What Is eBay?
So what is eBay anyway? You probably already have some idea of what eBay is, but let me elaborate a little further.
One way to look at eBay is to imagine a worldwide newspaper full of classified ads listing products and services for sale. Or perhaps a "For Sale" bulletin board that millions of people can see. Of course, eBay charges sellers to put an ad up, but the exposure to the millions of worldwide buyers is worth it.
Also, anyone can put almost anything for sale on eBay. You've probably heard the ridiculous news stories of items that you'd never expect to sell. Like a grilled cheese sandwich with the (supposed) image of the Virgin Mary that sold for $28,000.
However, not every seller is "out to lunch." With over 276 million users on eBay, there will be some oddballs, but the majority are average hard-working people just like you or I.
These millions of users are part of the eBay "community." When you have registered on eBay, you'll deal with other users directly. Any purchase you make are between you and the other seller. All transactions happen one-on-one, just like it would in a marketplace in a town square. eBay is just the venue where the buyers and sellers meet. One on one, they haggle over the price and then complete the transaction.
When you first get started on eBay you might start to get overwhelmed. After all, there are 3.6 million listings added every day and you might wonder how you'll get noticed. Don't worry, it gets easier with experience. In time, you can learn the tricks of the trade to get noticed and .
The key is to find someone who has already been there and ask if they can show you the ropes. Find a seller who has been selling on eBay for many months or years. Look at their feedback and see if they are providing a good customer experience.
You can also look for an Education Specialist trained by eBay. These people have taken a special course to be able to teach beginning eBayers how to get started on eBay. They will be glad to help you get started.
It doesn't matter whether you're young or old. The great thing about eBay is that anyone can get started no matter who what their level of experience. You can get started even if you know nothing about computers or e-commerce. Everyone starts at the same place, with 0 feedback and no experience. You can learn how to sell on eBay. With time and experience, you'll become a successful eBay seller.
Jesse Holmes is an eBay PowerSeller and Entrepreneur who has been for more than 3 years. Before you start selling on eBay, don't miss his excellent free eBay Business Start Up Kit, showing you step by step how to .
3 Ways To Get Product On eBay
It doesn't matter if you're a beginner, intermediate, or advanced eBay seller. All levels of experience must follow three basic product sourcing models to sell on eBay.
The first product sourcing model is to sell the products of those around you in your community. You can become an eBay Trading Assistant to do this, which means that you help other people sell on eBay and charge a commission to do it.
Second, you can sell many one of a kind or unique items. For example, maybe you specialize in selling antiques. Every item is unique, and every item needs new pictures and descriptions. If you choose this product sourcing model, there are a few benefits. One of these benefits is that you'll hopefully get to sell to a group of people who can't wait to see what you'll list next. You can really build a following of people naturally and easily. For example, let's say you sold Native American hand-carved figurines. If you had a following of people who collected these, they would be waiting on the edge of their seats to see what you'll list next. There's excitement and anticipation there.
One of the disadvantages of selling one-of-a-kind items is that it is more time consuming than some other methods of listing items. For example, you'll never be able to take advantage of buying multiple quantities. You'll need to become really efficient at listing products, because that's where you can get bogged down. You'll juggle your time between finding the products to sell and actually listing the products that you've found.
The third model is the model that I've found works the best. This model is to buy inventory in bulk quantities. Why do I (and thousands of other successful powersellers) choose this model? Well, it means that you save tons of time in creating the listings. You take the pictures, write the description and title, and then once you're done the one listing, you're done! However many items you have in stock are now available for purchase. No more taking pictures or re-doing the descriptions and titles. You can set it and forget it because you'll get paid multiple times for the work you do once. You make one listing and sell hundreds of that one product. One of the disadvantages to this model is that the competition is strong, and that's because the model is so popular. Yet if you learn the strategies of eBay success, you'll hold your own and make money on eBay.
Jesse Holmes is an eBay PowerSeller who has been for over 3 years. Before you start selling on eBay, make sure you check out his excellent free eBay Business Start Up Kit, showing you step by step how to .
What Do I Sell On eBay?
