eBay Search Juice Sellers Look For!

by | Sep 12, 2018 | eCommerce Tips, Selling on eBay, Social Media Tips

Sellers are looking for eBay search juice as we head into the fourth quarter of 2018.

Absolutely expect retail Holiday selling to be more competitive than ever. Two of the year’s most spendy retail moments, Halloween and Christmas, fall during Q4. So now’s the time to plan your strategy for getting buyers to spend with you. Feast your eyes on the following statistics:

To begin, in 2017, Halloween shoppers spent a record $9.1 billion.

So, that’s up from just $8.4 billion in 2016. That’s an average of $86.13 per buyer! Halloween gives shoppers a lot of bang for their buck. Typically customers spend about $30 per shopper on holiday décor. Other items most often purchased: candy and costumes (for men, women, children, and/or pets). Enjoy my complimentary Hot Halloween Product tips sheet with dozens of items that sell right now.

Strong Halloween sales are a good omen for sales during the all-important holiday season.

About 20% of the entire year’s sales take place during this key season. In 2017, holiday spending was up 5.5% year over year to $691.9 billion. More importantly for your business on eBay, e-commerce sales hit a record high of $108.2 billion — a 14.4% increase from 2016 — with 1/3 of those dollars spent via mobile device.

So how can you get your slice of the Q4 pumpkin pie?

First (and always), create great listings that get found in search.  But to really bring home the figgy pudding, you need to go the extra mile and promote your listings via social media.

Be sure to set yourself up to get your slice of 4th quarter sales!

That doesn’t mean spamming your followers with endless product posts.

No one listens to or wants to follow someone who’s constantly selling to them. So what should you do instead? To use social media effectively, post lots of engaging content. This can be as simple as a “Good Morning” post or photos of your pet or garden. Scroll through the social media feeds of big brands that sell products like yours. What do they post? Go and do likewise!

What works on social media changes fast.

It takes time to learn and stay abreast of the ins and outs of the various platforms: Facebook and Facebook Ads, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram. How can you keep up with it all? I do that for you when you join my Social Media Insiders group.

With your membership get access to an exclusive website. Included are easy-to-follow tutorials on how to do social media that get sales results. As a member of my private Social Media Insiders group on Facebook, you also get hands-on help from me and my team. In addition, members-only webinars feature top social media experts.

Social Media Insiders has doable information that gets you sales!

Social Media Insiders will be open to new members for a few days only starting on September 17, 2018. Don’t miss out! Mark your calendar now, and get ready to master social media in time for an ultra-profitable fourth quarter.

Use my complimentary Halloween Hot Products list to know what shoppers want now. Save time and score sales with the benefits of Social Media Insiders.

Here’s to an amazing 4th quarter coming your way!

eBay Fall Seller Update 2018 – Watch Service Metrics!

by | Aug 11, 2018 | eCommerce News, eCommerce Selling Tips, eCommerce Tips, Selling on eBay

The eBay Fall Seller Update 2018 is out. It’s fairly painless — except for the new Service Metrics and increased media final value fees. I’ll explain later why they are so critical. The eBay Fall Seller Update is in 3 sections:

  1. Marketplace Updates
  2. Inventory Optimization
  3. Service Metrics & Shipping

FIRST: eBay Fall Seller Update Marketplace Updates

If you want to let customers call with questions, you can now share a phone number through My Messages. Opt-in via “Manage Communications With Buyers” in your account settings.

Marketplace Updates include changes to payments. Read about them at ebay.com/payments. Some sellers are participating in the beta program now. So, if you’re interested, fill out the survey linked from that page. Note: If you opt in, you won’t be able to use PayPal or the Global Shipping Program (GSP), and there is no opt-out.

It’s time to update HTTP URLs to HTTPS! Starting September 15, 2018, sellers with HTTP content in their listings will not be able to submit or relist them until they meet the more secure HTTPS criteria.

The eBay Fall Seller Update reminds sellers to have no links with HTTP in listings

 

Fee increases primarily affect media sellers. The Final Value Fee for Books, DVDs, & Movies goes from 10% to 12% for non-store subscribers. Additionally, store subscribers Final Value Fees for media also increases. Store sellers media Final Value Fees go up from 9.15% to 12 %. This is a relatively substantial increase. Consider raising prices and/or bundling items into lots to save on shipping. Also, Reserve and Subtitle fees will increase, too.

