How to Have a Successful eBay Store

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By A. Suzanne Wells
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Have a Successful eBay Store

Having an eBay store can help you generate more income than just running auctions. Here are several tips to help you get the most out of your eBay store by using eBay features, traffic techniques, and marketing strategies.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Computer with internet connection
eBay account
eBay store subscription
Paypal account

Step 1

Use the eBay Store traffic reports. With this info, you can make educated decisions about your store traffic that will improve sales - such as removing items that aren't being viewed, determining what key words are most valuable in your title, or what domains are referring most of your traffic.
Step 2

Run 1-cent auctions to drive traffic to your store. Think of these auctions as “advertisements” that will drive shoppers into your store - similar to the way grocery stores advertise specials for a penny. You will drive customers into your store who may buy other items, or bookmark your store and return later.
Step 3

List your entire inventory in your eBay Store. At 6 cents per listing, 500 items will only cost $25 per month. These products will show up on search engines, driving traffic to your store, and on eBay searches. The more items you have out there to pull buyers in, the more buyers you have the capability to attract. Remember, people can't buy what they can't see.
Step 4

Accept PayPal as a payment method. Over 80% of eBay users have a Paypal account, and use it as their preferred method of payment. If you don't offer Paypal as a payment option, you will significantly limit the number of eBay users who are able buy from you.
Step 5

Have a fair return policy. Customers may not use it, but they may buy from you over your competition if you have a fair return policy, and the competition doesn’t. If an item is returned, you can always relist it and sell it again. You will gain much more in sales, than you will lose in refunds, by having a fair return policy.
Step 6

Keep your shipping fees fair and competitive. Check on your competition to see what they charge for similar items, and make sure you are in line with the mainstream. eBay buyers don't like to be price gouged on shipping. Also, be sure to ship your items quickly.
Step 7

Offer a shipping discount - this is a great incentive for customers to purchase more items from you that can be included in the same shipment.
Step 8

Offer international shipping. 49% of the 244 million eBay users are outside of the USA. You want to be able to capture the international segment of the eBay market.(See my eHow article on international shipping.)
Step 9

Use an auction hosting service such as Seller Sourcebook. For a small monthly fee, you will have access to thousands of templates that will "dress up" your listings and make them more visually appealing.
Step 10

Always use best offer on your items. You will sell more items, and appear as a more flexible, accommodating seller.

Comments

ceniamari said

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on 10/31/2009 Great tips on having a successful eBay store.

neverscamme said

on 9/13/2009 I hate being lied to, and if an item was listed as New and was not disclosed in the auction description as smelling of smoke, I will leave negative feedback and an extremely low DSR. Any item that reeks of smoke is NOT new. I never bid on smokey items. Want to avoid negative feedback and terrible DSR's, Sellers? Then never, ever lie to a Buyer!