By far the most popular question I hear from entrepreneurs stating to sell on eBay is "what do I sell?" That is a question that if you can properly answer, you'll have success on eBay. What's my answer? I'll tell you in a minute. First, I need to explain why it's so easy to get stuck here. (Don't worry, I've been there too.)
The main reason why this is such a roadblock is because eBay is a product-centered business. You need to have something to sell or you won't be in business. You need to buy product at low cost and sell higher. It's a simple model, and you're probably saying "yeah, I know that." Listen for just a minute.
Someone who gets stuck here is the same type of person who might get stuck figuring out which stock to buy in the stock market. It's the same model, right? Buy a stock low, sell it high. Buy inventory low, sell it for more on eBay.
Think about what makes a really successful stock trader. They can see which stocks are going to go up. They look at what the market is doing right now, they look at what the price of the stock is, and they make the call.
A good stock trader will be someone who doesn't just focus on one stock. Instead, they focus on the principles of how to buy a good stock. They look for the winning qualities. They then filter through the many options to find those winners. Well it works the same way with finding products to sell on eBay. You need to educate yourself. You need to figure out what the market is doing. Then you need to be able to make the call when the situation demands it.
So what's the key ingredient to find product to sell on eBay? It's all about having the proper mindset. By training yourself to see opportunities, you'll be prepared for them when they arrive. There are literally products all around you to sell on eBay. It's just getting yourself in the proper business mindset to see the opportunities, and training yourself to be able to recognize a winner when you see one. We call this "the Seller's Mindset" which means you're always looking for things to sell on eBay.
Maybe you're still wondering what to sell.
If you're brand new to eBay, my recommendation is that you begin to sell stuff that you don't need. There's probably an area of your house that is too cluttered, whether it's the attic, a closet, or the basement. Instead of having a yard sale, see if you can sell it on eBay. You'll build your feedback ratings and be well on your way to becoming a better eBay entrepreneur.
Jesse Holmes is an eBay PowerSeller who has been for more than 3 years. Before you start to sell on eBay, don't miss his excellent free eBay Business Start Up Kit, showing you step by step how to .
How to Easily Find Products to Sell on eBay
Looking to sell on eBay? Does the $60 billion dollar marketplace catch your eye and make you want to slice out a piece for yourself? I don't blame you, but where are you going to find product to sell?
That's likely the most common question that comes up for new eBay sellers. You've gotta have something to sell. No products, no sales. No sales, no business, right?
Many people get stuck here, but it doesn't have to be hard.
Once you figure out what you , you need to understand that are many manufacturers looking to sell those products. Let's call it WidgetX.
Perhaps you can find WidgetX in online stores, retail stores, or catalogs. No matter where you can buy it today, you don't want to start at the retail end of the supply chain. The higher up you are on the supply chain, the better prices you are going to get. If the top of the supply chain is the manufacturer, that is where the best prices are going to be.
Getting a hold of the manufacturer and finding their authorized wholesalers is what you need to do. Aside from a direct phone call, the best way to get a hold of the manufacturer is to go to a trade show. Trade shows are the best place for retailers and manufacturers to get together, and are perfect for you to make some deals for your eBay business.
First, determine which industry creates your product and then the trade show that is involved. Selling consumer electronics? Check out the Consumer Electronics Show. Selling garden supplies? Check out a gardening trade show.
If you don't have the proper papers you might have a hard time getting into a trade show. You need to make sure your eBay business is registered and that have the proper forms filled out with your government. You need to be able to show at the door that you are a real business, and if you can't they might turn you away.
However, there's a veritable gold mine of suppliers once you're inside. There will be new product ideas all around you. Be sure to grab some business cards, talk to suppliers, and network like crazy. Once you build some supplier relationships you'll have an endless supply of products to sell on eBay.
Jesse Holmes is an eBay PowerSeller and Entrepreneur who has been for over 3 years. Before you start to sell on eBay, you need to check out his excellent free eBay Business Start Up Kit, showing you step by step how to .
So… Should You Sell on eBay?
When I tell people that I sell on eBay for a living, many people are surprised. "You can do that? Does your business do well in this economy?" My answer to both of those questions is "yes."