SECOND: eBay Fall Seller Update Inventory Optimization

This relates to eBay’s new product-based shopping experience. It refers to listing within the eBay catalog. The 2018 Fall Seller Update states which categories must be listed with the catalog as of September 15, 2018. More will become mandated from mid-October to February 2019.

Sellers listing in these categories can now submit information and new products to the catalog. For details, go to eBay.com/StructuredData.

As of October 15, 2018, there will be updates to Condition in Electronics, Home & Garden; Health & Beauty; Musical Instruments; and Business & Industrial. The revised terminology will help sellers better describe their items and make it clearer to buyers exactly what they’re purchasing.

My complimentary Fall Seller Update tip sheet walks you through all the details. Grab yours HERE.

THIRD: Service Metrics & Shipping

Here comes the tricky part! This new initiative means keeping a keen eye on your Item Not as Described (SNAD) returns and Item Not Received (INR) cases. Find these under the Service Metrics tab under Performance in your Seller Hub. According to eBay, this dashboard shows how your customer service compares to that of sellers with a similar selling profile.

The idea behind Service Metrics is to help ensure buyers have a good experience. If they don’t, many of them leave eBay and never come back. As of October 1, 2018, if eBay finds you have a very high SNAD rate compared to your seller peers, you may be charged an additional 4% final value fee on each item sold.

My YouTube, eBay Fall Seller Update 2019- Seller Beware details this.

Starting November 1, 2018, if you have a very high INR rate, eBay may extend the estimated delivery time shown in your listings. This will impact your ranking in search, so be sure to upload tracking numbers to eBay. As long as tracking shows an item as “Delivered”, eBay will protect you.

Updates to eBay Labels roll out next month (September 2018).

That’s it: the 2018 Fall Seller Update in a nutshell. By and large it’s good news for sellers. The fee increases for media hurt. The big concern is the Service Metrics. Watch your metrics closely. If you spot an uptick in SNAD returns, revise listings accordingly. Watch for glitches or errors in your data, and report inaccuracies to eBay ASAP.

The final takeaway from the Fall Update is, sellers, know your numbers!

 

 

Beat Slow Summertime eBay Sales Blues!

by | Jul 20, 2018 | eCommerce Tips, Selling on eBay

Feeling slow summertime eBay sales blues?

Contrary to what the old song says, there IS a cure for any eBay sales summertime blues. I’ll list the ingredients; then it’s up to you to concoct the mixture that works best for your business.

The first step towards stirring up eBay sales is to check prices.

Keep an eye on prices for your listings on eBay!

Market values can change over time…demand for your item may increase or decrease…new competitors may undercut you; there are lots of reasons why it’s important to stay current on pricing.

Check out my “Advanced Search” YouTube video to learn how to quickly research SOLD prices on eBay so that you know what your item is selling for. If necessary, adjust your pricing. Don’t forget to note whether sold items offered free or paid shipping, so you can take that into consideration. In addition, be sure to check the size and condition of sold items to ensure they’re truly comparable to what you’re selling.

Also, consider shipping. If you’re not yet selling internationally, you’re missing out on millions of potential customers.

Open your business up to that world of possibilities by going global. For heavier items, expensive items, and items shipping to countries that do not yet offer USPS First Class International’s Electronic Delivery Confirmation (eDelCon), opt into eBay’s Global Shipping Program at ebay.com/GSP. GSP users have seen their sales increase by up to 15%!

And it’s easy: With GSP, you create a shipping label through eBay as usual to generate a global tracking number. It’s automatically uploaded to your and your buyer’s My eBay page. Then you ship the item to eBay’s Global Shipping Center in Kentucky. eBay does the rest, including filling out customs forms, paying import fees, and providing international shipping to your buyer.

Small and/or lightweight and/or inexpensive items may be shipped directly via USPS First Class International with eDelCon. eBay Labels and third-party providers automatically generate and fill out customs forms. For more details enjoy my blog post  International Sales Mean Cash

Selling internationally increases eBay sales!

So you’ve checked your pricing and are shipping worldwide. Now let’s check your listings’ formats.

It’s best to have a mix of fixed price and auction listings because while some shoppers love to bid, others prefer to Buy It Now.

For fixed price listings, add the Best Offer option. Best Offer lets the buyer know that you’re willing to haggle a bit. If you get an unacceptable offer, always counteroffer, with a note thanking the buyer and telling them how much of a discount you’re offering and why your item is worth it. You’ll be pleasantly surprised by how many lowball offers can be turned into sales!

