 items, and software ensures that you avoid making costly mistakes, such as under-ordering stock, forgetting to ship to a customer, and so on.
10. Don't offer free shipping as a gimmick unless you can afford it
Free shipping is a very effective way of attracting more people to your listings. However, before you consider offering free shipping, think carefully about your profit margins, how much your item weighs, and the fact that shipping will vary depending on how far away you are sending it. Offering free shipping is a good move if you can absorb the cost in your profit margin, but it could easily become crippling if you apply it to a variety of items of different shapes and sizes.
If you have been watching the news lately you have probably heard the real estate bubble has burst. Properties around the country are sitting on the market much longer than in the past. Bad news for sellers, good news for buyers. With the downturn in the real estate market, what should you do if you need to sell your home?
If you are realistic in your asking price and properly prepare you home for sale, there is no reason you house shouldn't sell. Set a timeline of when you need to sell by and start preparing today. The top 10 things you should do include:
1.Have a professional home inspection. Usually this is done on the back end, after someone has made an offer. By having it done yourself you can find out ahead of time all the little problems that need to be taken care of. Often it is these little things that can be a deal breaker at closing time and delay the sale of the house. You can also now offer your house with a pre inspection, letting prospective buyers know what items have been fixed.
2.Clutter. Get rid of it! The number one turn off for a buyer is walking into a house and seeing lots of clutter. Clean out your office. Pack away the kids toys. Clean out the basement and garage. Throw it out, pack it away, and get it out of the house. Empty out the closets. Buyers want to see lots of closet space. No matter how big your closets are, buyers won't be able to tell if it is jammed full.
3.De-Personalize. A buyer has a vision of how their things are going to fit in. That vision can get distracted if all they see is family photos and all your collectibles. Pack it away and make your house neutral.
4.Clean! No one wants to buy a dirty house. A double spring cleaning is in order. Clean the grease and grime out of the kitchen. Get rid of the mold in the bathroom. Clean the dirt and cobwebs out of the basement. Dust in places you haven't dusted in 10 years. Clean all the windows. Air out your house. A stale and musty smell is a real turn off. Keep it fresh and make it sparkle.
5.Paint. One of the cheapest ways to freshen up the inside of a house is with a fresh coat of paint. A good neutral color will do wonders. Patch the holes in the wall while you are at it. Don't forget ?ceiling white?. Another fairly inexpensive item that can make a room standout is by adding crown molding.
6.Landscape. Start with picking up the yard and any clutter. Trim up overgrown bushes and trees. Repair or replace any broken steps, retaining walls, gutters, concrete, fences or decks. Power wash your deck and give it a new coat of sealer or stain. Same with a wooded fence if it needs it. 7.Carpets and floors. Buyers love wood floors! If you have original wood floors covered by carpet, consider taking out the carpet and having the wood floors refinished. Replace old, worn or outdated carpet. Newer carpet should be professionally cleaned. New wood floors or vinyl floors can be an inexpensive upgrade.
8.Kitchens and bathrooms. Kitchens can make or break a sale. A total remodel usually is not necessary. Depending on your budget, you can paint the cabinets, have them refaced or simply add new hardware. New laminate countertops are inexpensive. Replace appliances that are old and outdated. Make use of the space if you have room for an eat-in kitchen. Replace the sink and faucet if it is old. Update the lighting. Smelly dingy bathrooms are a turn off. New paint, lighting and an updated vanity will impress buyers. Regrouting old tile will make it look like new.
9.Staging. There are professionals that will come in and arrange your furniture to maximize your space. Old ratty sofas should be move out. Clear out all unnecessary furniture. You want your home to flow and look comfortable, inviting and clutter free.
10.Set a realistic price. Pricing your home 1-2 percent less than similar homes in your area will help close the sale. The higher your price over comparable homes the longer it will sit on the market.
Start preparing your home for sale today and you will have a buyer in no time. Not only will you sell your home quicker but by following these 10 steps you will probably get more money than you would if you did nothing.
Both Thomas Griffin & Tom J. Smith are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Thomas Griffin has sinced written about articles on various topics from College Education, Marketing Secrets and How to Sell on Ebay. Thomas Griffen is the CEO of Urbanload. Do you want to make easy money on eBay? Over 2000 resellers can't be wrong. Urbanload offers you the best