You see, I've tried both online and offline business models, and eBay is the only one that worked for me. I had a painting business where I had 15 people working for me. You'd think that with so many employees, I'd be able to make a significant profit. Not true. What happened was I paid all my employees and at the end of the day, there wasn't anything left for me.
eBay was a radical shift from this. I didn't have to pay everyone else first. I had no employees, no overhead expenses. I didn't have to worry about driving all across the city to deliver paint cans and move my crews. The hassle was gone. All I had to do was sit in front of the computer for a bit, and then when someone paid, take a few minutes to put my item in a box. I could see the exact results for everything that I put in. I would put time in and get results out. It was so liberating.
I'll always remember when I made my first sale on eBay. It was a Friday night and I was going out for dinner with my family. I looked at the PayPal account before I left and it said $0. So we went out and had a nice dinner. When I check the PayPal account again, there was money! It was so exciting to see that I made money while I was doing something completely unrelated. I went out for dinner and made money! I'm still amazed when I wake up in the morning and found that I've made money while I sleep.
So what's the conclusion? Yes, you can sell on eBay. Yes, I feel that creating an eBay business is one of the best businesses you can start. It's up to you to decide whether you want to do it too.
Joel Holmes is an eBay PowerSeller and Entrepreneur who has been for more than 3 years. Before you start to sell on eBay, you need to check out his excellent free eBay Business Start Up Kit, showing you step by step how to .
How To Sell On Ebay – What You Need To Get Started
Many people just like you are starting to see why eBay is a great opportunity to make extra money. Some people might be selling on eBay to make a few extra dollars each month. Other sellers might have a specific goal to cover utilities or other household expenses. Others might want to buy a car. Others still are learning how to sell on eBay to cover all of their bills and living expenses. Does that sound impossible? Well thousands of people are doing it right now.
Before you start selling on eBay, you need to have some sort of goal. By having a goal, you will have the direction you need in order to make the best use of your time on eBay. Often people set a "goal" of "making extra money." This isn't really a goal however, because it isn't specific enough. How much money are you thinking about making? When you know how much money you want to have you can begin to create a plan to get you there. A good business person always has a plan of action. Without a plan of action you are you are not going to reach your goal.
Aside from your plan, you will also need some important tools. Obviously, you'll need a computer, but you'll also need a printer, a digital camera, items to sell, a PayPal account, an eBay sellers account, a postal scale, and packaging materials. Most of these you could probably think of, but many new eBay sellers forget the importance of a postal scale
When you're learning how to sell on eBay, you will quickly learn that buyers do not like paying more for shipping then it actually costs. It's against eBay policy to charge excessive shipping and handling. It's also unfair to you as the seller to under charge for shipping expenses and have to pay for shipping costs out of your own pocket.
By placing the wrapped and securely packaged item on the scale, you will be able to see what the exact weight is. By getting this information you will be able to determine the exact cost to mail the item according to the pricing at the post office. Also make sure that you are taking additional shipping fees into consideration. These fees may include delivery confirmation and insurance for those items that are worth a good bit of money.
Some eBay sellers will cover the shipping costs out of their pocket for high-ticket items as a sort of "bonus" for the buyer. This is considered to be good customer service. However, whether you or the buyer pays for insurance coverage, make sure you have it for high-priced items. You can never be too safe.
Jesse Holmes is an eBay PowerSeller and Entrepreneur who has been for more than 3 years. Before you start selling on eBay, don't miss his excellent free eBay Business Start Up Kit, showing you step by step how to .
Is Working On eBay Too Hard?
Back when I was in high school, I had a summer job corn detasseling. (In case you didn't know, detasseling is going out into the fields and taking the tassel out of a corn stock to create seed corn.) I would wake up at the crack of dawn, eat something for breakfast, and then head out to the pick-up stop, where a bus would take me, a buddy of mine, and a few other workers out to the corn field. Now if you've never been in a corn field early in the morning, let me tell you, it's not the best place to be. The corn is wet from the morning dew, and of course, there are plenty of insects hopping from corn stalk to corn stalk. Grasshoppers were the most common. Getting into the field was always the hardest, because I'd go from being somewhat warm and dry to being cold and wet and covered with bugs.
After working a full 10 hour day in the fields, I would then head home and collapse into bed exhausted. The next day, I'd do it all over again.
