Selling on eBay

Ever since eBay's inception back in 1995 eBay has exploded onto the scene to become an internet giant! In 2005 eBay generated 44 billion in gross merchandise sells alone and that was 4 years ago! Which goes to say that eBay has tons of product categories to buy and sell from. Choosing the right products to market and sell on eBay is a very large segment to cover but there are some tricks of the trade to make it a bit easier to complete. Always remember when it comes to online auctions you always make your money when you BUY! "Buying Low and Selling High"

But first I'd like to discuss selling on eBay to the relatively new sellers. If you are new to selling on eBay the best route of attack is selling items from around the house that you no longer have use for or just don't want any longer. This advice isn't new and for good reason, many reputable sellers alike recommend this method first so that the new seller can acclimate themselves to the auction process and the environment. eBay's auction process has become a very intricate system and it does take some getting used to for first time sellers. Everyone makes mistakes when they first start out so practice is essential! eBay has a very in depth guide to help new sellers select the best items around the house to sell, you can find that guide at this link http://pages.ebay.com/sellercentral/whatwouldyousell/what_to_sell_house.html

Reasons for starting out selling house items

• Feedback - This is a huge part of eBay's auction community. Feedback alerts buyers to a sellers status so to speak. With a feedback rating less than 10 it becomes increasingly harder for a buyer to have confidence in the sellers auction resulting in no sells. The first 100 sells are the hardest to accomplish but afterwards, you are seen as a reputable seller which allows for much more confidence in the buyer when viewing a sellers item.
• Selling agenda - Many people stick to one or two item categories when selling, giving the seller a very limited selling personality as it is called. Usually unless you are specializing in a specific category it is seen as a good thing to have a variety of sold items under your belt. This goes a long way to increase buyer confidence.

Moving on to small wholesale lots After you have sold everything possible within your home moving onto to small wholesale lots is the typical leap eBay sellers make.  I recommend buying wholesale lots of merchandise that people use mostly on a daily basis. The majority of these products are excellent sellers, plus they are much easier to obtain. Many new sellers make the mistake of trying to sell all things to all people. In fact, (disregarding what I said earlier about your selling personality which was only applying to new sellers trying to establish themselves) it is far better to sell to and target a specific group. At first selling to a specific group will mean slower sells as you the seller acclimates yourself to your target market, but in the long run, it'll mean that you'll be able to target that market segment much more precisely and efficiently reducing the chance of having in stock merchandise that you can't shift.

• Clothing : accessories, plus sizes, maternity, night wear.
• Kitchen : recipes, knife sets, toasters, microwaves
• Beauty : sunscreen, insect repellent, cosmetic & toiletry bags, men’s grooming
• Home decor : towels, sheets, rugs, throws, cushions, vases, mirrors
• Special occasion : wedding supplies, party supplies, mother-of-the bride outfits, bridal shoes, birthday cards
• Garden : lawn mowers, gardening tool sets, composter

There are many excellent wholesalers out there its finding them where the problem becomes troubling. Below are some of the most excellent wholesale sources that I have found and use on a regular basis. 

1. http://www.ppwdg.com
2. http://www.liquidation.com
3. http://www.laptopplaza.com
4. http://www.mkenterprise.com/
5. http://www.mypcsource.com/
6. http://www.mountainviewmovies.com/home
7. http://us.strawberrynet.com/main.aspx
8. http://www.megagoods.com/index.php
9. http://perfumemiami.com/index.php
10. http://www.dogsb.com/index.asp
11. http://www.lingeriemart.com/
12. http://www.gametronics.net/

Hobbies and interest
Before eBay collectors and buyers looking for unique items to buy were limited to finding and obtaining their items of interest from a street level (their local community's/country.) The internet itself has enabled many new communities to form around shared interests, and for you the seller this allows for new niche market segments to target. eBay's buyer report informs us that one of the top reasons buyers use eBay is to find unique items that they could not or would have had trouble finding elsewhere. A quick review of eBay's community groups will give you some excellent niche market segments to target. 

Top 8 eBay Selling Secrets Everyone Should know!

1. Research!

You need to make sure that there is a need for the item that you are selling. Run a search for your item and see how many items turn up from the search. Check other auctions for similar items and note how well and at what price they are selling.

2. List your item in the right category!

There are categories for the items to be put up for sale on eBay. The purpose of this is to have an organized tracking system for the products for sale. It is an eBay selling secret to put your item in exactly the right category where it belongs. If it's not placed correctly, people searching that specific category will not see it.

3. Keywords and descriptions are critical!

It is very important to use appropriate keywords to describe your product. Be genuine and precise in your descriptions. Your descriptions are critical to avoid any future problems or potential returns by buyers.

4. Put photos in your listings

It is an eBay selling secret to always use photos of the products during auctions. Photos lead to more sales than those that don't have photos.

By having a photo of the actual item, more buyers may take up interest. This eBay selling secret also helps to build more trust between you and the buyer.

5. Make the Buying process Easy! Sign up for PayPal!

Signing up for PayPal is another eBay selling secret that will gain you more buyers for your item. By making it easy to pay for, people tend to be inclined to buy on the spur of the moment.

6. List your items during "Hot Time" buying Periods!

It is an eBay selling secret to time your auction so that it ends during peak buying times.

Here's a reference:

Eastern Time Zone, list your auction between 9pm-11pm

Central Time Zone list between 8-10pm

Mountain Time Zone between 7-9pm

Pacific Time Zone list between 6-8pm.

By keeping to these Hot Time buying periods, your products will get much more exposure and you will see more sales.

7. Make an "About Me" Page or better yet, create a Website!

Having an "About Me" page in eBay is an eBay selling secret which let potential buyers get to know you. Having a website is an even better way to promote yourself. The more proffesional looking, the better.

8. Positive Feedback is Important

Having positive feedback is a necessary eBay selling secret. eBay buyers look at your feedback ratings before even thinking about buying from you. To get positive feedback, make sure you give good customer service and always be prompt and friendly.