You can also send Private Offers in response to questions received through My Messages.

Just click “Reply with an offer” in the upper right-hand corner of the message. Again, add a note explaining your offer is for $X, which is Y% off.

Finally, promote your items via Promotions Manager and/or Promoted Listings.

Promotions Manager is free to eBay Store subscribers; use it to create special offers, discounts, and sale events. Store subscribers and Top Rated Sellers can also use Promoted Listings to boost item visibility by 30%.

Pull ahead in sales with eBay Promotions!

With Promoted Listings, you choose an ad rate: a percentage you’re willing to pay if your item sells from its promoted listing. You only pay if a buyer clicks on your ad AND purchases the item within 30 days. Top Rated Sellers receive a quarterly $30 Promotions Listing credit, while Anchor and Enterprise Store subscribers receive a $25 credit. Top-Rated Anchor and Enterprise Store subscribers receive both.

So go ahead and cure those slow summer sales blues.

Now that you know the ingredients — check pricing; sell internationally; vary your listing formats; use Best Offer and Private Offer; try Promotions Manager and Promoted Listings — you’re sure to be able to cook up a recipe for success!

P.S. For even more summer sales success tips, listen to my recent interview on eBay Radio.

 

eBay Open 2018 Seller Essentials Guide!

by | Jul 1, 2018 | eCommerce News, Selling on eBay

Going to eBay Open 2018? Read and save this handy checklist!

So you’re getting ready to head for Las Vegas to attend eBay Open 2018, July 24-26 at Mandalay Bay. It’s the seller event of the year. Three chock-full days of nonstop eBay education, information, and inspiration. The event features:

  • General sessions keynoted by eBay executives.
  • Workshops by eBay team leaders.
  • Panels led by top sellers.
  • Networking with your peers.
  • Food, festivities, and eBay fellowship!

Plan ahead NOW, in order to make the most of this annual seller celebration.

Plan Ahead To Get The Most From Attending eBay OPEN!

WHAT YOU’LL NEED MOST!

◊ Comfortable walking shoes
You’ll cover a lot of ground during this conference — in more ways than one — including Mandalay Bay’s miles of marble-floored corridors.
◊ Sweater, shawl, or hoodie
Convention meeting rooms get chilly!
◊ Water Bottle
You’re in the Mojave Desert; stay hydrated.
◊ Chargers for all your devices
There won’t always be wall plugs available, so bring plenty of portable juice.
◊ Business cards
Get cards free from VistaPrint, or use your eBay Store Subscriber Discount. Don’t forget a case to hold them, along with those you’ll collect from other sellers, eBay peeps, and third-party providers. You can also use apps like CamCard to scan business cards. Read about ir in my Tips For Attending Networking Events.
◊ Notebook and pens or pencils
You’ll want to take notes, jot down questions, etc.

WHAT TO DO BEFORE YOU GO!

◊ Review the agenda and workshops, and plan a tentative schedule
Don’t worry if you can’t catch them all. You’ll be able to watch videos of the sessions later (although you’ll miss out on the Q&A). This year’s three tracks are:

  1. Modern Marketplace (eBay’s new product-based shopping experience; shipping; returns; photography; buyer insights; and seller panels)
  2. Profitable Growth (Google SEO; pricing; merchandising; social media; and shipping)
  3. Purpose (how to run a million-dollar business on eBay; managing your financials; sales tax; community; and eBay for Charity)

◊ Check out the sponsors
Click on “Learn more” for a snapshot of what each provider has to offer. For example, BULQ makes product sourcing easy. They sell liquidation goods by the pallet or case, shipped right to your doorstep, complete with an itemized and guaranteed manifest.
◊ Sign up for a 15-minute Biz Boost (formerly known as Customer Care Center)
These one-on-one sessions will give you the tools and guidance you need to optimize your business. Check the emails you received from eBay OPEN.
◊ Got questions? This is your chance to get answers directly from eBay executives and team leaders. Make a list of what you’d like to ask!

GET SOCIAL!

◊ Join the Going to eBay Open 2018 Facebook Group
Chat with other attendees and get tips about the event and Vegas. By the time you get there, you’ll have made new friends!
◊ Get your eBay spirit on with eBay-branded apparel and/or tech gadgets
Shop The eBay Merchandise Shop for the latest eBay-branded gear; check out the eBayana category for more.
◊ As soon as the eBay OPEN app is released, put it on your devices.
◊ Visit the Mandalay Bay website
Find out what’s movin’ and shakin’:

  • restaurants and bars
  • entertainment
  • other amenities include shops, a spa, and Mandalay Bay’s world-famous beach (bring sunscreen!)