Maybe you're asking, "what does this have to do with selling on eBay?" Well the answer is that many people who want to start selling online expect everything to be easy. While I do believe that eBay is the quickest and easiest way to make money online, that doesn't mean that you won't be challenged by it. That's why I started off by telling my story about corn detasseling. Yes it was hard work, and the first time I did it, I didn't know what was happening. It was a slow process to learn. It was hard. Even when I did know what to do, it wasn't easy to get going in the morning.
Soon, though, after I got my lazy butt out of bed and got into a routine, the job wasn't that bad. In fact, I even began to enjoy it. I didn't mind working a long day as much as I used to. I saw that I was doing a better job, becoming faster and more efficient. I also knew that I was making good money while I was doing it. I just kept pushing through my discomfort until I was way outside my comfort zone.
Think about an experience in your life where you've pushed harder than you have before. Maybe it was to start something new, or to achieve a particular goal. Remember what that feels like. Now take that feeling of intensity and apply it to opening up an eBay business. Yes, you'll find some challenges with eBay, as with any business that you plan to open. But in the big picture, opening an eBay business is one of the easier ways to get started.
You won't have to go corn detassling like I did, fighting cold and wet fields. You won't have to fight the heat of the day on a hot summer afternoon. All you'll have to do is take the few steps that are necessary. Maybe the hardest thing you'll have to to is to package something up and take it to the post office.
The conclusion? eBay isn't hard work. Don't make excuses. Have the right attitude and don't let anything hold you back. If you work hard, you'll see almost instant success with eBay.
Joel Holmes is an eBay PowerSeller and Entrepreneur who has been for more than 3 years. Before you start to sell on eBay, you need to check out his excellent free eBay Business Start Up Kit, showing you step by step how to .
Selling on eBay – Getting Connected
So you're starting your eBay business? That's awesome. And as I've said many times before, I think that eBay is the fastest and easiest way to get started selling online. No other website can even touch the $60 billion marketplace that is eBay.
However, what many beginners forget is that in order to be successful online, you can't be a lone ranger. Sure you can run a successful eBay business from your home, but if you're in business, you'll have to connect with other businesses. To get the maximum profits, it's likely that you'll have to deal with other big businesses that aren't home based.
The best way to get what you want in life is to help other people get what they want. From the moment you start your business, you need to remember that you are only in business as long as you're helping your customers. What's the quickest way to see if you're helping enough people? Check how much money you have in your bank account. If your bank balance is low, then you're not helping many people. If you want to grow your bank balance, you need to help more people.
So what's the best way to help and connect with people? Get out there. Talk to local store owners. Go to business luncheons in your community. Carry your business cards around with you everywhere. Let everyone know that you sell on eBay, not just friends and family.
The more you get connected with people in your community, the more opportunities you have for you to help them (and them to help you). Think about businesses that you could help. Could you help them sell excess inventory? Are there other local businesses that need help to sell their products online? What about individuals that may need their antiques sold? When you start looking around, you'll see opportunities all around you.
The bottom line? Get connected with people. The more connections you make, the more people you can help. The more people you can help, the more successful you'll become.
Jesse Holmes is an expert eBay Powerseller, author, speaker and consultant. He is willing to show you with his easy to follow , but only for a limited time. Go now for exclusive free access!
Never Run Out Of eBay Products
Let's say you're just getting started on eBay. You've opened up your account and now you're looking for something to sell. If you've already followed our advice to sell the stuff around your house you may be wondering what to sell next. Sure, your attic and closets may be clean, and you've gotten rid of the clutter, but now what?
The lifeblood of your eBay business is products. If you have no products to sell, you're not in business. So, how would you like an unlimited supply of products when you're getting started?
If so, then you should consider becoming an eBay Trading Assistant. A Trading Assistant is someone who "assists" another person sell an item on eBay. This means that you'll take care of everything related to selling for that other person. You'll take the pictures, write the descriptions, set the pricing and everything. So if your Aunt Gertrude wants you to sell her antiques on eBay, the you'll be a Trading Assistant to her.
Now since your Aunt Gertrude is so dear to you, you might do this for free. For other people in your community, you'd likely charge them a commission for your time and energy. Or, you could buy their products and resell them yourself.
