How to get started AND make profit right away. If you’re serious about having your own online store; who will help you to get your business going? Even if you’ve never sold a single item online. How can just about anybody do it without having experience? There are a handful of online auction operations who will supply you with all the tools you need to help you decide what to sell; set up a web site that is totally your own online store where you will list and sell your items. A few even have the ability to link your website to many other online merchants so that if someone comes to your site looking for something you don’t have available -- but they find the item at another one of their private label websites, you will get a finders fee for providing the referral link that helps the buyer and seller to find each other. So you could even make money when someone stops by your virtual store and finds what they want in another merchant’s store by using their every store search engine even though they are starting from your store.
Even though this new web set-up is pretty much automated, you may want to read a few tips about starting your online business before you get started. Here are some of the basics you should consider before starting your online business with any auction sponsors or other online service providers.
What will you be selling? Most online business experts agree that you need to sell something you know quite a lot about. If you are knowledgeable, have some interest even a passion for some product, service or information you will enjoy your business experience more and can have FUN while you are making a profit. Just as with any business, people who plan ahead have a better chance of reaching their goals. Otherwise, how will you know when you arrive? With the help of a good auction provider, you may identify and even find sources for whatever you may want to sell.
Where will you offer your items for sale?, You will have many choices of places where you can sell your items. You should look around at the various competitors and find out what some of the alternatives are before you decide.
How will you replenish your inventory? If you have an information product, such as books, data, e-zines or anything else for which you can control the supply or your own services this may not be an issue, however, if you are selling collectibles or other products there is likely to be a finite supply so you will need to plan for how to get access to more products so you don’t run out of something to sell. There are several sources you may want to explore; online, local shops, other auction sites, consignment, classifieds, wholesalers, drop shippers and more. You may want to seek out a provider who will provide you with several resources and more tips and methods to help you to identify additional supply sources. How will you set up your auction web-site? So that you don’t have to be a web designer and you won’t have to hire any expensive designers I recommend that you find an auction provider who will provide you with a complete “private label” website so that you will have a turnkey online store right away. By “private label” I mean your online store will be unique to you and will carry your business identity. The website should be powered by a template and search engine which will give you and your potential customers’ access to many other private label online merchants. Just as you may get paid for referring customers to other merchants other merchants may refer customers to you and be paid a fee for finding you a customer.
List your items. This process can be overwhelming if you have not ever done it before. Even if you an old hand, you need to find a provider who offers you a step by step method that allows even online beginners to make professional looking presentations to their audience. With graphics, photos and great layout – you have a better chance of selling your items faster and for more profit.
How will you get paid? I am assuming that you want to make some money and this is why you are considering opening up an online auction business. If so, you need to find a provider who will make it easy for you to get a PayPal account and help you accept credit cards and other forms of payment. If you never did any of these or if you are experienced you still need a provider who makes it as easy for you and your customer to exchange goods for payments as possible. The direct payment to your bank or savings account is one of the best ways you can know that you are shipping to a reliable buyer – and if you are selling a download, you must be sure that you get paid before the download is made available to your customer. All these factors need to be considered in selecting an online provider.
How to make repeat sales? You need to thank your customers for shopping in your online store; you need to add value by offering free or discounted shipping or other incentives for additional items and repeat sales. You also need to build a list of both shoppers and buyers. You need to find an auction provider who helps you in these areas buy including automated features to help you become a preferred source for the products you sell.
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www.auctioncities.comHow to Make a Profit Right Away ©2006 by Steve Vicory
Business Consultant and author of Business White Papers, Direct Marketing Copy, Ad Copy, Press Copy, Features and business exit strategies.