Join their M Life Rewards Program to earn points for every dollar you spend. You’ll also score discounts at shops, special ticket offers, and casino comps. Active military and veterans are eligible for discounts as well.

WHAT NOT TO MISS!

With planning you don;t miss out at eBay OPEN!

◊ Monday’s unofficial meet and greet, hosted by the Dallas eBaybes & eMales
6pm-10pm PT at Mandalay Bay’s Skyfall Lounge; venue dress code “upscale casual”, eBay colors encouraged
◊ eBay Radio’s live broadcasts from the eBay Open Studio:

  • Tuesday, July 24 — 4:30pm-5: 30 pm PT
  • Wednesday, July 25 — 8:30am-9: 30 am PT (Best eBay Outfits Contest)
  • Thursday, July 26 — 12:30pm-1: 30 pm PT

◊ eBay Open Studio seller videos and live streams — tell your eBay story!
◊ Happy Hour: Wednesday, 5:15pm-6: 30 pm PT, in the Expo Hall
Meet and mingle with eBay bigwigs and employees!
◊ Thursday’s closing party, 7pm-11pm PT at the Brooklyn Bowl
◊ eBay Canada’s Seller Social (for Canadian sellers)
Wednesday, 6:30pm-8: 30 pm PT, at Mandalay Bay’s Border Grill

NOW YOU’RE READY TO GET THE MOST OUT OF EBAY OPEN 2018!

Be prepared to get caught up in the excitement. If it’s your first eBay conference, you may even feel a little overwhelmed. You can’t be everywhere at once, so keep an eye on social media to stay up to speed on everything that’s happening. (Hashtag: #eBayOpen2018.) Above all, enjoy this once-a-year opportunity to spend time with your tribe. You’ll come home re-energized and armed with new strategies for making your business even more successful!

International Sales Mean Cash Flow eBay Sellers!

by | Jun 12, 2018 | eCommerce Tips, Selling on eBay

Looking for more eBay sales? International sales can increase your business immediately.

So, why say no to more sales?!

To begin, shipping globally on eBay can be accomplished in several ways.

First, sellers can ship themselves. Additionally, businesses can ship international sales with eBay’s Global Shipping Program. For each listing, sellers choose how to handle their non- US sales. It is not an all or nothing proposition. So, sellers can mail product X themselves using eBay shipping labels. Also, shipping product X can be done using products like Stamps.com, Endicia, and ShipStation. Then with product Y they select eBay’s Global Shipping program.

There are several advantages to eBay’s Global Shipping program, commonly called GSP.

First, it takes a lot of stress off the seller. When a GSP item sells, the sellers simply mail to a shipping hub in Kentucky. From there, the item is packed and mailed overseas. The seller is only required to get the item to Kentucky. From Kentucky onwards, it’s eBay’s job. eBay is responsible to have the international shipping product arrive safely in county Q. Should it arrived damaged, eBay refunds the buyer. This keeps more money in the seller’s pockets! Also, eBay screens the GSP listings. If it’s illegal to import your product to country G, it will not be visible to that nation.

Amazon sellers that use FBA to fulfill their eBay orders can use GSP.

Many Amazon eBay sellers are completely unaware of this. eBay’s GSP shipping center is in the US. Savvy FBA sellers opt their eBay inventory into GSP for the sales boost. It’s a fast smart way to make more money.

Listen to international sales tips in my YouTube, Where Did The eBay Customers Go?

http://https://youtu.be/X0joTyMLzwo

Some sellers are nervous to ship overseas. The Global Shipping program reassures sellers with its shipping protections.

That being said, protections are not free. eBay’s Global Shipping program is a premium service. It includes door to door tracking. Customs and import fees are charged up front. The basic rule of thumb for using GSP is this. If an item is under 4lbs, ship it yourself. Should the product be over 4lbs, use the Global Shipping Program. Furthermore, if the product is very valuable and or fragile, consider GSP. You have a built-in insurance policy with GSP.

If your items are light, often shipping yourself is best.

GSP will make lightweight item’s shipping expensive to buyers. You can lose sales. Shipping USPS first class international includes tracking to many countries. Here is the current list of countries with this tracking. It’s called e-Delcon.

It’s wise to edit the custom’s form when shipping to a generic description.