It's really that simple to have an unlimited supply of products. Everyone you can think of has something extra cluttering up their house. Why not help them get rid of it (and help yourself in the process)? eBay estimates that most people have over $1000 worth of items around the house that are being unused. You can easily see that tapping into this for just a few people will keep you busy for weeks to come.
Now if you choose to be a Trading Assistant, there are two ways to do it. First, you can do it the "official way" by registering on eBay. This allows you to be listed in the eBay Trading Assistant directory, but in order to do this, you need to meet a few requirements. You need to have a feedback score of 100 with 98% positive feedback, have sold 10 items in the previous 3 months, and have your eBay account in good standing. For more information, you can go to www.tradingassistant.com.
If you don't meet eBay's requirements, however, don't let that discourage you. You can still be a Trading Assistant "unofficially." eBay can't stop you from helping other people sell on eBay. The only real difference between being "offical" or "unofficial" is whether or not you can use eBay's official Trading Assistant logo and be listed in the directory of Trading Assistants (so others can go onto eBay and find you). But regardless of whether you choose to be official or not, it's always up to you to find who you can help.
Here are some ways you can promote yourself as a Trading Assistant. First, get the word out. Ask your neighbors if they have anything to sell on eBay. Talk to your friends about it. The more people know that you are the guy (or gal) to go to for selling on eBay, then the more products you'll have to sell. You can also post flyers around town, or put a classified ad in the paper advertising your services.
So what's the conclusion? There's really no end of products you can sell when you become a Trading Assistant. You'll be the person everyone turns to when they have a question about eBay.
Joel Holmes is a skilled eBay Powerseller, author, speaker and consultant. He is willing to take you step by step and show you with his easy to follow , but only for a limited time. Go now for exclusive free access!
How To Find Your eBay Niche
After you've gained some experience selling on eBay, you need to ask yourself what product category you want to focus on. Since you can buy and sell almost anything on eBay, there are hundreds of thousands of options to choose from.
Back just a few short years ago, I was getting started. I didn't know what I wanted to sell. How did I decide? Well, let me tell you a bit about me. I'm a gadget geek. I know what electronics are going to come out before they do. I watch the gadget blogs. I keep tabs on what Apple is doing, and know when they are going to upgrade their iPhones. It's a hobby of mine.
It's a natural progression for me to go from looking at the latest and greatest gizmos to start to sell consumer electronics on eBay. Some of the first items I sold on eBay were electronics related. A PlayStation 2, an old Gameboy and other computer games. I knew that electronics was my forte. Soon (after clearing out the house from sellable electronics and random items) we found an electronics wholesaler. We started to sell webcams and other computer accessories. We still sell some of the same types of products to this day.
How does this story help you? Ask yourself... what do you like? Selling what you like will make your research and product buying a whole lot easier. Remember that whatever product category you choose to sell in, you'll be spending a lot of time working and figuring out what to sell. If you sell the types of products that you're already interested in, then the "work" of talking to suppliers and researching will be easier. (An added bonus is that if you sell what you like, you can always have one for yourself.))
Now, if you're just getting started on eBay, you need to realize that nothing is fixed in stone. If you have no idea what you like or what you could sell on eBay, the main thing to do is get started. Choose a category that you think you can develop. You can always change later if you don't know for sure. The main goal is to get moving forward.
Think about an airplane taking off from an airport. Does it always take off in the exact direction that it will end up? No. Most planes take off not pointed in the direction they eventually want to go, but when they are in the air, the pilot can make course adjustments. This applies to your business as well. Don't worry if you take off in a different direction than you want to go. The main point when you're a beginner is to get off the ground, and you do this by selling whatever you can at first. Once you're in the air, then you can change the direction you're going.
The most important thing you can do as a beginner is to just get going. If you choose to travel in too many directions at once, you'll never get anywhere. Sell stuff around your house. Then once you've run out of stuff to sell, think about what you'd like to sell. Just choose something (maybe based on your hobbies) so you have a direction to move in.
Jesse Holmes is the designer of the free . In this easy to follow video kit he will show you precisely quickly and easily! Get your exclusive free copy while supplies last.