10 Ways To Boost Your eBay Business To PowerSeller Status

10 Ways To Boost Your eBay Business To PowerSeller Status
By Mark Kenny

Going once! Going twice! Sold! Sound familiar? It's the sound of a traditional live auction but, thanks to the technology of today, you can buy and sell 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Many people have chosen eBay as a work-at-home career and many are quite successful at it. Gone are the days of having to wake up early and get out to the auction before all of the treasures are gone. These days, a world of treasures are no further than the click of a mouse.

Because many people list auctions each and every day, eBay offers PowerSeller recognition to qualified sellers. In order to be selected, you must generate an average of $1,000.00 in sales for 3 consecutive months. This will get you listed as an entry level PowerSeller and, as revenue increases so will your membership.

There are wonderful opportunities for the casual seller but, for individuals who are looking to earn some serious cash, here are 10 tips to get you started.

1. Find a niche and stick with it. If you want to sell collectibles, sell only collectibles. Buyers will recognize you as a specialized seller and respect your presence as a knowledgeable expert.

2. Sell what you know. If you are an expert in jewelry, make it your business. When people ask questions about your merchandise, they will feel comfortable dealing with someone who is so well-educated about their products.

3. Be competitive. Auctions start as low as $0.01, but avoid this method unless you use a reserve or can afford to take the chance. To be competitive, you need to offer one of the best opening prices, reasonable shipping rates and provide a terrific description. You will also need to list your shipping and payment policies clearly.

4. Buy in quantity. If you are in a position to do so, buy in large quantities and enjoy the discounted cost for bulk buyers. By purchasing large quantities of one item, you can save big bucks and pass those savings onto your customers. When you list an auction, sell at a fixed price and offer all of the items under one listing fee. For example, if you have 30 rings that you want to sell for $9.99, select the Fixed Price listing option. When prompted, enter a quantity of 30 and a price of $9.99. With this one auction, you have the potential to sell all 30 rings and only pay one listing fee. If you are selling the right product, and the right price to match, this method will work wonders.

5. Offer customer incentives. If your budget allows it, send your buyers a 10% off coupon with every order. Print off some coupons on your computer and let your customers know that they can apply them to their next purchase. This will entice them to return to your auctions and, the more bids that everyone sees on your items, the more appealing your products become.

6. When shipping your items, pay close attention to the presentation. If you are selling jewelry, purchase gift boxes in bulk and place one piece of jewelry per box. Place the jewelry inside of a small jewelry ziploc before fitting it inside the gift box. Your customers will appreciate having their jewelry delivered in a brand new gift box and, if it's a gift, it will be ready to present to the recipient.

7. Customer service is important. Answer questions promptly and always be courteous. Not every question will make sense, but be patient as new people sign up and try to adapt to online auctions. You may get questions about everything from how to bid and pay to questions about your product. Buyers will appreciate if you take the time to walk them through the process, especially if they are new. We all need a little help now and then.

8. As your business becomes more established, search for more wholesale and distributor companies to order from. The larger companies, which offer some of the lowest prices, also require a minimum order. This can be inconvenient when you're just getting started and have a tight budget, but if you have the cash to spare - check out some of the large wholesalers and take advantage of their minimum orders. Dollar for dollar, they have some of the best deals for the lowest prices, but you have to agree to buy a fair amount from them.

9. Be creative. If you have an idea that nobody else has tried yet, go for it. If you like autographs, turn it into a business. Take the autographs and turn them into a quilt by having quilt squares signed, sewing them together and presenting a rare autographed quilt. You are limited only by your own imagination.

10. The last and final tip to boosting your eBay business into a PowerSeller status is to stay positive. It takes awhile to get there, but you can make it. Becoming a serious presence on such a large auction site will take a lot of hard work, dedication and customer service skills. You must have patience and you cannot give up. There will be other businesses competing against you at every turn. If you sell for $9.99, someone else may offer a similar product for $8.99. But, don't worry - you will develop loyal customers and they will return to buy from you. A final thought - never tell anyone about your wholesale source. You may get questions asking you to disclose where you got the items, but don't reply. These are likely other sellers trying to find out where you got the great deals.

Mark Kenny offers eBay related turnkey businsesses at http://trading-web-solutions.com You can download his eBay Maximum Profits mini-course by sending a blank email to taebay@aweber.com

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