A DKNY dress is a women’s dress. An Under Armour shirt is a men’s shirt. You are not falsifying the document. You’re not changing the price or marking a purchase a gift.  You are mailing a dress. You’re shipping a shirt. Using the generic term helps the package not get sidetracked by a handler interested in the contents. Shipping GSP there is no need to do this.

So, still feeling a bit nervous?

It’s fine to start shipping globally in increments. Begin shipping to Canada. Later add UK and Australia. Then consider shipping everywhere. Again, GSP takes any jitters away. But if your items are lightweight, it can make your items expensive. You’ll lose sales to sellers who ship themselves.

Offer GSP and your own shipping.

You must choose one or the other for countries you will ship to. Sellers can ship themselves to some countries that are non-GSP nations.  Then use GSP for the eligible countries. HERE is the current list of GSP eligible nations. To do this you would customize shipping under shipping details. You can block countries you don’t want to ship to in your site preferences. If you leave GSP checked in shipping details and include you own shipping for the SAME country, your shipping is shown to buyers. They will not see GSP. For GSP to be offered, it must be the only option to country X.

Almost daily articles speak on the massive increase in online shopping. This recent post by B& T Magazine highlights how Australians are shopping online is just one.

Every day more people everywhere are shopping online!

Online shopping is increasing daily.

No matter the size of your business, you can be an international seller.  Shipping everywhere increases your eBay sales. That’s great news in all languages.

Special note – Thanks to Feedspot for recently selecting us as a top blog to read for eBay Seller News!

 

 

 

Say Yes Now To Your eBay Superpower For Sales!

by | May 12, 2018 | Selling on eBay

Did you know that you have an eBay superpower for sales?

So, are you searching for your eBay superpower?  Certainly, sales can get slow. Moreover, it can be a daunting task to stay on top of what works to get sales. By and large many sellers are solopreneurs. So, it’s just you running your online business.  You read of sellers with six-figure businesses within three months of starting to sell. You’ll scratch your head and wonder, “What is their eBay superpower? And where is mine?”

There are only so many hours in the day.

We all have different life circumstances. In light of that, know the givens in your life. Are you a single Mom? Moreover, do you have physical limitations? Do you have a full-time job? So, are you working a part-time job? Do you live in a rural area? Are you homeschooling? The list goes on and on. If you are a part-time seller, it will frustrate you to compare yourself to a fulltime seller. Moreover, if you are taking care of elderly relatives, your needs are different than a parent with young kids.

eBay Sellers don’t let your day run away from you!

To begin, what are the absolutes in your life?

Note the commitments that must be met daily, weekly or monthly. Put them on a paper calendar or virtual calendar. Next, examine your online business. What are the details of your selling? They may include listing, buying inventory, taking pictures, shipping, ordering supplies, banking etc. Be sure to write all your tasks down. Now with all things considered, what needs to be done daily, weekly and or monthly?

My YouTube Your eBay Superpower For Sales guides you through this process.

In light of what is immovable in your schedule, set up when you’ll do your selling tasks. Chose when you’ll shop for inventory, ship, do product research and more. Some folks love using a paper calendar. I use Google Calendar. I put all my tasks on it. Furthermore, I set up alerts to remind to do my business tasks. Google calendar also has a smartphone app. Google calendar is free.  To access it you need a Gmail account. There is no charge for Gmail.

When you are working on larger tasks, organizers like Slack and Asana are invaluable.

Sellers can manage projects with these tools and stay on track when making plans. Organizers are great for tracking progress when researching new inventory. They could also be used to plan expansion onto a new selling platform. For simple note taking, pen and paper work great. The app Evernote is also awesome. It also syncs across platforms. There is a free version.

 In closing, your superpower starts with knowing the “must dos” in your schedule.

Then you build your business tasks around that. Your eBay superpower is YOU. You create your schedule. You manage your business. You find inventory, pack and ship it. You find classes and experts to help you better your business. It’s YOU. There is no magic pill for success. It is all about you putting in the work.  Of course, there are bumps in the road. Being surrounded by like-minded sellers is a huge help. My members only Social Media Insiders is a power-packed home for sellers getting results. Another place winning sellers congregate, is my Facebook group eBay Selling Basics Nothing But Selling Basics.

Finally, you are your superpower for sales.

Plan and then work your plan. If sales are slow, be willing to learn and grow. Ask for help in my Facebook group eBay Selling Basics Nothing But Selling Basics. You may have missed a recent update that impacts your listings. Never give up. Success is right around the corner.

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