| One key for business success using eBay is | | | | |
| sourcing products to sell. The first | | | | For conducting good research, you need time |
| questions eBay sellers should ask themselves | | | | and organization. There are different |
| are: "What can I sell?" and "Where can I | | | | software programs in the market that can help |
| buy?" | | | | you save time as well as optimize your |
| | | | research. |
| There are two kinds of sellers on eBay, | | | | |
| garage sellers and business sellers. Garage | | | | Now that you are becoming an eBay expert and |
| sellers are people who sell products they are | | | | have conducted a proper search, you are |
| not going to use any more and that are | | | | almost ready to start your business. Before |
| usually not new. | | | | starting to sell, you need to buy! Here are |
| | | | some ideas from where you can source |
| Garage sellers are not profit driven, their | | | | products: |
| main objective is usually to get rid of some | | | | |
| stuff they don't need. They will be happy to | | | | 1. Write your own e-book and sell it. If you |
| make some money by selling something that is | | | | have any passion or are an expert on a |
| no longer useful to them. On the other hand, | | | | subject for which you can find a niche in |
| business sellers are people who will buy and | | | | eBay, do not hesitate to spend some time on |
| sell products for profit, they consider eBay | | | | writing your own book. The advantage of this |
| a business and need to earn profit on the | | | | is that after your initial time investment, |
| products they sell. | | | | you can sell and sell copies of the book |
| | | | without having any additional costs. Selling |
| The first key to success for business sellers | | | | information products is one of the most |
| is an old marketing rule, RESEARCH. The | | | | profitable businesses. Even if you are not an |
| products you need to sell are products that | | | | expert writer, you can find other people who |
| eBay buyers will want to buy. Apart from | | | | can write the book for you. |
| being a massive market place, eBay offers you | | | | |
| a cheap source of research that you can | | | | 2. Use drop-shipping. There are wholesalers |
| conduct without moving from your computer. | | | | that will sell you products and send them to |
| | | | the address that you tell them. The advantage |
| If you are a business seller, it is | | | | of this source is that you do not need to |
| fundamental that you spend some time | | | | carry inventories, so your investments are |
| researching before you decide which products | | | | minimized. After your auction is finished, |
| you want to sell. Follow these research | | | | you send them your customers address and they |
| guidelines: | | | | will do all the shipping. If you decide to |
| | | | use this kind of source, you need to make |
| 1. Search for the categories that are most | | | | sure that your auctions winning price can be |
| popular. The first index is the number of | | | | higher than the price you will pay for the |
| listings that exist under each category. In | | | | articles. At minimum you should expect to |
| addition, you need to look at how many bids | | | | double your costs. |
| the products have. | | | | |
| | | | 3. Buy from eBay. Many eBayers success comes |
| 2. Look at the ratings of the sellers who are | | | | from knowing how to buy well on eBay and sell |
| listing products in each category and study | | | | the same products at a higher price. If you |
| their profiles. See how many products they | | | | know your category very well, you can easily |
| are selling and how many products they have | | | | find opportunities that will allow you to buy |
| sold in the past. | | | | and resell making profit. Again, solid |
| | | | research is fundamental. |
| 3. Analyze prices. You need to become an | | | | |
| expert in your category and you need to know | | | | 4. Buy Asiatic products. If you are willing |
| at which price a product is worth buying as | | | | to carry some inventories, you can invest on |
| well as the expected final winning price of | | | | Asiatic products and buy them for a very |
| your auction. | | | | cheap price. You can easily start importing |
| | | | Asiatic products from the Internet at |
| 4. Select no more than one or two categories. | | | | |
| "Specialization" is another basic rule of | | | | 5. Sell local products. If you live in an |
| marketing. It is better to become an expert | | | | area that produces local products which can |
| on something, as this will inspire confidence | | | | be bought at a cheap price and shipped to |
| and trust in your potential customers. Online | | | | other areas where people would pay more, you |
| marketing is all about trust. | | | | should take advantage of the situation. |