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