I receive a few emails a week from people asking me to “help” them sell online. I don’t mind these emails, but …there is no easy way to sell online. Sorry. So I decided to write up a small basic plan that anyone who ever wanted to sell online can use to get started.
First things first-what do you want to sell? I always say choose things you are familiar with and enjoy. Why sell hot wheel cars if you hate them? Antiques are fab, but if you know nothing about them then you are going to waste a majority of your time learning about them rather then selling them.
2-Start small. Sell items from around your house. Don’t put yourself in debt over inventory if your not even sure you’ll be doing this 1 week from not.Get a feel for it. I have talked to so many people that tell me, “Oh, you sell on line? Wow, I’m going to do that-it looks so easy.” Uh huh, you keep thinking that.
3-Finding a venue. There are 3 ways to sell online. On a venue (Ebay, Amazon, Ruby Lane, ect…), your own website, or through a third party (consignors).
Using an established venue is easy peasy and garners you max exposure for minimum price. However there are pros and cons to this deal. The number 1 pro- You have a company that has millions of dollars to spend on advertising for you. The number 1 con-you have to follow all THEIR rules. Yup. And trust me, most venues have more rules then a Catholic all girls school for the sexually promiscuous.
Working up your own website is great, but I advise this for experienced sellers. You will have to do EVERYTHING. And keep in mind that you are competing against MILLIONS of other sellers online. I spend about 2 hrs total a day just in advertising my stand alone web store.
4-RESEARCH!!!!
RESEARCH!!!!
RESEARCH!!!!
I cannot stress that enough. You can ask me or any other seller a million times a day but what works for us may not work for you. I know sellers who can push no name brands all day long while I couldn’t sell one to a naked man in the dead of winter. Also, we’ve all spent years doing just this- RESEARCH. You need to know what is hot and what is not. Budgeting. Laws in your state. Accounting. Taxes. Shipping and handling. Finding suppliers. Getting the best prices. Horning your fake VS real eye. HTML. Submitting to search engines. Ect…
5-If it sounds to good to be true, it probably is. I’m sorry but if everyone could buy the, “Make a Million Dollars in just 3 Days” cds and actually MAKE a million dollars well, then we would all be doing it wouldn’t we? What we have here is a seller who has found their nich. Selling information that you have to ….wait for it….RESEARCH. And the so called “secret lists”? Ummm, no. All your paying for is someone else to do your research. the to write and beg for product. Plus, designers do not sell wholesale to small sellers.
Working from home is one of the best but hardest jobs I’ve ever had. I have to budget my time accordingly. I have to be VERY committed and structured through out the day. I also do not get the same respect or privacy that one working from an office might get. But I wouldn’t trade it for the world as I get to spend more time with my family and I am my own boss.
Got any tips to add? I’d love to hear them. :)
2 comments:
this was so helpful- i eventually want to try this but being cautious and doing my homework first. i like what you said about trying to sell what you already have to test the waters. thnx for sharing sista girl! XO, elle renee
e.renee-Ahhh your welcome. :)
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